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Worth updating my BIOS??

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Name: musiccrazyjosh
Date: June 11, 2004 at 14:58:42 Pacific
OS: Win XP Pro
CPU/Ram: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ / 512
Comment:

Hey guys

I have a ASRock K7S8X motherboard and I have never updated the bios - it is version 1.3 but I believe I can now get version 2.2 or something - there seem to be many changes - so would it be worth it?

Thanks in advance

Josh



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Response Number 1
Name: alfapi
Date: June 11, 2004 at 15:05:59 Pacific
Reply:

there is a wise rule about bioses that says: if it works don`t touch...or something like that :)


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Response Number 2
Name: jam
Date: June 11, 2004 at 15:31:23 Pacific
Reply:

I disagree...especially since there have been many updates. If you have version 1.3 & the latest available was 1.4, it probably wouldn't be necessary...but if the latest is "2.2 or something", I'd definitely go for it.

Hopefully you're experienced at flashing a BIOS?


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Response Number 3
Name: ham30
Date: June 11, 2004 at 15:36:08 Pacific
Reply:

I have to agree with Alfapi. My feelings about updates is, only do them if there is something in the update that you need or really would like to have. This goes quadruple for the Bios. There is no guarantee that updates are error free. In fact they very seldom are.


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Response Number 4
Name: jam
Date: June 11, 2004 at 15:40:24 Pacific
Reply:

ham30,

I know your opinion is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

My opinion is "the latest is the greatest"...LOL!


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Response Number 5
Name: name
Date: June 11, 2004 at 15:42:20 Pacific
Reply:

the only reason to ever worry about updating bios, is if there is something wrong that you think would be fixed by flashing, or some feature--like bigger hard disk support--that you must have.

Otherwise, leave it alone. There is always the risk that it will fail, and leave you with a "dead" bios chip--

could you get another one?


Is yours "socketed" or soldered?

See, I figured you didn't want to go there.

(I don't--and I could replace one if I HAD to)


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Response Number 6
Name: octo
Date: June 11, 2004 at 15:47:03 Pacific
Reply:

first, if u are confident in flashing then thats one problem out of the way.

second, if it works there is no need, but bear in mind that if u upgrade devices or make changes to ur system and it doesn't work u can always go to the manufacturers website and see if the bios have anything to do with it.

Generally i would say leave it, but the update is massive in ur case and i would say flash it IF u are confident nothing will go wrong on ur part of it.
Equally if u are happy with ur system as it is and u are just at a user level then leave it be. Its ur choice bud ;)


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Response Number 7
Name: jam
Date: June 11, 2004 at 18:14:11 Pacific
Reply:

Looks like a lot of good fixes...I say, go for it!

v 2.30

1. Fine tuned ATi 9800 AGP card.
2. If CD-ROM is connected with HDD on same IDE channel, Windows XP can be installed correctly.
3. "IDE Driving" option was added in the BIOS setup.
4. Athlon XP 2600+ CPU should be displayed correctly on the POST.
5. Low speed fan should be detected correctly.


v 2.20

1. SiS 180 SATA card can be selected from boot menu.
2. Create a BIOS setup option to enable or disable USB 2.0 controller.
3. RTC alarm power on function should work correctly after shutting down from XP.


v 1.90 - All AMD CPU should function correctly...

1. Support K7S8X R 3.0 hardware reversion.


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Response Number 8
Name: ham30
Date: June 11, 2004 at 20:35:19 Pacific
Reply:

Intelligent and knowledgeable people can have different opinions. :-)


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Response Number 9
Name: musiccrazyjosh
Date: June 12, 2004 at 02:06:48 Pacific
Reply:

Thanks for all the amazing feedback guys!!

Will the new bios make the m/b support FSB400 or does that have to be a hardware requirment? As I really need that.

I have never flashed bios before but I have read all about it - surely as long as you download the correct one for your motherboard, it should work? Obviously if the power goes then your screwed lol

Cheers

Josh


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Response Number 10
Name: jam
Date: June 12, 2004 at 06:58:46 Pacific
Reply:

I don't know what your overclocking options are in the BIOS, but the board only officially supports 333FSB. Try changing the CPU Host Frequency to MANUAL...I'm guessing your's is set to BY JUMPER....then see what other FSB settings are available


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Response Number 11
Name: jimmymac
Date: June 12, 2004 at 08:14:44 Pacific
Reply:

i can tell you from personal expierance,don't do it!


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Response Number 12
Name: musiccrazyjosh
Date: June 12, 2004 at 16:10:14 Pacific
Reply:

Dont do what? Update the bios? What are you saying I should never update the bios??


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Response Number 13
Name: myardor
Date: June 16, 2004 at 11:16:54 Pacific
Reply:

jimmymac says>>>>>>>>>.. from personal expierence, don't do it!

i say>>> then if u r HIV positive, you will say...dont do it, dont have sex?

yea right. just cause u messed up ( could be a case of stupidity) does not mean others will mess up.


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Response Number 14
Name: musiccrazyjosh
Date: June 17, 2004 at 03:21:01 Pacific
Reply:

Yep I agree! Might have to update bios later....


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