Software tools and solutions 85
Unsupported processor stepping with Intel® processors
For systems based on Intel® processors, you must update the system ROM to support new steppings
(revisions) of processors. System ROM for HP servers contains the Intel® microcode, also called processor
support code, that the system uses to initialize the processor and ensure proper operation of the platform.
New steppings of Intel® processors tend to be functionally equivalent to previous steppings. HP ProLiant
servers fully support mixing steppings when other parameters are identical: processor speed, cache size,
number of cores, and processor wattage. To maintain support and uptime, HP provides updated system
ROM before shipping new stepping processors.
A new or replacement processor may be a newer stepping. At boot, the server indicates if the current
system ROM does not support the new stepping processor. The following message is displayed:
Unsupported Processor Detected
System will ONLY boot ROMPAQ Utility.
If this message is displayed, update the system ROM in one of the following ways:
• Updating system ROM without removing the processor (on page 85)
• Updating system ROM after removing the processor (on page 85)
Updating system ROM without removing the processor
If the "Unsupported Processor Detected" message is displayed, and you choose to leave the processor
installed, the system will only boot the following devices:
• Systems ROMPaq Diskette installed in a legacy diskette drive
• Systems ROMPaq Diskette installed in a USB diskette drive
• Systems ROMPaq USB Key in diskette format
A systems ROMPaq USB key in diskette format is a USB drive key formatted as a diskette drive with
the ROMPaq utility. For information on how to create a systems ROMPaq USB key in diskette
format, see "System ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade Utility (on page 83)."
Updating system ROM after removing the processor
If the "Unsupported Processor Detected" message is displayed, and you choose to remove the processor,
update the system ROM using any standard ROM flash mechanism. After updating the system ROM,
install the new stepping processor.
Unsupported processor stepping with AMD processors
For systems based on AMD processors, you may need to update the system ROM to support new
steppings (revisions) of processors. However, in most cases, a system ROM update is not required.
If the system ROM does not support the new stepping processor, the system does not display any
message. For system ROM update requirements, see the documentation that ships with the processor.
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