---
title: Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF/MT (and 7020), and XE2 MT/SFF
x-toc-enable: true
...
**NOTE: Dell XE2 MT/SFF are also known to work, using the 9020 images. Same
motherboards as the 9020 and 7020.**
**[PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLING](../../news/safety.md),
OR YOU MIGHT BRICK YOUR MACHINE: [SAFETY PRECAUTIONS](../../news/safety.md)**
Introduction
============
**Unavailable in Libreboot 20240126 or earlier. You must [compile from
source](../build/), or use a version newer than Libreboot 20240126**
Official information about the laptop can be found here:
Buy Libreboot preinstalled
======================
You can buy this machine professionally serviced, with Libreboot preinstalled
and your choice of Linux/BSD system. Many upgrades are also available. See:
Sales are conducted to provide funding for the Libreboot project. Leah Rowe
who runs Minifree, is also Libreboot's founder and lead developer.
Patch
=====
Mate Kukri is the author of the original coreboot port. Thanks go to Kukri.
Kukri's patch is here:
This patch, at this revision (patchset 31), is what Libreboot uses for this
port.
Graphics cards
--------------
On current lbmk master, graphics cards *do* work. The option to hide PEG
devices from MRC was disabled. Now when you insert a graphics card, the
onboard Intel GPU is disabled and the graphics card is used instead.
NOTE: You must set `iommu=off` in your linux cmdline. For instance, set this
in `/etc/default/grub` and regenerate your GRUB config. With the IOMMU turned
off, graphics cards work fine. Otherwise, with IOMMU turned on, you might get
this error:
NOTE2: You *can* use the onboard Intel GPU (without a graphics card inserted),
and leave IOMMU turned on. You only need to disable the IOMMU when a graphics
card is inserted.
7020 compatibility
------------------
7020/9020 MT each have the same motherboard. Flash the 9020 ROM from Libreboot
on your 7020, and it will work.
Ditto 7020/9020 SFF, it's the same motherboard. However, Libreboot provides
separate targets for MT and SFF.
Build ROM image from source
---------------------------
For the MT variant (7020 MT and 9020 SFF):
./build roms dell9020mt_12mb
For the SFF variant (7020 MT and 7020 SFF):
./build roms dell9020sff_12mb
It is important that you choose the right one. The MT variant is the full
MTX tower.
Installation
============
Insert binary files
-------------------
If you're using a release ROM, please ensure that you've inserted extra firmware
required refer to the [guide](../install/ivy_has_common.md) 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](../install/nvmutil.md).
Flash a ROM image (software)
-----------------
If you're already running Libreboot, and you don't have flash protection
turned on, [internal flashing](../install/) is possible.
Flash a ROM image (hardware)
-----------------
**REMOVE all power sources and connectors from the machine, before doing this.
This is to prevent short circuiting and power surges while flashing.**
For general information, please refer to [25xx NOR flash
instructions](../install/spi.md) - that page refers to use of socketed flash.
There are two SOIC-8 chips. 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.
Here's the SOIC8 ICs being flashed:
Enjoy!