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Vista support for I8600?
Does anyone know if Dell has plans to release support for the Inspiron 8600 to run Vista? Vista performance on my machine is great even with Aero effects enabled, however the current bios A14 does not correctly support the SpeedStep function for my Pentium M 1.6 processor. So my laptop is always running full speed and the battery lasts for all of 30 minutes off the wall. As well as applications like QuickSet do not function.
I have seen numerous releases on support upgrades for other systems I do hope that Dell does not leave those with very capable computers but slightly older models behind in the dust. At a minimum I would be completely satisfied with a bios update that gives me SpeedStep back :(
I have seen numerous releases on support upgrades for other systems I do hope that Dell does not leave those with very capable computers but slightly older models behind in the dust. At a minimum I would be completely satisfied with a bios update that gives me SpeedStep back :(
Message Edited by tspencer on 12-01-200602:03 PM
WolverineMachin
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Posted December 1st, 2006 18:00
Good question, a bios upgrade would be inevitable, but not sure from 13 to 14 why yours doesn't show. I would check previous versions of the bios if possible like 13 to see if the speed step is presented and flash it back. But still not sure why the new doesn't have the speed step enabled, it shows in other 8600's. Did you try looking down through the bios to see if the step is enabled, sorry I should say min and max show, and uninstall the quickset even though it has no capability on the bios settings for allowance, just the pwr usage that the os will assign for stepping after the fact. Inspect your settings in the bios again carefully. I almost forgot. Go to device manager and uninstall the processor drivers, in Vista check the box for drivers in the uninstall lingo that pops up. Then right click the top device, which is the computer, select scan for hardware changes and you'll see the Pentium M show back up. Once it's up you can update the driver again which should be able to install new drivers for the proc and step should be present again if the bios was good all along. Sorry, forgot I had to do that on RC2. But my RTM version was good to go.- Well I have beta tested the Vista operating system for over 1.5 years and the issue has been present in every build. I have bugged the issue to MS several times and each time they come back saying that it is Dells fault.
For example this is one of their answers to me on this issue:
The A14 bios from DELL for the Inspiron 8600 reports all cpu performance states as THROTTLE states. The new kernel in VISTA will not adaptively throttle between throttle states. The kernel will use throttle states as necessary in regards to overheating and passive thermal zones/temperatures.
This is a BIOS issue, and there currently is no updated BIOS for this Model.
and another:
Do you have the latest bios on the machine? I don't have one of the machines in front of me to verify, but this is most likely a problem where Dell is describing T-states in their bios instead of P-states and it was lucky that it worked on XP. T-states offer little power savings.
Apparently Dell had not implemented the SpeedStep function within the official specification at the time and WindowsXP somehow compensated for this issue however MS has said that Vista will no longer do this and the Bios will have to be within the official specs to work. It s, but they told me its all on Dell now.
Also the QuickSet that is available for my system will not install at all on Vista, I can overide this and install manually however the software basically does nothing. The new QuickSet that is available for Vista wont install on my machine either.
TaylorMessage Edited by tspencer on 12-01-200604:27 PM
- Hi There!I am too using Vista Business Final on my 8600, and SpeedStep does not work here either.Apparantly Dell has some issues to solve in the BIOS to get SpeedStep to work under Vista.Please Dell - make an BIOS update for the 8600.Otherwise Vista runs really fine on my setup (Dothan 1.7GHz, 1.5GB Ram, 9600ProT)/Beack
- yes this has always been the case for me as well. If I have the power settings on balanced or power saver, the speed drops ONCE to 600 mhz after pulling the plug, however once it goes back to 1600mhz it never goes back down. Man this laptop can get hot, even with i8kfangui running.
- Hmm.... funny thing:When i pull the plug, while in vista, the cpu throttles from the max 1.7GHz to the min 600MHz (and the voltage changes too), but after approx. 10 seconds it throttles back up to full speed, and stays there.Both cpu-z and rmclock reports these changes, so evidently the 8600 is capable of speedstepping under vista with the A14 bios.I just do not know how to get it to work!/Beack
- Hi there, Joeycan.I had no problems whatsoever getting Vista installed.Both Bluetooth and wireless worked out of the box.I am still using the vista bluetooth stack, and it supports my logitech v270 bt mouse just fine. I have not tested other bt features yet.Likewise, I am still using the vista supplied wireless driver for the 200bg card, and it works fine as well. I do not know if the same holds true for the 1300 card as well, though. Anyone knows?All in all installing vista was swell, so go give it a try.I would recommend a clean install and not a upgrade of your existing xp, though./Beack
- Beack I am thinking about upgrading to Vista I have a similar configuration as you. Did you have any problems getting Bluetooth and wireless lan to work?
I8600
Pentium M 1.6
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo
2 GB Ram
60 GB HDD - 7200 RPM
Dell Bluetooth 300
Dell True Mobile 1300 Wlan Mini PCI
Cheers
Joey
WolverineMachin
367 Posts
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Posted December 1st, 2006 18:00