Processor running correctly?

[acvieluf]

I just installed a core 2 duo in my machine, and when it boots up, it says, "to get the most power, update the BIOS!"  Well, i know that.  I just haven't done it yet.

TL;DR - Look at picture, is the processor running at maximum capacity? (listed as 3.0 Ghz, currently running at 2.4)

I am running into two problems:
1) After some research, it's looking more and more like the only way to do this is via a 1.44" floppy drive.  I have the right file (i think...see next problem), but all indications are the the only way to move it there is the floppy.  I don't have a 1.44" drive.  Is there another well known option that i'm missing?  That brings me to problem 2:

2)  Turns out, that even though my MOBO is a p5gc-mx 1333, it's not actually an ASUS bios set.  Its an "American Megatrends" Bios.  Maybe a knock-off board?  I have the Asus BIOS file, but the setup lists the BIOS file as AMIBIOS, rather than P5GCMX.rom (as per Asus' instructions). 

So i have attached the picture below, to simple ask:  Is the chip running at maximum efficiency?  Bios says its 3.0 Ghz, also saying there are 2 processors, currently running at 2400Mhz.  Is it clocking that speed because nothing's happening? or is it stunted at 2.4Ghz, but 2 cores, i assume?

  Sorry for all my confusion, but I'm extra confused because i haven't seen a huge speed increase in the windows environment in any way.


Attached are two pictures. 

[Titchgamer]

You could get/use a USB floppy drive to transfer the file.
As for if its the right one or not I have no idea sorry.

[lowlytech]

Is the BIOS update an exe that creates its own bootdisk for the update, or do you have a BIN file with some type of flash.exe util?  If it's the latter you should be able to create a bootdisk from USB or CDROM and just make sure you have no memory managers for the update.   I do know that they give the BIOS microcode support updates when new processors come out, so it may be running in a hampered mode, unless some kind of power management is enabled and since they are basically at idle they are downclocked somewhat?

[adder]

you could use the free software program called  CPU-Z  to determine how fast your processor is running in windows, in case it's just the bios reporting the speed wrong

but anyway that aside i would certainly update the bios to the latest one, yes

[JDFan]

"to get the most power, update the BIOS!" 

Was it "Update the BIOS" or "Update The BIOS settings" ??

One would mean flashing a new version of the BIOS (which I do not recall ever being a message as the MOBO would not know an update has been released ! ) while the other just means to go into the BIOS and update your FSB and Multiplier settings for the new CPU. ( No BIOS Flash required just boot into BIOS and adjust settings for the new CPU ( ie. FSB 333 and multiplier 9 - as shown in Adder's CPU-Z post !)

[acvieluf]

"to get the most power, update the BIOS!" 

Was it "Update the BIOS" or "Update The BIOS settings" ??

One would mean flashing a new version of the BIOS (which I do not recall ever being a message as the MOBO would not know an update has been released ! ) while the other just means to go into the BIOS and update your FSB and Multiplier settings for the new CPU. ( No BIOS Flash required just boot into BIOS and adjust settings for the new CPU ( ie. FSB 333 and multiplier 9 - as shown in Adder's CPU-Z post !)

It knows because right before that, it states that there is an unknown processor, so update BIOS.

Here's my update: I have found a floppy drive in a junker computer, the next hurdle is finding an actual floppy disk, haha. They're around. We've probably got some in a drawer at work or something.

Sent from my Atari 2600

[acvieluf]

you could use the free software program called  CPU-Z  to determine how fast your processor is running in windows, in case it's just the bios reporting the speed wrong

but anyway that aside i would certainly update the bios to the latest one, yes

I've never seen that, but that's awesome. I certainly will if I still have issues after the BIOS update. I love the idea of this program, though. Thanks.

Sent from my Atari 2600

[acvieluf]

Is the BIOS update an exe that creates its own bootdisk for the update, or do you have a BIN file with some type of flash.exe util?  If it's the latter you should be able to create a bootdisk from USB or CDROM and just make sure you have no memory managers for the update.   I do know that they give the BIOS microcode support updates when new processors come out, so it may be running in a hampered mode, unless some kind of power management is enabled and since they are basically at idle they are downclocked somewhat?

The ASUS BIOS I have is a simple ROM file. Now my only conundrum is will the ASUS BIOS ROM work well with this AMI BIOS? The dumb question is: am I completed replacing the BIOS with a new one, or changing what's already there? That will solve the mystery.

Sent from my Atari 2600

[acvieluf]

Also, thanks everyone for your responses!

Sent from my Atari 2600

[JDFan]

Looks likethe newest BIOS for that MOBO ( P5GC-MX/1333 ) is REV 0413

 https://www.asus.com/support/Download/1/22/39/6/PYvbfOokwxUzJky3/8/

THey also have an update utility ( Afudos BIOS update tool V2.36 ) for download on the same page - which might be better than using the floppy ! EDIT : THat seems to be a DOS tool though so still need to boot from floppy )

But they do mention the ASUS update utility from the CD in the manual that allows updating the BIOS from windows --

[acvieluf]

Looks likethe newest BIOS for that MOBO ( P5GC-MX/1333 ) is REV 0413

 https://www.asus.com/support/Download/1/22/39/6/PYvbfOokwxUzJky3/8/

THey also have an update utility ( Afudos BIOS update tool V2.36 ) for download on the same page - which might be better than using the floppy !

I have that version downloaded, and am ready to use the floppy, but the question remains: is the new ROM going to replace the current AMI BIOS, or do I need to find the AMI update? I have looked for the AMI updates, so far I don't have it, but that has only been from AMI themselves. I haven't yet scoured other sources.

Sent from my Atari 2600

[JDFan]

Looks likethe newest BIOS for that MOBO ( P5GC-MX/1333 ) is REV 0413

 https://www.asus.com/support/Download/1/22/39/6/PYvbfOokwxUzJky3/8/

THey also have an update utility ( Afudos BIOS update tool V2.36 ) for download on the same page - which might be better than using the floppy !

I have that version downloaded, and am ready to use the floppy, but the question remains: is the new ROM going to replace the current AMI BIOS, or do I need to find the AMI update? I have looked for the AMI updates, so far I don't have it, but that has only been from AMI themselves. I haven't yet scoured other sources.

Sent from my Atari 2600

Seems that MOBO uses an AMI bios chip so the update will replace the firmware in the chip - it will still be an AMI bios after the update.

AMI provides Generic BIOS chips to ASUS who then modifies the BIOS code for their systems - so the BIOS will always say AMI bios but ASUS has most likely made some changes to the AMI bios code for that MOBO which is why you download the BIOS update from ASUS not AMI -- AMI's Bios code would be without the specifics of the ASUS code needed for your specific MOBO

[acvieluf]

Looks likethe newest BIOS for that MOBO ( P5GC-MX/1333 ) is REV 0413

 https://www.asus.com/support/Download/1/22/39/6/PYvbfOokwxUzJky3/8/

THey also have an update utility ( Afudos BIOS update tool V2.36 ) for download on the same page - which might be better than using the floppy !

I have that version downloaded, and am ready to use the floppy, but the question remains: is the new ROM going to replace the current AMI BIOS, or do I need to find the AMI update? I have looked for the AMI updates, so far I don't have it, but that has only been from AMI themselves. I haven't yet scoured other sources.

Sent from my Atari 2600

Seems that MOBO uses an AMI bios chip so the update will replace the firmware in the chip - it will still be an AMI bios after the update.

AMI provides Generic BIOS chips to ASUS who then modifies the BIOS code for their systems - so the BIOS will always say AMI bios but ASUS has most likely made some changes to the AMI bios code for that MOBO which is why you download the BIOS update from ASUS not AMI -- AMI's Bios code would be without the specifics of the ASUS code needed for your specific MOBO

Ahhh, I see. Thank you for the clarification. Also, that's great, since I have the ASUS ROM file. Stay tuned...

Sent from my Atari 2600