M8100Y CPU upgrade (IPIBL-LA)

[alambrose]

I have a media center desktop M8100Y with Asus IPIBL-LA motherboard (Berkeley-GL8E)

specs are here:

 http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01077641

The spec sheet states that the MB only supports Core 2 Duo up to E6850, or Core 2 Quad up to Q6700

I went to the Intel website and looked at the Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processor specs from the lowest to the highest, and I just don't see why the IPIBL-LA would not be able to run ANYTHING in these families of processors... the only thing that differs from processor to processor is clock speed and number of cores. Quads above Q6700 are 1333 fsb, Q6700 & below are 1066 fsb, but IPBL-LA can handle either. Core 2 Duo above E6850 can be either 1066 or 1333 fsb... Additionally, Intel lists the IPIBL-LA's G33 chipset as "compatible" with a Core 2 Duo E8600, and similarly lists the G33 chipset as "compatible" with the Core 2 Quad 9650.

So my question is: Although the board specs do not list compatibility for Core 2 Duo above E6850, or Core 2 Quad above Q6700, would the IPIBL-LA be able to run a Core 2 Quad Q9650, or Core 2 Duo E8600?

<text removed for privacy>

[old_geekster]

Al, the problem is HP buys the motherboards from Asus or other manufacturers and they change them to meet their specs.  This is their way of saving problems with Tech support.  They have to support fewer configurations.  Also, it creates a situation where you have to buy a new computer sooner.  It is called marketing. 

[alambrose]

Thanks for the reply...

However, my question was whether or not the processors mentioned would properly function in a board that does not specifically state outright that those processors are supported.

My research (from the Intel website regarding compatible chipsets) would indicate that the IPIBL-LA board would support ALL of the current Core 2 Duo & Core 2 Quad processors, this in addition to my past experience with [technically unsupported] processor upgrades.

I am well aware of the marketing gimmicks, and planned obsolescence on the part of manufacturers... I was just looking to see if there was confirmation here from someone who had tried upgrading this board with a [technically unsupported] processor. A Quad Q9550 can be had for $174.99 right now, and would extend the life of my M8100Y substantially.

[alambrose]

Still looking for an answer to this inquiry.

I have further researched the issue, and have found that the intel Core 2 processors ABOVE Q6700 & E6850, are 45nm technology. All of the Core 2 processors at or below Q6700 & E6850 are 65nm technology. The Intel G33 chipset (found on the Asus/HP IPIBL-LA & IPIBL-LB motherboards) will support all of the Core 2 processors, whether 45nm or 65nm. The processors, whether 45 or 65, are the same package size and all use the 775 socket.

This is the dividing line between the IPIBL-LA & IPIBL-LB motherboards. IPIBL-LA supports (according to HP) all the Core 2 processors in the 65nm range. The IPIBL-LB supports all of the 65nm Core 2 processors, AND the 45nm Core 2 processors as well.

The two boards, from a physical perspective, are almost identical... although in the photos on the HP board specs, there is a slight difference in the appearance of the 775 sockets between the two boards. Aside from this minor difference, the only other discernible difference between the two boards is that the newer board (the IPIBL-LB) has a newer BIOS file.

So I am wondering if the difference between these two boards is merely a planned obsolescence on the part of HP, and the IPIBL-LB is really just a re-badged IPIBL-LA with an updated BIOS that allows recognition of the 45nm Core 2 processors... if this is the case, then maybe the IPIBL-LA could be flashed (and function properly) with the IPIBL-LB bios... thereby effectively turning an IPIBL-LA into an IPIBL-LB.

Any thoughts? I realize that the risk in flashing one board with another board's bios runs the risk of bricking the motherboard... so has anybody tried this?

[alambrose]

Tried putting a Q8400 intel processor into the IPIBL-LA motherboard, and the system would not get past the POST. It would start up and then get stuck on the initial POST screen (showing bios revision, etc), but could not get into setup... tried it several times and got the same thing.

I did not attempt to flash the IPIBL-LA bios with the IPIBL-LB bios... I'll lok into that a bit further.

[alambrose]

Apparently this forum is a farce... only one [useless] reply to my inquiry, and then just responding to myself.

I have tried to find out more about the BIOS on the IPIBL-LA and IPIBL-LB and whether or not I might be able to flash the IPIBL-LA with the IPIBL-LB bios without bricking the motherboard, but there is little to be found. Even in the motherboard photos & diagrams provided by HP, it is difficult to ascertain the physical location of the bios chip, and whether or not it is socketed. 

I think I have spent about as much time on this as I am willing to... I will not come here again for any assistance as this board and the people who run it are totally worthless.

[Ninja_Lurker]

Hi,

I have serendipitously ended up at this upgrade solution much like you did a while back. And this is about the best thread I have found so far (even though as you mention above it is a bit of a monologue).  I was about to pull the trigger on getting the faster processor (the Q9550) for the ipbl-la but wanted to do one last check to see if I am not throwing my $250 out the door.

So did you ever try this and if so, how did it turn out?  I too had assumed that maybe HP did not support processors above the QUA because they didn't exist at the time they finalized the specs on this product.

I'm thankful for any response 🙂

[Ravi411]

Hello I have an HP Pavilion PC with the IPIBL-LA Motherboard. I upgraded from Core2 Duo E6550 to Core2 Quad Q8200 and it worked perfectly, without the need to upgrade BIOS (rev 5.03)

Well I now upgraded again to a Core2 Quad Q9400 and this time the system will not start up. It just hangs at the POST screen showing BIOS revision and thats all. No response from keyboard. BIOS update to the latest version available rev 5.13 still does not resolve things.

Any help/suggestions are most welcome.

[alambrose]

If you go to intel.com and look at the processor specs, all of the quads up to q6700 are 65nm; after that they are 45nm... hp did not officially support anything beyond the q6600, and i think it has to do with both the processor and the ipibl-la bios the hp boards are designed so that you cannot flash them with another board's bios... i was thinking that if i could flash an ipibl-lb bios on to an ipibl-la, maybe then i get the processor upgrade i wanted. but i could not find a way to flash the ipibl-la with the ipibl-lb bios

[alambrose]

the ipibl-la bios will not support that processor, i am surprised to hear that the q8200 worked