Updating VBIOS on ASRock GE PRO-M2

presto

Hi

Like many others I am trying to use a 1400x900 monitor with a SiS M650 Chip but I need to upgrade my VBIOS from 1.11.19 to 2.28.00 to get the desired resolution. My motherboard is an ASRock GE PRO-M2 and I've tried flashing the latest AMI BIOS (P2.80) from ASRock but this did not change the VBIOS.

I've therefore tried building my own BIOS using AMIBCP (v7) but without success. I've got an ASRock K7S41(GX) BIOS which should contain VBIOS 2.49.00. I opened this in AMICMP and extracted two 20h PC AddOn ROM modules (which I believe are the VGA ROM). I then deleted these modules from the ASRock GE PRO-M2 BIOS and tried to insert the new versions. Unfortunately, I get the following error:

"ROM Module Too Large for Remaining Memory"

To diagnose the problem I tried to extract, delete and re-insert the original 20h modules from the GE PRO-M2 BIOS but gives the same error. If I delete both listed 20h modules I can re-insert either one ... but not both!

I'm therefore stumped and in great need of assistance. If someone could help me upgrade my VBIOS it would be much appreciated.

PS: I knew nothing about this topic before I started and have deduced all of the above from information on this site ... a fantastic technical resource.

cp · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:17 am Post subject:

The 2D core of the SIS650 is different from the one used in the SIS741. While the SIS650 features a SIS315 2D core, the SIS741 uses a Xabre660 2D core. Or to say it even shorter: the vbioses are incompatible.
Regarding your problem inserting modules: you have to enable compression because the space in a bios is very limited.
Anyway, i sent you a prepatched bios. Please report back with the results.

presto · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:27 pm Post subject:

I flashed the BIOS you supplied and it worked a treat ... I'm now responding in widescreen! Thanks very much for your help, it is much appreciated.

cp · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:25 pm Post subject:

nice :)
can you please install the latest driver for your hardware (UniVGA3 3.73) and test the (very limited and slow) 3D functions of the card, too?

Shan

Hi,

I am also having the same problem as user presto. I have recently purchased a wide screen monitor which supports resolution upto 1440x900. But unfortunately my graphics card SIS 650 series doesn't support this resolution. I am using ASRock GE PRO-M2 motherboard.

I would greatly appreciate if you could do some help.

Thanks
Shan

fred lui · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:15 am Post subject:

HI~~ MASTER CP

i also encounter ssame problem while i install vbios into my ASUS a2400H's bios.

So, can you tell me more exact the procedure.
or could u help me to patch it?

actually the bios only contain basic. CPUID. and others. i didn;t see any thing about vbios.

ASUS A2400H(a2H) using SIS M650 chipset.

here is the bios.
http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/A2H/a2h0213a.zip

THANKSS~~

cp · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Fred,
can you please send me a private message with an email address so i can send you the patched bios.

PrincePrize

Hai guys,

Nice to find that there are people with the same 'problem'. I also want to activate the 1440x900 wide screen resolution on my Asus A2H (A2500H) notebook with a SiS (M)650 videocard.

I have tried several things, flashing the bios with BIOS v2.13 but didn't replace the videobios of SiS. I have also looked on the website of SiS ( http://www.sis.com/support/support_faqs_4.htm) but want me to go to the manufacturer of the motherboard - because of the version of the VBIOS, mine is: 1.10.8q - ASUS. I didn't find a solution there but i believe the solution is on this forum. I have tried CBROM215.exe and CBROM 606.exe (of AWARD) to flash the VBIOS but didn't succeed.

At first, some specs of the videocard reported by Windows Screen Properties:
Chiptype: SiS M650
DAC-Type: internal
AdapterString: Mirage
BIOS version: 1.10.8q

Motherboard: SiS650-A2H/L
Date : 04/29/2004

So, can anybody explain to me how to upgrade the VBIOS (the correct way) and what i need to upgrade to VBIOS version 2.28.00 or later? Can anybody send to me the correct information or files that i need? You can email me at [Prince Prize] [at] [hot mail] [dot] com (wihout spaces and brackets Wink

).

Thank you for your help!

Kind Regards,
Erwinus

cp · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:48 am Post subject:

patched bios sent.

PrincePrize · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject:

Dear Wim,

Thank you for your fast reply, but i didn't receive any file(s). Can you send it to me again?

Thank you!

Kind Regards,
Erwinus

cp · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject:

patched bios sent again..some email providers don't like zip-attachments.

PrincePrize

You wrote to me in an email:
hi, attached you'll find the patched asus a2h bios. don't forget to install
the latest sis video drivers. as the original included support for tv-out and this version does not, you might lose support for tv-out. can you please verify this? please report back with the results.
bye,cp

I flash the BIOS and VBIOS succesfully with ASUS WinFlash utility and now the videocard supporting 1440x900. The VBIOS version is now v2.30. Very great and many thanks for the customized rom file. Thanks for the quick reply. I have installed the new UniVGA3 drivers and it is working fine.......

BUT:
The main display doesn't work any longer! What is the reason for that, what is the problem? In the Windows Screen Manager there is only one display visible, not two like before. How can i solve this? I have tried several things without any result. Also the keyboard function fn+[LCD] doesn't work.

SECOND:
I cannot config the TV out settings because i get a DLL exception on rundll32.dll. Some other SiS display property functions doesn't work (SiS VGA utilities) and crash.

Is there anybody that has the same problems and how do i solve these?

Kind Regards,
Erwinus

edwin · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:49 am Post subject:

cp · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject:

well..the problem is this: the LCD is connected via an additional circuit. this circuit has to be initialized by the video bios, too. since i don't have a video bios that is recent enough and includes support for this additional circuit, the only way to get back your LCD is to flash the latest bios from the manufacturer page again.
sorry for that, but you can still write to you manufacturer and complain about the lousy bios support.

xi0utlawstarix · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:04 pm Post subject:

im having the same problem.
please help
thanks Very Happy