Milt's PCChips M810L BIOS's
If you have difficulty downloading anything listed below, turn off 'Spybot' if you are using it, or add my URL to your "Trusted sites" in IE -> Tools -> Internet Options -> Security
|
If you would like to have most of the Honey-X BIOS, get the 6-pack of them, (1247 KB) direct from Honey-X's website |
| AMI
Flasher's:
I use, and recommend, the first one... aminf329.exe which I have renamed to FLASH.EXE to make flashing your BIOS simpler. |
| UniFlash
v1.38 from Rainbow Software
This flash utility is for advanced users, or those of you who are somehow 'stuck', and can't find a way to get it to flash with the 'normal' flash utilities. It is more complicated to use than the FLASH.zip above, but in some situations, this is the ONLY flasher that will work, and it can save your butt on occasion
|
| Official BIOS: |
| These BIOS's are NOT the latest officially released by PCChips, because the most recent 030808S.rom sucks. |
| These BIOS's may be safely used in ANY version of the PCChips M810L motherboards, |
| EXCEPT for the M810DU and M810DLU. |
| The 'D' versions of the M810 uses a completely different SiS740 chipset. |
| The use of ANY of these BIOS's in a 'D' mobo will totally trash your BIOS chip. |
| Why PCChips chose to insert BIOS's for all the 'D' versions right in the middle of all the other M810 and M810L BIOS's is anybody's guess. |
| 030103s.exe | With this Jan 3, 2003 release many, but by NO means all, of the problems with AGP video cards at 4x were cured |
| Offers the standard 100/100, 100/133 and 133/133 | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions | |
| 030513s.exe | This is an official PCChips release, dated May 13, 2003, for the 'C' series mobos. |
| Gives an automatic 105/105 FSB for Durons or 100/100 Athlons, and a 138 FSB for 133/133 Athlons | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions | |
| 030414.zip | Another official release dated April 14, 2003 from PCChips for the 'C' series mobos. |
| Gives an automatic 110/110 FSB for Duron 800's & 1200's, 105 for a 1300, and 137.7 FSB for an Athlon 2000+ | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions | |
| Honey X OC BIOS: | |
| Under the "Honey X OC BIOS" you will find several modified versions of the above Official PCChips BIOS, dated 030103s.exe | |
| With ANY of these Honey-X BIOS's you must read the *readme.txt* that is included to understand what you will get, and how to get it! | |
USING the Honey-X BIOS's I just re-booted and had a look at my 'CPU PnP Setup' page in 'CMOS Setup'. CPU Speed CPU Frequency DRAM Frequency These are the ONLY three items on this page that you want to, and actually CAN alter. (Other than the bottom one... just set it to 'Manual' and leave it like that.) With ANY Honey-X BIOS pay no attention to what your CMOS displays as "CPU Speed" (it is totally bogus, and has very little to do with reality), BUT, you WILL be using this button for the instructions below... The 'default' setting for 'CPU Frequency' is 100 The 'default' setting for 'DRAM Frequency' is 100 (the 100MHz will be white at the default settings of) 100 100 These are the only two settings that count. Each can be EITHER 100 or 133. If you click once on 'CPU Speed' (use the 'Page Up' and 'Page Down' keys on your keypad, or the '+' and '-' keys on your Numpad), the display will change to 133 133 AND the 'DRAM Frequency' will turn gray, meaning it is no longer a functioning control. Click on 'CPU Speed' again, and the display will change to 100 133 And, the 'DRAM Frequency 133MHz' is now white. Click on 'CPU Speed' again, and the display will change BACK to 133 133 And the DRAM Frequency goes gray. Click on 'CPU Speed' again, and the display will change BACK to 100 133 AND the 'DRAM Frequency' will turn white again, meaning it is now a functioning control. NOW, Arrow down to 'DRAM Frequency' Click on 'DRAM Frequency' Arrow up to CPU speed. Click on CPU Speed Print out the above instructions now, because you won't remember them, the next time you go into your CMOS. Something you may not know... With ANY Honey-X OC BIOS if you make a mistake and shoot too high, so that the mobo/CPU just can't POST, don't bother to 'clear CMOS' (that's a P.i.t.A.), just shut it off first, and then reboot. Next time up, it'll be in it's 'Failsafe Mode' of 100/100 . Just let it boot up once at the 'Failsafe' 100/100 (which is really 99.56/99.56), and on the very next reboot go back into your CMOS to reset JUST the stuff on your 'CPU PnP Setup' page, because that's ALL that it changes. (Or, just 'cycle' the settings if nothing appears to have changed) You get to keep all your other CMOS settings, and don't even lose the date/time this way! Nice huh? |
|
| But please, have an AMIBOOT.ROM floppy disk prepared just in case, Okay? |
|
For Durons and any Athlon Thunderbird of the 100/200 persuasion |
| DM810L.zip | For Durons, or any 100/200 Athlon CPU, this will give options of 105/105, 103/137, and 110/110. |
| This 'Beginners' version also includes the 'Halt-idle' instruction to cool your CPU when idling. | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions. Please, READ THE *readme.txt* | |
| DM810L2.zip | For Durons, or any 100/200 Athlon CPU, this will give options of 105/105, 105/157, and 110/165. |
| This 'Intermediate' version requires better memory and includes the 'Halt-idle' instruction to cool your CPU when idling. | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions. Please, READ THE *readme.txt* | |
| DM810L3.zip | This BIOS is for testing memory, using any CPU, and will give options of 105/105, 100/150, and 111.1/166.6 |
| If your memory is good enough to boot at 100/150 you can then use CPUCooL to test at 105/157, 110/165, 111/166 | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions. Please, READ THE *readme.txt* | |
| For Durons, or any 100/200 Athlon CPU, this will give options of 110/110, 112/112, and 124/124 | |
| This 'Expert' version will require extra vCore and also includes the 'Halt-idle' instruction to cool your CPU when idling. | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions. Please, READ THE *readme.txt* | |
| For Athlons of the 133/266 variety |
| AM810L.zip | For any 133/266 CPU. This will give you options of 133/133, 137/137, and 140/140. |
| The 'Safe' version. It also includes the 'Halt-idle' instruction to cool your CPU when idling. | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions. Please, READ THE *readme.txt* | |
| AM810H.zip | For any 133/266 CPU. This will give you options of 140/140, 150/150 and 166/166. |
| This 'Expert' version requires upgraded everything. It also includes the 'Halt-idle' instruction to cool your CPU when idling. | |
| Works on any M810L, any version, EXCEPT FOR the 'D' versions. Please, READ THE *readme.txt* | |
| AND, for all you 'Experts' out there, this is the one... | |
| UNIBIOS.zip | By special request, Andy (Honey-X) created this one
just for me, but I would like to share it with you.
It'll work on any M810L, any version (or REV: ##), EXCEPT FOR the M810D, and it too includes the 'Halt-at-Idle' feature, which will lower your CPU temperature by anywhere from 5°C to 16°C when your CPU is just 'loafing'. If your machine is running stable at 110/110, or anything higher than 110/110, using the whatever.rom BIOS, then I would suggest that it's finally time for you to 'step-up' to the Expert's BIOS... the UNIBIOS.rom! This BIOS, when used along with CPUCooL, will give you the opportunity to run your 'new' CPU, whatever it is, at damn near any speed you care to try for. The UNIBIOS.rom will give you these booting options ... 100/100 = 110/110 100/133 = 100/150 and 133/133 = 150/150 I know that doesn't really sound like very much, until you realize that, with the use of CPUCooL, these are the options that it opens up for you... From 100/100 = 110/110 -> 112/112 -> 124/124 -> 133.3/133.3 -> 133.7/133.7 -> 137.3/137.3 -> 138.3/138.3 (which is really 133.3/133.3) -> 140/140 From 100/133 = 100/150 -> 105/157 -> 110/165 -> 111.1/166.6 (excellent, IF your memory is good enough to boot at 150 MHz) From 133/133 = 150/150 -> 166.6/166.6 (and now you are REALLY starting to 'push the limits of the envelope' with your M810L !!!) You can now use the 100/150 setting to test your memory at 150 MHz,
using MemTest86, from http://www.memtest86.com/ |
| Small testing programs | |
| CPUMK99.EXE | This is a small (204 KB), very fast ( ~ 30 seconds), and reasonably accurate measure of your processor and memory combination. |
| This program does not stress your system, so it will run where others will cause a system freeze, or cause a reboot. |
| Flashing Your BIOS |
| Flashing a BIOS does entail SOME risk, but we're here to help if it goes bad.
My E-mail address is at page bottom. This is how I prefer to flash my BIOS. Floppys are prone to corruption, so... You can flash it straight from the HD, even without any floppy drive, if you're using Win95 or Win98, and possibly other OSes as well, but this DOES NOT work with any HD formatted as NTFS. For any systems using only the NTFS file system, see Updating your BIOS from a CD-ROM, at the bottom of this page. On the second boot screen, press and hold 'F8' until you see the safe mode menu. (usually 6 choices) Arrow down and select 'Safe Mode Command Prompt Only'. Press 'Enter' This will bring you immediately to a C: \> If you're not on win 95, or Win98, then you can use any old boot floppy, even a MS-DOS boot floppy created with WinXP, to get you booted up to an... A: \> At this point I'm going to assume that you have the Flash Utility, I use and recommend AMINF329.EXE, (which I have re-named to FLASH.EXE for simplicity in flashing), and the BIOS you have chosen to flash, and please, rename it to NEWBIOS.ROM, unzipped, and both in a folder together, that you have named let's say, "NEWBIOS" on, let's say, your 'C' drive. From the A: \> or the C: \> (it doesn't matter which one you start with) Type... C: and hit Enter, and it will show; C: \> Type... DIR and hit Enter, and it will show all the contents of your C drive. NEWBIOS should be there as the bottom entry, but it doesn't matter if it's not. Type... CD NEWBIOS and hit Enter, and it will show; C: \NEWBIOS> Type... DIR and hit Enter, and it will show all the contents of that NEWBIOS folder you created, including the EXACT names you'll need for this next CRITICAL step... Type... FLASH NEWBIOS.ROM Note that you DON'T need the '.EXE' after 'FLASH', but you DO NEED to leave a space between 'FLASH' and 'NEWBIOS.ROM'. Press enter and the flash program should start. Follow the prompts from here on, (30 seconds, tops) After your BIOS has successfully flashed, your confuser
will auto-reboot, and you'll get that "CMOS battery Low", and /
or "Press F1 to load Defaults or DEL to enter SETUP" message
that you SHOULD get after ANY 'clear CMOS' or BIOS flash routine. ¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø CONGRATULATIONS!! ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ As it becomes necessary to use different BIOSes (and it will), you can simply add the new, unzipped BIOS, into that 'NEWBIOS' folder you have created, and rename the new BIOS that you want to flash to NEWBIOS2.ROM. Updating your BIOS from a CD-ROM |
