WARNING...the Compal (I)FL90/91, (I)FT00/01 and JFT00 DO NOT SUPPORT PENRYN no matter what BIOS they have...try it and fry it!

I upgraded from 1.10 to 1.16 and everything is working nicely.

 

I have upgraded my FL90 from bios 1.12 to the 1.16 directly and it works, I have used the crisis tools method to do it.

 

Whats the crisis tools method?

 

The crisis tool is normally used to get a broken bios back to work again.
This is only done with an older version of the bios file.

Something like flashing the bios to version 1.16 isn't okay you can use the file from the bios version 1.12 or 1.13 to reflash the bios with the crisis tool.

So please explain have you flashed the bios trough the flash tool or trough the crisis methode if so details about what to do and how to do.

 

I have created the crisis tool bootdisk and I have replaced the bios.wph file on it by the 1.16 bios which was also renamed bios.wph.

 

Since the only difference between the IFL90 and the JFL92 is a single thermal IC on the motherboard, you will see some IFL90's where Compal has actually added the new thermal IC to the motherboard and are shipping them as JFL92's, but the label on the bottom of the laptop will still say FL90 or IFL90. This will only happen during the transition from the IFL90 to the JFL92, and within about a month you won't see that happening anymore as they will all have the JFL92 label.

 

Hi Paladin, do you have any details of this thermal IC? (brand, spec, location to be installed, etc.).

 

Sorry, no details are available...and I doubt anyone could source them anyway.

It would also be quite foolish to attempt to solder one on your motherboard...the risk is just too high.

 

I'm not planning to do it right now, my laptop is not 5 months old yet, however when the moment will come to upgrade, to add the thermal IC plus the CPU will definitely be worth the risk versus the potential saving.

Despite the so many comments on this matter, I still don't understand the reason of this thermal IC. Isn't the current thermal sensor an external thermal sensitive gauge pointing towards the thermal heat sink? Now if the Penryn heats less, then the fan will work less frequently, that's all, do I make sense? I just don't see the need of a new IC sensor.

 

You sir, exhaust me

None of us here are Compal engineers, so we cannot explain WHY it is required. We can only pass on to you that the Compal engineers DO require it, and they will not warrant any motherboard that has a Penryn processor installed that does not have the Compal installed thermal IC. Further, they will not warrant a motherboard that has been modified by an end user, or even an OEM, that has a Penryn installed. They insist on doing the modification themselves (meaning either Compal or Bizcom which is a division of Compal).

 

I'm glad to see you have a good sense of humor. I'll give you a break. :wub:

 

wrong text added in the post, edit and deleted.

 

what surprises me really, is that over here in germany there simply doesn't seem to be a jfl92. the shops selling the fl90 are still calling their models fl90 and just added penryn support to the specs. even the prices for the base models stayed the same, there's just more cpus to be chosen from now. see for instance: http://www.mysn.eu/
now I don't want to talk anyone into doing something stupid. I just thought I'd share this with you

 

** I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE RIGTH THREAD FOR THIS BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE IF I WANTED TO CONNECT WITH PALADIN **

Hi Paladin, I just inquired about the TV tuner at your company and I was sent away So I told them the I saw the TV tuner under accessories, then they told me that they don't want to sell it because is too dangerous for users to do it by themselves , so they removed it a few minutes ago.

Memories, new hard drive, new KB, or any other very easy to install module is not a big deal, but it looks like your company is not willing to offer it anymore, any comment?

 

@ kofi: Correct when Compal approved the mainboard to support the Penryn CPU the name of the Compal base is still the FL90.
The company can deliver the notebook with the name IFL90 SRR (Santa Rosa Refresh).
Also some Vendors are selling the Compal notebook with the name JFL92, this is still the FL90 base.

This info comes directly from email to confirm your question:

Actually there are not many differences between JFL92/JFT02 and IFL90/IFT00 except CPU upgrade and minorM/B modification. There is no change on VGA, still NB8P-GS chipset + 512MB VRAM. But the thermal sensor for JFL92/JFT02 is different from IFL90/IFT00, so the motherboard will be different. In fact, this is why Compal create the new model numbers JFL92 and JFT02 for the Santa Rosa Refresh platform. Other than the new Penryn CPUs T8100/8300/9300/9500, Compal also plan to qualify the Merom CPUs T7800 and T7250 on JFL92 and JFT02 which cover T7250/7300/7500/7700/7800. Since the new Penryn CPUs T9300/9500 will be available in Jan. 2008.

@ Wirelessman.

I don't get the company why they don't want to sell the part.
It's easy to install, but keep in mind when breaking the notebook or open it this might make you loose your warranty.
The last mentioned is the most important part, because the company needs to get the warranty also back from Compal.
My personal option is, try to get this installed by a local Vendor, this keeps you away from risks of loosing your warranty.

 

I don't know how things work in Netherlands, but a local Compal vendor is not as at reach as a groccesy store, do you get the point? I'm not going to ship my laptop so they install it and deprive myself of my laptop for two weeks, the laptop is critical for my business.

 

well, my problem is, since I bought the "assemble it yourself version" how am I to find out whether it's the new mainboard or the old one? I bought it in december after a rather lengthy time of "not in stock". I take it there is no safe way to find out which mainboard I received as of now?

 

Do you have any kind of part number or a list.
I will and would like to get a look at your mainboard and part number for further details and answer aroud the Penryn CPU support.

 

But what you will compare with?

 

I'll try to get to that asap and take the numbers down as soon as I've turned it off
put it up tomorrow possibly

 

Wirelessman, you can get the tv tuner card at avadirect last I checked. go under the parts tab then accessories then notebook accessories then tv tuner. Should be there. Costs around $78

 

This is what you are talking about?

 

can I ask why anyone needs a tv card in a notebook ?

 

Thx I look forward to the pictures, keep me posted please.

 

That's the TV-Tuner.
What Brand is it, Waht Model is it.
Is this part Vista Compatible and what kind of drivers are there 32/64 Bits.

 

Here is the model and brand,

 

I don't know if this is more clear,

 

I don't know why this snipping tool doesn't take nice pictures. Any way, we say that the TV tuner is for Assus C90S, internal PCIe mini card.

 

The Asus C90S is based on a design made by Compal.
The base is almost the same as the Compal IFL90.
Contact the shop and ask them if this works in your Compal IFL90.

To me it doesn't look that different then my version already installed.

This is the part which Compal delivers with the notebook.
71C44230001 TV TUNER IFL90/INTEL_IFL90 66,55

 

http://www.avadirect.com/product_details_parts.asp?PRID=9758

This is the one I was talking about. Specifically for compal fl90/91

 

Thank you very much!

Does it come with the remote, all the wires and the external antenna?

 

Correct that will work fine in the Compal, it's the same I got in my notebook.

 

well, here come the pictures for RePaRaQu. sorry for the delay, I got held up. I'm eager to see what you can make of them:

 

First thx for the pictures.
Second it seems your system is based on the same as my older version the BTO 15W25+

Last and very important. check first if you machine is capable of running BIOS version 1.16
Then install the Penryn CPU, i heard a very good story from an insider between Compal and XXXXXX the support for the Penryn CPU is already added to the mainboard used for the base FL90.
The mark stands for don't go above the T9500 so this is the extreme edition.
The power and setup for the Penryn CPU is the same as the older version Merom.
That's why Compal had the SRR (Santa Rosa Refresh) platform support ready quicker then most others.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep in mind BIOS flash and CPU upgrade's are at your own risk.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

thanks a lot. but could you tell me where you see any differences between the old and the new one?
try as I might, I couldn't find anything to set them apart when I compared your pictures.

 

My mainboardfor my new Compal Base FL90 is the BTO 15W26+.
This is the new Compal IFL90 SRR (Santa Rosa Refresh).
Your mainboard is the same as my new system, that's why I think is should work fine.

check out your picture and look for the name and model where the CPU fan is located and then check my picture.

My older notebook is using a different mainboard and this isn't accepting the Penryn CPU even with the BIOS version 1.16.
It is working fine with BIOS version 1.16 but the CPU isn't detected corrrect.

 

As promised I will post some pictures from my mainboard soon, just need some time to do it.

 

As promised the pictures are there. Like RePaRaQu the vendor on my mainboard is HannStar while on my girlfriend's mainboard the vendor is GCE.

Unfortunately I can't remove the protective plastic layer which is on the mainboard in order to unstick the barcode, I wanted to read what was below, revision number or other...

 

@kofi and RePa....: what are your batteries mAh?

My battery is supposed to be 9 cells. 11.1Vdc and 7200mAh.

 

Check out the picture for further details.

 

Where did you get that cut?

 

PC Wizard 2008 works great gives more then enough information about your hardware.

 

RePaRaQu, Can you clarify what do you want to mean please?

 

This is mine, very similar. I was concerned about the 11.1V output, while the adapter supplies 19V to the DC/DC converter.

 

The model and version as stated from my older notebook and newer one are different.
But several poeple placed pictures online, and these pictures are all with the same ID for the mainboard.
I am talking about the older version mainboard and the newer version.

 

First you said to kofi that his mainboard is the same as your older one, and one post later you said to him that his mainboard is the same as your new one.

I don't understand.

 

I have two version of the Compal the BTO 15W25+ and the BTO 15W26+
The BTO 15W25+ is based on the Compal FL90 and I bought this in may 2007.
The BTO 15W26+ is based on the Compal FL90 and I bought this in jan 2008.

The newer version is apporved to give full support to the Penryn CPU with BIOS version 1.16.
My notebook is tested for 14 days, fully loaded and run to the max.
My older version is tested and failed to support the Penryn CPU.

My BTO 15W25+ is the first model of the badge and I was the first one in the Netherlands to get the Compal IFL90 version.
IFL90 is the version it's sold under at the time of may 2007.

The new version is named the (J)FL9(2) with SRR.

Reports form the vendor I received stated the first badge isn't supporting the Penryn CU correc but it might just work fine.
The only issue is the support and the approval label from Compal to get the warranty.

That's why I stated to kofi t might just work, you are not breaking it when installing the Penryn because it it doesn't work it will not BOOT.
The power and the voltage are the same for the Penryn as for the Merom CPU, the only change is the speed, cache and cpu base.

Clear for now.

 

CPU base????

 

45nm technology that's what I was trying to tell, but lost the name.

 

You scared me for a moment, I thought you were talking of the connector base!