And for the most part, especially with BIOS updates, that is my philosophy too. And nothing wrong with wondering, or checking it out.I've always gone by the adage of "if it's not broke, don't fix it", but that doesn't stop me from wondering.
Oh, no! Not me. That would be a HUGE step backwards. That's how it was 20+ years ago. If we had a BIOS update, we had no choice but replace the BIOS PROM with a new one from the motherboard maker. No fun, time consuming and a real pain.What I like better is a motherboard whose BIOS chip can just be replaced by plugging a new one in, but it seems that all are going to soldered chips instead.
To each his own. Maybe it's just because I'm a rather backwards sort of fellow, but I'm a lot more comfortable buying a BIOS chip online, that only takes me about 5-10 minutes to install, than eternally wondering if I should flash or not, and equally as long (it feels like an eternity), holding my breath until a flash is finished.Oh, no! Not me. That would be a HUGE step backwards. That's how it was 20+ years ago. If we had a BIOS update, we had no choice but replace the BIOS PROM with a new one from the motherboard maker. No fun, time consuming and a real pain.
Does anyone have any idea of what changing the CPU code might effect?
That sounds logical, but as I said, the second newest flash specifically says that it is for AM3+, of which the Bulldozer is the only AMD CPU in that category...as far as I know, and I'm not aware of any other new CPUs. Have they released anything newer than the Bulldozer?
EDIT: Just Googled and found that they did:
AMD Unleashes First-Ever 5 GHz Processor
But that Flash update can't be for that, because it is much too old.
No, the Bulldozer is the newest on their list.Try going onto the motherboards website and checking the cpu compatibility list. If you see it in there then I'd hazard the update was for that.
It might well be for the new 9000 series CPU. Fast but expensive:
AMD FX-9590 5 GHz Processor Benchmarks Surface, Great Performance At A Price | techPowerUp
I don't see any logic in this. Eternally wondering? How is eternally wondering if you should download and install any different than eternally wondering if you should buy and install?seekermeister said:I'm a lot more comfortable buying a BIOS chip online, that only takes me about 5-10 minutes to install, than eternally wondering if I should flash or not, and equally as long (it feels like an eternity), holding my breath until a flash is finished.
Huh? Now you really lost me. You replace BIOS firmware chips with chips from 3rd party makers because you don't trust the original chipset makers????Of course, I do not acquire the chips from the manufacturer, I have a tendencancy to stay as far from them as possible, because I've not had a good experience with any of them.
If you do a flash on a motherboard that goes badly, you are then without access to your computer until the motherboard is replaced, unless you have a means of reversing the flash, or the chip itself, if it can be replaced easily, like with a chip that can just be plugged in. Even if the chip is replaceable in that manner, you are still out of computer access until a replacement chip can be acquired, and that is complicated by lack of ability to order it online. All of these problems can be avoided if you just buy a chip beforehand that is already flashed with the latest BIOS, and the down time is neglible and the cost is quite small.I don't see any logic in this. Eternally wondering? How is eternally wondering if you should download and install any different than eternally wondering if you should buy and install?
How is wondering if it will boot after the update any different whether you flash the chip or replace the chip?
I see no reason to making a decision on the basis of comparing risks, if a risk can be avoided it should be. I depend on the computer for more than what some people do, since I rarely shop local stores. About the only time I do so is to buy groceries, and that is primarily for perishable items that can't be shipped properly, or items that are too expensive online.The fact of the matter is, you probably risk greater damage from ESD and mishandling than using a program designed specifically to ensure a good update.
The chips are made by the same original manufacturers, only difference is that they arrive already flashed by that third party source. If for some reason the chip isn't right, it will be replaced by that source, and the only thing lost is a little time, but during that time the computer is still operable with the original chip.Huh? Now you really lost me. You replace BIOS firmware chips with chips from 3rd party makers because you don't trust the original chipset makers????