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    Aspire 3690 CPU Upgrade: new BIOS needed?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by awm34, Sep 12, 2010.

  1. awm34

    awm34 Newbie

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    Based on a 12/08 post on this board, I've ordered an Intel T2600 CPU to replace the Celeron M 420 in my laptop.

    Link to the prior post:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...80-cpu-upgrade-laptop-acer-aspire-3690-a.html

    (My processor readings are all the same as those in the old post.)

    My question has to do with the BIOS. I'm still at V3.03 (as delivered) while V3.60 is available.

    Anyone: should I reflash my BIOS?

    Thanks!
     
    awm34, Sep 12, 2010
    #1
  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    What do the change/history docs on the new bios say? If they reference anything about 'cpu support' then you are probably going to want to update the bios BEFORE you try to install the new cpu.
     
    newsposter, Sep 12, 2010
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  3. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    Regardless of what the change/history docs say - update the bios before you put in the new cpu.

    Why regardless? Because manufacturer's rarely specify what they 'fix' in their bios updates.

    And, doing a BIOS update on a non-stock system (after replacing the cpu, for example) is just asking for trouble.

    Good luck.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Sep 12, 2010
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  4. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    ^I agree. I replaced the Celeron M440 that was in my Aspire 3680 with a T5500 Core 2 Duo. It all comes down to what BIOS and chipset revision you have on the 3680/3690. Mine was able to handle a processor with a 667Mhz FSB, so mine was the i943. Other people claim not to have as much luck with 667Mhz FSB processors, and have to stick to the 533Mhz.
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Sep 12, 2010
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  5. awm34

    awm34 Newbie

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    I should have mentioned that I already upgraded from Media Center to Win 7 Pro and to 2Mb of RAM. CPU-Z reports that my motherboard is an i943/940GML.
     
    awm34, Sep 13, 2010
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  6. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    As long as your Win7 install is stable/bulletproof, I would proceed with the BIOS update (the installer is Win 7 compatible, right?).
     
    tilleroftheearth, Sep 13, 2010
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  7. awm34

    awm34 Newbie

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    Installed BIOS V3.60 and all is well. On forced reboot Win 7 disabled the onboard audio driver and then promptly went to the web, located a new one and installed it.

    Nice!
     
    awm34, Sep 13, 2010
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