Official GIGABYTE Forum
Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with AMD processors => Topic started by: M84AB1 on June 23, 2010, 05:58:42 am
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Hello,
this is my first post. As the subject points out, I have a question regarding my GA-MA790X-DS4 motherboard and the Phenom ii X6 1055T CPU. As it currently stands, the last BIOS (F10A) revision for this motherboard came out on 14th of January 2010 and that was still a BETA version. Currently that BIOS revision does not support the above mentioned CPU. Does anybody know if and when Gigabyte will release a BIOS update that is going to support that particular CPU?
any help would be greatly appreciated.
cheers.
p.s. I have already contacted Gigabyte support without any response so far.
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I have already contacted Gigabyte support without any response so far
Hi,
I don't know the answer to this question but it can take some time to get a response from Gigabyte Support. :'(
If you haven't heard anything within 14 days you could try sending a PM to runn3r (the forum moderator) who works for Gigabyte as he can sometimes speed things up a little.
ATB
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thanks for the info absic115!!! Also I was wondering does anyone know if the CPU can be damaged by using it with a BIOS that does not support it? Or is it simply a matter of the BIOS not recognizing it and therefore probably not allowing the system to POST?
cheers.
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As far as I am aware the CPU wouldn't incur any damage but just woudn't boot. There are several safeguards built into chips but nonetheless it pays to be carefull.
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Hi,
If you put a CPU in that is not recognised by BIOS you won't damage it but usually your system won't POST.
I have had occasions where I have installed newer CPU's on Mobo's and had to change for an older one to update BIOS to recognise the new one. I have not come across a CPU failure by doing this but it can be a bit annoying.
Hope this helps
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WOW, you guys are really quick and very very helpful. I sincerely appreciate your help.
thanks guys :)
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WOW, you guys are really quick and very very helpful.
And my Mum always said I would be good for nothing! :D
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she was clearly lying to you ;)
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Hi M84AB1
I received your PM and will check this again. Anyway the website clearly states N/A so I would not expect too much.
BTW you sent the question to our technical department through GGTS just today, so why in such hurry? ;)
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Hi M84AB1
I received your PM and will check this again. Anyway the website clearly states N/A so I would not expect too much.
BTW you sent the question to our technical department through GGTS just today, so why in such hurry? ;)
Hi Runn3R,
thanks a bunch for your reply. The reason why I am in such a hurry is because I have the 1055T sitting on my desk right now (was a present). My brother's motherboard supports this CPU and he is currently running a X4 925. The sooner I know how long it is going to take (if at all) for a BIOS release to come out the sooner I can either swap with my brother instead of just having the CPU lying around. I currently run a x3 8450 and a three way crossfire setup so you can see why I am busting for a better CPU and waiting 2 weeks for a reply is kind of too long.
In any case, you are saying that N/A pretty much means it is not going to happen? I thought N/A stands until support is implemented. So should I just give up or maybe there is hope? Since you work for Gigabyte, what are my chances?
thanks buddy :)
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Wow nice present :)
Mate if I were you, give the board to your bro or sell it, and get that puppy a nice new home.
Even if GA did come up with a BIOS to allow the chip I bet it won't in the time scale you are wanting (ie right now!), and perhaps they never will either.
Sort it out and start enjoying your new toy mate.
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Wow nice present :)
Mate if I were you, give the board to your bro or sell it, and get that puppy a nice new home.
Even if GA did come up with a BIOS to allow the chip I bet it won't in the time scale you are wanting (ie right now!), and perhaps they never will either.
Sort it out and start enjoying your new toy mate.
My sentiment exactly ;D
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(...) So should I just give up or maybe there is hope? Since you work for Gigabyte, what are my chances?
thanks buddy :)
I will check your chances ;)
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Ok, so I got a reply from GGTS and this is what they had to say:
Thank you for your kindly mail and inquiry. Unfortunately, due to hardware limitation, GA-MA790X-DS4(rev. 1.x) does not support 6 core CPU because it's DDR2 slot mainboard. It can't be changed by BIOS update either.
It does not support 6 core CPU because it is DDR2 motherboard? That sounds a bit iffy to me. My brothers motherboard GA-MA790X-UD4P is also a DDR2 exclusive motherboard and it supports the CPU. Does anybody have anything to add? Somehow I am not buying this DDR2 slot motherboard explanation. I have however asked the tech to elaborate for me, but he/she has not replied yet.
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Hi,
Not sure what Gigabyte is talking about here as they have other DDR2 boards that do support AMD 6 core CPU's. Here are a few I've come across with only the briefest of searches.: GA-MA78LM-S2; GA-MA770-UD3; GA-MA790X-UD3P (supports the 125W Cpu's); GA-MA785GM-US2H.
The only thing that springs out at me, with the quick look that I have made is that the Southbridge Chipset is different and that could be the crucial factor here.
Maybe you should point them to these boards and ask them to think again about their answer to you!
ATB
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As you said absic115 there is no reason why the 790 chipset shouldn't support the processor but it is quite possible that the problem lies elsewhere.
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Exactly my thoughts too absic115. I know of many other DDR2 motherboards that do have BIOS support for the new 6 core CPUs and I did point that out to the tech. Still waiting for a reply.
I have also noticed that the south bridge chipsets are different but then again the south bridge has nothing to do with RAM. RAM used to be handled by the north bridge but ever since the Athlon 64s the memory controller has been moved from the north bridge onto the CPU itself. That is why I am finding Gigabyte's explanations a bit dodgy. Had he mentioned a lack and/or difference of power control circuitry to the new CPUs I would have bought it.
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Ok I just got another reply from GGTS and it is confirmed that the GA-MA790X-DS4 motherboard does NOT support the new AMD Phenom ii X6 processors.
This is the official reply I received from the tech:
Sorry for mistaken. However, it's confirmed that GA-MA790X-DS4(rev. 1.x) does not support 6 core CPU due to hardware limitation, if there's any mainboard support 6 core by BIOS, we would release BIOS, however, the board GA-MA790X-DS4(rev. 1.x) can't support 6 core CPU by BIOS update.
This kinda su**s for me but doesn't matter.
Once again thanks for the help and support guys.
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Well at least the matter is cleared up and you know where you stand now.
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Hi M84AB1
I have checked for you what is the exact reason of this "hardware limitation". It's limited BIOS chip size (4M).
There is just no more space to add new AGESA code to support 6 core CPU's.
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Hi M84AB1
I have checked for you what is the exact reason of this "hardware limitation". It's limited BIOS chip size (4M).
There is just no more space to add new AGESA code to support 6 core CPU's.
Thanks for that runn3r, it's always nice to know the exact reason for these limitations rather than just a "it wont work". That makes a lot more sense.
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Hi M84AB1
I have checked for you what is the exact reason of this "hardware limitation". It's limited BIOS chip size (4M).
There is just no more space to add new AGESA code to support 6 core CPU's.
Thanks for that runn3r, it's always nice to know the exact reason for these limitations rather than just a "it wont work". That makes a lot more sense.
So true. I wonder if the Tech people that supply these answers think that we do not have the intelligence to understand if they supply a full reason. A bit like their vague summation of BIOS Updates!
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Yes, so true! It's kind of a "guess what this one will do".
As far as the tech guys goes I think often they are just relaying a message from someone who does understand the problem.
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Hi M84AB1
I have checked for you what is the exact reason of this "hardware limitation". It's limited BIOS chip size (4M).
There is just no more space to add new AGESA code to support 6 core CPU's.
Thank you very much for the detailed explanation regarding this issue. I was hoping that the tech guy was going to say what you said instead of the "hardware limitation" dialogue that I received. It kind of su**s that the only reason six core CPUs are not supported is the BIOS memory size. Had it been the power control circuitry or something along those lines it would have been easier to accept. It makes me wonder why they cannot delete the AGESA code for those very old and out of date CPUs (that barely anyone is using anymore) and make room for the new six core CPUs. Or at least give me an option to choose between BIOS versions, those that support newer CPUs and those that support older.
Better luck next time I guess.
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Hımm this mean I cant buy X6 :(. Then I can ask GA-MA790X-DS4 v1.x support phenom II X4 965 Black edition ? I saw it is in supported list but normal version ( which have 6MB Cache ) Black edition has 8 MB cache. Still can I use this ? I want to buy new cpu but I cant sure it is supported :-\
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Hi the X4 965 Black Edition is supported so you don't need to worry. Just check that the version you get is the C3 125W NOT the 140W C2 version as that is not supported.
EDIT: you also need to make sure that you have the F10A BIOS to run this CPU.
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I do have a custom BIOS for this board (DS4), supporting X6 CPUs. Old CPUs were removed from BIOS, but I don't know exactly which models. BIOS is F10c. I'll send it to you, if you need it. Thanks.
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can send me that bios if you still have it?
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Hi,
you can download the latest version of BIOS for this motherboard here: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2695&dl=1#bios
Use QFlash to update the BIOS before you try running with newer CPU.
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i have updated the bios to version 10d, can anybody confirm the support of the x6-1075 ?
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Hi there,
According to the CPU support list http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=2695 the X6 1075T is not supported at the moment.
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hi, sorry to reply so late.
i have flashed bios to F10D and worked fine with Athlon 64 x2.
After installed phenom II x4 965, the bios doesnt post every time. ussually posts after few retries.
after post, games run ok, benchmarks and all.
help pls. thanks