Upgrade Dell Optiplex 390 and 3010 BIOS versions
Upgrade Dell Optiplex 390 and 3010 BIOS versions
Hey there, welcome to the forum! I’m trying to upgrade my Dell Optiplex 390 towers from an i3-2120 to an i5-3570S. Since they use the LGA1155 socket with H61 chipset, it seems possible in theory. There’s a mention of an Ivy Bridge BIOS update, but Dell hasn’t released a patch for that. I’m also curious about using the BIOS from a compatible Optiplex 3010—since both boards are similar and the 3010 supports Ivy Bridge. Any advice would be super helpful!
This plan is a terrible mistake. Dell enforces strict support policies, and altering the official BIOS isn’t safe.
I see your point, but since the warranty expired more than four years ago and you think the 390 is no longer supported by Dell, I don’t have concerns about their help. We’re also shifting away from Dell because of their ability to maintain their own guarantees! Appreciate your thought!
You might be able to update the BIOS manually if you can, otherwise purchasing a compatible board would be the easiest option.
When you don’t know about altered BIOS files, the safest choice is to reset the device.
I found a discussion on a similar setup. Although the thread may be outdated, I’m curious if there are any fixes available. My Dell Optiplex 390 SFF is running an older BIOS, and I need to switch to the third-gen Intel processors. Previous checks suggest the mainboard matches the 3010 model and supports those CPUs. I located a BIOS dump for the 3010, but I’m unsure if it’s genuine or functional. I’ve saved the old BIOS using Flashrom and attempted to transfer it onto a new chip, but consistently encounter error codes 3 and 4 with the LED indicators during startup. I also don’t have the original flash chip for the 3010 (the exact model isn’t clear), so I’ve used a larger one—16MB instead of the original 8MB. During testing, I tried to re-flash the original BIOS onto the bigger chip; it still produced error codes 1 and 2. I attempted to adjust the BIOS file size by using a zero-padded version and a zero-filled end, but the issue persisted. I ordered replacement memory chips that are inexpensive, though they’re still in transit. My next attempt involves modifying the BIOS dump to fit the correct chip size, so I repeated the process with the dd command. The PC displays the same errors each time. I’m testing a different BIOS chip (Winbond w25q128jv) on the 390 mainboard (DIH61R/Palm Beach_SFF 10106-1 48.3eq02.011). This is purely a personal project; my goal isn’t to rely on it for work or critical tasks. I’m okay with using the hardware now, as long as it meets my needs later. Recycling old components is more economical than constantly purchasing new parts.
The chip with the appropriate memory arrived today. Using it with the correct specifications allowed the system to function properly. To upgrade the Dell Optiplex 390 to the 3010, you'll need to perform a BIOS dump and replace the flash chip. Once those steps are completed, the 390 will be successfully updated to the 3010.