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Is there any way to flash an MSI motherboard without a CPU?

M

micrometers

Diamond Member
I bought a z68 MSI motherboard ed55 b3.

Ivy bridge.

On bootup, it will beep 4 times and then reboot.

It does this over and over.

I have narrowed down the problem to the ivy bridge CPU.

There is a bios update available for the motherboard.

However, I am stuck in a catch-22.

Without a Sandy Bridge CPU I can't update the Bios to support the ivy bridge CPU.

I don't want to buy a CPU just to flash the bios. That is utterly ridiculous.

Any advice?
 
There is literally NO way to flash without a CPU. Back in the AMD days, when people were downgrading from PH 2 to faildozer, most people would either have a CPU to use or they would pick up a 30$ sempron and use that. Buy the cheapest LGA 1155 CPU you can find and keep it as a backup/return it to newegg for your money back, they shouldve shipped the board with a proper BIOS.
 
Smoblikat said:
There is literally NO way to flash without a CPU. Back in the AMD days, when people were downgrading from PH 2 to faildozer, most people would either have a CPU to use or they would pick up a 30$ sempron and use that. Buy the cheapest LGA 1155 CPU you can find and keep it as a backup/return it to newegg for your money back, they shouldve shipped the board with a proper BIOS.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking I'll do this with amazon.
 
From NewEgg:

What is the return policy for CPUs? How does the CPU return policy work?
Published 04/02/2012 07:49 AM | Updated 07/02/2012 07:10 AM

OEM CPUs:

Refund period: Non-refundable
Replacement period: 30 days from original invoice date


Retail CPUs:

Refund period: Non-refundable
Replacement period: 30 days from original invoice date



Additional CPU Warranty Terms

All defective and DOA CPUs will be replaced upon return.
Newegg will not cross-ship replacement CPUs.
Physically damaged CPUs cannot be returned to Newegg.com, including physical damage due to improper installation.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Have you considered returning the motherboard and getting a newer Z77 chipset board instead? Those boards should be shipping with BIOSes that support Ivy Bridge.
 
Zap said:
Have you considered returning the motherboard and getting a newer Z77 chipset board instead? Those boards should be shipping with BIOSes that support Ivy Bridge.
Click to expand...

No.

To start off, I got a relatively good deal on this one: $77

Secondly, I hate returning shit. It's such a hassle.
 
This is why I love what asus is doing with their "USB BIOS Flashback" feature.

You can upgrade the bios on a bare motherboard, no ram or cpu needed.
 
Simple advice go to a local computer builder/repair store and see if there they have a 2nd generation Intel Core processor around that they would put in the board and update the Bios for you. they should charge you less then it would it would cost to get a old CPU. Here is a site that may help you find one in here area.
 
If you state the town you live in at the moment in a for sale post, you might be able to get a member from this forum to help you for a small price. An elderly gentleman did this about two weeks back and was able to get help installing a router for the small cost of a cup of coffee.
 
Have you contacted MSI support? They can put a new BIOS on there for you. I know that some companies (like ASRock) will do that for free, although you might have to pay shipping.
 
Most pc stores will do it for you for a small cost. Or if you live close to Microcenter you can pick up there Celery for $35
 
If you buy a used CPU for a good price, you might be able to sell it for about the same price and only be out the shipping cost.
 
kalrith said:
Have you contacted MSI support? They can put a new BIOS on there for you. I know that some companies (like ASRock) will do that for free, although you might have to pay shipping.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is the only way to "flash" a BIOS without a CPU. Most reputable manufacturers are willing to ship to you an updated BIOS EEPROM chip provided you are competent enough to use a $10 PLC Extractor bought from Radio Shack to pull out the old chip and put in the new one.
 
Before you go out and buy a new cpu be very careful about which Sandy Bridge processor your MB will support. Some MSI boards only support Core i3/5/7 Sandy Bridges depending on the BIOS revision. If you try a cheap Celeron or Pentium based SB it may not work.

That was my experience anyway. Read the link it may help.
http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=160493.0
 
bbhaag said:
Before you go out and buy a new cpu be very careful about which Sandy Bridge processor your MB will support. Some MSI boards only support Core i3/5/7 Sandy Bridges depending on the BIOS revision. If you try a cheap Celeron or Pentium based SB it may not work.

That was my experience anyway. Read the link it may help.
http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=160493.0
Click to expand...
Oh crap!

If I'm reading this right you need version 5 to run the Amazon 530 CPU! Whoops!

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z68MA-ED55--B3-.html#/?div=CPUSupport

Looks like my 2500k is supported by version 1? Send it to me, I'll do it.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
Go to a local mom and pop computer store to upgrade the BIOS. It costs $25 here.
Click to expand...
I called 7 different mom and pop computer stores in my area when I had the same problem as the OP with my MSI board.
Guess what they told me?.....Buy the correct cpu from Newegg.
 
Place the MSI motherboard in front of you, get nekkid, put on a rain coat, and...

FLASH without the CPU !!!
 
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