Misconfigured Intel T2250 CPU

The T2250 CPU is a Core Duo processor. I have run a number of tests on my Inspiron E1705 and the test programs confirm it has two CPU's but only one is enabled. The Dell Support Center test "PC Checkup", also indicates the CPU is misconfigured and recommends correcting the problem in bios. However there is no way to modify the CPU in bios. I do have V 10, the latest bios on board.

Does anyone understand what's going on with this?

Here's the error message from PC Checkup

Multicore Test
Test Started 4/27/2011 4:26:42 PM
Warning Message: There are 2 cores in the CPU and only 1 core is enabled. 4/27/2011 4:26:43 PM
Test Finished: Misconfigured 4/27/2011 4:26:44 PM

 

Greetings, ITALI.

What's your Dell Service Tag #?

 

dpbf6c1. I checked Dell support and there's no info regarding this issue although I see on the internet that others have asked the same question about these processors, but got no answers either. You would think Dell would be able to answer a question about an error message in the diagnostic software they provide.

 

To verify: does Device Manager show one processor or two?

Be patient - I'm still looking, and I'm sure others will jump onboard.

 

Just to show I'm taking an interest here - I get an error when using the Dell Service Tag dpbf6c1.

 

Two processors, here's the report:

Selected Resource Report - Page: 1
******************** SYSTEM DEVICE CLASS ********************
Class: Processors
Device: Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2250 @ 1.73GHz
No resources used.
Device Drivers:
Class: Processors
Device: Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2250 @ 1.73GHz
No resources used.
Device Drivers:

 

Here's more conflicting info on this problem:

1. System Configuration does not allow changing the reported processor from 1 to 2
i.e. "MsConfig -> Boot.ini -> Advanced Options -> /NumProc = "

2. Also, Device Manager shows 2 T2250 Processors under "Processor" and under Computer" it indicates - ACPI Multiprocessor PC.

Any additional help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Does Task Manager show 1 or 2 processors?

If you run DXDiag, does the main page show (2CPUs) after the processor type?

 

Satrow, It does not show 2 CPU's (see below)

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/8/2011, 14:03:55
Machine name: DDP3F6C1
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: MP061
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A10
Processor: Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2250 @ 1.73GHz
Memory: 3318MB RAM
Page File: 997MB used, 3682MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

 

What's the history of this laptop?

Can you try to read and post the Service Tag again?

 

Not much history. No significant problems. Replaced batteries, added RAM, external drives. Speed is OK. No functional problems for years. I just realized this single CPU issue when I was running some tests and thought, maybe Dell never sold me what I paid for.

Svc. Tag: DP3F6C1

 

Satrow, I keep referring to a single CPU but I guess there is only one physical processor but with 2 cores and only 1 functioning. FYI, here's part of a CPU-Z test I ran showing that one core is disabled.

-------------------------
CPU-Z version 1.39
-------------------------

Processors Map
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of processors 1
Number of threads 1

Processor 0
-- Core 0
-- Thread 0


Processors Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processor 1 (ID = 0)
Number of cores 2 (1 core(s) disabled)
Number of threads 1 (max 2)
Name Intel Core Duo T2250
Codename Yonah
Specification Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2250 @ 1.73GHz
Package Socket 479 mPGA (platform ID = 5h)
CPUID 6.E.8
Extended CPUID 6.E
Core Stepping C0
Technology 65 nm
Core Speed 798.2 MHz (6.0 x 133.0 MHz)
Rated Bus speed 532.2 MHz
Stock frequency 1733 MHz
Instructions sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
L1 Data cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 2048 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control yes
FID range 6.0x - 13.0x
max VID 1.263V

 

I see that one of the reports you've posted gives the BIOS version as A10, could you check that is correct in the BIOS please?

 

Yes, it is A10 in the bios.

 

Could you try booting with just one RAM stick and checking the CPU, then switch to the other RAM stick/slot and test again?

I'm wondering whether the latest BIOS code has some bug in it, the last BIOS update I see that is relevant to all E1705/9400's is A08. Do you think you could track down a method of downgrading yours in the Dell forums?

 

The problem here is that the issue existed before I upgraded the bios to A10. The reason I did the upgrade is because Dell's "PC Checkup" program recommended correcting the problem in bios, but there was no way to do it in the earlier bios version. Take a look at my first note about this on the forum.

I'll be back later this evening. Got to take care of some domestic issues right now. Thanks for helping so far.

 

As I don't know which version(s) of previous BIOSes you've had installed and/or which versions you've skipped or when you actually discovered the lack of 1 Core, I'd like you to try to revert to the A08 BIOS because it's listed as a critical update, it contains many fixes, one of which is for Intel microcode. This makes me think that this BIOS was actually better-planned and tested than the A10 which was rushed out purely to turn the cooling fan to maximum to prevent the known-faulty nVidia graphics cards burning out before the laptop warranty expired.

 

Satrow, just got back in town. I've been thinking about your suggestion to downgrade the bios, but that's something I've never done and it seems to be a potentially big problem if the process fails. This is my workhorse PC and as much as I would like to find the solution, I really can't take a chance on screwing the machine up.

But also, I looked at the past data & downloads I saved and I see that I originally had Bios A06 and then upgraded to A08, A09 and A10. So now I have another question: I didn't really test for the dual core issue right after I purchased the PC but I do remember that Windows Task Manager always showed only one CPU. Should Task Manager show 2 CPU's for a dual core processor? If so, the problem existed from the start.

Another thing that makes me think downgrading the bios should be unnecessary is that good design practice should include all previous fixes. It would be nice if I had another Dell E1705 to use as a test bed, but I don't, so I think I'll skip the bios downgrade approach. Any ideas on where to go from here?