D900C/D901C or NP9260/NP9261 CPU Upgrade

After getting loads of helpful info for my NP9260 over the years on this forum I'm finally posting here!

My current processor is the E6700 Conroe CPU ( this one). I'm trying to find out if I could get the newer E6700 Wolfdale CPU ( found here). The main difference I see between the two is that the Conroe CPU is 65nm and the Wolfdale is 45nm.

I used BIOS update version 1.00.22 (and EC/KBC update .13N) to flash my BIOS to the newest version possible. But will that allow me to use a 45nm processor to replace my 65nm processor?

By the way, the BIOS update history for this computer (found HERE) shows that BIOS version 0.20 added support for the Q9550 ( found here). The Q9550 is a 45nm CPU, but also runs at 95W (the older non-"S" version).

Before anyone asks, I have no idea what MB revision I have. I would really love to know how to find that out, because using CPUZ doesn't seem to help me with that.

I've seen this 45nm/65nm question asked in several different places online and I can't seem to find an answer.

Thanks in advance for any help on this!

 

Check these two pictures below:




That is , rev 6.2 and rev5.0a

 

Check your own MB rev.
If it is rev5.2 or above..Just go for those 45nm Q9.
Otherwise, such as rev5.0a, don't waste your money because they will be downclocked from 1333fsb to 1066fsb.(That means Q9550 would run on 2.26GHz other than 2.83GHz)...A G0 stepping Q6600/Q6700 may be sufficient.
Things get worst when you get a rev4.x, it seems impossible to install a quad core.

 

Thanks Saltius! I know now why I never saw my MB rev. - it was on the bottom stick of ram, and I never looked under the top stick!
It looks like I have a rev. 5.0a motherboard.

That brings up some more questions...

Does that mean that if I put in a new CPU, like the newer Wolfdale E6700, that it wouldn't down-clock
it since it's already 1066fsb? Or would it still have some affect because it's a 45nm CPU instead of a 65nm?

The Q6600/Q6700 looks to be discontinued as well, but they were 65nm at least.
I suppose I could always get a used one if I can't use newer 45nm CPU's.

Also, are all Q6600/Q6700 CPU's G0 stepping, or are there different versions of those CPU's?

 

If the max fsb is 1066 the 45 nm cpu will run at the intended (full speed), if the MB and BIOS support it.

What is the purpose of uploading so large pictures? The image is larger than my screen anyway and it it

 

Is there any way to be sure if my MB and BIOS support the 45nm?

 

You should ask the store you bought it from, but people were putting in D901C the 45 nm cpu since they came out in December 2007. Maybet a question here helps:
http://xoticpcforums.com/showthread.php?t=3598

 

E6700,Q6600,Q6700 are already 1066 fsb, then they would not suffer down-clock.

G0 stepping Q6: TDP 95W,
B3 stepping Q6: TDP 125W.

AFAIK, among those 45nm cpu of 775socket, that means E7x00 and E6x00(Pentium, not Conroe)
While E8,Q8 and Q9 run on 1333fsb.

My fault, I forgot to resize them..

 

So I sent an email to Xoticpc (where I bought my laptop) to find out what they had to say about the 45nm and 65nm question.
After asking an engineer they said that I should not use a 45nm processor in my motherboard. That is very confusing, and I wonder if that engineer knows what they are talking about.

I seems that I would be fine with a 45nm CPU because it looks like some others have put them in their system and have been fine.

I suppose I could always play it safe and get a 65nm CPU, but most of those seem to be used, which worries me a bit...

Why can't this be more simple?! lol

 

At the time the 45 nm cpu came out Clevo was not giving any official support for it. All the Sager resellers have to follow the ''official'' policy. Maybe an european one could come and put some lights they were putting the 45 nm cpu in the D901C 5 months before you got your laptop.

 

Yes, that makes sense. I would imagine that resellers would want to avoid any possible liability issues and would therefore give the "safe" answer to anyone who asked.