05/10/2004-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR0C-00

[voidghost]

Hi,

I've searched for the above on Google and found a forum post on some other forum that says it's a "Sapphire P4M266AMS4". Further googling would suggest that this is the same as "P4M266AMS4-A31A PCPartner" motherboard? I went to the PCPartner website and downloaded the latest BIOS for that board, but before I give it a try, it would be nice if someone can confirm that this is indeed the correct model.

The reason I'm over-cautious is because I'm basically in the middle of nowhere in Tanzania, and if I mess up this board it will be very difficult and time-consuming (not to mention costly) to get a replacement

Thanks for any help,
voidghost

[edwin]

Yep but once you get the bios zip file, carefully read the txt file inside and make sure you use the proper bin file for your board according to the descriptions...

[voidghost]

hmmm thanks. i can't find any PCB version number on the board, do you know if it's on the back side? i can't access the back unfortunately because the case uses rivets which i can't remove.

without the PCB number it's a bit difficult to really identify the board. i guess suspend-to-ram would be noticeable in that there would be some kind of option in the BIOS settings somewhere to activate/control it?

[edwin]

ID for the BIOS of "CE Stepping" = 6a6lwpr0

yep STR should be there in the first place. I have the strings of the upgrade files in the pa31ma.zip file

V0703_A.BIN : 07/03/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR1C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030703A)
V0703_B.BIN : 07/03/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR1C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030703B)
V0703_C.BIN : 07/03/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR1C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030703C)

V0730.BIN : 07/30/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR0C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030730)
V0730_A.BIN : 07/30/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR0C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030730A)
V0730_B.BIN : 07/30/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR0C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030730B)
V0730_C.BIN : 07/30/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR0C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030730C)
V0730_D.BIN : 07/30/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR0C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030730D)
V0730_E.BIN : 07/30/2003-P4M266/A-823X-6A6LWPR0C-00
BIOS-V-2M (2K030730E)

as you can see you have actually a newer bios than PcPartner ever released so this means we should go to Sapphire after all to check if they ever released anything after your 2004 bios...

[edwin]

Can you check if you have a chip marked RTM360-516 or RTM360-519 on your board? That would indicate a newer revision for which there's a 2005 bios here:
http://download.sapphiretech.com/DRIVER ... IAbios.htm

[voidghost]

i'm at a different field station right now but i'll check and get back to you as soon as possible, in a few days. thanks for the help!

[voidghost]

looks like i was able to solve my problems without trying the BIOS update so i'll just let it be. never mess with a running box... thanks for the help anyway

[edwin]

famous last words... wise decision indeed in this case...