CPU recognition problems?

[azonicbruce]

Hey there. I Have and ASUS P2B-F motherboard, with a PIII 450mhz/512cache/100mhz FSB; Slot 1. Worked FINE.

HOWEVER, I just installed a PIII 800mhz/256cache/100mhz FSB; slot 1.

Set the jumpers correctly. When I boot up on the first screen it reads: PIII 800mhz, and going into BIOS it says the Core Speed is 800mhz, the voltage is 1.65 (the correct voltage for the PIII 800mhz)

HOWEVER, right after the Win98 startup screen appears there is a line that says:

<BIOS:> BIOS update data incorrect (CPUID=00000683)
Update Not loaded

It continues to boot up fine, and EVERYTHING in Windows 98SE WORKS FINE. The only other thing I noticed is that when I click on Start>Settings>Control Panel>System>General it states that the CPU is:
GenuineIntel
x86 Family6 Model8 Stepping3

When I had my 450mhz in there it simply said "GenuineIntel Pentium III"

SO WHAT'S THE DEAL? Everything works fine on my computer, except for those messages on boot up and the weird cpu ID indicated by Windows.

Is this a PROBLEM? I'm trying to UPDATE my BIOS but everytime I run AFLASH.EXE windows says the program performed an illegal operation (running in the MS-DOS prompt). I can tell that my BIOS is still the old version, so HOW do I make AFLASH WORK? DO I EVEN NEED TO, since I don't see any real problem with anything not working?

I've been reading the Asus manual for HOURS and still can't figure out how to make AFLASH work.

Anyways, any help would be appreciated.


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You catch more flies with honey, than with a rifle!

[arcstrike]

Hi there,

Aflash needs to be run from dos not under windows. I recently updated the BIOS on my ASUS CUSI-FX Mobo.
Here his what you do: To find out what version you are running (BIOS version) watch while the system boots and it will tell you what version (something like ASUS BIOS Version 1005). This will identify if you are still running the old BIOS.
(1) You need to format a disk with the system files format A:/s
(2) Then copy aflash.exe to this disk.
(3) Download the updated bios from www.asus.com.tw (http://www.asus.com.tw)
(4) Extract the zipped file (BIOS Update) to the floppy disk.
(NB make a note of the file name)
(5) Shut down the system
(6) Insert the floppy disk and re start the system.
(7) at the a: prompt type aflash
(8) make a back up of your old bios
(9) install the new bios (option 2 I think it was) this is where you need the file name for the new bios.
(10) follow the prompts.

Thats what worked for me.



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Reason.......there is no reason, it's policy!

[kenja]

Have you tried clearing the CMOS, which gets you back to the default settings? Most motherboards have a jumper for doing this. (Alternate method: unplug from the wall and remove the button battery for a few seconds.)

[mjc]

Basically your error is that the CPUID Table in the BIOS is not corrct for the CPU you have installed...either it is an older version that doesn't contain all the stepping info for your processor or that it actually doesn't have the info for your processor at all, but since it is recognized and does run I think that it is just the stepping info that needs to be updated....so you can either run it as is (works so don't worry about it) or flash it (which may also add other features, like support for larger drives or fix other problems). If you do flash follow the directions exactly or find someone who is experianced to show you how. Arcstrike's list is fairly complete and the instructions should also be found on Asus' site.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Gun Control...hitting what you aim at!

[azonicbruce]

UPDATE!
Last night I was able to SUCCESSFULLY flash the BIOS. Like you said, arcstrike, I couldn't do it through Windows MS-DOS but I was able to do as you said with the bootable floppy. Anyways, it worked fine, I can see the new version of Bios, and I reset the Default Setup settings.

I NO LONGER get the "<BIOS:> BIOS update data incorrect (CPUID=00000683)Update Not loaded " message. So I'm thinking the Flash worked

However, under System info it still shows the processor as "GenuineIntel x86 Family6 Model8 Stepping3", not Pentium III like my old processor. Seems kinda weird to me. Again, is this a PROBLEM, or is this just how windows recognizes this particular processor?

Here's what I'd really like to know. HOW CAN I TELL if the processor is REALLY running at 800mhz? Also, how can I tell that it's PERFORMING better than my 450mhz which had more cache? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

So far it seems like programs open and perform a LITTLE bit faster, but who knows, it's probably just my mind playing tricks on me. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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You catch more flies with honey, than with a rifle!

[This message has been edited by azonicbruce (edited 08-28-2001).]

[kenja]

The slickest way I know of to determine your CPU speed is by using WCPUID. Free download from H-Oda.com (http://www.h-oda.com/). (Only the FTP source worked for me.)

To compare the performance of different configurations, I use Sandra 2001 benchmarks. Free download (http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,10615,35399,00.html).

[arcstrike]

Your mobo shout have come with an ASUS disk which contains a utility to identify the mobo and cpu. If you don't have the CD email me and I will forward you the program.

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Reason.......there is no reason, it's policy!