Dell OptiPlex 7010/9010 SFF

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This is only for the SFF variant. The MT variant is also supported, but for the MT variant, you must flash the T1650 ROM image instead.

PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLING, OR YOU MIGHT BRICK YOUR MACHINE: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

*Specifications*
Manufacturer	Dell
Name	OptiPlex 7010 SFF
Variants	OptiPlex 9010 SFF
Released	2012
Chipset	Intel C216
CPU	Intel Ivy Bridge
Graphics	Discrete graphics, or Intel HD Graphics model
depending on CPU model
Memory	DDR3 DIMMs (max 32GB, 4x8GB)
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 blobs; 
N: Doesn't work; 
W*: Works with blobs; 
U: Untested; 
P+: Partially works; 
P*: Partially works with blobs
?: UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME

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

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

Introduction

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

Build ROM image from source

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

./mk -b coreboot dell7010sff_12mb

NOTE: The same 7010 SFF image also works on 9010 SFF. It’s the same mainboard.

Installation

Insert binary files

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.

Set MAC address

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.

WARNING about CPU/GPU compatibility

If you want to use onboard graphics, you must have a CPU that has a GPU built into it. You can find a list here:

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

Coreboot has libre initialisation code for Intel graphics, but libre initialisation code is not available for most graphics cards. This machine can take any graphics card that fits in the PCI-E slot. When a graphics card is used, SeaBIOS executes its VGA ROM which provides video init, instead of coreboot’s native Intel video init. GRUB piggybacks off of what SeaBIOS did, so the GRUB payload will also work.

Flash a ROM image (software)

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

Dell OptiPlex 7010 SFF service mode jumper set Insides of Dell Optiplex 7010 SFF

If you have factory firmware (Dell), you can short the service jumper. It’s near the RAM, under where the HDD goes (click the photos shown above). Just put a short on it when booting, and all flash protection is disabled; the factory firmware write might EFI variables to flash during shutdown sequence, so you should pull the plug to shut it down (remove the power by pulling the plug) after flashprog says VERIFIED.

Flash a ROM image (hardware)

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.

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

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