Penryn Processors and the GM965 Mini-ITX Mainboards

Posted on March 12, 2008 by Kristina
Filed Under General, Product-Related

We brought in an Intel T8300 processor to test with our GM965 Mini-ITX mainboards (Socket P ). The T8300 is a 2.4GHz 3MB L2 Cache 800MHz FSB processor using the new 45nm processing technology. There have been some questions regarding compatibility between the Socket-P-Merom-core mainboards and the new Socket-P-Penryn-core processors. Logic Supply offers 2 mainboards that are designed around Intel’s Socket P processors: MSI MS-9803 (Fuzzy GM965) and the AOpen i965GMt-LA.

From what we have determined, it looks like all that is needed is a BIOS update. AOpen has already started sending us mainboards with the latest BIOS version (R1.07) that supports the new Penryn processors. On AOpen’s Web site, you can download the R1.06 version (which also supports the Penryn processors).

MSI’s latest BIOS version for the MS-9803 can be downloaded here.

We tested the T8300 with the AOpen i965GMt-LA (with the latest BIOS versions—both R1.06 and R1.07) and found no problems.

Just a quick note: To update your BIOS, a compatible processor (Socket P Merom core) must be installed first. Then, after the BIOS update, a Penryn core processor can be installed.

Update 3/19/2008: MSI has just informed us that there are 2 mainboard revisions available, 1 that does not support the Penryn processors with an updated BIOS and 1 that does support the Penryn processors with an updated BIOS. We currently have the older version that does not support the Penryn processors even with an updated BIOS. We are going to remedy this and get in the newest mainboard revision.

Apparently there needs to be a hardware adjustment (2 resistors needs to be swapped) in order for the mainboard to support the new Penryn processors. Once this hardware adjustment is made, the updated BIOS that I have listed above will support the Penryn chips.

If you have a mainboard with a barcode (you can find this next to the PCI slot on the mainboard) that begins with the number 8, then the you should be all set. Any boards that begin with the number 7 will not be able to update the BIOS for Penryn chips support.

I apologize for any confusion.

Update 4/2/2008: Moving forward, all our MSI GM965 mainboards will be able to support both the Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile Merom and Penryn chips. The MSI GM965 is now in stock, and has been tested and confirmed for support with the Penryn chips.

Comments

7 Responses to “Penryn Processors and the GM965 Mini-ITX Mainboards”

  1. Jesse Hathaway on March 12th, 2008 3:30 pm

    Is there an expected date when penryn processors will be available on logic supply’s website?

  2. Kristina on March 12th, 2008 3:40 pm

    Hi Jesse,
    We do plan on stocking these. We should have the T8300 series in-house sometime next week, depending on availability and delivery time.

  3. Frank on March 16th, 2008 12:14 am

    Excellent! Thanks for the update. It looks like I’ll be grabbing one of the MSI boards soon. :)

  4. Adrian on March 17th, 2008 10:58 pm

    You stated that you tested it in the AOpen board and had no problems. But your wording is vague about testing in the MSI board. The MSI site does not list the new Penryns as compatible, and the linked bios file does not contain any hints about processor support. So… DId the MSI board handle the new Penryn chip without issue?

  5. Kristina on March 19th, 2008 8:59 am

    Hi Adrian,
    Sorry to be misleading. To clarify: We did not test the MSI mainboard with the new BIOS. MSI sent us the new BIOS under the assumption that it would be able to support the new Penryn processors.
    We will test this and make sure there are no issues, as well.

    **See update to my post above.

  6. Peter on April 8th, 2008 9:08 pm

    For the MS-9803 to support Penryn processors, you said that a transistor is different between the two board revisions. Could you indictate which one, and what it needs to be replaced with? — I have an earlier board and although I have no intention of changing it now, I imagine that in a couple of years it will be far more difficult to find out this information.
    Thank you.

  7. Kristina on April 10th, 2008 8:39 am

    Hi Peter,
    MSI modified 2 resistors (I believe I did say transistor… my apologies!).
    The resistors that were changed are the R12 and R13. They changed each one to 27.4 ohm.
    Along with the BIOS update, the MS-9803 can support the T8xxx and the T9xxx Penryn processor series.

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