Just ordered A8N and 4800 - did I get screwed out of BIOS updates?

[K.Morris]

I just ordered an Asus A8N-SLI Premium and Athlon 4800+ CPU.

While I am waiting for it to arrive, I just checked the Asus website,
and it says,

A8N-SLI Premium Bios version 1005
....
2.Fixed "ASUS Update" can't update BIOS when using Dual Core CPU.
....

!!!!!!

What the hell, you mean I won't be able to update the BIOS after I
receive the board if it is not at 1005???

So how screwed am I, do I have to now shell out more $$$ for a single
core CPU in order to update the BIOS???

 

[Paul]

I just ordered an Asus A8N-SLI Premium and Athlon 4800+ CPU.

While I am waiting for it to arrive, I just checked the Asus website,
and it says,

A8N-SLI Premium Bios version 1005
...
2.Fixed "ASUS Update" can't update BIOS when using Dual Core CPU.
...

!!!!!!

What the hell, you mean I won't be able to update the BIOS after I
receive the board if it is not at 1005???

So how screwed am I, do I have to now shell out more $$$ for a single
core CPU in order to update the BIOS???

Go to support.asus.com.tw and the download section. Download the
manual and read chapter 4. There are three methods for doing
BIOS updates, so this means you'll be using a floppy based method.

Also, have a look at this page. Dual core support was initially
mentioned as needing a BIOS that supported a revision E processor.
You'll need 1005 or 1006 anyway, just to get the board to POST.

http://support.asus.com.tw/cpusuppo...&name=A8N-SLI Premium&SLanguage=en-us&cache=1

Between your vendor, Asus support, or badflash.com , you'll get
it sorted. Somehow. Maybe someone can be convinced to cross-ship
a BIOS chip. At most, this will cost you $25, and perhaps less
depending on who helps you. Doing a "hot-flash" with another
board is a cheap (free) possibility, but you need the right "donor"
board for this to work. Using a single core processor to boot-
strap the BIOS flashing issue, is the most expensive option
you've got.

Good luck,
Paul

 

[milleron]

I just ordered an Asus A8N-SLI Premium and Athlon 4800+ CPU.

While I am waiting for it to arrive, I just checked the Asus website,
and it says,

A8N-SLI Premium Bios version 1005
...
2.Fixed "ASUS Update" can't update BIOS when using Dual Core CPU.
...

!!!!!!

What the hell, you mean I won't be able to update the BIOS after I
receive the board if it is not at 1005???

So how screwed am I, do I have to now shell out more $$$ for a single
core CPU in order to update the BIOS???

Don't get too upset just yet. I received my board in mid-to-late June
with BIOS 1004. It's now two months later. Version 1005 has been out
for a while, and there's a very decent chance that yours may arrive
with 1005. Also, Since your Toledo-core X2 is a Rev.-E CPU, there's a
chance that it might POST even with 1004 so that you could at least
flash a BIOS with it (1004 fully supports Rev.-E processors but would
be able to see only one of the cores.) Remember that "ASUS Update"
you mention is a program that runs from within Windows, so you may
find that AWDFLASH or the EZ-BIOS method of flashing are more
forgiving and may work with a 1004 BIOS and an X2 CPU.

I don't know of a way to tell what BIOS version is installed on this
motherboard without getting it to POST, so I imagine that you're going
to install the CPU and heatsink and at least give it a go. That's
best done outside the case, with nothing attached but the video card,
PSU, keyboard, and monitor.

Lastly, if your board's already on the brown truck, you can't do
anything about it, but some of the better etailers like Newegg and
Monarch might even be able to tell you which BIOS your board has
before shipping it. If it was the wrong one, Monarch would even see
that it's flashed to a version compatible with your chosen CPU prior
to sending it out.

Ron

 

[Russell S]

I just built a system with this MOBO and the 4800+. BIOS version 1005 was
pre-installed, and should be on any recent purchase of this MOBO if you go
through a major e-tailor that moves stock more frequently. By the way, the
BIOS chip on this MOBO has a white sticker on it that lists the BIOS version
installed.

 

[milleron]

I just built a system with this MOBO and the 4800+. BIOS version 1005 was
pre-installed, and should be on any recent purchase of this MOBO if you go
through a major e-tailor that moves stock more frequently. By the way, the
BIOS chip on this MOBO has a white sticker on it that lists the BIOS version
installed.

Nice touch. My A8N-SLI Premium didn't have that little sticker.
Ron

 

[Matt Wiggins]

Yep, you screwed up! There is a ver. 2 of this board out in less than a
month.

 

[milleron]

Yep, you screwed up! There is a ver. 2 of this board out in less than a
month.

I didn't know that Asus ever announces board revisions in advance.
What's your evidence for this?
Ron

 

[edavid3001]

I bought my A8n-SLI-p a few weeks back from NewEgg and it came loaded
with the 1006 Bios. I was woried about this as my processor wasn't
supported until the 1006 BIOS. Not sure what I would have done if it
had 1004/5 and it didn't work with the processor I had. Hoping it'd
be like my P3V4X with bios 1003 which doesn't support my Intel
processor, but boots none-the-less.