[GUIDE] LGA 771 Mod for Dell Vostro 220(s)

[oskarha]

Hello and welcome to my guide for performing the LGA 771 mod on your Dell Vostro 220(s) tower. In this guide I will explain the process of preforming the LGA 771 mod on the Dell Vostro 220, specifically focusing on the process of modding a bios and flashing a modded bios.

 

Disclaimer:

I am not responsible for any damage to you/your equipment, proceed at your own risk.

 

Tested Systems:

Dell Vostro 220 with G45M03 motherboard revision A00 and A03.

Note:

I have only tested this mod on the Vostro 220, not on the 220s, if you have a 220s and you successfully followed my guide; please let me know so I can add the 220s here

EDIT 29/05/17: Confirmed in the 220s (board rev. A00) working by @xpentor

 

STEP ONE:

Follow this great guide by @harrynowl to prepare your socket and CPU for the LGA 771 mod. This is 100% necessary to get your CPU to physically fit in the LGA 775 socket, come back when you are ready!

 

If you have completed the guide successfully your CPU and your CPU socket should look like this:

Spoiler

CPU Socket with neccesary modfications.

Xeon E5420 CPU With LGA 771 Mod Sticker.

The Xeon E5420 CPU correctly installed in the LGA 775 socket.

 

NOTE:

You might want to edit and flash your bios with your old CPU if windows will not boot with your new LGA 771 CPU (as it did for me).

 

STEP TWO:

Download and extract the following files, we will need them later.

Spoiler

http://www.mediafire.com/download/cp8q53h5cepzlol/7C4D1P45.zip

This is the stock Dell Vostro 220 BIOS .rom file.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/d44ahq55klip8ub/afuwin-4.48.zip

Tool for flashing the modded BIOS.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/bccoisw648a9w2c/desktop-lga-771-775-microcode.zip

New microcodes for the BIOS.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/03wxjpcryg1opp5/MMTool_322_1B_21Fix.zip

Tool for editing the BIOS.

STEP THREE:

To know which microcode to update, you have to know your CPUID.

To find your CPUID you can go to http://www.cpu-world.com/ and search your CPU model number (e.g. E5420) in the top right corner.

When you have found the page for your CPU (e.g. E5420), scroll down to "CPUIDs" under "Architecture / Microarchitecture".

Select the correct CPUID by identifying the S-Spec number of your CPU, the S-Spec Number can be found written on the IHS (integrated hat spreader) of your CPU.

For my CPU, a Xeon E5420 S-Spec SLBBL, the CPUID is 1067A.

Spoiler

Xeon E5420 SLBBL

STEP FOUR:

Open MMTOOL and load your BIOS rom file.

Go to the CPU PATCH tab and Browse for your microcode patch file.

The microcodes can be found the desktop-LGA-771-775-microcode.zip file you have downloaded earlier.

You want to insert both of the microcode files that begin with your CPUID.

For my E5420 with the 1067A CPUID, I want to insert CPU0001067a_plat00000011_ver00000a0b_date20100928.bin and CPU0001067a_plat00000044_ver00000a0b_date20100928.bin.

NOTE:

You have to add platform type 4, 40 or 44 (plat000000XX) microcodes for your lga 771 xeon to work, these are the only microcode that are for lga 771 xeons.

Spoiler

STEP FIVE:

We now have to flash the modded bios using AFUWIN.

Open the 32bit or 64bit version of AFUWIN depending on your OS configuration.

Open your modded BIOS file, and under the "Setup" tab, "Block Options", select "Program All Blocks".

Then click "Flash".

Spoiler

Now, shut down your computer.

When you have shut down your computer, you want to clear the CMOS.

 

NOTE:

Clearing the CMOS will reset all bios settings including the time and date.

 

From the Dell Vostro 420/220/220s Manual:

Spoiler

When you have reset the CMOS, you want to enter the BIOS and load deafault settings.

 

STEP SIX (optional):

While I did not have to do this for my E5420 in my 220, @xpentor reported that disabling SpeedStep was necessary for the mod to work with a E5450 installed in his 220s.

15 hours ago, xpentor said:

Hi I am here just to share I have successfully installed Xeon E5450 3.0Ghz on my Vostro 220s (Mobo revision A00).

All you need to do is to follow the above steps. Do not miss a single thing.

Then follow up to disable that SpeedStep CPU feature in the BIOS.

 

Hope that helps.

 

STEP SEVEN:

Make sure you have competed all steps 1-5 and that your LGA 771 CPU is properly installed.

Your new LGA 771 Xeon CPU should now work flawlessly in your Dell Vostro 220(s) tower.

 

 

If you have any comments or questions please reply below and I will try to respond as quickly as I can

Edited May 29, 2017 by oskarha

[stojke]

Thank you for this great tutorial

I have read it and tried it on my Dell Vostro 220 G45M03 Rev A00 motherboard. But it did not go as planned

 

In my case (G45M03 Rev A00 , BIOS 1.3.0) the motherboard detected the Xeon CPU instantly and loaded up the system with out me having to mod the bios with additional and newer Micro Codes, but the system was booting and operating very slowly and sluggish. When reading from task manager I noticed that the CPU ussage is constantly over 30% to 40%, mostly by System Interupts and System (which should never use so much CPU). Application and basic folder navigation took around 5 to 20 seconds for each operation of open and close, but even so I managed to give it time and try different combinations of Micro codes and BIOS revisions (1.2.4).

 

Even so, it still operates extremely slowly. I am currently at the Service i work and will try a couple of last tries before calling quit.

Fun time to spend a day

[oskarha]

14 minutes ago, stojke said:

Thank you for this great tutorial

I have read it and tried it on my Dell Vostro 220 G45M03 Rev A00 motherboard. But it did not go as planned

 

In my case (G45M03 Rev A00 , BIOS 1.3.0) the motherboard detected the Xeon CPU instantly and loaded up the system with out me having to mod the bios with additional and newer Micro Codes, but the system was booting and operating very slowly and sluggish. When reading from task manager I noticed that the CPU ussage is constantly over 30% to 40%, mostly by System Interupts and System (which should never use so much CPU). Application and basic folder navigation took around 5 to 20 seconds for each operation of open and close, but even so I managed to give it time and try different combinations of Micro codes and BIOS revisions (1.2.4).

 

Even so, it still operates extremely slowly. I am currently at the Service i work and will try a couple of last tries before calling quit.

Fun time to spend a day

I had the same problems with my vostro 220. Have you made shure that you flashed the bios correctly ticking program all blocks? In my case i forgot to tick that box and the system would boot, but it would be extremely sluggish.

[stojke]

Yeah, I have checked program all blocks every time I flashed it. I will now remove the CPU and check if I installed the right micro codes again.

Should I install both combinations of micro codes for 676 microprocessor? There are 1, 4, 10, 44 code combinations.

[oskarha]

Just now, stojke said:

Yeah, I have checked program all blocks every time I flashed it. I will now remove the CPU and check if I installed the right micro codes again.

Should I install both combinations of micro codes for 676 microprocessor? There are 1, 4, 10, 44 code combinations.

I reccomend all of them, but only 44 is for lga 771, so thats the most important one.

[stojke]

For example I tried the follwing - Remove all micro codes and install only 1, 4 , maybe I should try remove all the codes and install only 1, 4, 10 and 44.

[oskarha]

13 minutes ago, stojke said:

For example I tried the follwing - Remove all micro codes and install only 1, 4 , maybe I should try remove all the codes and install only 1, 4, 10 and 44.

I dont know, I would just try keeping all microcodes and adding only 44.

[stojke]

I am currently back onto an E5200 Pentium while I work this out, but an interesting thing happened yesterday.

I did the following:

 

- Flash the BIOS chip to 1.3.0 externally

- Insert new LGA 771 platform microcodes for 676, 677 and 67A (04 40 0F, 44 0B, 10 0A) and update existing LGA775 platform microcodes from 0016760C 0106760C to 0F , from 01067705 to 0B and from 01167A07 to 0A.

- Programmed all blocks directly with Win Flash (ticked all options and double checked)

- Shut down the computer, replaced the procesor and thermal grease, Clearned CMOS settings using jumper function and powered it on

- After that edited the BIOS settings (like tag, time, boot sequence and such, CPU Xeon was detected normally), saved to CMOS and restarted

 

After that windows started normally (Very quickly) but it still had E5200 dual core in its settings as the installed processor. During that time everything was blazing fast. Knowing this can happen if somebody replaces the processor with out doing an full restart I after that did an full system restart/shutdown (Shut down - Restart). Once that completed windows became much slower and has again started experiencing prolonged boot times and almost unbearable response times.

 

This has lead me to believe that there was something wrong with the system it self so I did a few tests. First  that I tried was to boot my windows 8.1 installation disc, boot time was so long I literally went home, had lunch, got back and it was not done by  then (eventually it did boot the installation menu but it was unusably slow), After that I tried an Mini Windows Xp boot disc (Hirens boot disc) and to my surprise, and expectation at this point, the mini windows XP system worked flawlessly, no lag no stutter.

This has lead me to believe that there is either something that is preventing usage of an Xeon processor in an modern system with this computer or I simply failed to install proper microcodes again.

 

Here are images of before and after my modification:

 

Maybe, even though an E5450 SLANU is an Code ID 676, I should have inserted 1067A Platform type 44 as well? I don't know.

[oskarha]

4 hours ago, stojke said:

 - snip -

Platform type 4, 40 or 44 has the lga 771 microcodes. Adding more microcodes will never hurt, so go ahed and try

 

EDIT:

Updated guide to make this more clear.

[3.8Jake]

I followed this guide and I couldn't get my e5450 to post at all.  I tested the cpu in a lga771 motherboard and it worked no problem.  I saw that only the q9550 was ever officially supported so I picked up a e5440 on the cheap and got it to post no problem.  Using the computer in windows however presented another problem.  If windows 10 loaded, it was extremely slow.  I'm using the modded bios as well.  Do I have a bad motherboard or is this shuddering to be expected on all g45m03 rev3 boards with a xeon mod? The c2d I have works without any issues before and after the mod.

[oskarha]

On 18.2.2017 at 4:09 PM, 3.8Jake said:

I followed this guide and I couldn't get my e5450 to post at all.  I tested the cpu in a lga771 motherboard and it worked no problem.  I saw that only the q9550 was ever officially supported so I picked up a e5440 on the cheap and got it to post no problem.  Using the computer in windows however presented another problem.  If windows 10 loaded, it was extremely slow.  I'm using the modded bios as well.  Do I have a bad motherboard or is this shuddering to be expected on all g45m03 rev3 boards with a xeon mod? The c2d I have works without any issues before and after the mod.

I also had this problem, but I fixed it by ticking program all blocks when flashing. I have tested the mod on both a rev a00 and a03 boards and the mod works perfectly on both.

[3.8Jake]

On 3/12/2017 at 7:54 AM, oskarha said:

I also had this problem, but I fixed it by ticking program all blocks when flashing. I have tested the mod on both a rev a00 and a03 boards and the mod works perfectly on both.

Thank you for replying!

 

On the flash tool, i've tried just selecting program all check box and manually selected all blocks.  It appears to flash correctly.  I shut down and manually clear cmos then load optimized defaults in bios upon boot.  The end result is still the same.  Could the flash tool be buggy in windows 10?

 

Edit, I've tried with windows 7 pro 32 with my c2d and the result is still the same when trying to run my e5440. =/

[oskarha]

10 hours ago, 3.8Jake said:

Thank you for replying!

 

On the flash tool, i've tried just selecting program all check box and manually selected all blocks.  It appears to flash correctly.  I shut down and manually clear cmos then load optimized defaults in bios upon boot.  The end result is still the same.  Could the flash tool be buggy in windows 10?

 

Edit, I've tried with windows 7 pro 32 with my c2d and the result is still the same when trying to run my e5440. =/

Weird. It's been a long time since I performed the mod on one of these boards, so I don't remember all of the details. I could try to re-do the mod on my rev A00 board when I get time

[xpentor]

Hi I am here just to share I have successfully installed Xeon E5450 3.0Ghz on my Vostro 220s (Mobo revision A00).

All you need to do is to follow the above steps. Do not miss a single thing.

Then follow up to disable that SpeedStep CPU feature in the BIOS.

 

Hope that helps.

[oskarha]

15 hours ago, xpentor said:

Hi I am here just to share I have successfully installed Xeon E5450 3.0Ghz on my Vostro 220s (Mobo revision A00).

All you need to do is to follow the above steps. Do not miss a single thing.

Then follow up to disable that SpeedStep CPU feature in the BIOS.

 

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info, I have updated the guide to include your tip of disabling SpeedStep. 

Maybe @stojke and @3.8Jake should give this a try?

[dribgnikcom]

On 2/29/2016 at 5:45 AM, stojke said:

I am currently back onto an E5200 Pentium while I work this out, but an interesting thing happened yesterday.

I did the following:

 

- Flash the BIOS chip to 1.3.0 externally

- Insert new LGA 771 platform microcodes for 676, 677 and 67A (04 40 0F, 44 0B, 10 0A) and update existing LGA775 platform microcodes from 0016760C 0106760C to 0F , from 01067705 to 0B and from 01167A07 to 0A.

- Programmed all blocks directly with Win Flash (ticked all options and double checked)

- Shut down the computer, replaced the procesor and thermal grease, Clearned CMOS settings using jumper function and powered it on

- After that edited the BIOS settings (like tag, time, boot sequence and such, CPU Xeon was detected normally), saved to CMOS and restarted

 

After that windows started normally (Very quickly) but it still had E5200 dual core in its settings as the installed processor. During that time everything was blazing fast. Knowing this can happen if somebody replaces the processor with out doing an full restart I after that did an full system restart/shutdown (Shut down - Restart). Once that completed windows became much slower and has again started experiencing prolonged boot times and almost unbearable response times.

 

This has lead me to believe that there was something wrong with the system it self so I did a few tests. First  that I tried was to boot my windows 8.1 installation disc, boot time was so long I literally went home, had lunch, got back and it was not done by  then (eventually it did boot the installation menu but it was unusably slow), After that I tried an Mini Windows Xp boot disc (Hirens boot disc) and to my surprise, and expectation at this point, the mini windows XP system worked flawlessly, no lag no stutter.

This has lead me to believe that there is either something that is preventing usage of an Xeon processor in an modern system with this computer or I simply failed to install proper microcodes again.

 

Here are images of before and after my modification:

 

 

 

Maybe, even though an E5450 SLANU is an Code ID 676, I should have inserted 1067A Platform type 44 as well? I don't know.

I am in the same boat as you stojke, except with the Vostro 420 and the G45A01 (not sure which revision).  But it shares the same BIOS with the 220.  The stepping isn't the issue, because I've tried it with the SLBBM E5450.  Startup is extremely slow.

I've got the BIOS out of the socket now, and I'm going to try to flash it externally, like you did.

One thing about the 220/420 BIOS is that there is no automatic fan control...  It seems like Dell just went ahead with an unfinished, unlicensed AMI BIOS for these models.

I'll report back.

[dribgnikcom]

I flashed the chip externally after re-modding the BIOS.

Same result.  It's very slow and Windows 7 won't boot up.  This is G45A01 board revision A00.

 

So there's definitely something awry.

[dribgnikcom]

I tried everything.  The simple truth is that you are not guaranteed a consistent result with these boards.  Either it will work, or either it won't.  And the only explanation I can give is that it has something to do with voltages and what kind of Northbridge you got.  Maybe on the boards that it does work on, the NB can tolerate a lower voltage.  Who knows.

 

The Foxconn G45M-S BIOS showed a little promise, but it stalls at "PCI IRQ Routing Table Error".  It's not a hard stall but a system halt.  I tried copying the routing table from the Dell BIOS to the Foxconn, but that only showed the routing table error at a different address.

I also tried repositioning the sticker and shaving off more of the sticker plastic so that it fit better.  Didn't help.  I tried flashing with AFUWin with all options ticked, no dice.  As I mentioned, and as a previous user has tried, I flashed the BIOS externally with a programmer.

I might try an E5430 I also have and see if that works.  But I doubt it.  Look for another board if you plan to do this mod.

 

EDIT:  No go with the E5430 either.

[oeskaito]

Hi i have Vostro 220s G45m03 rev 00 
I complete this tutorial and my Vostro is laggy AF what can i do ? Win 7 32bit Xeon X5450 

[Ctmz34]

Same issue for me with Vostro 220s G45M03 Rev. 00.

 

I tried with C0 (SLANQ) and E0 (SLBBM) E5450 but the system running slowly (windows 7 boot take more than 15 min) and is not stable.

 Linux won't boot too, stuck on random error messages (relating to CPU or mainboard).

 

Maybe someone who already successfully made this change could detail his configuration (PSU, Mainboard components, ...) ?

[oskarha]

4 hours ago, Ctmz34 said:

Same issue for me with Vostro 220s G45M03 Rev. 00.

 

I tried with C0 (SLANQ) and E0 (SLBBM) E5450 but the system running slowly (windows 7 boot take more than 15 min) and is not stable.

 Linux won't boot too, stuck on random error messages (relating to CPU or mainboard).

 

Maybe someone who already successfully made this change could detail his configuration (PSU, Mainboard components, ...) ?

My current config is:

Dell Vostro 220 G45M03 (originally an A00 board, but it died, so I replaced it with an A03 board, both worked/work perfectly)

Intel Xeon E5420 @2.5GHz SLBBL

4GB (2x2GB) Samsung OEM DDR2 800MHz CL6

AMD Radeon HD 5750

Kingston SSDNow 60GB + WD Blue 500GB

Corsair CX500M

Windows 10 x64 1511

Works like a charm and has been since fall 2015.

[semson]

I got the same laggy problem too. Technically it's not laggy but extremely slow! Booting to Windows desktop could take 30min. I did few investigations and could think of some trials in last December. I hope someone wiser than me can take it over and find out the fix.

 

Findings:

• POST -> CPU correctly identified, no lag at all at POSTing stage.
• Real DOS mode -> still no lag, I can update BIOS under DOS without issue.
• Booting to customized Windows PE (2003-based) -> works smoothly too. This PE doesn't have power management feature so the CPU is running 1-core at full speed.
• CPUID -> I checked CPUID under WinPE, SSE4.1 and Vt-x is correctly identified so I guess the microcode is imported in the correct way.

The Research:
I did a rather extensive research on the net. Most opinions suggest that laggy of system is caused by CPU power management feature. The fix is to disable everything like: SpeedStep, C1E.... then I did:

• Disabled SpeedStep  -> laggy as is.
• Activated hidden C1E feature with AMIBCP and disabled it -> still the same lag.

 

Other trials I could think of:

• CPU stepping C0/E0 -> @Ctmz34 has confirmed not it. By the way mine is X5450 E0.
• Modding from older BIOS version -> didn't able to test. I could find some older BIOS in .exe but no way to extract it to .bin or .rom

Last thing, @oskarha your guide demonstrating directly import of missing microcode 1067A, which is 99% of us who buying 45nm Xeon. But the BIOS already has 1067A, not the latest version of course. I think the good way it to delete the old one on BIOS, then import the updated version to it. Are you doing in the same way?

 

 

[semson]

@oskarha could you share your modded BIOS? May worth a try to eliminate modding mistake.

 

[oskarha]

4 hours ago, semson said:

Last thing, @oskarha your guide demonstrating directly import of missing microcode 1067A, which is 99% of us who buying 45nm Xeon. But the BIOS already has 1067A, not the latest version of course. I think the good way it to delete the old one on BIOS, then important the updated version to it. Are you doing in the same way?

I cant remember as its a couple years since I did this mod, might be worth a shot though.

4 hours ago, semson said:

@oskarha could you share your modded BIOS? May worth a try to eliminate modding mistake.

I've attached my modded bios

7C4D1P45.ROM

[semson]

Hello oskarha, thanks a lot and I've tried the modded BIOS you provided, unfortunately the same lag persists