Jump to content
LaptopVideo2Go Forums

New M60 BIOS has Dothan support


ofelas

Recommended Posts

vA04 released last night with "support for new processors"...looks like Dothan will be available in the 8600/D800/M60 chassis, as all of them have the 855PM chipset... :)

The latest BIOS versions for the D800 & 8600 have this support as well...just noticed.

Edited by ofelas
Link to comment
Share on other sites

From what I've seen, the fastest Dothan precessr that the I855 will support will be clocked at 2.0Ghz with 400Mhz FSB. Anything faster will have a FSB of 533Mhz which will require the new I915 motherboard. But still, with my current 1.4Ghz P-M, going to 2.0Gz will still be a big improvement. What I'm really waiting for is the mobile GeForce6. Time to start saving up my college education money...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's the system BIOS A04 (not the video BIOS)

:o

O.K. i see :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My fault for confusing the issue & posting a system BIOS in a video card forum where it makes more sense to post a video card BIOS like you already did last week... :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Anders

I dont think Dothan will do much for 3D performance.

Except for those with a 1.3 or 1.4 Ghz cpu, the upgrade will not be worth it IMHO.

By the time 2 Ghz is down to a reasonable cost, you might upgrade the entire laptop anyway...

Its k3wl to have 2 MB cache, but it wont do that much for ya... :)

- Anders

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A 2Ghz Dothan will probably run an equivalent of about a 3Ghz P4-M.

So it won't be a sloucher, and run with considerably less power.

It will be some time before the 2Ghz will be available (Q1 2005 ?)

Pieter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It will be some time before the 2Ghz will be available (Q1 2005 ?)

2Ghz 400Mhz Dothans are planned to be released buy Q3 2004 while the 500Mhz FSB one that uses the new I915 chipset is scheduled for Q4 2004. Who knows when they will actually come out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I read somewhere that the 1.8Ghz was Q3, the 1.9 in Q4, and saw no date for the 2 Ghz.

These things change like undies (at least once a month :) )

Pieter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

release notes:

Dell Inc.
Copyright (C) 2004, All Rights reserved.
www.dell.com


BIOS Release Notes

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Precision M60 Series
Version:      A04
Build Date:   04/14/04

The following updates were made to the A03 BIOS to create the A04 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed problem where some PCI video cards in the D-Dock may not
   function.
2.  Fixed issues where the system fails to boot to certain USB storage
   devices or any USB storage when several such devices are attached
   to the system.
3.  Fixed issue seen after several Standby/Resume cycles in which an
   external USB keyboard can no longer be used to enter a BIOS or
   hard-disk drive password.
4.  Fixed problem where a reboot is required for a System Setup boot
   order change to take effect. Now, if <F2> is pressed during POST to
   enter System Setup, and a boot order change is made, the new boot
   order will take effect upon exiting System Setup.
5.  Fixed issue in which no audio is received from the analog audio
   channel of a DVD-RW drive in the media bay.
6.  Fixed issue in which media bay devices may be reported incorrectly
   in SMBIOS if the device is swapped while in Standby.
7.  Fixed possible system hang during POST when the Parallel Mode in
   System Setup is configured to DISABLE.
8.  Fixed issue in which QuickSet may intermittently fail to detect
   a hotkey press, such as the <Fn + F10> CD Eject hotkey.
9.  Update to Pre-boot System Assessment to build 3012. This version
   addresses problems when executing the hard-disk drive tests
   without AC power attached.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for DVD+/-RW drives to be displayed in System Setup
   and SMBIOS correctly.
2.  Added feature to allow the BIOS Admin password to unlock the
   primary hard-disk drive password. For this feature to work, the
   BIOS Admin password must be installed at the time the drive
   password is created. Also, the BIOS Admin password will only
   unlock the password for a drive that is installed in the specific
   system on which the drive password is originally created.
3.  Added support for newer versions of the Intel Pentium M processor.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP 
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Precision M60 Series
Version:      A03
Build Date:   01/12/04

The following updates were made to the A02 BIOS to create the A03 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed an issue where the "SmartCard Function" field was not visible in 
   in BIOS Setup unless a BIOS Administrator password was installed.
2.  Improved the battery charging algorithm for fully discharged batteries.
3.  Fixed problem where a system running on batteries may resume 
   immediately after entering a suspend state when the system is low on
   battery life.
4.  Fixed issue in DOS where if a USB key is the boot device the System will
   hang for a few minutes before displaying an error message if the USB key 
   is removed.
5.  Improved dual-battery discharge algorithm.  Discharge secondary
   battery first to 3%, then attempt to discharge primary battery to 3%,
   then secondary to 0% followed by primary to 0%.
6.  Fixed an issue where the system may hang at the end of POST if a 
   HUB with a USB device is connected.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for newer Intel MiniPCI wireless card.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP 
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Precision M60 Series
Version:      A02
Build Date:   09/30/03

The following updates were made to the A01 BIOS to create the A02 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed hang seen when exiting Dell Diagnostics with a USB keyboard
   connected.
2.  Fixed problem where System Setup may report the wrong CPU speed.
3.  Fixed intermittent "unexpected error" seen when running the System
   BIOS flash update program in Windows.
4.  Fixed intermittent abnormal NumLock LED behavior seen during POST.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Reduced the minimum remaining battery capacity required to run
   the System BIOS flash update program in Windows. The flash update
   program requires that an AC adapter be attached and the battery
   be charged to at least 11%.
2.  Added support for newer battery packs.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP 
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Precision M60 Series
Version:      A01
Build Date:   08/28/03

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

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed hang seen during boot with the HP PSC2200 all-in-one USB
   printer attached.
2.  Improved the dual-battery discharging algorithm.
3.  Fixed problem where the system would shutdown if the battery
   drained to a critically low battery state while the system was
   in Standby.
4.  Fixed problem where the battery LED will flash amber when the
   battery is swapped while in Standby.
5.  Fixed problem where pressing <ALT-P> while in BIOS Setup will
   not function if the "Enable Keypad" option is set to "by NumLock".
6.  Fixed problem where SMBIOS would not report an accurate battery
   capacity for a fully charged Dell supported battery.
7.  Decreased the time required for the system to enter Standby after
   closing the lid.
8.  Fixed a problem where a USB floppy attached to the system would be lost
   during the OS CD installation.
9.  Fixed issue in which the <F2> and <F12> keys may have no effect during
   POST when using a USB keyboard.
10. Prevent system from spending an excessive amount of time in POST
   if a non-compliant USB storage device is attached.
11. Fixed issue in which the USB floppy disk drive may fail to initialize.
12. Fixed issue seen on systems equipped with a Bluetooth module in which
   the blue activity LED would fail to turn off when performing a warm
   undock from a Docking Station or Port Replicator.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Updated the Broadcom option ROM to the 6.2.11 release.
2.  Added a SmartCard Function field on page 4 of System Setup to allow
   a user with the Admin Password to enable or disable the SmartCard feature.
3.  Optimized the thermal control algorithm.



The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP 
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI


===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Precision M60 Series
Version:      A00
Build Date:   06/16/03


Initial release of the BIOS

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP 
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yet another BIOS update M60_A05 for Precision M60... R76697.EXE downloadable here -

http://support.dell.com/filelib/exportcomp...on=2&st=60G8411

Systems: Dell Precision M60 Series Version: A05 Build Date: 04/26/04 The following updates were made to the A04 BIOS to create the A05 BIOS: Enhancements: =============== 1. Added support for newer versions of the Intel Pentium M processor. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows XP 2. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI
Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...