Is It Possible To Upgrade a Motherboard Without A CPU?

Jordan97 · 1 Jun 2011 at 14:59

**Ment BIOS, not motherboard**

I know this is going to sound totally ridiculous but there is this great motherboard that I want but it will only support up to the AMD Phenom X4, but will take an X6 with a BIOS update.

Will I still be able to update the BIOS using an X6 chip? I'm really confused! I've never had to deal with a situation like this before! :confused:

alex24 · 1 Jun 2011 at 15:06

I don't think so. However, I found the BIOS that didn't support my CPU on my board, still booted and worked fine. You could just try it out I suppose and if it boots, run the update. Some boards will flash if you stick a USB drive in with the BIOS ROM on it and select the right option. Which board do you have?

Jordan97 · 1 Jun 2011 at 15:13

I don't currently have it, but it is going to be this one: http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3/M4A78LTM/

And I want to run an AMD Phenom II X6 1055T on it.

alex24 · 1 Jun 2011 at 15:43

If you're buying it new, there's a chance it'll have a compatible BIOS loaded. You could also contact the retailer and see if they know, or even if they can do it for you (I remember hearing once or twice places have done this for customers). If you're buying second hand, you can ask the previous owner about it, or ask if they could do it for you.

Alternatively, you could pick up an older compatible chip second hand to flash the BIOS, then sell it on. You'll only lose postage costs most likely.

Jordan97 · 1 Jun 2011 at 15:53

Ok thanks, that sounds like a plan!

Justintime · 1 Jun 2011 at 21:02

Not necessarily answering your question directly, but yes you can. If the BIOS chip is removable then you can purchase a chip online from the manufacturer or other reseller etc.. or send yours to be flashed etc.. without purchasing a cpu.

Jordan97 · 1 Jun 2011 at 21:05

Justintime said:
Not necessarily answering your question directly, but yes you can. If the BIOS chip is removable then you can purchase a chip online from the manufacturer or other reseller etc.. or send yours to be flashed etc.. without purchasing a cpu.

Oh right, how much would this cost roughly? Could OcUK do it for me, or should I go to Asus?

Justintime · 2 Jun 2011 at 00:32

Looking at pics of your board, the BIOS chip seems removable.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BIOS-Chip-ASU...0?pt=UK_Motherboards_CPUs&hash=item5886cf3eb8

That might work to be your lowest costing and fastest option but only in the event you actually need it, i'd try all other avenues first. Ask OCUK the BIOS ver and if maybe they could flash it if not the latest? If that fails just plonk the cpu and see if it boots and if so, flash it, if none of those is a go then buy the BIOS chip making sure they send the correct BIOS ver. I've got a feeling the Asus route might be more costly and will take longer.

Jordan97 · 2 Jun 2011 at 12:22

Thanks. I contacted OcUK and they said it is a service that they do not provide. I might just go with the Phenom II X4 955. Will save me a few quid, won't need an update, and I won't really be doing much that is going to utilize 6 cores.