Solved BIOS Update

[seekermeister]

I'm one that tries to stay far away from flashing the BIOS unless there is a very compelling reason to do so, but browsing the download page for my MB, I noticed that they had released a new BIOS update in November to update my MB from AM3 to AM3+. Since I have no plans to buy a Bulldozer, is there any advantage to having AM3+ otherwise?

 

[Corazon]

No.

It's not a matter of "updating the motherboard" either, it's simply adding CPU codes to the BIOS so it can correctly recognize and set up an AM3+ CPU if one is installed.

 

[Kipper]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I try to live by that rule anyways.

 

[seekermeister]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I try to live by that rule anyways.

Even with your Harley?

 

[Mark Phelps]

Even though I'm generally someone to leap at BIOS updates, in the case of AM3, I would advise leaving it alone.

I have an AM3 board and made the MISTAKE of updating it to the latest BIOS. Not only would my 1600-speed memory not run at 1600 anymore, it wouldn't even run at 1333! In both cases, I got a BOOT error, requiring me to go back into the BIOS and slow down the memory.

That BIOS update was intended to add AM3+ support to my Gigabyte motherboard -- something I (like you) don't need, but I thought I would try it anyway, expecting that it would not make anything worse.

So, since I saved off the "old" BIOS before updating, I reflashed using that, and I'm back to running my memory at full speed again.

 

[seekermeister]

On the other hand, it might help my memory, because my 1600s have never run better than 1300.

 

[Mark Phelps]

On the other hand, it might help my memory, because my 1600s have never run better than 1300.

NO ... what happened to me is that it HURT my memory. My memory which was able to boot and run OK at 1600 with the older BIOS, was reduced to running at 1033 with the latest BIOS.

So, I had to reflash with an earlier (year-old) BIOS version to get back to being able to use the memory at 1600.

 

[seekermeister]

I understood, but if it can go one way with a bad flash, it might go the other with a good one, if the old BIOS isn't what it should be.

 

[seekermeister]

Since I posted this question, they released another BIOS update. This time it only says that it modifies CPU code, but not which CPUs it effects. Is there a way to determine which CPUs it includes?

 

[sreedhav]

No.

It's not a matter of "updating the motherboard" either, it's simply adding CPU codes to the BIOS so it can correctly recognize and set up an AM3+ CPU if one is installed.

Hello Corazon,
This is a good thread and your's is an excellent post for everybody who jump at updating a BIOS blindly, whenever a new version is released.

Regards,
sreedhav

 

[seekermeister]

That was a good response for the first question, but not the last. The first time it clearly stated that the update was for including AM3 processors, but the last one does not.