I need help from the BIOS guys

The_YongGrand · 11th Apr 2007, 05:24 PM

Since this place is mostly for BIOS too, let me ask a question.

About two years ago I happened to fry and cook my Asus VX-97 BIOS chip when doing hot-flashing. (Please don't ask why, it's embarassing!

)

Later, when I obtained a broken TX-97 board too, and peeled out the sticker of its BIOS chip, I found that it's the SST 29EE010 chip.

However, I'm not sure of the VX-97 since I have already ended this chip into the dustbin.

Did a Internet search about VX-97's BIOS chip, but I could get some vague info about it, and also, I begin to suspect that both boards use the same chip.

Are these chips really the same anyway, with the same model number? I'm pretty sure there are small numbers beneath the model-number, but are they significant?

1031982 · 11th Apr 2007, 06:07 PM

Usually anything really small is a manufacturer ID. When it was made, what plant made it, ect. Obviously, the smaller the chip, the smaller the printing. I wouldn't be surprised if they used the same chip, but it's what information is contained in the chip that matters.
I could be wrong with any of this information, but that's how just about everything else works in the technology world of ID's.

The_YongGrand · 11th Apr 2007, 09:57 PM

Thanks for the advice.

Fortunately I didn't dump the broken chip - I intend to keep it as a souvenir so that to remind people that when flashing goes awry.

They are EXACTLY the same chip, same name, same model number and all the other things are identical...

...except the very last number. I'm not sure whether it's the manufacturing date, or how mant -th chip is this or something else. Rest of them is the same, except the strange micro-serial number.

1031982 · 12th Apr 2007, 10:01 AM

No problem. It could also be BIOS maker as well. There are a number of thing it could be, as I think it would be a lot cheaper to mass produce a chip that can hold any BIOS programed into it.

The_YongGrand · 12th Apr 2007, 06:10 PM

Thanks for the info too.

I'll try flashing the bios later this week - I'm now in the search for AT power supplies... hey, there's ONE in my closet!

Adrian Wong · 14th Apr 2007, 11:41 AM

Yeah, both BIOS chips should be the same. You will have to hotflash it to install the VX BIOS in it though.

The_YongGrand · 14th Apr 2007, 11:37 PM

Did it just now. Flashed the VX-97's BIOS on the TX-97 board first, then got my fingers crossed, then transferred the chip into the vacant slot of the VX-97's BIOS. Goodness gracious me, it worked! Just like a resurrection, it just worked! The chips are the same, and it works the same! The VX-97... is reborn after 2 years of dormancy.

Now I gotta turn it into some kinda Linux box or a cute mini jukebox. Or my PIC programmer's area. Or whatever it is.

edit: Haven't fully tested yet - but I'm very confident that the chip will work comfortably with the board. Tomorrow or next day I'll try putting some IDE HDD for these.

1031982 · 15th Apr 2007, 01:13 AM

Good to hear! It's always good to hear success stories!

11th Apr 2007, 05:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Super Active Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,111 Reputation: 668 Rep Power: 12	I need help from the BIOS guys Since this place is mostly for BIOS too, let me ask a question. About two years ago I happened to fry and cook my Asus VX-97 BIOS chip when doing hot-flashing. (Please don't ask why, it's embarassing! ) Later, when I obtained a broken TX-97 board too, and peeled out the sticker of its BIOS chip, I found that it's the SST 29EE010 chip. However, I'm not sure of the VX-97 since I have already ended this chip into the dustbin. Did a Internet search about VX-97's BIOS chip, but I could get some vague info about it, and also, I begin to suspect that both boards use the same chip. Are these chips really the same anyway, with the same model number? I'm pretty sure there are small numbers beneath the model-number, but are they significant? __________________ Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Asus P5NSLI, Sapphire ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Biostar Geforce 6100 AM2, Galaxy Geforce 7300GT

11th Apr 2007, 06:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,546 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	Usually anything really small is a manufacturer ID. When it was made, what plant made it, ect. Obviously, the smaller the chip, the smaller the printing. I wouldn't be surprised if they used the same chip, but it's what information is contained in the chip that matters. I could be wrong with any of this information, but that's how just about everything else works in the technology world of ID's. __________________ Running : ASUS A7N8X DELUXE, AMD 2700+, 1GB DDR 3200 Duel Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 320 GB HDD, Zip 100, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, nVidia GeForce 7800GS (AGP), Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.

11th Apr 2007, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Super Active Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,111 Reputation: 668 Rep Power: 12	Thanks for the advice. Fortunately I didn't dump the broken chip - I intend to keep it as a souvenir so that to remind people that when flashing goes awry. They are EXACTLY the same chip, same name, same model number and all the other things are identical... ...except the very last number. I'm not sure whether it's the manufacturing date, or how mant -th chip is this or something else. Rest of them is the same, except the strange micro-serial number. __________________ Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Asus P5NSLI, Sapphire ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Biostar Geforce 6100 AM2, Galaxy Geforce 7300GT

12th Apr 2007, 10:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,546 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	No problem. It could also be BIOS maker as well. There are a number of thing it could be, as I think it would be a lot cheaper to mass produce a chip that can hold any BIOS programed into it. __________________ Running : ASUS A7N8X DELUXE, AMD 2700+, 1GB DDR 3200 Duel Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 320 GB HDD, Zip 100, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, nVidia GeForce 7800GS (AGP), Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.

12th Apr 2007, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Super Active Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,111 Reputation: 668 Rep Power: 12	Thanks for the info too. I'll try flashing the bios later this week - I'm now in the search for AT power supplies... hey, there's ONE in my closet! __________________ Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Asus P5NSLI, Sapphire ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Biostar Geforce 6100 AM2, Galaxy Geforce 7300GT

14th Apr 2007, 11:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my BenQ Joybook 7000 notebook! Posts: 29,426 Reputation: 2830 Rep Power: 63	Yeah, both BIOS chips should be the same. You will have to hotflash it to install the VX BIOS in it though. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

14th Apr 2007, 11:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Super Active Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,111 Reputation: 668 Rep Power: 12	Did it just now. Flashed the VX-97's BIOS on the TX-97 board first, then got my fingers crossed, then transferred the chip into the vacant slot of the VX-97's BIOS. Goodness gracious me, it worked! Just like a resurrection, it just worked! The chips are the same, and it works the same! The VX-97... is reborn after 2 years of dormancy. Now I gotta turn it into some kinda Linux box or a cute mini jukebox. Or my PIC programmer's area. Or whatever it is. edit: Haven't fully tested yet - but I'm very confident that the chip will work comfortably with the board. Tomorrow or next day I'll try putting some IDE HDD for these. __________________ Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Asus P5NSLI, Sapphire ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Biostar Geforce 6100 AM2, Galaxy Geforce 7300GT

15th Apr 2007, 01:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
1031982 Super Active Join Date: 25 Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,546 Reputation: 285 Rep Power: 9	Good to hear! It's always good to hear success stories! __________________ Running : ASUS A7N8X DELUXE, AMD 2700+, 1GB DDR 3200 Duel Channel, WD Raptor 74GB, WD 320 GB HDD, Zip 100, ASUS 16X DVD-ROM, LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW, 1.44 MB Floppy, nVidia GeForce 7800GS (AGP), Dell 2005FPW, and a SB Audigy2 ZS PRO with Logitech Z5300e speakers.