These are not "retail and/or aftermarket" motherboards.
It's been my experience that usually, Dell-OEM motherboard only contain the necessary BIOS-firmware micro-code to boot-and-run the list of main-processors that originally shipped with it when new from the factory. Their PDF or marketing literature should have a list of CPU's.
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So, I have also seen reports of newer revision motherboards. And while there is only one BIOS-Firmware available, they are hardware-different (obviously) with some slightly different BIOS options available. You can therefore extrapolate that maybe only they support the newer processors.
Are you at least running the latest BIOS-version?
(edited)
Dell Rockstar
Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired) - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine. - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee. - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up" - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting. - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.
@Tesla1856 Yes, latest BIOS. And what makes me suspect the CPU in faulty or locked, is that my system was supplied by a Dell Partner as refurbished, the services tag of the system shows it left dell with a 5995wx CPU in it (providing the chassis and motherboard are the same) which I believe they are
2. my system was supplied by a Dell Partner as refurbished,
1. Cool, good.
2. The plot thickens ...
Dell Rockstar
Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired) - Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine. - I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee. - Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up" - Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting. - Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.
Tesla1856
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Posted February 19th, 2026 17:32
These are not "retail and/or aftermarket" motherboards.
It's been my experience that usually, Dell-OEM motherboard only contain the necessary BIOS-firmware micro-code to boot-and-run the list of main-processors that originally shipped with it when new from the factory. Their PDF or marketing literature should have a list of CPU's.
Dell Rockstar
Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
- Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
- I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
- Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
- Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
- Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.