Asus G51 and Q9100 ES issue

Hi all,

Bad news (or maybe I'm just unluckly)
I recently go a Q9100 ES cpu (QGMU) on ebay and tried plugging it into the Asus G51.

The machine will show a blank screen without an AC power source.

With AC power source, I am able to boot to BIOS and see the CPU specification. However:
Vista will not load (paused at the loading bar screen).
Vista (safe mode) will not load (hang while loading those system files)
Win7 installation disc will not load (hang after clicking on "press any key to boot from cd")

Any advice?

 

This is definitely interesting. I have yet to read a post where somebody installing a quad core in this thing has actually got it to work correctly. I'm interested to see what others say about this.

 

Hmmmm!
Don't see why It shouldn't work.
A. It probably needs a BIOS update that would enable it to support QUAD's.
B. You got a bum CPU
I'm guessing everything goes back to normal when you put in the stock CPU?

 

This is exactly what I'm thinking after reading other posts. I think the board does support quad cores, but the way it looks right now is maybe the bios doesn't. We'll see. Maybe some one will chime in who actually has a working quad core in this machine.

 

Yes the system is back to normal when I put my stock CPU back in.

I do agree that it's missing a BIOS update.

The BIOS however (with AC plugged in) is able to detect the CPU. Is there a case where BIOS is able to detect the CPU, but it does not boot to Windows probably?

 

I havent tried clearing the CMOS, do you the instruction to do so?
Maybe I should ask the seller to exchange for a dual core instead...

Do you know if the g50 (bestbuy vers) is using a different BIOS than other retailer's vers?

 

I asked Ken at GenTechPC, and he said that "all G51vx are the same", which would mean BIOS, too.

There is a slight chance you got a bum Q9100, since it's a used-and-abused ES version. But you're detecting it, so I have to wonder.


This doesn't bode well, since I'm experimenting with a quad as well.

 

Were you the person who posted this on the Asus support forums? If not, then that means that two people have this problem which means that it is a bios issue and not a hardware problem. If it was you who posted on the Asus support forums, then this is most likely a hardware problem and not a bios problem.

 

I just went to take a look at the Asus forum.
And no, I am not the same person who posted first about the Q9100 on Asus forum. It may be a relief that I'm not the only person who experiences this behavior.

I just replied to the Asus forum and posted a link to this forum post.
Hopefully some Asus support will take notice.

 

What does it recognize your CPU as? The Asus poster said his computer saw it as a Core 2 Extreme.

 

Yeah, it's definitely a bios problem then. If I were you I would wait for someone to get a G51vx-A1 and then flash their bios onto your G51 since the G51VX-A1 comes out in a couple of weeks.

 

I dont recall exactly. I have to verify again after getting off work. But I dont remember it showing as an Extreme. If I remember correctly, it is showing as a Quad.

I am not sure about the other poster, but for mine, it doesnt even boot up with the quad and without AC power. It seems to me there're some issues with the CPU voltage settings in the BIOS.

Ya I will probably wait other G51 to show up. I am also contacting the ebay seller to see if he can offer me any alternative options.

 

The poster on the Asus forum looks to be having a slightly different problem, then. He says "The bios passes the post without any problems and the bios recognizes it at a Core 2 Extreme processor at 2.26ghz."

It could be a typo, however.

 

Ya, it may be slightly different. But my memory may have failed me.
Anyhow, at least my booting issue is consistent with what he is seeing.

I may wait a little for a BIOS revision before putting Quad back in again.

 

Good luck with that.

In any case I'll go ahead with my QX9300 upgrade when it arrives, and see what happens. My confidence is evaporating faster and faster though.

There is a chance that the awesomeness of the QX9300 will simply trump any problems with BIOS and the computer will work like a charm. Yeah, that looks like a pipe dream.

 

Good luck with your upgrade as well.
Please post back with your result after you get your CPU.

 

If your awesomeness theory doesn't work, flashing the G51VX-A1 bios is always an option.

 

I've been toying around with an idea.

I might just wait for the A1 variant, which will be quad-compatible, and upgrade from there. The problem is that I would be wasting the Asus warranty. I'm asking Ken at GenTech if I could purchase an A1 with little/no warranty at a lesser price. I'll have to see how that works.

If the answer is no, I'll go ahead with the Best Buy version, and see where that leads me.

And yes, if you're wondering, I do have a G51 but I've yet to unbox it.

 

there is a v203 bios for the g60 on the asus support page (BB g51 ships with v202) you could try it and see if it boots to windows, it is the same mobo.

 

Ken replied. There are no downgrades. So I'll be stuck experimenting with my Best Buy variant. It makes things simpler at least.

I'll look into flashing the G60 BIOS. Unfortunately, I know literally nothing about BIOS, except for the fact that it can and will brick your system. Are there any "Flashing BIOS for dummies" someone can link me to?

 

dont cross-flash bios for different systems. that will almost for sure brick it.
with the qx9300, 2 things that may be happening:

1) it has the microcode but the hardware (or acpi/dsdt) doesnt support it for whatever reason. if this is the case, then youre sol.

2) it dosent have the microcode, and uses the next closest thing. if so, then use mmtool (google for it) to rip the potential microcodes from a model that does support it (msi gt725), and add them to the g51 bios.

before adding, make sure that the rom holes (empty space) > combined size of the addition to prevent it from going over 1MB.

 

Now to wait for someone to try this and report back.

 

Well, first we have to wait for someone to actually try a QX9300. We've only seen Q9100, and I assume they were both ES versions. Mine is a slightly used but retail.

 

its easier than it sounds
i meant Q9100*, for some reason wrote qx9300. same procedure applies though.

 

I don't even know what it "sounds" like. Any chance you have a BIOS tutorial, or a link to one?

I do not want to brick this machine.

 

The QX9300 has to work in there some how, Gentech is offering the G51 with one.

http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=G51Vx-A1

 

The G51 and the G60 use the same board and probably same bios. Just wait until a quad core model has actually been released and then download the bios update that is likley to be released at that time.

Best Buy models have NEVER gotten a seperate bios update ALL G50's got the same bios update wether it was a G50Vm V VT and the G51 will likley be the same way.

 

They also offer the Q9100 as well, but two people who have tried it have come up with zero.


So, Clutch, if the QX9300 doesn't work now, it should work after a quad model--say the A1--comes out?

 

Forge all just assumptions on my part but we will find out in about 2 weeks according to previous launch estimates. As i speculated before, they probably have been working on the quad model a bit before release, i mean they already apparently have one bios update coming for the heat issue so I can see another coming for fixing quad support as well.

 

I'll trust your assumptions.

I took a look around my BIOS screen and saw EZ Flash. Is that a easy/reliable method to changing the BIOS? I might have to wait a little while to change the processor, but a little waiting is all good.

 

I forgot how i did the 213 flash on the G50 but i think i put the bios on an sd card stuck it in the reader and used ez flash in the bios.

 

I'm sure Asus has tutorials for their programs somewhere. Thanks for the info.

I'm going to be at work when the bidding ends. Hope $375 can cut it.

 

How much longer?

 

Little less than eighteen hours.

 

Cross your fingers and whatever else you can cross
Should be a interesting tale.

 

I'm beginning to think it will be full of fail, at least at this moment in time, but it won't hurt to try.

 

Your so confident
Don't worry to much!
We will all make it work, one way or another.
Believe me everyone wants it to work. With a little mindmelding what can go wrong?

 

The seller of the cpu offers me to return the CPU.
Should I do it?? or take a chance and wait for a BIOS update??

How confident are you guys on the situation

 

Once a bios update is released for the G51VX-A1, you will be able to use a quad. Seriously, there is about a 99% chance that you will be able to use quads with the BB G51 in a couple of weeks. It would be less risky, however, for you to return the processor now, but if it costs you anything to return it I would just wait for the bios update. If it doesn't work out in a few weeks, then you can always sell your Q9100 on ebay.

 

The only cost right now I think it's the return shipping back to China. Which will probably be around 20 bucks I assume.

I asked the seller if I will get a full refund from him, but he hasnt replied yet.
However I am leaning towards keeping the Quad...

I really want the Quad to work out.. T_T

 

I Have the same problem and I don't know what to do. I think I am going to sell the processor. I give up.

 

Just wait a couple weeks for the G51VX-A1 bios to be released. Not that big of a deal.

 

for those that want to try a microcode transplant (from memory):

1) get the msi gt725 bios (which supports the quads) http://download2.msi.com/files/downloads/bos_exe/1722_10u.zip
2) get the g51 bios (from asus, no link)
3) google for mmtool

4) open the g51 bios in mmtool
5) write down the number/size for rom holes
6) write down the list of microcodes
7) open the gt725 bios
8) extract all the microcodes that are not on the g51 list
9) if the size of the gt725 microcodes is _less_ than the rom holes, add the microcodes to the g51 bios
10) save and flash

ill have it up once i figure out what happened to my network storage.
if anyone can dump the current g51 bios (winflash maybe?), asus doesnt have a g51 bios.

edit: interesting. the math says there is still empty space in the g60 bios, but mmtool refuses... ill see if i can do anything.

 

Out of curiosity, are you guys all using Q9100 processors? And are they Engineering Samples?


Anyway, I managed to cop that QX9300 for a grand total of $440. I am banking on my awesomeness theory. If not, I can wait a couple of weeks for a BIOS update.

 

Just found this on the Asus site forms. ouch. Link is here.

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...ard_id=3&model=G51VX(BestBuy)&page=2&count=17

 

That was me, by the way.

For further details.