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Do all X2 motherboards require flashing?

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Hi
I am about to build an X2 machine myself... i am going with the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard, the only thing you might want to do is go up to the SLI if you want to run 2 video cards at once

Check it out--NewEGG
 
I recieved my X2 last night and the Asus A8V Deluxe I ordered with it did NOT recognize the CPU. As in, I was not able to boot the computer. As in I am not able to flash it myself. As in I'm really annoyed. 😀
 
Originally posted by: Starman
The only motherboard I am aware of that supports the X2 out-of-the-box is DFI's recently-released nForce3 Lanparty. It ships with a BIOS that recognizes X2 (no need to flash)

As a side-note, I can share my experience with an Asus A8V Deluxe that was using a BIOS that was too old to know what an X2 was: it was able to POST, but wouldn't go any further. I was, however, able to get into the BIOS and configure the floppy drive to boot. From that point I was able to boot up and flash the BIOS from my floppy disk.
Click to expand...

I just noticed this post.. How did you manage to get into the BIOS? Mine just stops and tells me it doesnt recognise my cpu.. Doesnt let me get into the BIOS. (I got into the raid controller bios thing but that hardly helps.. 😀 )
 
Originally posted by: uberowo
I recieved my X2 last night and the Asus A8V Deluxe I ordered with it did NOT recognize the CPU. As in, I was not able to boot the computer. As in I am not able to flash it myself. As in I'm really annoyed. 😀
Click to expand...

"As in" WTF 😛
 
I believe the A8N-SLI Premium (note: Premium, not Deluxe) is currently shipping with an X2-compatible bios. At least I hope it does - it has the X2 logo on the box!

AMD has a list of compatible 939 boards with x2-friendly bios versions on their site.
 
Originally posted by: stockriderman
thanks!
Last question,I thnk.

I don't have a floppy drive... Is it possible to update bios from a CD
Click to expand...

Yes it is. Simply go into Nero and create an emulated floppy CD ISO and burn it. This will create an environment that emulates a floppy disk and you can upgrade from that.
 
I dont know why people dont just use winflash, you can update the BIOS through windows and then reboot and your done , you have just flashed your bios .. and it only takes you a couple of clicks and your done, beter then messing about with floppy disk and that ..!!!

This is a tutorial on how to use it

Download WinFlash from ftp

Note: when visiting the FTP, Download the Winflash not the AMI version .. and your set 🙂

easy peasy
 
Originally posted by: RichUK
I dont know why people dont just use winflash, you can update the BIOS through windows and then reboot and your done , you have just flashed your bios .. and it only takes you a couple of clicks and your done, beter then messing about with floppy disk and that ..!!!

This is a tutorial on how to use it

Download WinFlash from ftp

Note: when visiting the FTP, Download the Winflash not the AMI version .. and your set 🙂

easy peasy
Click to expand...

While all useful links I don't think you understand the issue. They are talking about Flashing the Bios Prior to Windows being Installed. Most boards where not made for Multi core (bios) and there is a good chance that windows won't install correctly (like not being install for multi proc) and the machine might not run correctly without the correct bios loaded.
 
Originally posted by: stockriderman
Are you talking about this one?

DFI Lanparty UT nF3 Ultra-D Socket 939 nVidia nForce3 Ultra Dual DDR400 6-Ch Audio Raid 0/1/0+1/JBOD IEEE 1394 AGP8X

Cause i may just get it(if it's a good one) and get on with my life...
Click to expand...

Yes, that motherboard will support the X2 right out of the box :thumbsup:

 
Originally posted by: uberowo
Originally posted by: Starman
The only motherboard I am aware of that supports the X2 out-of-the-box is DFI's recently-released nForce3 Lanparty. It ships with a BIOS that recognizes X2 (no need to flash)

As a side-note, I can share my experience with an Asus A8V Deluxe that was using a BIOS that was too old to know what an X2 was: it was able to POST, but wouldn't go any further. I was, however, able to get into the BIOS and configure the floppy drive to boot. From that point I was able to boot up and flash the BIOS from my floppy disk.
Click to expand...

I just noticed this post.. How did you manage to get into the BIOS? Mine just stops and tells me it doesnt recognise my cpu.. Doesnt let me get into the BIOS. (I got into the raid controller bios thing but that hardly helps.. 😀 )
Click to expand...

Here's what I did:

Leave all floppy disks out.

Boot the computer with the included Asus Motherboard Utility CD inserted.

Press ALT-F2 when your computer is starting up. This initiates ASUS Flash.

Asus Flash begins and will search for a floppy first, CD second. This is an automatic process - just sit back and watch. Asus Flash will find on the CD the A8V.ROM file and begin flashing your BIOS back to 1002 (most likely, as this is what is on most of the included CDs)

It will either tell you to reboot when it's done or will do so automatically. When it DOES reboot after flashing itself with the old ROM you want to have a floppy disk inserted with the following files:

1) AFUDOS.EXE (which can be downloaded from the Asus FTP)
2) BIOS 1013 (the .ami file which you can download off the Asus website)

At this stage, rebooting with the floppy inserted and with the motherboard running the old ROM you programmed, you will be able to get into the BIOS. Save changes and boot to your floppy to begin flashing to BIOS 1013 using afudos.exe

When you get to the A:\ prompt, type afudos.exe /i<filename> (just check the floppy from DOS with the /dir command to get the spelling correct). It's something like A8V1013.AMI

--

Sorry, I'm working right now, but this will get you started...PM me for more help. I'll follow up here when I can.
 
IN theory unless the bios is totally whacked with incorrect vcores and it can support an FX55 it should boot or post....Go much further may be tough but like Starman you should be able to get far enough to flash....

Yours is actually one of the first I have heard that wont at least post...Most of the isues with non X2 compliant bioses are no recognition of the 2nd core, cannot boot inot windows, and/or have vcore setings set all wrong...Even a few wrong speeds and mostly not correctly coming up as an X2 in the black post screen....



Do we know above that you dont have a power issue with why it wont even boot to post screen??? There are other factors...
 
Exactly, Duvie. That's what I encountered on a couple of different A8V Deluxe models. The BIOS they shipped with was "whacked", as you say, and they didn't allow me to get into the BIOS or proceed with a regular flash procedure...the workaround I discovered? Use the built-in Asus Flash utility (ALT+F2) and load up the ancient (but functional) A8V.ROM that's shipped on the included Asus A8V Deluxe Motherboard Utility CD-ROM. It's something like revision 1002, but it works and loads up the equivalent of "fail-safe" settings. After programming it in you're able to get into the BIOS and from there it's easy to proceed with a normal flashing procedure.
 
Originally posted by: Weaselboy
Originally posted by: RichUK
I dont know why people dont just use winflash, you can update the BIOS through windows and then reboot and your done , you have just flashed your bios .. and it only takes you a couple of clicks and your done, beter then messing about with floppy disk and that ..!!!

This is a tutorial on how to use it

Download WinFlash from ftp

Note: when visiting the FTP, Download the Winflash not the AMI version .. and your set 🙂

easy peasy
Click to expand...

While all useful links I don't think you understand the issue. They are talking about Flashing the Bios Prior to Windows being Installed. Most boards where not made for Multi core (bios) and there is a good chance that windows won't install correctly (like not being install for multi proc) and the machine might not run correctly without the correct bios loaded.
Click to expand...


this post was aimed at people looking to flash the BIOS using the floppy disk instead of doing what i think is an easier way, which is to use WinFlash.. pure informational my friend ...

and yes i am aware of the question query in hand . but you will find that a lot of mobo's support rev-e out of the box .. and if you have a rev-e capable BIOS off of the bat then you can wack in your X2 and then flash to the latest BIOS (this has already been explained) ..
 
and you don;t have to re-install windows. All you have to do after bios (if it doesn;t work on its own) is change the computer in device management to multi-processor.
 
...What's the minimum PSU power should I have? Mine is 450Watt. Should I change or keep it.



Also. Which motherboard is better the DFI Landparty NF3 Ultra D or A8V Delux?
 
Originally posted by: stockriderman
...What's the minimum PSU power should I have? Mine is 450Watt. Should I change or keep it.



Also. Which motherboard is better the DFI Landparty NF3 Ultra D or A8V Delux?
Click to expand...


I would stay above 400watt but that is not to say a very good quality 350-380 couldn't pull it off...

I think for ocers the bar will raise.....450 if decent quality and strong 12v rails could give you good coing results...
 
Thanks alot for the input guys. I mailed the company I purchased the cpu from and they agreed to send me a new bios chip in the mail, but I will nevertheless try using this possible workaround of yours tonight. 🙂

Not exactly sure what you mean by "post".. My computer does start up and passes the "initial startup screen" and proceeds to show me the Fasttrak (I think its called) raid controller stuff. I am able to enter the raid controller bios.. After the raid controller screen it just tells me "unrecognized cpu blah blah blah" and doesnt allow me to enter the bios. :|

And finally, the only reason I bought the A8V Deluxe was because its one of quite few decent boards available here with AGP. I bought a 6800 Ultra AGP 6 months ago and I refuse to replace it just yet. 😀
 
For us post means to get the black screen...not neessarily does it mean to actually get into windows successfully...

How early do you start hitting the <del> key??? I would start tapping it right as you see the first text....hit it until the keyboard clicks at you....

I would maybe disconnect all drives at this point and just get try to get into bios...
 
Originally posted by: uberowo
Not exactly sure what you mean by "post".. My computer does start up and passes the "initial startup screen" and proceeds to show me the Fasttrak (I think its called) raid controller stuff. I am able to enter the raid controller bios.. After the raid controller screen it just tells me "unrecognized cpu blah blah blah" and doesnt allow me to enter the bios. :|
Click to expand...

In the past week alone I've run into that exact screen on two separate Asus A8V Deluxe. I know exactly what you are seeing. Follow my steps and you will assuredly get past all that :thumbsup:

 
I think I pissed off the evil lady in the BIOS when I removed it earlier. (I was gonna see if I could get it flashed somewhere before I got confirmation that the shop is sending me a new one..) I put if back in to try your workaround but when I try to boot now it doesnt even "post". Complete and utter blackness on the monitor.. The hateful female who lives in the BIOS just keeps chanting "System failed CPU test".. 😀

Oh well, I'll get a new chip tomorrow I hope. Thanks alot for the input though. 🙂
 
Just got my X2 yesterday and I'm finally up.

On a DFI nf4 Ultra-D (or SLI-DR, etc.) you're board is going to come installed with the 3/10 bios will support Venice (single core) athlons. You will be able to boot and change bios settings with your X2. However, if you try to install windows, you will run into some pretty severe stability problems, even if you make it through the install.

You're set as long as you have another computer around somewhere. You'll need this computer to make a bootable floppy or a bootable CD.

Go here: http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6369 (DFI Street Forums) as this is best place to pick up the latest beta BIOS from DFI. I had a real problem getting a floppy to work for flash... luckly they link an ISO (CD-R image) you can boot from that will guide you throught he BIOS flash process.

You will want to flash the 6/23 BIOS for X2 support. If you boot from the CD-R, it will be called "go623-2". I'm pretty sure other motherboards out there will have similar steps. It's not too hard and as long as you can follow directions, you're set. Its more hoops to jump through, but that's what happens when you want the lastest generation a few weeks after its released.

First impressions: holy sh** this thing is fast!
 
Originally posted by: Slapdick
Just got my X2 yesterday and I'm finally up.

On a DFI nf4 Ultra-D (or SLI-DR, etc.) you're board is going to come installed with the 3/10 bios will support Venice (single core) athlons. You will be able to boot and change bios settings with your X2. However, if you try to install windows, you will run into some pretty severe stability problems, even if you make it through the install.

You're set as long as you have another computer around somewhere. You'll need this computer to make a bootable floppy or a bootable CD.

Go here: http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6369 (DFI Street Forums) as this is best place to pick up the latest beta BIOS from DFI. I had a real problem getting a floppy to work for flash... luckly they link an ISO (CD-R image) you can boot from that will guide you throught he BIOS flash process.

You will want to flash the 6/23 BIOS for X2 support. If you boot from the CD-R, it will be called "go623-2". I'm pretty sure other motherboards out there will have similar steps. It's not too hard and as long as you can follow directions, you're set. Its more hoops to jump through, but that's what happens when you want the lastest generation a few weeks after its released.

First impressions: holy sh** this thing is fast!
Click to expand...


Can you post a few benchmarks please? I wanna see how fast it is

Thanks
 
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