BIOS Update  

I'm on the other fench, I do BIOS updates as soon as they release. Never had an issue doing it this way and it's one less thing to worry about.

CommonTater said:

cloud8521 said:

Wishmaster said:

IMHO, flashing the bios should never be done unless the update specifically targets and resolves a problem you are actually having.

i disagree, such as when you are using an unlocked cpu or overclocked one, sometimes bios updates do help with lowering and changing how much volts you may need for it to remain stabler, such on my dual unlocked to a quad from a bios update went from needing 1.4 volts to 1.26.

Ummm... in that case it is targeting a specific problem.

Really Wishmaster is right. Bios Flash should be a last resort.

that'snot a problem tho. and i did not know it would, but i did it anyway.

Sorry for the late response, I took my rig apart yesterday to put it in a new Antec 1200 and I bit off more than I can chew. I thought it would be a simple matter of plugging everything back in.

After a trip to the library to download a copy of the manual for my motherboard and a trip to the store to buy a new Corsair 750W power supply, I finally have my computer up and running.

Here's my configuration:

Platform : Intel Averill Fundamental

Mainboard : Intel D946GZIS

Chipset : Intel i946GZ

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2666 MHz

Physical Memory : 2048 MB (2 x 1024 DDR2-SDRAM )

Video Card : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX

Hard Disk : WDC (500 GB)

Operating System : Windows 7 Professional Professional 6.01.7600 (x64)

DirectX : Version 11.00

Mainboard : Intel D946GZIS

I bought some more RAM so my machine would run smoother with the Windows Upgrade to 7 and a friend of mine told me to update my BIOS to prevent the machine from crashing with more that 2 GB of RAM.

Thanks for all of your help with this.

No, I don't know if I should install my new RAM and hope for the best or if I should try to update the BIOS again to make sure my system can use the RAM.

I don't want to open the RAM to have it be useless and un-returnable.

Griffin said:

No, I don't know if I should install my new RAM and hope for the best or if I should try to update the BIOS again to make sure my system can use the RAM.

I don't want to open the RAM to have it be useless and un-returnable.

Bios dont upgrade unless you absolutely have to can be dangerous

Ram, you need to try it.


Ken

I'm definately siding with the older, more experienced crowd on this issue. The very last thing you ever want to have to do is flash the BIOS. I've been building rigs for almost 2 decades now, and I've never once had to flash a BIOS. Unless you suspect a completely fried motherboard, then leave the BIOS alone. Unless of course you have the money to purchase another board at the drop of a hat. Of all the things you can do to correct hardware symptoms, flashing the BIOS had better be the very last option. When I first joined this forum, and saw people advising other inexperienced users to flash their BIOS because of an occasional BSOD, I about flipped my wig...LOL

I see others have flashed many a BIOS successfully. More power to you, but your playing with fire, and eventually it will bite you in the ass. Trust me.


Max

The Windows BIOS update is as simple as installing a driver.

Here's a quick tutorial from Intel - Windows Express BIOS Update | Intel.com - Video / Audio Center. There's also a tutorial on a BIOS recovery, should you need to do so, right after the BIOS update video. Just let the video clip continue to play.

Here's the BIOS (Windows) upated for your MB - BIOS Update [TS94610J.86A] - The file you want to download is TS94610J.86A.0087.EB.EXE

And yes, you should update the BIOS, especially if you've never updated the board since purchase.

BIOS Release notes - http://downloadmirror.intel.com/1484...leaseNotes.pdf

PS - I've been doing BIOS updates since I started building PC's in 1998. This express BIOS update is the simplest I’ve seen yet.