Dell Precision M4400 & Merom?

Hello everyone!

I've recently begun a "Frankenstein" build of an M4400, where I'm going to build a complete laptop by combining used & new parts from online retailers/resellers.

Anyway, I just received the bottom "base" of the M4400 (which is basically everything except for the upper half (screen, etc), CPU, RAM, and HD). I have 8GB of DDR2-800 RAM and a 256GB SSD (both of which I verified to be working about a week ago), but I only have one processor that is Socket P compatible, a Merom-based T2310. I popped this processor in and started it up. The power light lit and the fan spun for about 3 seconds, before shutting off. Then the caps light blinked 23 times before "freezing" on. No beeps. No output over VGA. Nothing. I tried resocketing the RAM (as many "blinking caps lock" tutorials mentioned) to only find myself with the same results.

So here is my question: Can the M4400 (or a Montevina-based platform in general) run a Merom-based CPU? Since they're both the same socket, I had figured the FSB would just underclock to 533MHz to work with the CPU. I don't want to keep such a slow CPU in the laptop; I only want to try and verify that the mobo is in good shape (the seller gave me a two month warranty on the "base") before I go out and buy a much more expensive chip. I've looked everywhere and can't find an answer to this question, which really surprises me. Could the CPU be whitelisted? Also, has anyone run an M4400 with the screen disconnected? Perhaps that could be the problem? Though I'm doubting it because I've run a cerca 2000 laptop without a screen in the past...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time!

 

1) It'll work without a screen. For sure.

2) I know for sure it'll work with an 800MHz FSB Merom (though the BIOS will complain), and I know for sure it won't work with 533MHz RAM. Based on those facts, I'm going to take a wild guess and say I don't think your issue is that the T2310 is Merom, but that it's 533MHz FSB. Buy like a T4200 and test it again. They are literally like $3.

 

Thanks for the information! I took your advice and ordered a P8400 off of Ebay for a whole $9 (I hoped the 1066MHz bus would eliminate any variables there vs. the T4200) and as soon as it was installed, the laptop booted instantly! I'm ecstatic. Even with the "slower" CPU and whatnot, I'm impressed with how well this lappy holds up even today.

Now we both know 533MHz bus CPUs wont work in an M4400. Super valuable info right there, I know.

Anyway, thanks again!