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update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:49 pm
by dw5304
ok to make a long story short i have a new Intel dx79si that it works with the new lga2011 cheap 3840 i7 cpu ~$300 vs a $600 cpu...
we are Intel gold partners and Intel told us there is nothing they can do. They told us to buy the expensive proc and update the bios so you can use the cheaper one.

I was able to dump the bios on the board the chip is a MX25L6405D 64M-BIT [x 1 / x 2] CMOS SERIAL FLASH

I then tried to update the bios on the chip using latest Intel bios for the board, but it would not boot. I do have backups :).

has anyone ever been able to upgrade a efi bios w/o a cpu?

or anyone have more information where to go from here.
thanks in advance
dw5304.
2012-03-19_16-27-17_751.jpg

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:05 pm
by edwin
physically remove the chip and use another device to program it is normally the only answer. If you are actually Intel Gold partner you should be able to RMA your board and ask your sales channel partner for a board with an updated bios.

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:07 pm
by dw5304
Intel told us we are out of luck having it updated , They don't have any boards w/ new bios and will not update it for us.
and the bios is a spi non removable version :(.

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:11 pm
by edwin
I fear the situation is slightly worse, the i7-3840 is not yet supported at all on this board, even with the latest bios rev:
http://processormatch.intel.com/CompDB/ ... ame=DX79SI

The i7-3820 is fully supported when using the 0430 release of the bios. The big question is if this board already has bios 0424 on it because that is the last release that actually "updated processor support", the 0430 is merely a bugfix to fully support the non-XE edition of CPUs. Have you got any clue about what bios version is loaded right now?

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:39 pm
by dw5304
my bad. i meant the 3820 not 3840... as to the bios version...
.0281.2011.1019.1612

is what is listed in the bios dump :). so its an old copy.

i will attach bios dump if needed ... only issue its 8 mb.

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:29 am
by edwin
no need, the 0281 is listed with the updates. And the bad news is: you really need a i7-39xx series CPU for the bios update. There's not much to find about this issue in the internet at this moment, but that is the actual problem.

Where are you located? Because you're going to need the goodwill of a local computer shop for giving you a i7-39xx series on loan...

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:46 pm
by dw5304
well, we are the only computer shop for about 20 miles lol...
but on a plus side i managed to get our intel rep to take the board back and flash it after telling them we would be moving to amd if they wouldnt do it :).
woot +1 for false promises.

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:27 pm
by edwin
woot +2 for knowing you did buy that board for performance, you'll stick with Intel any day now :twisted:

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:46 pm
by gingin
Hi!
I have same problem with dx79si and I7 3820.
If you have upadet BIOS, can you send me binary dump please?

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:47 pm
by edwin
Take the board back to the dealer that sold you the combination of these items. They should work together, it's their responsibility to make it match.

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:22 am
by viewgsm
would you please update the new flash dump,
I need to update my MB and don't have access to supported CPU

regards

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:37 pm
by edwin
Right now there is NO other way to get this board flashed with the proper bios if you do NOT have the i7-39xx CPU. Contact the person selling you this board + CPU for providing you with a solution.

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:57 pm
by viewgsm
the guy who started this topic did already dump the chip content, I am overseas and I don't have access to that CPU,
I see no reason why can't I upload the bios directly to the chip using SPI serial programmer if someone can send me BIN file of the bios !

Regards

Re: update Intel dx79si with out cpu.

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:02 pm
by edwin
Contact Intel with your issue, maybe they can have your board exchanged/flashed at a local distribution point.