Getting an "incompatible cpu" error message, cpu meets specifications !

[onestory151]

I have an hp touchsmart pc desktop 300-1025, the motherboard is an app78-cf jesse and i am attempting a processor upgrade.
I get an "incompatible cpu" error message at startup on a processor that meets the motherboard specifications precisely.
This is the processor that doesn't work;
amd cpu athlon ii x4 605e 45w am3 2mb 2300mhz retail amd ad605ehdgmbox
whereas this one did work;
amd cpu athlon ii x4 605e 45w am3 2mb 2300mhz retail [ad605ehdgibox]
i don't have access to the second processor now and am in posession of the first, can anyone suggest any solution
or shed any light on what the issue might be ?
Thank you

 

[sm625]

hp can screw you in any one of a hundred ways. They could very easily make it so that only a very select few cpu id's are accepted by the bios. That's probably what they're doing here. But why do you care since it is the same specs? Why bother?

 

[Skiprudder]

I'd make sure that you have the latest bios from HP.com. Usually that's the issue with these sorts of things.

 

[CTho9305]

Based on this page and this page, the CPU that works is rev C2, and the one that doesn't work is C3. Based on the revision guide, there are differences between the revisions that a BIOS could theoretically care about. I'd guess the manufacturer is very careful about making sure that their BIOS supports the processor properly, only did qualification with the C2 revision, and put in a check to ensure that they don't get surprised with a different revision chip. I don't know if that's actually the case... this is just my best guess. Maybe there's a BIOS update available?

 

[Borealis7]

excuse my silly question...but how is replacing a cpu with the exact same model (although different stepping) an upgrade?

 

[hans007]

yeah, i mean HP isn't tryign to screw you they just either do noth ave a bios that supports the new stepping or you havent installed it.

it can happen on any motherboard.

 

[onestory151]

the original processor was a dual core and is the processor that's currently installed, that's how it's an upgrade, the original quad I had only briefly. I have updated the Bios and have not attempted a second install of the new cpu pending hearing back from the company I bought it from, don't want to risk damaging it until I have their input. the revision thing has come up in other threads though I know nothing about
this.

 

[nanaki333]

you're not going to damage your board.

 

[nardz84]

I have seen HP computers refuse to boot with a different hard drive installed, wouldn't surprise me if they locked out the cpu also. Hopefully the bios upgrade works for you though.