Can my MSI MS-7238 board support the Core 2 Quad Q6600?

[Nanda_2]

Hello!
I have an old PC which has the Core 2 Duo E6300, and I'm looking forward to upgrade it with the Core 2 Quad Q6600. Will the current motherboard which is MSI P965 Platinum support the processor? If it needs a BIOS update, how do you do so?

Thanks

 

[The Paladin]

Can my MSI MS-7238 (P965 Platinum) board support the Core 2 Quad Q6600?

According to MSi specifications of your motherboard;

Supports Socket 775 for Intel® Pentium 4 3xx, 5xx, 6xx, 8xx, 9xx, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processors.
• Supports FSB 1333/1066/800/533 MHz
• Supports EIST technology
• Supports Intel® Hyper-Threading technology.

Looking at the cpu compatibility listing closer https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/support/P965_Platinum.html#support-cpu
the Q6600 is listed as a good cpu for the motherboard with a note to use 7238v15 bios

checking at http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-MSI/P965_Platinum_(MS-7238).html
their listing seems to point out with v1.1 of motherboard and v1.5 or v1.6 of bios the Q6600 will be a good match

If it needs a BIOS update, how do you do so?

1. goto https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/support/P965_Platinum.html#support_download and get v1.8 bios.
2. unzip the file. 7238v18.zip and you will find the "How to flash the BIOS.DOC" document, read and understand it first.
3. UPGRADE BIOS with OLD CPU, then only after BIOS is properly upgraded you change CPU.