AMD Motherboards: Processor Support
by Wesley Fink on June 28, 2005 1:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Updating DC BIOS & Revision E Memory
Updating BIOS for Dual Core with an x2 ProcessorThis brings up the nagging question that is always asked when BIOS upgrades are required for certain CPUs. What do you do if you have a board that needs a BIOS upgrade for dual-core and you only have a dual-core chip? We asked AMD this question and got the following reply:
"If the BIOS you are working with (original BIOS in the board) supports a rev E single core (AKA... 90nm as most new boards should), it will allow you to flash the BIOS to a BIOS that supports rev E dual core. In my experience, a DC processor with single core rev E support will run fine, but only as a single core. If the BIOS doesn't support rev E (In other words, you may have a good board, but the BIOS is pretty old), you will likely need to install a pre-rev E (AKA-130nm) AMD processor to flash the BIOS.
I'm told that if a customer can't flash their BIOS, many mobo vendors will mail out the BIOS chip to them (if it's not soldered down, obviously)"
Revision E Memory Controller PLUS 4 Dimms =
The memory timings, in the end, are controlled by the memory controller, and in the case of Athlon 64 that memory controller is on the processor. We had already been told by AMD that Rev. E would feature a new and improved memory controller. In fact for months prior to the release of the new Revision E Athlon 64 processors (Venice, San Diego, Toledo) we have been hearing that the new memory controller on the Rev. E chips would allow the use of 4 dimms at the faster 1T Command Rate.
With the 4200+ x2 in our DFI LANParty nForce4 SLI test bed with a working dual-core BIOS (6/23/05) we tried 4 matched PC3200 OCZ Platinum Rev. 2 dimms. Four double-sided (or double- bank) dimms STILL require a 2T command rate in this configuration, so the limitation stills remains. Four DS Dimms in a Rev. E still need a Command Rate of 2.
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arswihart - Friday, July 8, 2005 - link
epox has release official dual-core BIOS's for the 9npa+ and 9npa SLIleexgx - Thursday, July 7, 2005 - link
-mood mode on-silly post system
-mood mode off(ish)- :)
why are you lot setting your self on fire when its only been out for an week or so every board by the end of the month will get its bios updates put up (well the ones that do realy support it)
leexgx - Thursday, July 7, 2005 - link
OldDummy - Monday, July 4, 2005 - link
The FN95 V3 motherboard works with the X2. This is the motherboard in the SN95G5 V3,It works well.SUOrangeman - Saturday, July 2, 2005 - link
The Shuttle released a new BIOS for the SN25P on 21 June. The linked README doesn't refer to this new release (yet), but I'm hoping that it has something to do with X2 support.http://global.shuttle.com/Download/Download_File.a...
OldDummy - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
Shuttle SN95G5 V3 has problems with the X2 but a bios is in the works.Wesley Fink - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
The chart on page 4 has been updated based on information sent in by readers - Thank you. If we could verify the BIOS existed and claimed x2 support by the mfg, then it was added to the list.If we have overlooked any x2 BIOS please let us know. The motherboard supported, BIOS rev date, and where the BIOS can be downloaded would help us in verifying the information.
porn loader - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
The new DFI UT LP NF3 Ultra-D supports rev E/x2 cpus right out of the box..100proof - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
I don't believe this question has been asked yet. In refference to the comments concerning the addiotion of 433, 466, and 500 DDR speeds for Revision E processors, which motherboards currently have bios releases that support these speeds?ceefka - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
Likewise. a very useful article.