How to run Windows Server 2008 on i5 laptop?

[idata]

I have a Dell Studio 1458 laptop with a Core i5-520M chip set. The system came with Win7 on it but I want to run Windows Server 2008 R2 so that I can have Hyper-V (I choose the 520 because of its strong support for virtualization).

I installed WinSvr 2008 no problem and then downloaded and installed all of the Win7 x64 driver updates from the Dell web site. This seemed to be OK until I turned on the Hyper-V feature at which point I got the blue screen with a 119 stop code.

I backed up and reinstalled everything more slowly and found that the problem occurs when I install the "Intel Driver Turbo Boost Technology" version 1.0.1.1002,A01. According to the Dell web site this update is marked Urgent.

I went snarfing around the Intel web site and couldn't find a comparable (i.e., Turbo Boost Technology) driver.

First, what should I do with regard to this driver? Run without it? If not get a copy where?

Second, more generally how do I figure out what set of drivers I should be running on my machine with WinServer 20008? I don't want to give up tubo mode or any of the other performance enhancements available on my hardware. Sadly Dell has said they will only support me with questions using the original (Win7) operating system.

Thanks in advance,

josh

[Salem_W_Intel1]

Hi,

I confirm there's no driver for Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, per se, that you can download, as this is a feature of the CPU; see the following URL:

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=47341&code=i5-520M

Once you install a compatible Operating System, with the corresponding, latest updates and system device drivers, when needed by the Operating System and/or applications you run, the Intel® Turbo Boost Technology gets into action; see the following URL for more details on this:

http://www.intel.com/technology/turboboost/

Note: There's no driver for Intel® Turbo Boost Technology unless you rather mean http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031038.htm Intel® Turbo Boost Technology Monitor. If this is what you mean, then, I regret to confirm Microsoft* Windows* 2008 Server is not a validated operating system for it; see the following URL:

http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031089.htm

[idata]

Hi Salem,

Thank you for the explanation and the links.

The Dell download site for my system had the turbo mode monitoring gadget (for Win7). I don't need the monitoring gadget. So I'm fine skipping it.

However I am still a little fuzzy if I need to do anything to make turbo mode go on my system? The second article you pointed me to states "Intel Turbo Boost Technology is activated when the Operating System (OS) requests the highest processor performance state (P0)."

So in my case will Win Server 2008 R2 SP1 (I had to install the beta SP to get Hyper-V to work without crashing my system) active turbo with the drivers that came with Windows? Or do I need to install something else to make or allow Windows to active turbo boost? Since I don't have the monitor I'm unaware of any way to tell if its kicking in.

Thanks again for your help.

josh

Message was edited by: JoshSale

[idata]

Here is a link for the release notes of the Intel Turbo Boost Technology Driver

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18817/eng/relnotes_win7vista_1002.pdf http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18817/eng/relnotes_win7vista_1002.pdf*It does not mention any support for server 2008.

Some nice information here about IIPS

http://software.intel.com/sites/oss/archives/1209/platform_turboboost_powersharing.php http://software.intel.com/sites/oss/archives/1209/platform_turboboost_powersharing.php and here is a summary from V1 of the i5-520M datasheet http://download.intel.com/design/processor/datashts/322812.pdf http://download.intel.com/design/processor/datashts/322812.pdf3.4.2 Intel HD Graphics with Dynamic FrequencyGraphics render frequency are selected by the Intel graphics driver dynamically based on graphics workload demand as permitted by Intel Turbo Boost Technology Driver. Intel Turbo Boost Technology Driver can optimize both processor and integrated graphics performance through Intelligent Power Sharing. The processor core die and the integrated graphics and memory controller core die have an individual TDP limit. If one component is not consuming enough thermal power to reach its TDP, the other component can increase its TDP limit and take advantage of the unused thermal power headroom. For the integrated graphics, this could mean an increase in the render core frequency (above its rated frequency) and increased graphics performance. In addition, the processor core can increase its frequency higher than it would without power sharing.Utilization of Graphics Dynamic frequencies require the following:• Graphics driver• Intel Turbo Boost Technology Driver

IMO it doesn't seem there is a lot to worry about not using it especially if your going to be running on the discrete GPU except perhaps 3289904. (See release notes).

Finding correct drivers is probably going to be difficult without support from Dell, probably more so for running server 2008. Try installing the OS with it's own native drivers and work from there to find what's missing. Another poster (virtual) is having problems with hyper-v and i5-520M (I think!). Maybe if you get together 2 heads are better than one.

[idata]

Thanks for that info.

I guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope I'm getting the benefit since that driver described in your first link isn't supported for Windows Server 2008 R2 ... although it is supported for Windows7 x64 and I was under the believe that Win7 x64 and Win Svr 2008 R2 shared drivers.

I made a post to virtual suggesting that he install the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 beta before enabling Hyper-V. That solved my Hyper-V problem.

[idata]

I ordered two dell R310 servers with X3450 Lynnfield proc's in them and 2k8R2 wouldn't go past 2.66 GHz (should be 3.2GHz with turbo). I found out that if I put the power plan on "High performance" (in Power Options menu), I could then get Turbo to work. Once I changed the "Minimum processor state" in the sub menu back to the standard setting of 5% (like the "Balanced" is set to), I had Turbo and EIST in use together and idle would run at 1200MHz, while under stress test would go up to 3.2GHz with 2 threads active, 2.8GHz with all 8 active. See if that works for you.....

Also, I didn't load any special driver. The only thing I changed was the settings in the "High performance" power plan.

-Jason

[idata]

Morning Jason,

How are you able to see the clock rates that you report?

Thanks,

josh

[idata]

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

There are many programs out there that can monitor real-time proc/core speeds. This is a simple one. I usually get the zip version, so I know what platform I'm using, which also doesn't include the crap like Ask.com toolbar and such.

-Jason

[idata]

Use Prime95 to max out your cores/threads. Mobile Core i5's have 2C/4T, so it'll detect and want to run 4 instances. Be prepared for heat!

http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/ http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/

Depending on how many threads you run, your turbo speed is effected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_i5_microprocessors# Mobile_processors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_i5_microprocessors# Mobile_processors

Turbo Stepping Example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Boost# Example_.28i7-920XM.29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Boost# Example_.28i7-920XM.29

-Jason