Install Libreboot on Dell OptiPlex 7010/9010/T1650 SFF/MT

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PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLING, OR YOU MAY BRICK YOUR MACHINE!! - Please click the link and follow the instructions there, before flashing. For posterity, here is the link again.

Specifications
Manufacturer	Dell
Name	OptiPlex 7010/9010/T1650 SFF/MT
Variants	OptiPlex 7010/9010/T1650 SFF/MT
Released	2012
Chipset	Intel Q77/C216 (T1650 MT)
CPU	Intel Ivy Bridge
Graphics	Discrete graphics, or Intel HD Graphics model
depending on CPU model
Memory	DDR3 DIMMs (max 32GB, 4x8GB), ECC memory supported on T1650 MT
Architecture	x86_64
Original boot firmware	Dell UEFI firmware
Intel ME/AMD PSP	Present. Can be disabled with me_cleaner.
Flash chip	SOIC-16 and/or SOIC-8 12MiB (96Mbit)

W+: Works without vendor firmware; 
N: Doesn't work; 
W*: Works with vendor firmware; 
U: Untested; 
P+: Partially works; 
P*: Partially works with vendor firmware
?: UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME

Features
Internal flashing with original boot firmware	W+
Display (if Intel GPU)	W+
Display (discrete GPU, SeaBIOS payload only)	W*
Audio	W+
RAM Init	W+

Payloads supported
GRUB (libgfxinit only)	Works
SeaBIOS	Works
SeaBIOS with GRUB	Works

This document will teach you how to install Libreboot, on your Dell OptiPlex 7010/9010/T1650 SFF/MT desktop motherboards. Libreboot is a Free Software project that replaces proprietary BIOS/UEFI firmware.

Unavailable in Libreboot 20240612 or earlier. You must compile from source, or use a version newer than Libreboot 20240612.

Official information about the computer can be found here:

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/optiplex-7010-plus-small-ff/opti_7010_sff_plus_om/specifications-of-optiplex-small-form-factor-plus-7010?guid=guid-7c9f07ce-626e-44ca-be3a-a1fb036413f9&lang=en-us

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/hu-hu/optiplex-9010/opti7010_mt_servicemanual/specifications?guid=guid-157e8495-34d3-4efa-ab61-1d9efba4c90e&lang=en-us

https://i.dell.com/sites/csdocuments/Shared-Content_data-Sheets_Documents/en/uk/Dell_Precision_T1650_Spec_Sheet.pdf

The T1650 MT does not have smaller SFF form.

The build target, when building from source, is thus:

For the 7010/9010 SFF variants:

./mk -b coreboot dell7010sff_12mb

For the 7010/9010/T1650 MT variants:

./mk -b coreboot t1650_12mb

Alternatively, you can use one of Libreboot’s pre-compiled release images.

Libreboot can be installed via internal and/or external flashing methods.

If you’re using a release ROM, please ensure that you’ve inserted extra firmware required refer to the guide for that. (failure to adhere to this advice will result in a bricked machine)

Libreboot’s build system automatically downloads and processes these files if you build Libreboot from source, but the same logic that it uses must be re-run if you’re using a release image.

This platform uses an Intel Flash Descriptor, and defines an Intel GbE NVM region. As such, release/build ROMs will contain the same MAC address. To change the MAC address, please read nvmutil documentation.

ECC memory works with E3-12xx v2 cpus on T1650 MT only. ECC allows for error correction, mitigating certain defects that develop over time in the RAM (it will not account for all defects, and memory always needs to be replaced eventually) - with ECC RAM, this machine is more suitable to applications where data integrity matters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Bridge_(microarchitecture)#Server_processors

If you’re already running Libreboot, and you don’t have flash protection turned on, internal flashing is possible.

Internal flashing is also possible from the factory BIOS, if you set the service mode jumper. This shorts HDA_SDO (Soft Descriptor Override), which disables the ME after early bringup and disables IFD-based flash protections.

Just short the service jumper when booting and all flash protection is disabled.

Note: The Dell BIOS can write EFI variables to flash when shutting down, which could corrupt the newly flashed Libreboot ROM and render the system unusable. To prevent this, after flashing internally from the original Dell BIOS, remove power from the computer instead of shutting it down normally. It’s recommended to use a live USB instead of the internal drive to prevent potential filesystem corruption.

For 7010/9010 SFF:

It’s near the RAM, under where the HDD goes (click the photos shown above).

For 7010/9010/T1650 MT:

Observe, below the PCI slots:

Here is a close-up:

For general information, please refer to 25xx NOR flash instructions - that page refers to use of socketed flash.

This machine is somewhat cumbersome to flash, because it has a SOIC-16 flash for the first 8MB part, and 4MB SOIC8. You can split up your 12MB ROM image like so:

dd if=libreboot.rom of=4mb.rom bs=1M skip=8
dd if=libreboot.rom of=8mb.rom bs=1M count=8

The side cover comes off easily, and you can find the flash ICs next to the RAM.

No photos yet, but the two flash ICs are next to each other, and near to where the PCH is.

The Canoeboot version of this page is: https://canoeboot.org/docs/install/dell7010.html

SPDX-License-Identifier: GFDL-1.3-or-later

Markdown file for this page: https://libreboot.org/docs/install/dell7010.md

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