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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
If you have an FX530 with a RAID hard drive configuration, what
happens if you update the BIOS? I've had my FX530 for around 18 months and afraid upgrading to the newest BIOS might mess up my RAID setup with my two SATA 250mb hard drives (using RAID-0) since the controller/ ports for them is on my Intel 975X system board. Has anyone with a FX530 using a RAID drive array done this yet? |
#2
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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
"Ikaros" wrote in message ... If you have an FX530 with a RAID hard drive configuration, what happens if you update the BIOS? I've had my FX530 for around 18 months and afraid upgrading to the newest BIOS might mess up my RAID setup with my two SATA 250mb hard drives (using RAID-0) since the controller/ ports for them is on my Intel 975X system board. Has anyone with a FX530 using a RAID drive array done this yet? Unless you are having a specific problem addressed by this revision, why flash the BIOS? I've never done your particular model (FX530 what?), but I've done a few others with RAID configurations with no problem at all. Mostly what needs to be done is after the flash is done and you reboot, go into BIOS and restore BIOS defaults. Save that and exit, then when it reboots, go back in and set it up the way you have it right now. Not saying that nothing can go wrong, but I've never had a problem. SC Tom |
#3
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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
On Jan 29, 6:21*pm, "SC Tom" wrote:
Unless you are having a specific problem addressed by this revision, why flash the BIOS? I've never done your particular model (FX530 what?), but I've done a few others with RAID configurations with no problem at all. Mostly what needs to be done is after the flash is done and you reboot, go into BIOS and restore BIOS defaults. Save that and exit, then when it reboots, go back in and set it up the way you have it right now. Not saying that nothing can go wrong, but I've never had a problem. I was wondering what changes are in the newer BIOS. I'm experimenting with setting memory timings for some Patriot Extreme Performance DDR2 667mhz PC2-5300 memory that I installed 1gb of in each of the four memory slots. The existing BIOS auto detect is not using the manufacturer values of 4-4-4-12 and wants to use 5-5-5-12 instead. The first number, or CL, is the latency value so lower the better. If I force it to 4-4-4-12 then I get instability and lockups. Patriot suggests I try 4-4-4-15 because a higher last number can improve stability. I will try that next. I'm just looking to improve performance and maybe overclock the memory to work the best with my Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad CPU. But like you said if there is no change as relates to the memory performance settings, I don't really need to update the BIOS and risk my RAID-0 setup being undefined afterwards. I know there is a separate utility accessed during bootup not part of BIOS to setup RAID. But there is a RAID mode setting in the BIOS under Advanced for drive configuration that says Configure SATA as RAID. Maybe it's a just simple matter of making sure that still says the same after a BIOS update but checking to make sure ahead of time if I can. |
#4
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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
"Ikaros" wrote in message ... On Jan 29, 6:21 pm, "SC Tom" wrote: Unless you are having a specific problem addressed by this revision, why flash the BIOS? I've never done your particular model (FX530 what?), but I've done a few others with RAID configurations with no problem at all. Mostly what needs to be done is after the flash is done and you reboot, go into BIOS and restore BIOS defaults. Save that and exit, then when it reboots, go back in and set it up the way you have it right now. Not saying that nothing can go wrong, but I've never had a problem. I was wondering what changes are in the newer BIOS. I'm experimenting with setting memory timings for some Patriot Extreme Performance DDR2 667mhz PC2-5300 memory that I installed 1gb of in each of the four memory slots. The existing BIOS auto detect is not using the manufacturer values of 4-4-4-12 and wants to use 5-5-5-12 instead. The first number, or CL, is the latency value so lower the better. If I force it to 4-4-4-12 then I get instability and lockups. Patriot suggests I try 4-4-4-15 because a higher last number can improve stability. I will try that next. I'm just looking to improve performance and maybe overclock the memory to work the best with my Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad CPU. But like you said if there is no change as relates to the memory performance settings, I don't really need to update the BIOS and risk my RAID-0 setup being undefined afterwards. I know there is a separate utility accessed during bootup not part of BIOS to setup RAID. But there is a RAID mode setting in the BIOS under Advanced for drive configuration that says Configure SATA as RAID. Maybe it's a just simple matter of making sure that still says the same after a BIOS update but checking to make sure ahead of time if I can. ============= Since the MB already supports RAID, a newer revision isn't going to take away that support, so you shouldn't have any problems there. If you check the history on the latest revision, it should list anything that it addresses. Check all the revisions between what you have now and what the latest is. If any of them address memory issues, then by all means, flash it. But my guess is, even if a benchmark program says you're faster with 4-4-4-12 than 5-5-5-12, you won't notice the difference in programs or gaming or whatever your primary usage is. SC Tom |
#5
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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
On Jan 30, 7:12*am, "SC Tom" wrote:
Since the MB already supports RAID, a newer revision isn't going to take away that support, so you shouldn't have any problems there. If you check the history on the latest revision, it should list anything that it addresses. Check all the revisions between what you have now and what the latest is. If any of them address memory issues, then by all means, flash it. But my guess is, even if a benchmark program says you're faster with 4-4-4-12 than 5-5-5-12, you won't notice the difference in programs or gaming or whatever your primary usage is. SC Tom Well, I got this reply (if you can call it that) from Gateway. It is pretty much a non-answer IMHO yet they are "happy to assist" LOL: "Thank you for contacting Gateway. I’ll be happy to assist you. To ensure customer satisfaction, we do not support BIOS updates Windows Updates, Driver updates, or Service Packs installation. This is to ensure the update is compatible and will not cause any instabilities with the computer. We do not support updates unless posted to our web site to prevent incompatibilities and system failure. We do not support changing the original settings of the computer unless you will be doing this at your own risk. Note: Damage due to flashing the BIOS will void any and all warranties." -------- This got me kind of mad that he didn't even attempt to answer my request for information about their own provided BIOS! Anyway, I wrote the following back to them maybe to vent a bit and see if they will answer my questions. I'm not keeping hope up for much help from Gateway: -------- "Thank you for your reply. No support disclaimer is actually needed. I'm not asking Gateway to support anything not already on your website for download. I am expecting you to support purely informational questions about the BIOS updates you do provide to your customers. I do not want to flash my BIOS unless absolutely necessary to address a severe problem or issue, which there is none right now since everything is working fine. Maybe you misunderstood my request because I explain things too much sometimes instead of getting to the point. What I want to know about is the newest Gateway FX530 BIOS updates that are in your website for customers to install on your non-retail OEM branded Intel motherboards because there is no BIOS documentation. The download page only explains how to install a BIOS update but doesn't say what specific issues the update addresses. All I want is if you can provide information on what changes or fixes are contained within the FX530 BIOS updates that are on the Gateway site, and also if there are any precautions that customers should be aware of before any attempt at flashing BIOS (if I even decide to do so) especially regards to my system being configured by Gateway with RAID-0 across two SATA 250GB hard drives. If there are no critical fixes or changes in these newer BIOS versions on your website, then I will not flash my BIOS since everything is working fine. My new memory is working fine. To summarize, I just wanted to know (1.) what the BIOS memory performance settings mean, and (2.) if flashing BIOS would undo my existing RAID configuration, and (3.) what is the change list for the other BIOS versions available for download from Gateway. I have been a Computer Technician with PC's since 1985 so I pretty much know all this hardware and software stuff, except for any undocumented features/fixes/changes included in your own provided BIOS updates for download on the Gateway support site or anything else Gateway specific that I wouldn't know about without asking first. This next section of my reply has nothing to do with my support request for information, but allow me to make a suggestion to Gateway and to express my general opinion as a Gateway customer. I do understand most computer companies don't support other products Gateway didn't sell and software issues, like Microsoft security updates, Nvidia drivers, etc. That is fine because they support that better anyway and are always up-to-date. But the "overall concept" in the Gateway blanket disclaimer you repeated on their behalf the way it reads in my opinion is very short sighted, when looking at the big picture of security threats, driver issues, operating system updates, and other harmful things that an unprotected and unpatched computer can be subject to. You don't have to support software (non-Gateway provided) but I think computer companies like Gateway and others should always promote keeping one's computer up-to-date and secure for a good customer experience that earns you getting loyal returning customers instead of ones that move on to other brands, while still being responsible for under-warranty hardware issues and informational questions about what they purchased, all while recognizing that other companies support software updates separately, which is for the greater good." Steve |
#6
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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
"Ikaros" wrote in message ... On Jan 30, 7:12 am, "SC Tom" wrote: Since the MB already supports RAID, a newer revision isn't going to take away that support, so you shouldn't have any problems there. If you check the history on the latest revision, it should list anything that it addresses. Check all the revisions between what you have now and what the latest is. If any of them address memory issues, then by all means, flash it. But my guess is, even if a benchmark program says you're faster with 4-4-4-12 than 5-5-5-12, you won't notice the difference in programs or gaming or whatever your primary usage is. SC Tom Well, I got this reply (if you can call it that) from Gateway. It is pretty much a non-answer IMHO yet they are "happy to assist" LOL: "Thank you for contacting Gateway. I’ll be happy to assist you. To ensure customer satisfaction, we do not support BIOS updates Windows Updates, Driver updates, or Service Packs installation. This is to ensure the update is compatible and will not cause any instabilities with the computer. We do not support updates unless posted to our web site to prevent incompatibilities and system failure. We do not support changing the original settings of the computer unless you will be doing this at your own risk. Note: Damage due to flashing the BIOS will void any and all warranties." -------- This got me kind of mad that he didn't even attempt to answer my request for information about their own provided BIOS! Anyway, I wrote the following back to them maybe to vent a bit and see if they will answer my questions. I'm not keeping hope up for much help from Gateway: -------- "Thank you for your reply. No support disclaimer is actually needed. I'm not asking Gateway to support anything not already on your website for download. I am expecting you to support purely informational questions about the BIOS updates you do provide to your customers. I do not want to flash my BIOS unless absolutely necessary to address a severe problem or issue, which there is none right now since everything is working fine. Maybe you misunderstood my request because I explain things too much sometimes instead of getting to the point. What I want to know about is the newest Gateway FX530 BIOS updates that are in your website for customers to install on your non-retail OEM branded Intel motherboards because there is no BIOS documentation. The download page only explains how to install a BIOS update but doesn't say what specific issues the update addresses. All I want is if you can provide information on what changes or fixes are contained within the FX530 BIOS updates that are on the Gateway site, and also if there are any precautions that customers should be aware of before any attempt at flashing BIOS (if I even decide to do so) especially regards to my system being configured by Gateway with RAID-0 across two SATA 250GB hard drives. If there are no critical fixes or changes in these newer BIOS versions on your website, then I will not flash my BIOS since everything is working fine. My new memory is working fine. To summarize, I just wanted to know (1.) what the BIOS memory performance settings mean, and (2.) if flashing BIOS would undo my existing RAID configuration, and (3.) what is the change list for the other BIOS versions available for download from Gateway. I have been a Computer Technician with PC's since 1985 so I pretty much know all this hardware and software stuff, except for any undocumented features/fixes/changes included in your own provided BIOS updates for download on the Gateway support site or anything else Gateway specific that I wouldn't know about without asking first. This next section of my reply has nothing to do with my support request for information, but allow me to make a suggestion to Gateway and to express my general opinion as a Gateway customer. I do understand most computer companies don't support other products Gateway didn't sell and software issues, like Microsoft security updates, Nvidia drivers, etc. That is fine because they support that better anyway and are always up-to-date. But the "overall concept" in the Gateway blanket disclaimer you repeated on their behalf the way it reads in my opinion is very short sighted, when looking at the big picture of security threats, driver issues, operating system updates, and other harmful things that an unprotected and unpatched computer can be subject to. You don't have to support software (non-Gateway provided) but I think computer companies like Gateway and others should always promote keeping one's computer up-to-date and secure for a good customer experience that earns you getting loyal returning customers instead of ones that move on to other brands, while still being responsible for under-warranty hardware issues and informational questions about what they purchased, all while recognizing that other companies support software updates separately, which is for the greater good." Steve ============ Don't get me started on Gateway support- I'm still waiting (after 5 weeks!) for a warranty replacement HDD for my 6 month old notebook. But that's a whole other dissertation. . . Flashing the BIOS probably won't change your current settings, but most BIOS flashes say to restore the BIOS defaults after flashing, then make any changes you want. Write down the settings you currently have, then after flashing you'll have a record of them. Also, most flash programs allow you make a backup of your current BIOS, so if things don't work out, you can always re-flash to the old BIOS. I looked out on their site, too, to see if there is any documentation on what there revisions cover, and I couldn't find anything either. Huh, go figure! At least on the Asus and Gigabyte sites, the revision info is listed with the BIOS download. Other than the HDD crapping out so early, I really like my notebook (M6850FX with dedicated graphics). It's fast running anything I want, but since Gateway and MPC seem to be in chapter 11, I don't think I'll get another one. Besides, when I'm ready for a new one, they may not be around anyhow. SC Tom |
#7
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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
On Jan 30, 1:19*pm, "SC Tom" wrote:
Don't get me started on Gateway support- I'm still waiting (after 5 weeks!) for a warranty replacement HDD for my 6 month old notebook. But that's a whole other dissertation. . . Flashing the BIOS probably won't change your current settings, but most BIOS flashes say to restore the BIOS defaults after flashing, then make any changes you want. Write down the settings you currently have, then after flashing you'll have a record of them. Also, most flash programs allow you make a backup of your current BIOS, so if things don't work out, you can always re-flash to the old BIOS. I looked out on their site, too, to see if there is any documentation on what there revisions cover, and I couldn't find anything either. Huh, go figure! At least on the Asus and Gigabyte sites, the revision info is listed with the BIOS download. Other than the HDD crapping out so early, I really like my notebook (M6850FX with dedicated graphics). It's fast running anything I want, but since Gateway and MPC seem to be in chapter 11, I don't think I'll get another one. Besides, when I'm ready for a new one, they may not be around anyhow. SC Tom Yeah well I got this unbelievable goofy reply. They can't even track down info on their own BIOS for me! I guess my 3 year warranty and support is only good for swapping parts when they break! I wonder if I should write to Intel even though it is an OEM version of their motherboard and BIOS software. "Thank you for contacting Gateway. I apologize to say that we are not able to locate the information regarding the BIOS downloads on our support site. For more information regarding the BIOS update available, you contact our Call and Service Support at 1-800-846-2301. They are available from 7AM to 7PM Mountain Time, Monday through Friday." |
#8
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Upgrading BIOS on FX530?
"Ikaros" wrote in message ... On Jan 30, 1:19 pm, "SC Tom" wrote: Don't get me started on Gateway support- I'm still waiting (after 5 weeks!) for a warranty replacement HDD for my 6 month old notebook. But that's a whole other dissertation. . . Flashing the BIOS probably won't change your current settings, but most BIOS flashes say to restore the BIOS defaults after flashing, then make any changes you want. Write down the settings you currently have, then after flashing you'll have a record of them. Also, most flash programs allow you make a backup of your current BIOS, so if things don't work out, you can always re-flash to the old BIOS. I looked out on their site, too, to see if there is any documentation on what there revisions cover, and I couldn't find anything either. Huh, go figure! At least on the Asus and Gigabyte sites, the revision info is listed with the BIOS download. Other than the HDD crapping out so early, I really like my notebook (M6850FX with dedicated graphics). It's fast running anything I want, but since Gateway and MPC seem to be in chapter 11, I don't think I'll get another one. Besides, when I'm ready for a new one, they may not be around anyhow. SC Tom Yeah well I got this unbelievable goofy reply. They can't even track down info on their own BIOS for me! I guess my 3 year warranty and support is only good for swapping parts when they break! I wonder if I should write to Intel even though it is an OEM version of their motherboard and BIOS software. "Thank you for contacting Gateway. I apologize to say that we are not able to locate the information regarding the BIOS downloads on our support site. For more information regarding the BIOS update available, you contact our Call and Service Support at 1-800-846-2301. They are available from 7AM to 7PM Mountain Time, Monday through Friday." ==================== Call 1-800-URSCREWED. Yep, that's the number they gave me, too. Good luck getting through. I gave up after being on hold for 30-45 minutes twice. You could search here http://www.bios-drivers.com/ for your current revision, then see if there's anything newer. Do you have a floppy drive and a WinME boot disk? That way you don't need to do any of it from your hard drive, and if you can't access them afterwards, you'll have the backup BIOS to restore to. (Sounds scarier all the time, doesn't it?) SC Tom |
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