OK I have an unused M3N WS Motherboard which I am about to put in a build. the board was purchased in 2008.
In June 2009 ASUS released a BIOS update which added support for the Phenom II X4 955 CPU (which is an AM3 CPU).
Obviously since my board was purchased in 2008 and has never been setup, it does not have this BIOS update.
ASUS BIOS has a Tool called EZ-Flash (or something similar) which allows you to flash the BIOS via a USB (USB Pendrive work??) or Floppy drive.
Now ordinarily if I was using an AM2 or AM2+ CPU that was not supported in an older BIOS it would just lower the speed and label it as unrecognised in the BIOS until such time as I update the BIOS - so I would not be concerned with adding a new AM2+ CPU and doing the update after the fact.
However, my understanding is that the AM3 has 2 pins less than the AM2 and I am concerned that if I install it prior to updating the BIOS I might not be able to get into the BIOS in order to use the update tool.
Can anyone confirm whether or not they have ever managed to do this. i don't want to have to buy an AM2 CPU just to flash the BIOS it seems like a horrible waste of money, but at the same time I don't want to put the 955 in if it carries any risk of damaging the board or preventing me from getting into the BIOS to update.
All feedback appreciated.
In June 2009 ASUS released a BIOS update which added support for the Phenom II X4 955 CPU (which is an AM3 CPU).
Obviously since my board was purchased in 2008 and has never been setup, it does not have this BIOS update.
ASUS BIOS has a Tool called EZ-Flash (or something similar) which allows you to flash the BIOS via a USB (USB Pendrive work??) or Floppy drive.
Now ordinarily if I was using an AM2 or AM2+ CPU that was not supported in an older BIOS it would just lower the speed and label it as unrecognised in the BIOS until such time as I update the BIOS - so I would not be concerned with adding a new AM2+ CPU and doing the update after the fact.
However, my understanding is that the AM3 has 2 pins less than the AM2 and I am concerned that if I install it prior to updating the BIOS I might not be able to get into the BIOS in order to use the update tool.
Can anyone confirm whether or not they have ever managed to do this. i don't want to have to buy an AM2 CPU just to flash the BIOS it seems like a horrible waste of money, but at the same time I don't want to put the 955 in if it carries any risk of damaging the board or preventing me from getting into the BIOS to update.
All feedback appreciated.