GA-MA890X-UD3P - Flash drives causing reboot loop, unable to update BIOS

[Arrain]

Recently my brother bought some hardware to put together a new desktop. All the pieces have been tested and found working (first CPU had to go for a lil' RMA trip).

The current problem is that I have a GA-MA790X-UD3P motherboard, and an AMD 1055t (6 core) CPU. To get this to work, I'll have to update the bios to the latest version which should in theory be a cakewalk, but it proves to be anything but. I've tried every USB stick I can get my hands on, two of them 4GB (Kingston DataTraveller, another generic odd brand) and one at 1GB (again, cheap odd brand, no markings on it). The issue is that as soon as I plug in any of these I'll be stuck in a reboot loop. I'm unable to enter setup, unable to enter q flash and most of the time it will either reboot or hang after just a few seconds. If I remove the flash drive everything will revert to normal.

Any suggestions?

[Arrain]

Right, I'm starting to doubt that this mobo is perfectly fine. I've unplugged everything that's not needed (only CPU and GPU running together with the mobo now) and attempting to access Q Flash (or Qf lash as the startup screen calls it) leads to either a hang or reboot, this is even without a usb drive plugged in.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi Arrain
If you could post your hardware in a little more detail it would help in determining the problem. I suspect that you mightn have incompatible memory but without knowing more I'm just guessing.
The flash drives you speak about, are they formatted as FAT32 and the BIOS update file is placed on the boot sector?

[Arrain]

As for the flash drives, they are indeed formatted as FAT32 and have the BIOS files in the boot sector. So that should be in order.

The RAM sticks are Corsair "CM2X2048-6400C5C" (800 MHz, 2048 MB, 5-5-5-18, 1.80 V). I will have to admit I'm still a novice when it comes to memory so I'm open to the possibility that this can be blamed on the user if they are indeed incompatible 

I spot CM2X1024-6400C4 on the list of compatible memory, which would be the closest to this particular version I believe.

[Dark Mantis]

Well it is possible that the problems derive from a memory incompatibility. The modules you are using aren't listed in the QVL(just being close doesn't count) but that doesn't preclude them on it's own. You could run Memtest86 on them to check if they are working ok.
What processor are you using at present? You said that you want to use the 1055t but which one do you have installed at present?

[Arrain]

The 1055t is installed at present, and don't really have the option to put anything else in for the time being I'm afraid. I didn't buy the pieces myself, as it's not my computer. Will see if I can't get around to a memtest later today to get that settled. Though it should be mentioned that when the CPU was sent in for a replacement, they also tested the Mobo and RAM, and claimed the two of them were ok. And I somewhat assume they used them together at that point, but then again, just an assumption.

If the problem simply relies on the 1055t not working at all until I put in another CPU and then flash the BIOS, I might have to wait a month and a half before I can get my hands on a 965 to do so however.

PS: Yeah, I feel stupid now.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes, I'm afraid that's about the size of it. It's a viscous circle. Processor wont work until BIOS updated, BIOS update wont work until processor working. You will have to either buy an older version of the processor(unless you can borrow one) or take the motherborad to a local computer shop and pay to have the BIOS update done.
ATB

[absic]

If the problem simply relies on the 1055t not working at all until I put in another CPU and then flash the BIOS, I might have to wait a month and a half before I can get my hands on a 965 to do so however

Hi, it could well be that you need an "older" CPU to enable you to flash BIOS but you don't need to pay out for a 965. Any of the cheaper CPU's supported by an earlier BIOS would be OK. For example: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AMD-AM2-Athlon-64-4400plus-AM2-Brisbane-Core-Dual-Core-23GHz-512KB-Cache-OEM would do the job just as well, you don't have to pay out a fortune for it and, it is supported since BIOS F1.

[Arrain]

If the problem simply relies on the 1055t not working at all until I put in another CPU and then flash the BIOS, I might have to wait a month and a half before I can get my hands on a 965 to do so however

Hi, it could well be that you need an "older" CPU to enable you to flash BIOS but you don't need to pay out for a 965. Any of the cheaper CPU's supported by an earlier BIOS would be OK. For example: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AMD-AM2-Athlon-64-4400plus-AM2-Brisbane-Core-Dual-Core-23GHz-512KB-Cache-OEM would do the job just as well, you don't have to pay out a fortune for it and, it is supported since BIOS F1.

The 965 is free though, since it's in my closet on the other side of the nation, hence the long wait. 

I'll look around and see if I can't find a CPU to get this solved.  Thanks for all the help, folks!

[Dark Mantis]

Fair enough, can't beat free for a price Just depends on whether you're able to wait.

[Arrain]

Looks like the cheapest option for me is an X2 240. Which wouldn't be a complete waste of cash as I can keep it for myself as an emergency CPU for a rainy day. It's also supported from the mobo's F4 BIOS, and I am quite certain it is currently at F5 (will double-check after work). Sadly the semprons aren't carried by any stores around here, so I'd have to get one from abroad, and it would likely trigger customs stuff and end up only marginally cheaper than the X2 

[Dark Mantis]

That's a fine idea as long as you make sure that it is supported by the current BIOS on your machine. Good luck.

[absic]

That's a fine idea as long as you make sure that it is supported by the current BIOS on your machine. Good luck.

Yes, I agree with this and you do have to be careful of customs. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Arrain]

When booting it says "GA-MA890X-UD3P F5", so I assume that the current version of the BIOS is indeed F5. And according to http://gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?v=AE72F6F9D4ADD0D75C8B514EA7AE4587B58536D2FD803694&s=Socket%20AM2+&cs=AMD%20790X everything should be fine. Will just look around to make entirely certain that the store I order from aren't sloppy and actually have the 240e which requires F6.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes should be fine. Just make sure you get the right one as you say,