Solved XFX 750a SLI - Latest BIOS Update

[ZaLiTH]

Right... So here I am trying to perform miracles with a XFX/NVidia board again. I'm running out of hair to pull out, but I can't afford to get another one right now.

I'm sure the whole world knows that XFX and NVidia aren't buddies anymore, and I know that XFX skimped on the processor TDP ratings to 'save money', but I'm not sure if this problem is a faulty BIOS from XFX or if my chip is failing.. Anybody else still running this board? Perhaps someone can give a second opinion here...

Currently I'm running the v1.6 BIOS, the latest is v1.7. My PC doesn't have any problems with 1.6, I was just trying to see if I could get a Phenom II 740 BE to work on this board. The BIOS flashes without any problems, no errors or warnings or suspicious beeps.. But then the two-digit diagnostic LED on the board goes haywire with 1.7, with 1.6 it shows normal alpha-numeric codes, but on 1.7 the lines are completely mixed up and don't make any legible numbers or letters.

I must admit, other than that, I haven't found any problems.. My 740 BE still didn't work, but I'm not sure if that was also because of the BIOS or not. Has anybody else perhaps tried this BIOS yet...? If not, and you're comfortable with it, could you try it and see? I had no issues flashing back to 1.6 after trying 1.7, so you don't have to worry about being stuck on it if you don't like it...

 

[rangelot]

Can you help me?

I just flashed my motherboard (xfx 750a sli) to latest version 1.7 and I am having the same problems with the LED. I also think that my SATA devices have been disabled. Only my IDE drives are recognized. I created a support ticket on MOBO site but no response yet. I was wondering if you could send me the 1.6 ISO so I can reflash my system. Thanks.

 

[ZaLiTH]

Well, I found out a few months after I posted this that XFX actually disassociated themselves with Nvidia quite a while back (source).. So unfortunately I suppose this means anyone who's bought an XFX / Nvidia product gets royally screwed.

I don't have the 1.6 BIOS with me at the moment, it's on my home PC and I'm at work.. I'll send it to you when I get home later though.

 

[rangelot]

That would be fantastic! Just out of curiosity, does 1.6 correct the LED problem and were you using SATA mode and experienced any problems with 1.6?

Once again, thank you very much!!

 

[ZaLiTH]

Just out of curiosity, does 1.6 correct the LED problem and were you using SATA mode and experienced any problems with 1.6?

I'm still running the 1.6 BIOS at the moment with my drives in AHCI mode. I ran it for a couple months in straight SATA mode without any issues before I switched to AHCI.

Honestly, I had endless problems with 1.7... SATA ports and motherboard LED status panel were just the big ones. Even tried 1.5B (took me 3 weeks to find a download for it), and although it has less problems than 1.7, I found my RAM wasn't working too well when overclocked.

Anyway, the 1.6 BIOS ISO is attached, nothing changed from when I originally downloaded it, hope you come right with it.

 

[rangelot]

thanks for the BIOS! I reflashed the system and now the LED's display normal digits, but my SATA drive is still not functioning. All I know is that I was using a SATA config under BIOS ver 1.0 and everything was working find until the other day. Machine was slow to boot up but I didn't notice if the SATA drive was operational or not (just data). So that's when I decided to flash to the latest version. I'm wondering if the drive just went bad and that was causing the lengthy start up. I'll have someone test the drive for me. If by chance I have to switch to ACHI from SATA can you recommend 64-bit drivers for this. I'm going to be reloading the OS (Win7/64) so re-installing is no big deal. My MOBO came with RAID drivers for both 32 and 64 bit. Will these the drivers work for AHCI mode?

Once again, thanks for all the great help.

 

[leugim]

You can find all of the bios for xfx 750a (from 1.1 to 1.7) here:
September « 2011 « Lambert on Tech

Btw sorry to bother everyone with this question, but since the 750a can only support socket am3 95w processors might the phenom II 960t be a possibility, or am i just hoping with this one?? heres a link to it:
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 960T Zosma 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor HD96ZTWFGRBOX

im just wondering. thanx

 

[ZaLiTH]

Btw sorry to bother everyone with this question, but since the 750a can only support socket am3 95w processors might the phenom II 960t be a possibility, or am i just hoping with this one?? heres a link to it:
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 960T Zosma 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor HD96ZTWFGRBOX

im just wondering. thanx

According to the CPU support list, it's not supported... Then again, that is an old list, and one that XFX won't ever update again. They're not associated with Nvidia anymore, so they're not updating/supporting Nvidia based products anymore.

Having said that, I do know two people who have got a Phenom II x3 740 working on the 750a, despite it not being on the supported CPU list. I tried, but my board didn't like it.. Your best bet is to Google it and see how many people you can find who have either tried it and got it to work, or tried it and failed. If you do plan on buying one to test, first see if someone else would want it in case it doesn't like your board.

 

[rubyrubyroo]

yeah I had this almost identical problem, as leugim, or everyone here to a degree, and it all amounted to a hardware conflict, can/have you swap out the sata drive with one you know to be functional? I think you said it was just a data drive - not a sys/boot/etc

because if that is the case, reinstall will produce similar outcome.

 

[leugim]

thanx. so far in my Google quest ive found 2 successful stories with the phenom II 945, aside from that nothing. apparently no one has tried the 960t despite it being 95w. it would be sweet though because if you unlock the 2 extra cores on it (if available in the bios) it becomes a 6 core cpu. anyways thanx so much for the reply. ill keep looking or maybe just try it for myself and see if it works. regardless ill post on my findings. thanx again.

 

[ZaLiTH]

No problem leugim. I've still got my 750a, but to be honest, with the hardware available these days, it makes more sense to change motherboards rather than try find new hardware for an old board... Especially one that's no longer supported by it's manufacturer.

Next month I'll be switching my board and CPU, I've already got a DDR3 RAM kit sitting in a box on my desk, I'm just waiting for the rest... I get all excited every time I look at it, but I can't use it yet.. Anyway, my point is that it would probably better to put aside the money you were going to spend on a CPU, add a bit more to it when you can, and get a better board and CPU at the same time. I'm selling my current rig to a friend of mine who can't afford the newer tech, so at least it's not being wasted and I'm still getting something out of it.

 

[Tomc3976]

Hi, I am looking for the latest bios update for the XFX 750a SLI MB, can someone help me with this? XFX website does not offer the bios updates at all.
Thanks in advance

 

[leugim]

here ...

September « 2011 « Lambert on Tech

 

[Bfcunion]

After going through all the pages recommended.This is what I had to do.
If you remember Dos Bios Flashing.... You'll be shuddering now. I was able to use a Windows based Flash to save my current BIOS... What it was I don't know... I used a lot.

First you'll need the Ami Bios Flash Program
http://xfxstorage.com/Support/BIOS/Motherboard/AMIFLASH/amibios/afudos/

Then you'll need the Bios in ROM Format (I Downloaded the Lot)
http://neallambert.com/?m=201109

Create a Boot USB using a 1-2GB usb stick (The one in the back of your drawer with unknown filth on it)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/46707-ms-dos-bootable-flash-drive-create.html

From here you need to create a file on the USB called
Autoexec.bat (or copy the contents of the win98boot.zip that you extracted earlier fot the USB, don't overwrite any files.)
Right click it and edit it....
You need to type the commandline to execute your New Bios file.
cd xfxbios
AFUDOS XMA72P17.ROM /p /c
I went straight to the Latest as I had a Tripple core to donate to the Board.

Create a Folder on the USB called XFXBIOS (So you know later what it is)
Copy the AFUDOS.exe into the folder and all the ROM's.

Your USB is now ready to run.

Enter your BIOS and disable flash protection in the security section of BIOS.
Set your boot device to USB (Set the primary HDD to USB then the Boot Sequence)
Restart and cross your fingers...... I did..
The Flash program should start and may recommend changing one of the switches.
I accepted this change and it completed successfully.

Next you need to power off.
This is where I had a What the moment...... It took what felt a millenium to boot to the splash screen.
Repeatedly Press Del to enter BIOS.
And then Reset BIOS to Failsafe settings on the Exit Tab.
Then Save and Exit.
If you wish, re-enter bios and tweak your settings but I let Windows load.
I could see it was quicker instantly. (Obviously using the other 2 cores)

Hope this helps somone else as I was about to throw my board out.