Do i need to flash my bios

slim01 · 23 Oct 2010 at 19:43

Hi guys i have an asus m4a78 (dont think its the e version or whatver)

Im looking to install an amd 955 quad

My CPU is on the supported list thankfully but ive never flashed a bios before and have heard it can kill a motherboard if done wrong. How hard is the process? could anyone here give me a step by step guide to doing it safely, as i dont have the money to mess it up! :rolleyes:

It looks like i might need to but i might be wrong - in cpu-z the mainboard tab it says version 0601 (ill upload a screenie in a min) and on the asus website it says supported since PCB 1.02G since bios 1206. Am i right in assuming ill need the update?

http://uk.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=8DgaI5WgY50udcbZ&templete=2

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP

will my cpu still run just as well as on a compatible board? This cpu is for someone else.

slim01 · 23 Oct 2010 at 19:43

Also will my cpu still run just as well as on a compatible board? This cpu is for someone else.

slim01 · 23 Oct 2010 at 19:49

hers the pic, let me know if you cant rread it

slim01 · 23 Oct 2010 at 19:49

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slim01 · 23 Oct 2010 at 19:50

thanks for all your help guys, i hope ive gotten all the info you need on here.

Surveyor · 23 Oct 2010 at 20:09

Latest BIOS is 2301.

Depending on the version of the 955 you have you may need to update the BIOS.

Safest to use Asus EZ Flash to update the BIOS - Don't use the Windows based tool.

See Section 2.1.2 of the user manual for instructions.

slim01 · 24 Oct 2010 at 01:42

Oh ok, so i might get away with it? Hmmm..... Could give it a go i guess

asus EZ flash? But how to i get the file ive downloaded onto the mobo? presumably if i flash the bios, it will need to see a new one to replace it with?

sorry im a noob but i'm presuming a USB drive?

slim01 · 24 Oct 2010 at 01:45

also can anyone recomend a good motherboard for a new build?

Im looking at crossfire boards as in the future may want another 6870, so is it worth looking purely for a x16 and x16 FULL bandwidth on both lanes mobo? Whats the cheapest one of these you guys know.
I see an asus evo mobo for just £70 that has crossfire support, but only x16 in one lane then liuke x4 in the other - hardly even seems worth putting a card in there at that bandqwdth

slim01 · 24 Oct 2010 at 01:45

thanks gain for your hlp

d_brennen · 24 Oct 2010 at 01:57

x8 by x8 would be fine for the 68xx series.

Using the EZ flash is quite safe. Man up

slim01 · 24 Oct 2010 at 02:31

Man up to you too dog. but x8 x8 is halfing the bandwidth.... seems waste of money but do you say that because those cards will never chuck out more information than a x8 socket could handle?

d_brennen · 24 Oct 2010 at 02:42

How much bandwidth of a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot does a high end card use? Let alone a modest GPU like the 6870? Look it up dawg

Surveyor · 24 Oct 2010 at 10:46

slim01 said:
Oh ok, so i might get away with it? Hmmm..... Could give it a go i guess

asus EZ flash? But how to i get the file ive downloaded onto the mobo? presumably if i flash the bios, it will need to see a new one to replace it with?

sorry im a noob but i'm presuming a USB drive?

If you read the manual, like I suggested, then it says to put the BIOS on a USB flash drive.

slim01 · 25 Oct 2010 at 00:47

Surveyor said:
If you read the manual, like I suggested, then it says to put the BIOS on a USB flash drive.

Thanks again for all your help, this one is sorted fo sho. Gonna get me an 8x 8x board if i can find one for around £80 -£100, as i did think thats how the bandwidth thing would work. ive been gettin so many diferent opinions (from another post) my heads in a mess lol

Thanks again, wish me luck with my 1st time flashing