"Supports Intel Merom"

If you look at a few of the MSI laptops on-line, you'll notice the phrase in the title line. In particular, the MS-1034, MS-171614 and MS-171544 can all run Intel's forthcoming Merom (Core 2 Duo) processor.

My question is, what exactly does "support" mean? Does it mean that you can simply plug in a Merom processor, boot up the machine and run with it? Or does "support" imply given an appropriate BIOS update? Have any of you MSIers needed to retrieve an MSI BIOS update to upgrade a CPU, and if so, how available was it and how easy was it?

Thx,
-skel

 

Yes to use the core 2 duo processors you will need to upgrade the bios if you already have the unit. I cannot speak for anyone else but when we deliver a notebook it always is upgraded to the latest bios before we deliver it. So it will have core 2 duo support available. If you purchase it from a reseller who has not upgraded it you will have to perform this yourself. It can be done one of two ways:
Either by a USB floppy drive, or by creating a bootable CD and writing the bios upgrade files onto the floppy or CD.

 

NoClue,

Thanks for the information. The MS-171544 is looking mighty appealing right now. I'm also checking out the Asus Z96 series. It's a tough decision, I swing back & forth between MSI and Asus on a daily basis.

For everyone else reading this post, I'm considering the purchase of a new MSI laptop through RK Computers. They have an extensive sellection of reasonably priced MSI whitebox laptops. They have also received good referals from others here in the MSI forums.

-skel

 

^NoClue4UHere is from RK Computers

 

I know, that's why I said "For everyone else..."

;-)

 

Dose anyone have any experience with the new Merom Core 2 Duo and the
MS-1057/S262

Can you upgrade the BIOS without a possessor installed or do you need to first install a standard Core Duo, upgrade and then swap? How can you find out the BIOS version if no processor has been installed?

/Jens

 

Yes you need a processor installed, with the old bios the machine should still boot with the Core 2 Duo. Then you can upgrade your bios.

 

Sounds lovely!

How big is the risk that the ms-1057/S262 will not like the Merom before upgrade?
Do you have any experience or tales to share?

I’ve just bought a Core Duo and I have the chance to change it for a T7200 and will of course do so if it works. I do not know yet if the current BIOS version is new enough (Version 2.20 or later) but I fear it’s not…

Thanks a lot for your input.


Sincerely Jens Eklund