AFAIK the only socket AM2 processor that was released since BIOS 1.0.12 is the Athlon 64 X2 5050e 45W Brisbane.  Was released between October and December last year.  All other processors released are socket AM2+ so doubt this update is for any of them, but could be wrong. 

OK. that is not so interesting, there is a Athlon X2 5600 in my PC, so i'll keep that for a while.

Thanks for responding

Roel

im hoping / wondering if the new support might be for AM3 processors including the new Phenom II processors.

Wikipedia says that AM3 processors will run on AM2/AM2+ motherboards with a bios update.

Could this be the bios update?  CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE PLEASE CONFIRM OR DENY THIS?

By the way I could not for the life of me find out what motherboard is in the 531's.  Is it AM2 socket or AM2+ socket?

The motherboard in the Inspiron 531 is an ASUS M2N61-AX Socket AM2 and no a Phenom will not work.