Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P - new BIOS

Gunnar

Gunnar

Gunnar

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Joined
13 Oct 2005
Posts
143
Hi Guys,

I just noticed that Gigabyte have recently released a newer bios (F4G) for the MA790XT-UD4P (AM3 Mobo). I'm currently running with the F4A bios for my 955BE CPU.
Just wondering if anyone has upgraded to the F4G bios and if they are happy with it.

Cheers,
Gunnar.
 
Hi Gunnar
I recieved the motherboard and new Phenom II on friday and set about getting it up and running with the following set up
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P
CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition 3.2Ghz
Cooling - Gelid Silent Spirit CPU Cooler
Memory - Corsair XMS3 DHX 4Gb (2x2Gb) DDR3 1600C9DHX
Graphics - NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
Power - Tagan TG700-U25
Disk 1 - Seagare Barracuda ST380817AS
Disk 2 - Seagate Barracuda ST3200822A8
Disk 3 - Samsung HD103UJ
Display 1 - Samsung SyncMaster 2232BW
Display 2 - LG Flatron L1720B
Operating System - Windows XP 32Bit SP3
Initial tests were quite promising until I determined thatthe reported CPU speed was only 800Mhx instead of 3200Mhz :(
This I found to be as a result of the board being sent to me with a BIOS version of F3, checking Gigabyte CPU Support List for the MB this should be F4g in order to fully support the Phenom
I downloaded the recommended BIOS, mmade a backup of the original and used the recommended procedure of Q-Flash from the BIOS menu
All indications showed that the flash was successful and no errors showed
I then powered down the system and tried to power back up
This is where it hit the fan!! :(
No POST messages....nada...nothing!!
Reduced the configuration to a basic graphics card and nothing and still Nothing!
Outcome is a total failure and my suggestion would be to wait until I get a response from Gigabyte support and/or OC
Cheers
Stirling
 
built 3 systems yesterday with Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P and 995BE CPU none of them had an issue upgrading to F4G, and as Stirling all were showing the CPU @ 800mhz until the BIOS upgrade..

Had a bit of a play around clocking have had one of the CPU so far at just under 4ghz on the new F4G BIOS, am being limited by the cooler now so will put him under water next weekend
 
Hiya,
I bit the bullet late last week and upgraded to F4G. All well here, got the 955BE at stock, NB/HT at 2400 and my Corsair Ram (1600C9DHX) running at quite low latencies (7,7,7,20,27,1T @ 1.8v) and no other voltage increases. I did try pushing the NB/HT to 2600 but she wouldn't post. I like the CMOS reset on this mobo, in that I just needed to unplug PSU and short the terminals with a screwdriver and then Load Optimised followed by loading last good settings from the backup bios chip.

@stirling - Did you Load the Optimised settings with the first POST after upgrading, or did you not get that far ? Also I had a couple of instances where the mobo wouldn't POST until I booted it again - I'm guessing you've done that. Also have you got anything connected to the Speaker terminals of the Front Panel Header so that you can hear the POST Beeps ?

@Pneumonic - Was your overclock a pure increase of the mulitplier, how much extra juice did you need to give the 955 ?

Cheers,
Gunnar.
 
Hi
Thanks for responses so far
What I had was at stock BIOS F3 optimised, all reboots were OK, no problem with power shutdowns restart etc

After upgrade to F4g, nothing after the first reset/power down

Tried the following with no change
Only items connected are a working graphics card (from another working system) and a working PS2 keyboard
CMOS cleared (shorted out CLR_CMOS pins)
Removed CMOS battery for 10mins
shorted the battery connection for 10+ seconds
replaced battery
Powered on, still no POST

Hear a single 'BEEP' indicates OK!
No graphics

How is the backup BIOS (B_BIOS) supposed to help in a case like this?:confused:

Any other suggestions welcome ;)

Been building PC's since the late '80's so am pretty familiar with voltage/static protection etc
First one that has had me stumped for this long!

Thanks
Stirling
 
Last edited:
Hey Gunnar
Looks like I was editing the response posed when you posted

Answer is a single beep, indicating Normal POST, System booted OK
Still no display though :(
Maybe something I am missing?? and cant see the wood for the trees?? :(

Thanks
Stirling
 
Hi Stirling,
Ooo...single beep...aok. Silly to ask but GPU is seated aok and cabling connections are aok ? Appreciate you may have already checked. From you've reported it sounds like the monitor isn't receiving the signal.

Backup BIOS stores the last successful POST CMOS settings. Not sure if you can do anything else with it.

Cheers,
Gunnar.
 
Gunnar
Bum steer on the beep code, its one of the optical disks doing a seek, I have pulled power from everything in the PC and tried again and definately no beep at all
Also have removed the GPU from the system and should get 1 Long Beep, 3 Short Beeps but get nothing at all
This could be
Beeper dont work or no beep getting sent
So snatched beeper out of another system and plugged it into my ear like an earphone (Yea.. risky I know;)) and all I get a a very slight click during the power up sequence
With no GPU I should at least be deafened :( after POST determines no GPU or GPU mem fault
Took all memory out and get beeps!
Get single beep repeated every 5-6 seconds
Hmm thot plickens !

Thanks
Stirling
 
Stirling,
Possible shorting against the mobo ? Had a socket 939 that would do it with the back plate in, without it was aok. Power cables are all correctly connected etc etc.
According to manual:
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error.

Also, I've had to put my ram sticks in the 2 slots furthest from the CPU, because the Titan Fenrir blocks out the first slot. But have read that the 2 slots I've used are more stable.
Just thoughts.
Cheers,
Gunnar.
 
I have exhasted all possibilities now
MB on bench after verifying no shorts on extraneous posts in case (Lian Li Case)
Memory in other 2 slots
Different P/S from another working PC (Intel Extreme + Asus P5Q Pro)
Known working K/B
Known working Display
Known working GPU
Beeps are maybe 1/2 sec long repeated every 5-6 secs with no memory installed
When memory in..No beeps

Tried installing a USB stick (freecom card usb 128mb with the required files) and I see the USB light up for about 10 secs then go out so something must be happening, left in for 30 mins

Observations
K/B lights for num lock caps lock etc go on an off with the appropriate key activity

Diskette does not do initial seek on power up:confused:

Fan control on CPU fan does change speed during power up sequence

I think I just have a bad board after flashing BIOS:(

Awaiting response from Gigabyte Support (and possibly from OCUK:rolleyes:)

Many thanks for you help Gunnar, much appreciated

Stirling
PS Put back all 'borrowed' components and the other PC still fine! :eek: heehee
 
No problem Stirling.
Sorry to hear that it sounds like the mobo, especially as it looks like it was working pre-flash.
I read the manual re: dual bios - the secondary bios is supposed to kick-in when the mobo realises the primary bios is corrupt etc.
Cheers,
Gunnar.
 
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