What is flashing BIOS?

[Shooters]

What is flashing your BIOS and how does it pertain to overclocking? Also, what does it mean when someone says they have a brand-x motherboard revision 1.XX?

Thanks,
Shooters

 

[aUt0eXebat]

BIOS, basic input output system. it is a chip that has info burned perminatly into it. it is instuctions on how to do calculations and proceses data and what not... most new BIOS chips are flashable, wich means they can be upgraded with a new set of instructions.

 

[Shooters]

So in a way, it's kinda like updating a driver?

 

[medic]

(in a nutshell version)
Flashing your bios usually means downloading a flash program and a bios code for your particular M.B./bios. You should go to your Motherboard manufacturers website for exact instructions on the flash (programming) procedure for your particular board. It can be very specific.
One way is to add these files to a bootable floppy disk and booting with it, starting the flash program, saving your old bios code (in case something goes wrong) then flashing the updated code into the bios chip. (better hope the power doesn't go off as any interuption can hose your computer) The bios chip is able to be programmed (flashed) with new updated code, giving you possibly new features, bug fixes ect.

Revision 1.XX is the current revision or version of your motherboard. We can hope that each subsequent revision will have added features and or stability than a previous revision.

 

[Shooters]

When you say "current revision or version", do you mean of the physical board itself or of the drivers for the board? I guess what I'm asking is if the revision is something that is upgradeable or not. Also, how do you know which revision of the motherboard you're getting when you purchase it. I've checked out a few online stores and they don't seem to mention anything about the revision.

Thanks,
Shooters

 

[medic]

Right, it means the actual board itself. 1.01 for instance might have an extra capacitor for example over the first revision and now is more stable.
The only way to be sure when you buy something online is to either get the salesman to give you the exact specs, get him to physically look at the board, or get tech support to give you the information on it before you buy it.

 

[KaiLord]

Look up your motherboard in the support pages on you motherboard manufature's home page. Look at the BIOS updates (if there are any) if you are not have any of the problems listed in the release notes its is recommended not to reflash if you dont need it. I caught a bad link once and ended up flashing the wrong BIOS for my Motherboard. That sucked!

 

[goofy2000]

I got a question too..
My mobo is Dataexpert's TX531 ( think..) with P200 MMX on it. (doesn't go higher much)I'm not even sure I can flash the bios..
I downloaded a file called txsomething.rom from their website. They have absolutely no detail how I can flash the BIOS..
I tried to boot the computer with a bootable disk with the rom file in it, but it just.. booted.. ^^ without doing anything..
How can I flash this one?

 

[medic]

The .rom file is the bios update code but you also need to have the flash program from the same website.