Dell send me a Chipset Rev b2 ?

I just have my M17x-R3 but when I launch HWinfo32, it tell me I have a Chipset Rev B2. Dell doesn't sent M17x-R3 now with the new chipset B3?

Just got my laptop today.

Is a bug from hwinfo32 ?

can someone with a new R3 can see that with his laptop ?

Thanks

 

Oh great! THis is exactly what I was looking for---a sign or a sticker or something which indicates I ACTUALLY have a fixed one, and they didn't just save some dough and ship out "broken"/flawed ones, so that that way they dont use voila!-free-mobos sent from Intel. Seems like what a shady restaurant would do to save some cash. Pick up food off the ground and throw it back onto the plate-type of deal...

Where else can you check that it says "B3" ?

 

Contact Mumak here on the forum is the Developer of HWinfo32 he may know better

 

How to Find Out If Your Sandy Bridge Motherboard Is Affected by Intel's SATA Bug - Softpedia

 

That's from my r3, which was part of the first batch.

 

There's a feature in Intel chipsets called Compatibility Revision ID which can override the value of Hardware Revision ID when the BIOS developers decide so. It's meant to be used in cases when a new revision is released and the vendors don't want Windows to recognize it as a new hardware (if the system binds drivers to a particular PCI revision) - a kind of full backward compatibility. In case the BIOS uses this feature on B3, it will cause the (hardware) B3 to be reported as B2 and unfortunately there's no way for software to determine what the true (hardware) revision is (the BIOS overrides it and it sticks until next reset, when it does again).

Maybe there could be another way how to determine this, but for that I'd need a HWiNFO32 Debug File to analyse it.

 

I would test mine using the instruction on vads link. I'll post the result as soon as possible.

 

If the Compatibility Revision ID is used, then there's no way how to determine this - all software, operating system methods including (as the one posted there) will report B2.

 

@ Mumak , how can i save the debug file to sent to you ? or maybe an actual owner of the R3 want's to do that since mine comes tomorrow

 

Enable Debug Mode in HWiNFO32, run it as usual and when it finishes, close it and send me the HWiNFO32.DBG file it created.

 

It tell me there's "no instance free"

(see attachment)

 

try running as Administrator

 

I'm pretty damn sure they sent me a B2 stepping, it was listed as such under CPU-Z.

Also, I'm having the strangest issues with this laptop. When I installed Firefox 4 RC, the entire thing is blurred. I'm running at the native res, and I've already done a clean install before.

It's so weird, the program looks smudged, same with Command Center, You Tube (the media player controls), and Intel RST.

I'd post pics if I had time, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

I'm running the latest Flash Player and Java, it was still like this under Java update 22 (the one it shipped with).

 

Your gpu might be busted. This sounds like hardware failure rather than software. You can try installing shockwave or directx maybe those will help you determine if software or hardware related ("help you" cuz there's not much else you can try heheh).

I remember when my geforce4 mx and my ati radeon 9600pro died on me. They made lines across the screen, and were fuzzy red, blue, and green, colored. Kinda squiggly lines like when you tune into a bad receptioned tv channel in the old days.

 

I received my R3 last Friday and today when I use some software to check motherboard (CPU-Z version 1.57 ,AIDA64 and also hardware lds from device manager), they show it is a B2 version and my friend also has a B2 version motherboard on new R3.
I contact DEll today, they say the chipset used in R3 is totally OK.But I do not know if this B2 version has no problem. Dose anyone have anyh idea??

 

what i know is that the fixed chipset is called B3 (the new fixed sandy bridge)

 

You need to check which SATA ports are being used. If ports 2,3,4, and 5 aren't being used, then it doesn't matter which stepping you have.

 

You're fine. DO NOT LOOK At B2/B3, Look for revision. 09 is fine 04 isn't.

Correct.. That doesn't mean CPU-Z will say that, stop worrying the guy.

 

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_282A&SUBSYS_04901028&REV_04
here is the hardware lds of my sata controller. I have two ssd and a dvd.
This seems means that Dell has shipped some B2 motherboard, because this is not only happen to me also my friend. So should I return it or keep it

 

some body may have to open the laptop to find the chipset stepping because Mumak says they may override the device ID for compatibility

 

If we go by what my boi X3NIA says, then you've got a pre-recall mobo. Return that thing asap.

 

they cant ship faulty motherboards. the revision means its fixed. i really wouldnt worry about it. if anything ever does go wrong youll be more than covered as this whole problem is well documented.

 

subscribed!! I wanna know more info and experiences......

 

Wierd, mine is a pre-recall R3 and in CPU-Z it shows up as:

Chipset: Sandy Bridge Rev. 09
Southbridge: HM67 Rev. B2

You sure the 'fixed' mobos are supposed to be Rev. 09?

 

Mine also shows as Rev. 09 so either you mixed those two up or it's not an acurate way to identify the chipset version.

 

B3 is labeled on the boxes the revised motherboards come in. I'd say the only way to really find out is to just pop the machine open. I don't think Dell would pull a shifty, there would be legal issues.

 

Ya I really doubt they would either but I figured Id mention it.

 

For driver compatibility, the B3 stepping chipsets may have been made to look like B2. Therefore, the only way to tell is to look at the physical markings on the chips.

This technical document from Intel tells us that we should be looking for:

SLJ4N BD82HM67 (B3)

instead of

SLH9C BD82HM67 (B2)

http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/specupdate/324646.pdf

 

men, Can you check this?

1. update windows 7 to sp1

2. update bios to a05 (from dell, at least for me [xps 17 spanish configuration])

3. shutdown pc

4. start pc and press F2 to enter bios setup

5. go the last tab (I think was the last tab, not sure)

6. load default settings, save changes, exist saving changes.

7. Now windows 7 detect new hardware and start install drivers

8. restart pc after windows finish installationg (it will alert you when its done and need restart)

check cmd on administrator

type: wmic idecontroller get deviceid

and check you now get rev_05

Before I do this, I had rev_04, after do those steps I got rev_05 (The most important step is 6 [after this step I got the rev_05])

regards

 

Dell will not hold a machine for a month because of intel chip issue then just ship it regardless, the hardware info is being masked by the bios, it has already been discussed on this forum, close this thread

 

Ya I mean I understand why people would be concerned but there almost no chance they would ship out the old mobos (as its been mentioned before they are legally bound NOT TO once intel informed them).

If the bios is just masking the rev. Youd have to find the south bridge and locate the code, prob way more hassle than its worth. Unless you really want to look and its easy to get to + not hidden under a heatsink.

 

The Dell L702X thread is going through similar concerns. As my wife is looking into this one, I called Dell... but I really hate the "he said - she said" stuff. Save the Dell stuff for the Dell forum, but it is an interesting read.
=====
Just realized that is where carlso brought his information from. Being very cautious about the BIOS step... is this for the L702X or the M17X R3?

 

Until Dell posts a BIOS revision specifically for the M17xR3, do not worry about it. If its not appearing on the US download page for the R3, then its not something to be concerned with (IMO). Use your M17xR3 and don't worry about it. A03 is the most recent BIOS for the M17xR3. Each system is different - just because Dell may post an update for one of its SB systems, does not mean its for all of its SB systems nor does it mean something is 'wrong' with its SB systems which requires an update. Dont worry about the L702x. Its not the M17xR3.

Here is a handy link directly to the BIOS listing for the R3. Bookmark it if it makes you feel better...

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...abIndex=&scanSupported=True&scanConsent=False

For those of you who are still wondering about this, I'm going to re-post what I posted here, my 2 cents on this whole 'Did dell send me an old motherboard with my order' question -

 

I have identified an issue in HWiNFO32 recognizing the B3 revision in case you have a Intel HM67 chipset (under Mainboard it will display B2, but in the PCI Bus device tree it's correctly reported as B3). It will be fixed in the next release. Let me know if you need a pre-release.
Still if the Compatibility Revision ID is activated by BIOS, it's not possible to recognize B3 properly.

 

I open my laptop today to repaste the chipset CPU and GPU and mine says :

BD82HM67

SLJ4N

E186A223

So for those that are worry about the chipset revision don't worry even if software says is B2 Dell replace with B3 already

 

where have you seen BD82HM67 - SLJ4N - E186A223 ?

 

Mine is fine, HWiNFO is just not working properly.

 

Here right on the back of the CPU just remove the back plate

 

Thanks for sharing!!!

It is amazing what you can find in technical documentation if you just search around. i.e. the DisplayPort version supported by the HM67 is 1.1.

 

That will be fixed tomorrow with a new version planned for release.

 

Seeing this means that it's B3, right? Which is good news, right?

 

I can confirm that in CPU-Z, in the Mainboard tab, I have for Chipset: Rev. 09, and for Southbridge: Rev. B2.

 

phew...i was worried there for a second......
first i am having issues with Optimus, then this revelation......B2 rev09

 

EDIT: NM, we're supposed to have B2 rev09. It's the 09 that is good, as opposed to 04.

 

But I heard some ppl have B3 tho? What do u have dookie? Im still worried until i open it up.

 

mine is B2 Rev 08

 

I've got B2 rev09, BIOS A03. Factory set bios version btw.

 

My Alienware M17x R3 got a B2 motherboard inside? - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community

I dont know if this helps. But I thought A04 fixed the problem???

 

Fixed what problem?? Watcha talking bout Willis?

 

A04 is supposed to display the correct revision of Intel Chipset (B3).
Read here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/569546-m17xr3-bios-a04-discussion.html