Just got a Matsonic MS8157E motherboard, and a 2.2ghz Athlon XP processor, but the computer is recognising it as being a 1.3ghz. Usually id just change the settings in the BIOS, and that does the job, but there doesnt seem to be any options which I can change in the BIOS that would effect the speed it's running at. The motherboard should support upto a 2.6ghz I think, I know it wont run at 2.2, but it should be running at least at 1.9ghz surely. Any idea's? Or will I have to update the BIOS? Thanks, Andy.
Is the CPU an Athlon XP 2200+? or a 3200+. The reason I'm asking for clarification is because the 2200+ is not a 2.2GHz CPU---it's a performance rating, and the CPU runs at 1.83GHz. It uses an FSB of 133MHz(266MHz DDR) and a multiplier of 13.5 The 3200+ does run at 2.2GHz, but it's multiplier is like 11 and runs a 200MHz FSB.
If you can't change the cpu settings in the bios, then you have to do it with jumpers. Look in your manual and everything should be there.
Its an Athlon XP 2200+. and like i said earlier, i know its not a 2.2, and i dont want it to run at 2.2, i want it to run at 1.8, same as my 1.8, ran at around 1.5. And the manual isnt much help, as always. Only think I have jumper wise i beleive is the CPU clock selector, which has the option of either 100mhz, or 133mhz, and last time i checked, i beleive it was set at 133mhz. So is that right for my cpu, or does that mean my processor aint gonna go any faster than it is?
Well it's all written in your manual, I've just downloaded it. In the Bios, there should be a menu called "CPU PnP setup", go there and you should be able to change the frequency of the cpu.
'Should' being the main word to look out for there. Thats the first I tried, and what you normally do, but like i said no options, they're greyed out, the Manual is basically all 'In theory' so in theory you should be able to just change the frequency, but when you try it out, it wont let you. Time to give up I think.
Upgrade BIOS I have no idea how to download a new bios, and install it, ive never done that before, and i dont wanna screw up the bios, which from what ive read, is a possibility, if you screw it up by doing that, can you fix it by flashin the memory on the mobo, or is it screwed after that? Any help on this would be appreciated.
It's usually a one shot deal, except for mobos that have the dual bios function (and matsonic isn't one of them. Gigabyte is) What you do is you go on their website, you search for your motherboard's, you download it, and instructions should either come with it in a readme file or should be on the website itself.
And it shouldnt' screw up then, and not boot or anything like that? and if it can, do you know what to do if that happens? Or is it just the end?
Well its given me a ROM file, and says to do this.... STEP1. Download the appropriate BIOS file and AMI/Award Flash BIOS Utility On the web page These files are normally in compressed format (eg. ZIP). STEP2. Prepare a bootable floppy diskette. STEP3. Unzip and copy the files to boot diskette. Decompress the file to get the BIOS files and the Flash upgrade tool STEP4. Reboot the system with the diskette made in STEP 3 STEP5. Running AMI or Award flash utility with BIOS file name (including the extension). A:>amif2m xxxxxx.rom or awdf2m xxxxxx.bin If you encounter the error message "The program file's part number does not match with your system" during flashing Award BIOS, please type extra command "/f" after bin file
It looks about right. to make a bootdisk go to www.bootdisk.com. If you do get an error, do not reboot the system, try again. It's also a wise decision to make a backup of your current bios, because if you do get an error, you can flash back to it. Make sure you have the right files before doing that. If you do screw up, you can hope your BIOS isn't soldered but kept in place in a socket. If so, it's possible to order a new one by mail. Once you get it, it's possible to recover the other one. But there shouldn't be any problems if you make sure you have all the right files and if you follow the procedures correctly. Personnally, I've never had any problems flashing a bios.
I downloaded 2 files for my Motherboard being... 030811.ROM F-030923 One being the BIOS, the ROM file, and the other the AMI Flash Util. Is that all I need? And can I use the Flash Util to save my current BIOS somewhere? Thanks for your help on this btw.
if that'S all that came with the compressed file, then it's all you need. You will need to use to flash util to save your bios. type: f-030923 /? and you should get a list of all the arguments the util can take, locate the one that saves the bios and save it before the flash. Make sure it is saved correctly and then proceed with the flash.
Ah, another problem, ive been here before and couldnt get around it, I have never been able to get to DOS outside of windows anyway, and be able to access the hardrive, it just doesnt recognise it, and I think its because its NTFS filesystem, i've tried 3 bootdisks so far, and none have let me access the drive, which makes it pointless. Anyway around that?
Have one floppy as the bootdisk on it, and have the BIOS files on the 2nd one. DOS can only read FAT, so you're in a hole if you're trying to use your HDD for this.
Oh, so instead of updating the BIOS from the HDD, I can just update from a second floppy disc, well technically, I can just put the files on the same disc, and now that i think of it, im sure it says that in the instructions anyway. I dunno why im getting so confused, making myself look like a retard. lol. Thanks Big B, ill try it out
I think I saved my bios, I now have a file called 'original.rom'. Both the bios files are 256kb, do you think they're just both the same? Although i thought the filename would be the date 030811, like 11/08/2003. so it would be newer than mine, but i dunno. Here are the options I have... Auto detecting & programming flash rom force boot block programming load BIOS CMOS default values without warning to user about any config change clear passwords during loading CMOS defaults clear CMOS after programming done GPNV data area reserving identification BIOS file is right for this system or not Force NVRAM programming Flash functions call from BIOS Make [security] item invisable force reboot after programming done Save Flash ROM date into file and quit retry if programming fails update utility's modules data verify BIOS checksum Enter utility's user interface without system checking okay, now what
