MSI K8N NEO2-Nforce 3 chipset and dual core procs.

[tjmoffa]

I am in a quandry and I wonder if anyone has had any experience with my situation. I was given a "new" K8N NEO2 (non platinum) motherboard and I purchased a 165 opteron because I have an agp card and I don't have the cash to upgrade to pci-e at the moment. My problem is this board will board will support dual core procs, but only after flashing to the latest bios. I do not have a single core 939 proc to use to flash the bios to support my dual core opty. Has anyone tried to post a dual core proc on one of these mobos? I am leary of just plopping it in and firing it up for fear of damaging it. I called msi and the tech said the motherboard will support dual core after flashing but could not answer my question about whether the board will post and allow access to boot to dos prompt for flashing. I am considering ordering a used single core from ebay to flash with, but it seems like a pain in the neck if I can avoid it, I would rather. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[jbmx4life]

You could pop the chip in and try to see if it will boot. If it doesn't boot no big deal (except that you'll have to get a single core chip in order to flash the BIOS) and the chip will not be hurt. If it does boot then one of the newer "dual core supported" BIOS's must already be loaded and you shouldn't have any probs. Another thing you could do is ask around and see if someone could make and send you a pre-flashed BIOS chip if you wanna just pull the old and replace with the new. You could prolly also ask MSI about that. Have you tried calling up any of the local computer shops to see if they might be able to help? I would look for a used chip on the FS/FT forum b4 I went to Ebay.

 

[Madwand1]

I wouldn't worry about it. I had an ASUS that wouldn't even POST with a dual core, but I returned it an got a Gigabyte NF3 in exchange that would POST just fine and the fully recognized the X2 after a BIOS upgrade. I subsequently got an MSI K8N Neo2F which did the same. After the initial experience with the ASUS, I tried to be sure that the new MB's would at least POST with DC chips, and had no problem with the two that I'd chosen (POST'd just fine; took the "compatible" BIOS just fine).

To their credit, ASUS offerred to flash the BIOS for me if I sent it in. The store wanted to apply a service charge; hence the switch of MB for me.

 

[RichUK]

It should post and boot to windows but not recognise the second core until you flash the BIOS.

IIRC

 

[pkrush]

There are 3 possibilities, depending on how old the BIOS already on there is.
Worst case- it'll be so old that it won't even support the Venice core chips, in which case you won't be able to get it to boot and will need to find a Socket 939 Clawhammer or Newcastle chip to flash it.
Most likely- it'll boot with the X2 but won't recognize the second core until you flash the BIOS.
Best case- it'll boot, recognize the second core, and run perfectly fine.

 

[tjmoffa]

Awesome, building it as I type this, thanks for all the info from everyone, I appreciate it!!!