I'm getting ready to build a different PC. My A7V266 has a soldered BIOS.
On my next machine I want to put in BIOS SAVIOR. Just for tinkering
purposes. I wonder if MOBO specs I can find on the internet will
accurately say if the BIOS chip can be removed. I believe the spec for my
board says the BIOS isn't soldered in - but that's not correct. Does
anybody know what MOBOs got a removable BIOS?
TIA Bill S.
I don't guess that information is usually in the specs on the
manufacturer's site, but you can often find detailed photos online or
in downloadable manuals. A BIOS chip sitting in an obvious socket
will be removable. These sockets are identifiable by having small
slits in the sockets at each corner at 45° angles. If it's difficult
to understand what I'm talking about, get a close-up view at a local
computer store, and then it's easy to spot the removable socket in
online photos. If you get your choice down to a few motherboards,
just ask on this forum about them, and an experienced owner will be
able to answer the question. For example, I can tell you that the A8N
series all have a 4MB socketed chip.
I believe that soldered-in BIOS chips have become exceedingly rare in
recent years -- i.e., almost all boards marketed to enthusiasts are
going to have a socketed BIOS.
BTW, your idea of limiting your choices to those that can accommodate
a BIOS Savior is wise, indeed. Unfortunately, IOSS stopped updating
their compatibility lists months or years ago. In general, though,
Asus AMD boards with 4MB BIOS chips will work with the RD1-PMC4 that
you can find online -- e.g.,
http://www.frozencpu.com/bio-04.html) --
for about US$25. These things are good for a lot more than "tinkering
purposes." They're a marvelous form of protection against a bad flash
or corrupted BIOS, and I think that they should be BUILT IN by Asus
and other manufacturers.
Ron
