P4P800 SE & SP2, Prescott question

[Hula Baloo]

I have a P4P800 SE I bought localy 7/29/04 with BIOS level 1004.003
(dated Mar. '04) with an Intel 3.2 Ghz CPU, Family 15, CPU model 3,
Stepping level 3, CPU revision 7, 16 KB level 1 cache, 1 MB level 2
cache (per Intel's Frequency ID utility 7.1). I see there is a 1005
level BIOS update available which has a date of 8/11/04, but don't wish
to "fix" something that "ain't broke". Can anyone tell me if I need
this 1005 BIOS flash before installing SP2?
I'm currently running XP SP1a Home with all the critical updates prior
to SP2, and don't feel like I fully understand all I've read about
"Prescott ready mobos". I suspect that the P4P800 SE is Prescott ready,
but am not sure, and I suspect my CPU may be one of those in question
for the SP2 Prescott boot-up hang problem, but I sure could use all the
additional info/advice I can get from this knowledgable group before I
take this plunge. Right now I'm inclined to think I ought to install
this flash before installing SP2, but really want to be sure I've done
my homework, and don't flash myself into a problem.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Egil Solberg]

I have a P4P800 SE I bought localy 7/29/04 with BIOS level 1004.003
(dated Mar. '04) with an Intel 3.2 Ghz CPU, Family 15, CPU model 3,
Stepping level 3, CPU revision 7, 16 KB level 1 cache, 1 MB level 2
cache (per Intel's Frequency ID utility 7.1). I see there is a 1005
level BIOS update available which has a date of 8/11/04, but don't
wish to "fix" something that "ain't broke". Can anyone tell me if I
need this 1005 BIOS flash before installing SP2?

In theory, from Asus' support pages, your CPU should be properly supported
with the current BIOS.
1005 BIOS adds support for Prescott Celerons.
Given the problems discussed regarding Win SP2 installation on Prescott
systems lacking proper microcode, it is a good idea to flash latest BIOS
beforehand.
Alternatively try installing SP2 and follow guidelines here if
unsuccessfull:

http://cquirke.mvps.org/sp2intel.htm

 

[John M. Hunt]

I have a P4P800 SE I bought localy 7/29/04 with BIOS level 1004.003
(dated Mar. '04) with an Intel 3.2 Ghz CPU, Family 15, CPU model 3,
Stepping level 3, CPU revision 7, 16 KB level 1 cache, 1 MB level 2
cache (per Intel's Frequency ID utility 7.1). I see there is a 1005
level BIOS update available which has a date of 8/11/04, but don't wish
to "fix" something that "ain't broke". Can anyone tell me if I need
this 1005 BIOS flash before installing SP2?
I'm currently running XP SP1a Home with all the critical updates prior
to SP2, and don't feel like I fully understand all I've read about
"Prescott ready mobos". I suspect that the P4P800 SE is Prescott ready,
but am not sure, and I suspect my CPU may be one of those in question
for the SP2 Prescott boot-up hang problem, but I sure could use all the
additional info/advice I can get from this knowledgable group before I
take this plunge. Right now I'm inclined to think I ought to install
this flash before installing SP2, but really want to be sure I've done
my homework, and don't flash myself into a problem.
Many thanks in advance.

I have a P4P800SE running a 3.0 Prescott. Under Bios 1004 the CPU Revision
Level was 7. I flashed to Bios 1005 and the Revision Level went from 7 to
9. The popular belief holds that a Revision Level of 8 or higher with the
Prescotts is acceptable for SP2.

I have not yet tried SP2. As you may already know, you can now request a
totally free SP2 update CD from Microsoft , which I hve done and am now
awaiting.

 

[Paul]

In theory, from Asus' support pages, your CPU should be properly supported
with the current BIOS.
1005 BIOS adds support for Prescott Celerons.
Given the problems discussed regarding Win SP2 installation on Prescott
systems lacking proper microcode, it is a good idea to flash latest BIOS
beforehand.
Alternatively try installing SP2 and follow guidelines here if
unsuccessfull:

http://cquirke.mvps.org/sp2intel.htm

(Note - If you want to do this yourself, get a copy of AMIBCP75 to
extract the microcode from the AMI BIOS rom file, then use
CTMC microcode.exe /store >> log.txt to create the log files
shown below.)

Translating Hula's info:

Family 15 \
CPU Model 3 +--- This is Prescott 0F33 (converted to hexidecimal...)
Stepping 3 /

CPU Revision 7 <--- cquirke says this is trouble

From the Asus download page:

1004 BIOS - Note 0F33 is UpdateID 7, so SP2 will fail.
Version UpdateID Date CPUID Checksum LoadVers Platform
00000001 00000014 16.07.2002 00000F0A 64731550 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000002E 02.05.2003 00000F12 B2548D0A 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000005 08.05.2003 00000F13 386C53DA 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000001E 05.06.2003 00000F24 9BA58D71 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000015 21.07.2003 00000F25 D6976E46 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000037 04.06.2003 00000F27 972CD5FA 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000017 18.07.2003 00000F29 C42D13A3 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000007 21.11.2003 00000F33 B78B30F0 00000001 0000000D <--
00000001 00000002 09.12.2003 00000F37 2B57BD9E 00000001 0000000D
00000001 00000007 10.11.2003 00000F34 F1AD5AF6 00000001 0000008D

1005 BIOS - Here 0F33 has UpdateID 9 and should be OK
Version UpdateID Date CPUID Checksum LoadVers Platform
00000001 00000014 16.07.2002 00000F0A 64731550 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000002E 02.05.2003 00000F12 B2548D0A 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000005 08.05.2003 00000F13 386C53DA 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000001E 05.06.2003 00000F24 9BA58D71 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000001B 03.02.2004 00000F25 DCBE99DE 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000037 04.06.2003 00000F27 972CD5FA 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000017 18.07.2003 00000F29 C42D13A3 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000009 26.03.2004 00000F33 7020062C 00000001 0000000D <--
00000001 00000002 09.12.2003 00000F37 2B57BD9E 00000001 0000000D
00000001 00000008 10.02.2004 00000F34 C658E346 00000001 0000009D

1005.003 Beta BIOS - Microcode same as 1005 release, OK for 0F33
Version UpdateID Date CPUID Checksum LoadVers Platform
00000001 00000014 16.07.2002 00000F0A 64731550 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000002E 02.05.2003 00000F12 B2548D0A 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000005 08.05.2003 00000F13 386C53DA 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000001E 05.06.2003 00000F24 9BA58D71 00000001 00000004
00000001 0000001B 03.02.2004 00000F25 DCBE99DE 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000037 04.06.2003 00000F27 972CD5FA 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000017 18.07.2003 00000F29 C42D13A3 00000001 00000004
00000001 00000009 26.03.2004 00000F33 7020062C 00000001 0000000D <--
00000001 00000002 09.12.2003 00000F37 2B57BD9E 00000001 0000000D
00000001 00000008 10.02.2004 00000F34 C658E346 00000001 0000009D

HTH,
Paul

 

[Hula Baloo]

Many thanks to all who've replied. I just flashed my BIOS from 1004 to
1005 and see the CPU revision no. has changed from 7 to 9, so I should be
OK. Two unexpected side effects of the flash were:
(1) The "ASUS AI" screen goes much faster now (about 2 sec vs about 10-15
before)
(2) It disabled my parallel port (where I have a legacy scanner), but that
was easy to re-enable (via SETUP).
As of now I've applied SP2 to a 3 yr. old Dell Dimension 8100 (1.3 GHz
CPU), and it installed beautifly with no significant side effects that I've
been able to detect so far. I think I'll wait a week or two just to make
sure the old PC doesn't run into an unexpected snag or somebody doesn't find
a new gotcha w/SP2, but from what I've seen so far I'm very optimistic about
SP2 in general (knock, knock!)
Many thanks again to all the good people who provided valuable feedback.
Hula

 

[Egil Solberg]

(Note - If you want to do this yourself, get a copy of AMIBCP75 to
extract the microcode from the AMI BIOS rom file, then use
CTMC microcode.exe /store >> log.txt to create the log files
shown below.)

Hi Paul! This was interesting. I got those files and I'm now checking the
p4p800s as mentioned earlier and even though I cannot add anything to your
post above, it's nice to be able to use this kind of tool. Thx for the
recipe.