Asus G73jh BIOS 211

I know next to nothing about BIOS, but I recently installed the catalyst 10.7 driver so that I would be able to run the FFXIV benchmark. Halfway though the benchmark, the screen just turned white and froze. I had no problems with the laptop until I updated to 10.7 and now reading on multiple forums that this is a common occurrence, I'm worried.

I read through many pages of this thread and it seems that upgrading to BIOS 211 fixes this problem? Granted, I have not had another white screen (but I haven't run the benchmark again either), but I want to make sure that I can play FFXIV when it is released.

To upgrade BIOS do I just download it from ASUS, or do I need to find a computer specialist and get them to do it?

 

An update: there is no overdrive option in the latest version of the catalyst control center with the 211 BIOS version. I'm running the 10.7a hotfix drivers.

 

Not for me... I was running 211 BIOS, Cat 10.7a and get a GSOD while playing Starcraft II and get a GSOD within a minute when running Furmark...

Back to 10.1 Asus drivers and no problems...

 

I reverted to the stock ASUS drivers (the ones provided on the website) and the 209 bios. Good 'ol 209 - no GSODs with that for me.

 

The only game i am trying to play is SC2 too. I get the same GSOD and have been thinking about reverting to the 10.1 drivers... will that for sure let me play SC2 with no GSOD?

 

The BIOS has nothing to do with the GSODs. Only the vBios, drivers and the GPU (vRAM).

 

YES, SC2 plays extremely well on 10.1

 

you can play SC2 with 10.7a and BIOS 209 if you overclock to 705/1100. I've using those settings and have yet to get a GSOD in any game.

 

Same here I do 705/1100 and get smooth gaming... on 10.7a ziddys vbios

 

SC2 may play well on 10.1, but it plays better on 10.7a since thats a hotfix driver intended just to improve Starcraft 2 gaming expirience . Read the release notes.

 

Main question - If I update my vbios, will it permanently disable my hdmi and vga or just disable it until I revert back?

Ok, finally caught up on reading this thread. After reading, I must say that I'm disappointed with asus a little. I love this thing but I've tried a lot of stuff to stop this thing from gsoding and freezing but to no avail.

All they need to do is update the vbios for the g73 and it will fix the problem. So.... whats taking them so long? Or do they just not know? I mean, I find it hard to believe that their customers know more about what the issue is then asus does.

And what about creative? Will asus and creative not work together to make an update available on the asus website?

Other question - If my computer freezes (screen still displayed) and it makes noises, I can assume that its creative right? What about gsod with noise? is that both or just the video card?

Also, my laptop sometimes freezes while I'm just browsing with firefox. I have no idea if its the graphics card causing it or creative. IT just freezes, no noises, no change in display.

 

HDMI and VGA dont work on the MSI/Clevo vBios, but if you flash back to stock everything will be the same as before - HDMI and VGA will be back as well as the GSODs...

 

OK so I just ran a brief set of benchmarks to compare BIOS versions 209 and 211 and here are my results:

BIOS 209
3Dmark 06 - 13,312
Furmark 1.8.2 - Min: 73 C Max: 95 C

BIOS 211
3Dmark 06 - 13,364
Furmark 1.8.2 - Min: 73 C Max: 93 C

These were run with stock ASUS drivers.
As you can see I picked up a little performance and dropped a few degrees.
Both are A-OK in my book, so I'm keeping 211.

Now I patiently wait for the vBIOS and new ATI drivers...

P.S. Used FAT16 Flash drive and EZ Flash - Keyboard lights are fine!

 

just updated to 211 using usb and easy flash

keyboard lights are a-ok

 

Since no one responded (that I could see) I'll answer for you! (Cuz I'm nice)

Basically, it's similar to "TurboStick" internet, but, it's faster, and less latency.
I use Bell Canada's Portable 3mb down/.5mb up, and it has a theoretical cap of 30gb, but, Bell is totally unable to monitor, and a level 3 tech has told me, I can download 300gb and not be penalized!

Check for "WiMax" or "IEEE 802.16E" at your local providers. (NOT all have it, but it is all over the world. - for a list, see List of Deployed Networks

 

Couldn't. Agree. More. I just read this novella of posts and honestly I went from 6 o'clock, to midnight, ...right back to 6. Srsly, bios 211 seemed cool, but it sounds utterly useless and serves as nothing more than a sick and twisted tease, which sux so bad. I agree with Jody, I'm not overly knocking Asus and I fully appreciate if/when they decide to read in on these posts in order to help us actually perfect our G73s. But still, owning this beast makes (made) us proud, and with such pride comes a slight sense of entitlement... like entitlement to actually use creative software, or non-bios-disabled touchpads, or nnnnoooonnnnn repeating, nn msd kystrke keyboards, or video drivers & vbios that can actually handle videos/games/youtube without SODs... and the only question I was left with after reading all of these posts is does bios 211 actually solve any real issues with my g73?

NO, so not even bothering. I'm honestly starting to think that full functionality without hella modding is just too much to ask, which is the saddest truth from all of this groundwork.

...but hey, at least it came with a subwoofer

 

hey whats so great about this notebook? i see a lot of people say the 5870m "best gpu in the world" etc etc... but what is so great about it?

- dont get me wrong i am happy with my g73 since i repasted it hasnt gsoded on stock drivers again in a few days! i can play SC2 now so i am happy. working great with cs5

its just when i look at it , only 1gb vram, etc etc what am I missing that makes it so awesome?!? even FFIV beta recommends a processor i7 2.66 or more and we have 720qm...

Fill me in so i can also parade around proudly in its awesomeness!! i just feel when i read here some posts i am not seeing something or taking something for granted

 

Only 1gb of vRam? Not sure if you're new to laptops, but that's the highest amount of vRam you can get in a single notebook GPU. The only way to get more is SLI or Crossfire with two chips.

It's also the type of vRam. This computers GPU has GDDR5, which is expensive, whereas most low-mid range cards have DDR3, GDDR3, ect. It's DirectX 11 ready, and there are tons of other technical reasons why it's great.

Also, I just flashed to 211. Does sound considerably louder at boot. Idle temp is about the same. Haven't monitored load temps yet. I don't see a difference, but meh. Why not update.

 

yah new to laptops... used to work with desktop a bit but now i travel.

 

Notebookcheck: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870

That should be enough.

Also, I've been looking, but I don't see any desktop GPU's with more than 1gb of vRam either. Not sure why you said "only 1gb of vram". =S

UPDATE ON TEMPS:

Well, not a huge difference. BIOS 209 got me a max of 97c in FurMark. I maxed out at 93c (although it bounced between 90c and 92c for a majority of the time after 10 minutes) in FurMark on 211, and maxed after 2 hours of Combat Arms 84c.

*Shrugs*

 

hmmm was looking at either the g73jh or building a microatx witha single hd5970 2gb... but i gues that 2 1gb 5870 stuck together.

on the nvidia 480m benchmarks being only 5-8% higher than 5870, isnt that pretty sad considering it has 1.7 or whatever ddr5 ram?

 

I read that it supports up to 2 GB of RAM but I'm not sure how practical it is to put a Fermi into a notebook.

 

alright i'm convinced... hd5870m pretty pretty preetttyy good

finally starting to get happy with this rig... after i figured out all my overheating issues now, its not gsoding on stock and i can play some games, draw some comics, its really really nice

 

There has been quite a few high end destop video card with 2 GB of GDDR RAM, just google them..

 

They sure aren't easy to find. :3

 

man imagine hd 5970 toxic (4gb ddr5 ram) in crossfire with another toxic !!!!!!!

 

Can someone say "overkill"? XD

 

It took me 4 months to decide on a laptop to get. The 5870 was in asus laptops and sagars laptops. So why did I decide on the g73? The answer is because you get a lot at a much lower price. and the g73 looks like way cooler then sagars.

8 gigs of ram and 2 500 gigs of hardrive space etc at only $1645 is insane. Customize any other laptop with the same specs and the price would go over $2000.

Now If I knew about the freezing and gsod issues, I probably would have waited instead of getting the sagar. why? it was ugly. xD

edit - btw, how do you guys know when asus releases something?

 

actually its not that bad, if you jus stick to the stock drivers you don't have any gsod's, but I agree that it would be nice if we could use the newest ATI drivers as they arrives.

My G73 is stable with 10.1 from Asus webpage

My only complain is that the sound from the speakers its a bit distorted even at lower volume.

 

Thats no good, mine aren't distorted. It seems every g73 has its little problems. For me on stock drivers, the computer kept freezing on me and I had no idea why. The current 10.7a and oc to 704/1100 was a lot better for me and it made mine to where it might gsod or freeze maybe once or twice a day (possibly 4 a day depending on what I do). And I've tried every freaken thing mentioned on the forums. So yea, it not too annoying. I just force shut down and start it up again.

Good thing is, it never freezes on me when I'm using 3ds max or photoshop (thank god). I'm guessing if I had bios 209 with stock drivers it would probably be fine but I'm just to scared that my lights might go off.

 

No one has reported yet that he lost lights while updating to 211...you could give it a try.

 

nah, I like my quite fans.

 

is the bios update really necessary? How do you check your current bios version? Just got this laptop a week ago dont know much. Also if im getting GSOD's should i go back to factory settings windows? Also did this BIOS fix GSOD? tigerdirect tech spec told me to go back to factory state.

 

To some it's not necessary, I got it because I like to stay up to date. To check your current BIOS version, hit F2 on booting up, that will bring you to the BIOS screen. If you are getting GSOD's you should be trying the stock drivers (9.12 or 10.1). If you are getting GSOD's on those, you need to RMA.

 

so the bios does not resolve the high temp or the gsod? Does that mean i have to wait for ATI 10.8 to fix the GSOD/High temp?

 

No driver will fix overheating (unless it forces your gpu to downclock, but that would be really redundant). Youd have to repaste to solve heat problems.
A new vBios has to be released to fix the GSODs.

 

So what am i looking for, what version will it be? what will it be called, will it be released by ATI or ASUS? And how can i keep checking for this update? Also if ATI releases 10.8, will this solve anything?

 

Just check on these forums from time to time or check the Asus support page now and then. It will probably be under VGA - vBios update or something like that.

 

so whats the latest version atm? v.09? And this will probably be v13?

 

The new vBios will be released by Asus. Once it is released, someone here will post about it. I don't know what version it will be, and a modified 10.8 is only a temporary solution. The new vBios is a permanent one.

Edit: Beat by Hellcry

 

aight thx man

 

Am i missing something? Is there a modified 10.8 package that doesnt give us GSODs released already somewhere?

 

Gary Key said they have a modified 10.8 that doesn't give GSOD's, but it has not been released yet, so no.

 

Ah... so still no real confirmation..
Id rather have a vBios though (a permanent working one of course), but if it takes much longer releasing it, a modified 10.8 might get us through the wait easyer.

 

When Gary gets it, I should have it about 10 heartbeats later, so I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Allright, keep us updated.

 

I hope they upload this new vBIOS to their private, global Asus Service Center

 

saw some people talking about re-pasting on this tread, I tried looking on youtube but I can not find a video showing the steps to re-paste, just someone from BTOtech dissembling it, I don't want to take apart to much, just the MIN needed. not to mention I am not sure about the keyboard, he was saying it will need to be re-sealed or something, because of the double sided tape, and about fixing bends in the keyboard that were caused by removing it. so if someone knows a good video or could upload one, that shows the re-pasting process, and maybe even any tips about applying the past, as well as piecing the unit back together. I would appreciate it.

also I see most are using IC diamond 7 carat, would the 24 carat be more effective? are most using the 7 carat because of the price? if the 24 is more effective, what would the temp differences be? 5 degrees? less? more?

Thanks in advance

 

I'm currently running the MSI VBios and 10.7 Beta drivers and am perfectly happy with them (yeah, no HDMI), but this is my mobile solution. However, when/if a new VBios comes out do you think re-flashing to stock vbios first is necessary or do you think going directly to the new VBios would be fine..

Thanks

 

If you're unfamiliar with applying paste, and unable to find a "how-to" guide on the internet, I'm going to suggest that you abstain from doing any "fixes" at home, as they probably won't go nearly as well as planned.