FSB downclock mod on the intel GL960 and GL40 --- useful info for PLL Modders

Introduction:
This thread explains a BSEL Mod that will allow a latest generation of Core 2 Duo processor such as the T9900 to work in a laptop equipped with an old chipset such as the Intel GL960. The mod forces the latest generation of Core 2 Duo to operate with an FSB of 800MHz (4 x 200MHz) instead of its native 1066MHz (4 x 266MHz). Applying the PLL mod as explained by moral hazard here after applying the BSEL Mod should allow re-increasing the FSB back to 1066MHz.

How is this useful:
1- The CPU will not lock at its lowest multiplier (i.e. x6).
2- This would help turn a latest generation Core 2 Duo CPU into a ULV. For instance, my T9900 was running at 2.29GHz after mod instead of the stock 3.06GHz. The T9900 was stable with a Vcore of 1.1v and the maximum temperature under orthos was between 55c and 60c.
3- Run the latest generation of Core 2 Duo at native speed or close to their native speed with a chipset that is not designed to support them.

Chipset concerned by the mod:
- Intel GL960, GM965, PM965, or GL40.
- non Intel chipsets that support FSB 800MHz.

CPU concerned by the mod:
- P7350, P7370, P7450, P7550, P7570.
- P4800, P8600, P8700, P8800.
- P9500, P9600, P9700.
- T9400, T9600, T9700, T9800, T9900.
- Q9000, Q9100.
- X9100, QX9300.

Requirements:
1- One of the above chipsets.
2- One of the above CPUs.
3- A BIOS that supports the latest generation of Core 2 Duo processors.

Testing the BIOS:
The cheapest way I know of to test the BIOS is to install a Pentium Dual Core T4*00 series or a Core 2 Duo T6*00 CPU in your laptop. The T4200 is cheap and can be bought from ebay for about £15. A BIOS that supports the above CPUs will not make your laptop freeze or refuse to boot into Windows. Thus, if your laptop freezes with the T4200 this means that your BIOS doesn't have the necessary code to detect and manage the latest generation of Core 2 Duo.

Origin of this thread:
nando4 contacted me regarding a reply I received a while ago from one of the NBR members. I don't remember who it was from so if you are this person PM me and I'll credit you. Without going into detail this member pointed out to the fact that a CPU will not lock at multiplier x6 if the BSEL Mod is applied to decrease the FSB on a laptop with an Intel chipset. You can read more about the BSEL Mod here. This means that a Core Duo or Core 2 Duo won't lock at multiplier x6 if the FSB is decreased from 800MHz -> 667MHz, 800MHz -> 533MHz, or 667MHz -> 533MHz. With an Intel chipset, the CPU will lock at multiplier x6 only when the BSEL Mod is applied to increase the FSB.

nando4 thinks lowering the FSB or forcing an FSB of 800MHz is useful as this would help operating the latest Core 2 Duo at their native or near their native speed with the help of the PLL Modon laptops with older chipsets. He suggested that this could be very helpful for the owners of the HDX9000 for instance. The above mod + the PLL mod might enable them to install the X9100, Q9000, Q9100 and QX9300 processors in their laptops.

The mod from FSB 1066MHz (4 x 266) to 800MHz (4 x 200):





List of laptops that have been successfully modded:
Acer Aspire 4315: Chipset Intel GL960 - modded by naton with a T9900, FSB from 1066 -> 800MHz.
Packard Bell Easy Note bg45-u-300: Chipset Intel GM965 - modded by rannyfash with a P7350, FSB from 1066 -> 800MHz.
Aspire Aspire 5720g: Chipset Intel GM965 - modded by niffcreature with a P7350, FSB from 1066 -> 800MHz.
Dell XPS M1530: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by niffcreature with a P7350, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz.
HP HDX 9000 Dragon: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by no-tech with an X9100, FSB from 1066 -> 800MHz, followed by overclock to 4.2GHz with ThrottleStop. You can read about it here.
Asus M50Sa: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by kaza with a P7350, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz.
Asus M50Sa: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by kaza with a X9100, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz, then overclocked to 3.5GHz.
Acer Aspire 5920G: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by triturbo with a X9100, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz, then overclocked to 3.6GHz.
Dell Latitude D830: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by trinsic nz with a X9100, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz, then overclocked to 3GHz.
Compaq CQ61-421SA: Chipset Intel GL40 - Modded by radtw78 with a P8700, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz.
CSony Vaio SZ7: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by treffmeister with a P8700, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz.
Acer Aspire 5920G: Chipset Intel PM965 - Modded by ergoon with a X9100, FSB 1066, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz, then overclocked to 3.2GHz.
Toshiba Satellite L305: Chipset Intel GL40 - Modded by Formula with a T9550 and E8135, FSB 1066 -> 800MHz.

List of laptops that failed to mod:
Toshiba Equium L40: tested by naton with a T4200. The laptop froze at the BIOS splash screen. This indicates that the BIOS doesn't support the latest generation of Core 2 Duo.

 

Great news! Can you confirm the CPU wasn't locked to x6 mode and if it is, can you see if Throttlestop can be used to adjust it? Your CPU-Z output shows it running at x6 only. We'd want the T9900 running at 200*11.5=2.3Ghz as a start for further investigation of applying PLL pinmods to get it running closer to it's native 266Mhz.

Can you post a screenshot showing it's a T9900 running on a GL960 chipset just to wet the appetite further?

 

I updated the first post to explain that there was no locks. The T9900 was working normally but with an FSB of 800 instead of 1066. I can't post screenshot showing the CPU running at 2.3GHz since I've already removed the mod and put back the T7500.

I run orthos and the temperatures were amazingly low. With Arctic MX-3 and an RMClock VID of 1.0v the max temperature was about 55c (ambient temperature close to 30c). A turned an expensive T9900 into an ULV CPU

 

I have two examples so fas showing the T9900 and the P7350 working on laptop with the Intel GL960 and the GM965 Chipsets.

If you tried the mod, let me know whether it worked or not for you, the name, model number and the brand of your laptop and the name of its chipset. This would help build a database of successful/unsuccessful mods.

 

Wait a minute, so....

If I can figure out how to do this, should I try a q9200 on pm965 with 800mhz FSB??


I dunno why I even asked that. I'm going to try it today.
Wish I had more than 1 pm965 chipset laptop...

 

Fitting a quad to a 965PM/965GM/GL960/GL40 being the biggest performance benefit of this mod. A QX9300 with unlocked multiplier being the ultimate available. Those have been overclocked up tp 3.8Ghz (15.2Ghz aggregate).

Also note that quad-IDA exists, so another ~266Mhz can be had across all cores on a non-extreme quad if you have a bios that can currently do dual-IDA.

So applying this mod with a quad-core opens up a new level of performance not seen on systems like a HP HDX9000, extending their usable lifespan. Of course need to do a power budget and review the cooling system to ensure the system can handle such an upgrade.

Second win being being able to fit a cheaper and more plentiful X9100 instead of a X9000. Both with unlocked multipliers.

Am interested in hearing your 800Mhz downclocked Q9200 + 965PM test results.

 

Let us know what laptop you're modding and if the mod works for you

 

Worked with p7350 on Acer Aspire 5720g (ICL50)!
Will post screenshots later.

Did NOT work with q9200.
I think there is different microcode for quads, no? I'll ask .netroller3D see if hes willing to mod it or check it out.

It could just be that the laptop doesn't have enough power or has a BIOS lockout for extreme CPUs. The fan spun up normally when the CPU got hotter.
I will try this on the XPS m1730 as well!

 

Yes for the update.

If I had to guess I would say the Q9200 didn't work because the BIOS lacks the necessary code do detect and initialise this CPU.

Let us know what happens with the Dell XPS m1730

 

The Intel Pxx00 series locks its lowest multiplier at 3, but whatever you see in the picture are the results on the newer chipset and DDR3 memory.

I'm interested about your FSB : DRAM ratio when running DDR2. That's what you're trying to change, right?