[SoCalBryan]

So I'm not sure about his motherboard, but the HP xw9400 workstation motherboard has boot block feature that needs to be enabled so you can add the cpu codes for the quad core and 6 core opterons.

It's a jumper to allow that section of the rom to install the later model cpu codes. Not as simple as just running a software program from windows or even a usb drive like for retail motherboards. There has to a jumper to unlock the boot block, or you can't update to the new CPU's. At least on xw9400 motherboard.

The Service manual shows the jumper pins where you would put the jumper on, but both the motherboards I have do not have the jumper pins installed. So I made a solder bridge across the jumper to enable it.

HP does not make it easy to update the CPU's on their proprietary boards. Tom's hardware said it couldn't be done for motherboards with a boot block date that was before 4/6/09. There are two dates associated with the BIOS on xw9400 motherboards.

Also there are two revision codes on the circuit board and supposedly you could not update to the Hexacore opterons unless the board was a fifth generation board.

Also according most forums posted back then on upgrading to Hexacores, motherboards revisions -001/-001, -001/-002, -001/-003, and a -001/-004 required a new BIOS rom to be soldered on.

I have both a first generation -001/-001 and forth generation and placing a solder bridge across the jumper location allow me to update the boot block code as well as the cpu codes for the hexacore processors.

 

[SoCalBryan]

The point of my post is that it might not be possible to update the CPU on the proprietary HP motherboard he has without some soldering.

HP keeps a tight reign on their workstation motherboards not sure about their consumer boards.

The HP XW9400 workstation motherboard was made for HP by Tyan and is almost a direct clone of Tyans S2915 retail motherboard. In fact, I was able to install the Tyan S2915 BIOS on the xw9400, but the nic ports and the SAS ports wouldn't work.

 

[Denise’s_husband]

So I got a cheap rebuilt compaq 4300 pro desktop. It is SLOW. So I bought a cpu which is compatible (Intel® Core™ i7-3770S (3.1 GHz, 8 MB cache, 4 cores) and installed it. When I plugged it in I got three beeps and red lights (no white) and the screen did not come on. So I reinstalled it and this time green lights and the fans came on but not the monitor or key board or mouse. I read that I should have updated the bios first so I reinstalled the old cpu and the same thing happened- green lights and fan but no screen, mouse, or keyboard. I tried unplugging and holding the power button for 10 seconds but all to no avail. Please help!!!!

****so I have an update! I ruined my last motherboard, which might have been shot anyway, when I got thermal paste in the pins so I bought a new one. The computer boots up and runs like it always did with the old cpu. I decided to try and update the bios before trying the better cpu and now I’m running into a problem. I’m running windows 10 which came with the dinosaur. Apparently I should only be able to run windows 8 and hp no longer supplies support for this model. How do I ensure I get a bios compatible both with my motherboard and my cpu?

 

[spunk.funk]

Download the Bios Update for Windows 8.1 with the latest date. HP Compaq Pro 4300 Small Form Factor PC Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support
Download the file to your download location and Right click it and choose Properties/Compatibility tab. Take the drop down arrow and make the Bios Update compatible with Windows 8.1. Also put a check in the box for Run As Administrator. Apply and OK. Double click the file to start the install.

After that, check in the Device Manager, if there are any devices that have yellow marks and need drivers, do the above procedure as well.

 

[Denise’s_husband]

Should I choose the 32 bit or the 64 bit version?

 

[spunk.funk]

Whatever Windows version you have. Go to Settings/System/About/System Type and it will tell you, it's probably 64 bit.

 

[Denise’s_husband]

That’s the thing, I’m running windows 10 and from what I can tell, windows to doesn’t have 32 or 64 bits. My winver says 22h2 as my version

 

[spunk.funk]

Windows 10 does have 32 bit and 64 bit version, Windows 11 does not have 32 bit. versions.
Did you check in System as discussed in Post # 26?

 

[Denise’s_husband]

I’m a dummy, sorry, found it. It is 64. Installing driver now

 

[Denise’s_husband]

So, I updated my bios and installed my new cpu. This time it works! It took forever to boot up and the screen was blank after logging in for quite awhile. My new cpu should be better than my old one (more gh and 4 cores instead of 2) so things should run noticeably faster despite being a dinosaur (I’m not expecting miracles). Any chance it is just upgrading to the new cpu or do I need to do more?

 

[spunk.funk]

You say you installed new CPU and it took a while to bootup, (this is standard because the chipset needs to update to the new CPU)

Upgrading to new CPU should speed things up,
I am not sure if you also Upgraded the RAM to the maximum amount for your Motherboard? That would help a lot too. And also not sure if you installed a SATA drive relacing the old HDD. That would be the final upgrade IMO.