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Dell Dimension 8300 BIOS not recognizing CPU

Last answer on Sep 23, 2009 1:17:24 am BST Mouse, on May 26, 2009 7:08:22 pm BST 
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Hello,
I have replaced my 2.8G P4 with a 3.4G P4. The System tab in Control Panel says "Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz 2.79GHz, 3.25 GB of RAM". When the computer starts or restarts it also says "Alert! The processor is not supported on this system, and will run at a reduced speed." I have CPUID and Everest to give you any information needed to help me with this. Thank you for your time.

Configuration: Windows XP
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1

King_Kong, on May 26, 2009 11:03:32 pm BST

Try updating your BIOS if you have not already.
http://support.dell.com/...
That is the link to download the BIOS. It is version A07. If you have A07 then do not update it.

   
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2

MoJo!MOUSE100, on May 27, 2009 6:30:03 pm BST

I do have the A07 BIOS installed already.

   
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3

King_Kong, on May 27, 2009 10:02:48 pm BST

Well, maybe it's the simple fact you have a Dell. Dell computers basically just suck.

   
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4

MoJo!MOUSE100, on May 28, 2009 4:27:41 am BST
  • +1

Thanks Donkey Kong! I know who I won't be asking for help in the future...

   
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5

King_Kong, on May 28, 2009 2:05:51 pm BST

I am being serious. Dell=Crap. I read the specifications for your computer and it says as plain as day that it accepts the P4 3.4 ghz 800 mhz FSB. So you do the math.

   
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6

King_Kong, on May 28, 2009 2:07:16 pm BST
  • +2

Oh wait. Have you tried resetting the BIOS with the jumper on the motherboard? I forgot to mention that...

   
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7

MoJo!MOUSE100, on May 28, 2009 6:27:33 pm BST

I have not tried that yet. Not sure which jumper on the board it would be or exactly how to do it. I don't want to do the wrong one and fry something. Is it different resetting the BIOS with a jumper as opposed to doing it with software?

   
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8

King_Kong, on May 28, 2009 9:08:43 pm BST

Usually there is a jumper to clear password and one for resetting the BIOS. It should be one close to the battery. You just have to read what is printed on the motherboard or the manual.

   
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9

MoJo!MOUSE100, on May 28, 2009 10:55:11 pm BST

I found on the board about one of the 3 pin jumpers. One and 2 pin is normal, 2 and 3 pin is password clear. It is jumped on the 1 and 2 pin now. There is a 4 pin jumper with nothing on it and a 3 pin with CMOS J9G2 near it on the board and the 2 and 3 pin jumped looking at it from left to right. The first 3 pin is called J8H3 and the 4 pin is called J8H4. Any ideas?

   
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10

King_Kong, on May 28, 2009 11:04:58 pm BST

CMOS J9G2 is the one. Power off first, unplug the power supply and press the power button a couple of times, then put the jumper to 2-3 (it should be on 1-2, if not then do it the other way around). Press the power button for a second, then move the jumper back. That should do it.

   
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11

MoJo!MOUSE100, on May 29, 2009 12:04:35 am BST

Did it. Had to reset the time and date in the setup menu to start with. It still shows the CPU as 2.8G and the L2 cache as 1024Mb. I tried this before but just unplugged it and removed the battery for a while. Not sure if it is the same way to clear stuff. Didn't mess with the jumpers.

   
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12

King_Kong, on May 29, 2009 3:00:19 pm BST

Well, this might be your last option, which is to reset the BIOS with the jumpers. You won't fry anything unless you touch some metal to a circuit on the motherboard, or if you try to do this with the power on. If you decide to reset it, make sure you unplug the power supply and press the power button a couple of times to get any stored power out of the system just to be safe. Just remember when you move the jumper to plug the power back in and press the power button, then repeat but moving the jumpers back to where they were.

   
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13

MoJo!MOUSE100, on May 29, 2009 4:43:43 pm BST

OK, did it with the jumpers as well. Same results as before. Still not recognizing the full speed of the CPU. Thanks for taking the time to try and help me with this King_Kong.

   
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14

Chris, on Jun 24, 2009 4:12:54 pm BST

HI, I'm sorry to tell you that the processor is not supported by the motherboard. It is of Prescott type that uses more power than the motherboard can supply. But the bios upgrade A07 was not in vain! Before that the motherboard could have been damaged! The processor runs OK in 2,8 now, though.

Mind you, this is not a Dell specific. Your motherboard was designed to support Northwood processors. NW is in all aspects a better processor too. So, your best bet is to track down a NW processor. I have 2 Dell Dimension 8300 computers, both with 3,2 Ghz processor and Evga 7800 GS CO AGP. It is a great allrounder and really reliable too. I still have my original Xp running (-03) and the system has never freezed! On the other 8300 I have Linux.

And don't trust those Nintendo people in the future!

Cheers,
Chris

   
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15

MoJo!MOUSE100, on Jul 1, 2009 2:26:09 pm BST

Will the motherboard only support the type and speed of the processor that was in it? My old CPU was a 2.8G. If it is a Northwood 3.4, it will recognize it and run at the full speed? Thanks for checking this out so late.

   
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16

MoJo!MOUSE100, on Jul 1, 2009 11:50:28 pm BST

Is there any information I could show you using Everest that would help to answer this question?
Thanks

   
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17

King_Kong, on Aug 2, 2009 6:28:44 pm BST

Your system has never freezed? And unlikely, Windows crashes one way or another, no doubt.

   
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18

 stupid, on Sep 23, 2009 1:17:24 am BST

Version: A01
Build Date: 02/12/04

The following updates were made to the A00 BIOS to create the A01 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
1. Fixed the WQHL ACPI Verifier test failure.
2. Fixed the issue in which production 3.2GHz processor is reported
as 2.8GHz.
------------------------------------------------------------­-----------------------------------

only a01 bios is messed, flash & update

   
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