Flashing Mobo Bios for new Processor -- Catch 22 ???

[WhipperSnapper]

I've seen people comment that it might be necessary to flash your Socket 939 motherboard in order to use some of the new chips, such as the dual-core chips and the Opterons. But...how do you do that if the motherboard won't post with your new CPU (and you don't have another Socket 939 chip)?

I'm a newbie to much of this, so maybe it's really easy. Can you flash a motherboard's bios if it doesnt' have a CPU installed?

 

[mechBgon]

It depends. Some mobos can POST but just can't fully utilize or recognize the CPU, and then you can update the BIOS. Some can't POST, leaving you stuck. Finding out can be simple or difficult, depending on the mobo company. Is this any particular mobo/CPU combo in question, or are you asking generally?

 

[sandorski]

Then you're screwed!

That said, assuming you are just buying the mobo and cpu together, most major e-tailors will ship the mobo witht the latest BIOS. Might want to contact them first to be sure though. Might also be worth the $30ish to have them test the system first before shipping(if available).

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I'm thinking about getting one of the new Opteron 146's or 165's. I'll probably just get a 146 since I can't see spending so much when I really don't need dual core and knowing that the prices will drop dramatically in the future and that I'll have lots of room to upgrade two years from now.

I'm also thinking about getting in on the Conncect3D x800 GTO card (the one that can be unlocked to 16 pipes and overclocked), so it wouldn't really make sense to get an SLI board. I haven't done much research on the Ultra boards, but people seem to think the Epox nForce4 Ultra is a great board. If I were to get that one, would it be a problem?

(I have 2 x 512 MB of 3200 Corsair Value RAM, so DFI is out of the picture.)

 

[mechBgon]

EPoX has a support finder here and if you pick your mobo and the FAQ, then a CPU Approval List will probably be one of the FAQ items. I looked at the 9NPA+ and its CPU list is dated from 2004, so that isn't going to help regarding the new Opterons, they're too new.

Asus has a similar lookup thingie here but even if I go fishing by CPU, they don't have the Opteron 1x5's listed yet for any mobo.

My hunch is that if the mobo can POST with the equivalent Athlon64 X2 processor, it could probably POST with the Opteron 1x5. But reality > * so you might want to post in CPU/Overclocking and simply ask "Hey, what mobos are you guys using successfully with the Opteron 165?" and then you'll know for sure


edit: digging a little further, I found this page at AMD and tried for Opteron 165. The only mobo coming up so far is the Tyan Tomcat K8E, though.

 

[Hacp]

Easy. Request a bios chip from the manufactuer. WIll probably cost you something like 15 bucks. Proceede to repleace bios chip. Problem solved.

 

[Markbnj]

If the chip is compatible with the socket, 99.99% of the time it will post fine. The only problem with the dual cores, for example, is that you might need a BIOS flash in order to see both cores.

 

[envy me]

I beleive in some cases you may be able to post with only one memory module installed.

 

[Rustler]

I flashed both my DFI Ultra and the Asus boards in my sig with the latest bios before I went to the dual core, I have a X2 4400 in the DFI. I have allways used the Windows flashing utlilities with both boards and have not had a problem. I just ordered a dual core Opteron for my Asus rig.

DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D,
A64 X2 4400 Toledo @ 2420MHz
MSI X800pro, Silent Boost Lapped
Maxtor 6Y120MO and 6Y160MO SATA HDs
Corsair 2x512-XMS-4000PRO v3.1
Vantec 520 Stealth PSU

 

[2kfire]

If you're buying a new mobo, then it will more likely than not have the latest BIOS. If you are getting it from a computer shop, ask them to flash it to the latest BIOS and if they won't, go somewhere else. If you are getting it online, like sandorski said, have them test it first.

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper
I'm thinking about getting one of the new Opteron 146's or 165's. I'll probably just get a 146 since I can't see spending so much when I really don't need dual core and knowing that the prices will drop dramatically in the future and that I'll have lots of room to upgrade two years from now.

I'm also thinking about getting in on the Conncect3D x800 GTO card (the one that can be unlocked to 16 pipes and overclocked), so it wouldn't really make sense to get an SLI board. I haven't done much research on the Ultra boards, but people seem to think the Epox nForce4 Ultra is a great board. If I were to get that one, would it be a problem?

(I have 2 x 512 MB of 3200 Corsair Value RAM, so DFI is out of the picture.)

It's true that DFI boards are great for OC'ing, but they can run stock too They seem to be really good boards and they are loaded with features, so don't let the fact that you won't OC your RAM push you away from buying one!
Edit: Epox are pretty good boards. I remember back in the P3 days, although they looked plain, they had all the features with decent prices to match.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: 2kfire
If you're buying a new mobo, then it will more likely than not have the latest BIOS. If you are getting it from a computer shop, ask them to flash it to the latest BIOS and if they won't, go somewhere else. If you are getting it online, like sandorski said, have them test it first.

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper
I'm thinking about getting one of the new Opteron 146's or 165's. I'll probably just get a 146 since I can't see spending so much when I really don't need dual core and knowing that the prices will drop dramatically in the future and that I'll have lots of room to upgrade two years from now.

I'm also thinking about getting in on the Conncect3D x800 GTO card (the one that can be unlocked to 16 pipes and overclocked), so it wouldn't really make sense to get an SLI board. I haven't done much research on the Ultra boards, but people seem to think the Epox nForce4 Ultra is a great board. If I were to get that one, would it be a problem?

(I have 2 x 512 MB of 3200 Corsair Value RAM, so DFI is out of the picture.)

It's true that DFI boards are great for OC'ing, but they can run stock too They seem to be really good boards and they are loaded with features, so don't let the fact that you won't OC your RAM push you away from buying one!
Edit: Epox are pretty good boards. I remember back in the P3 days, although they looked plain, they had all the features with decent prices to match.

Agreed, don't push the DFI NF4 Ultra-D out of the picture. It's a fantastic board. I've also had great success with Epox boards as well, so I'm sure either way you can't go wrong.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Regarding the DFI boards, I keep reading comments about how it doesn't like Corsair Value RAM, which is why I've more or less taken it off the list.

(I foolishly ordered a Gig back in February when the prices were dropping. It was $108 shipped and NewEgg had a $10 coupon code so I hit it. Had no idea the prices would fall any further; they had been at $150 just three months before.)

 

[Furen]

I think the only time when an a64 didnt post on a motherboard was when AMD shifted from 130nm to 90nm. At this time you HAD to have support for 90nm or your chip didnt work at all unless you only used one memory channel. After winchester, as long as your MB supported 90nm CPUs, they worked but were recognized as "unknown hammers" (and single-core, in the case of dual-core CPUs).