AnthonyK wrote:
I checked the bootclock and it shows this
My boot block date is from 12/28/2011 and my firmware is from version 7.1.21.1134
I am not sure if I could upgrade to a V2 gen E5 Xeon, do you ?
You need the 2013 bootblock for the v2 procesors to work.
HP does not offer any means of updating the bootblock, the standard response is that you should get a new motherboard.
It is however possible to update the bootblock, either by in circuit programming using an external flash programmer, or by socketing the bios and burning the bios on an external programmer. Using Intel Flash Programming Tool may possibly also be an option.
You will find more info in this thread: http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/z820-e5-2600-v2-ivy-bridge-upgrade/td-p/5086052
BTW you BIOS version is really old. You may consider upgrading to the latest one, but since the bios is so old you ma need to update in two steps - first a slightly newer one, and then the newest one - may be worth searching the forum since info on the exact procedure was posted here.
The firmware version you refer to is the Intel Management Engine firmware - this too can be updated, however for all intents and purposes for a standard user this is largely irrelevant, unless you have a bunch of machines and need to remotely power them on and run updates etc. If not you an just as well disable AMT in the BIOS.
