C90S beta BIOS 502 and 704

So when you first boot the C90 on the battery it automatically sets it to power saver mode? Is there a way around this for those who dont have the right memory? This might be something they will need to add to the bios updates.

The memory that isn't compatible is not able to run at such low voltage, right?

 

C90 clean installed and running beautifully and got it a day earlier then i expected. Beautiful laptop. Optimizing as we speak...

 

Grats Forerunner.... T.T

 

The moment windows starts to load is when it happens to me. Like I said before I am 99.999% sure a bios update will fix the issues with other ram, its just a matter of when.

The bios has some options but I dont know if you can prevent power save mode from happening or not. So far I am the only one that had the issue anyways so its not like almost every ram out there is causing the problem.

You can just get your memory from gentech to be safe tho, since thats where you ordered from.

Just so everybody knows I use the 702 bios, I didnt see any performance gains in the 504 even tho the memory is supposed to run faster (I dont recall it running faster tho, when I checked it I rememeber seeing the same speed, but maybe thats part of the whole incompatible ram deal I was suffering from)

Besides I have an ace up my sleeve to beat alex in the wprime benchmark thread (already did but I couldnt save my score I had no internet at the time :/) and it requres me to be on the original or 702 bios to pull off.

 

Asus locked the memory speed at 533, it's just their R&D found out 533 is best for overclocking.

 

ken, does the 502 bios fix this?

 

Yes, 502 will run memory at 667 MHz.

The V704 is special requested for ViciousXUSMC for his issues, but looks like it was just incompatible RAM.

 

i would def edit that into your original post, i only say that so people don't think they should get the 702 bios just cuz it is a higher number, meaning newer bios

 

Done.

If there is anyone has BSOD might still want to try v702, maybe they did fix some incompatible issues but just not OCZ.

 

will the 504 bios allow you to use 2x2gb kit where it only shows 3gb but still runs?

because i heard if you use 2x2gb it won't even post and won't run

 

Thats my situation, I still dont know for sure on that one, I already asked ken if he tried 2x2gb and he said he doesnt remember

Eddie said 2x2gb wont post, but he never specified if he meant no post at all, or just it wont post as 4gb but instead 3gb.


My ram was incompatible in the first place so it would not be a good example to use as a baseline on if 2x2gb works.

However its my best educated guess that right now 2x2gb wont post (no post at all) no matter what type of ram you use. I think the bios has a long way to go right now for the c90.


Supporting info:

> My OCZ ram worked fine in standard mode it only had issues with the asus software changing the power modes (game mode, or power save mode) when I put both dimms in I get no post. The power mode doesnt change with 2 dimms present so it should have worked fine.

> When I got the new ram today, and put the new ram in plus one of my ocz dims It would post as 3gb, so it was not a matter of having 2 dimms present, it is probably a matter of how the bios allocates memory addresses. The 945g chipset is not designed to work with 4gb, so by no means ever will 4gb be supported as useable ram, but hopefully in the future it will atleast post and run as 3gb even with 4gb present.

> I had tried both of my OCZ dims seperatly and in each of the ram slots, so I tried all possible configurations to make sure nothing was defective.

 

I don't remember if I did, was too busy with emails.

 

yeah, stick with 1G+2G will be the best for now, of all other 945 chipsets I've tested will only post 3GB anyway even I have 2G+2G.

 

how come i typed "update" and it says bad name and blah blah =/


*edit* nvm got to the point where i can type "update" but it says something "file not open" press any key to close utility

 

I have the same problem. I have been searching for a solution but haven't found one yet.

 

Hey there, i've had my c90 for a couple days now, since thursday to be exact. i also noticed that my ram is being reported at 266 mhz with a max limit of 333. i tried to flash it with the 502 bios but it said "file not open" so i was wondering what was goin on. how do i fix that? and yes, its really unstable in gaming mode. im using Corsair RAM

 

exact same problem with me but im usin ram that gentechpc put together it also tells u you're using bios 0704

 

wait do you mean IM using 704? or do you mean you are?

EDIT: i just checked. according to CPUz the bios im using is 0401 from American Megatrends Inc.

ram freq. is 266.7 mhz with max bandwidth at 333, so no idea what thats all about. i know for a fact that i got corsair ddr2-667 from cyberpowerpc.com.

 

wtheck mine shows im using 0704 and i didn't update any bios at all

Shot at 2007-07-22

 

ok heres another problem that i just noticed. my fsb is at 266.7, its supposed to be at 1066.7. my core speed is 1600 mhz. basically, it looks to me like my entire laptop is in massive underclock mode. im gonna try to use asus's utility to set it to not powersaving mode and then restart. hopefully that will work, also, lemme try to flash with 704 bios.

update: ok flashing with the new bios did nothing. also, the computer wont boot when overclocked. basically, it will restart and attempt to overclock, fail, and load defaults. *sigh*.

the tech support guy said that it has something to do with logic programming, so if the computer is too hot then it will automatically speed step down. and when i disable speedstep it does nothing. so i really dont know whats going on. If your laptop is running way hot, then that may be the problem, in which case i have no idea what to do.

 

crap... now im really worried about this laptop.... im on a tropical climate so its boudn to get a little hot maybe getting a pad cooler will help??? really hope i wont have so many issues... (really hope to get one like Alexonfyre's)

 

ok, i just talked to swoley2k. the problem with everything is that the RAM is running way too hot. thats why it crashes as soon as any actual load is put on it. the best options me and him see are either to get a compound, heat spreader, or something else that will conduct the heat to other parts of the laptop. this thing gets hot enough that my hand gets almost scalding hot form using the touchpad. thats not the hard drive's fault, its the RAM's fault.

i will either RMA or do something else, but other than filling in the space inside with liquid nitro or something of the sort, i dont see what can be done other than try to get one that doesnt overheat.

Everyone with this problem or with a hot touchpad: you can test this by just putting the laptop on top of a forced air intake of sorts (lay a fan on the ground and use the laptop on top of that) and u'll see that you are able to get faster speeds and everything. try it, dont take my word for it.

cancer777: yeah the cooling pad will help but dont get your hopes up. the ram gets HOT.

 

I dont think the rams heat levels are the culprit at all, however thats easy to test. I can toss a fan right at the ram and try a few benchmarks and know right away if thats true or not.

the cpu and gpu temps are pretty good too, however I even bought some better thermal compound for those that I will install when I get my 2nd stick of ram. Look forward to more test here in the next couple of days.

 

could it be the corsair not being compatible withe c90s???

 

Yes its possible, corsair has a reputation of compatibility problems in the past, and the c90s has its own reputation for compatability problems on its own.

Asus has a offical list of compatible ram I think, I need to hunt it down.

 

Infineon, Nanya, Kingston, Unifosa, Adata, & Transcend...I guess people need to start to try this brands before doing anything else. This come from Asus C90S support forums http://support.asus.com/faq/faq.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

btw, for 1GB ddr2 667 only ADATA, Transcend, Unifosa, & Nanya

 

Thanks, the ram I ordred is Gskill, they have a good rep and the ram I am buying has like NO issues with compatability anywhere on the net (however im sure I am the first trying it in a c90..)

I'll be sure to post if it works or not once I get it.

 

I have Gskill 1gb x 2 = 2gb 667 no Problem at all with bios 502

and someone has a problem with update bios. Try to type b: to z: and find

another drive it's not a: (CD-rom drive is not a: ) mine was R:\Update

 

I'm using Crucial RAM and I have had zero issues with anything thus far ( 1 week in)

Is anybody noticing a real performance advantage with either of these BIOS updates?

 

sorry but i don't understand what u mean by "try to type b: to z:" i think on mine it does say a:\ and i try to type update, but doesn't work please explain more

 

he means try a:\ b:\ c:\ d:\ ... y:\ x:\ z:\ till you find the one for the location of the bios flash

 

I replaced the old ISO for V502, just re-download the new ISO so you don't need to go to R: prompt, with new ISO you can just type update in A:\ .

 

intel uses a quad pumped bus. 266.7 * 4 = 1066.8

 

none of the b:\ to z:\ works only a: and r: but they bring to "FILE NOT OPEN"

 

Help! I would like to flash my C90S! When I type UPDATE it does nothing but give me 2 A:\ prompts. If I change to R:\ it gives me 2 R:\ prompts. I have flashed a lot of motherboards in my time. What am I doing wrong?

 

im with ya omikelo, same problem, cant find a fix yet - though i havent messaged ken about it yet

maybe we should

 

I just flashed from 704 to 502 with the new iso Ken has up. It works fine just dont follow his new instructions.

When you get the A: prompt change it to R: prompt.

Then type UPDATE. worked fine for me and I am in v502 bios now.

However I dont see a change in memory speeds its still a 1:1 ratio.


All I can think of is that you guys burned the iso wrong, or have bad media.

Burn it in a 1x speed and make sure you use a cd for the iso or change the format to dvd if you use a dvd.

 

Thanks it was NERO of course. I used MagicISO and its fine. ][V][IKE

 

New ISO for V502 uploaded on page one.
I've tested and it does shows PC5300 when I hit tab at Asus logo.

With the new ISO you don't need to type R:, you can just type update at A:\ to update BIOS.

 

yah nero was it for me too - however when i burned it as a DVD, it worked

though i had to go to R:\ but perhaps thats because i may have downloaded the old on (cant remember)


however CPU-Z still shows 266mhz 1:1 ratio - is that normal or is it still running at 533mhz?

 

shadi answered that (i assume he/her is right)

edit
:S sorry read too fast

 

i dont mean for the fsb, i mean for the memory

 

Kickace- You have in your sig that you have 2x2gb memory? It posts 3gb I know but I didn't know it would work with a 2x2 configuration...

 

oh i just put that in there because im mad i cant use the 2x2 that i have

it wont post with it like you said, using 2x1

 

Confirmed, if you flash BIOS from V402 to 502 it will show DDR 667, but if you try to flash BIOS from 704 to 502 it'll still show DDR 533, I am working on this and will let you guys know.

 

I'm trying to update my stock 402 bios to 502 and for some reason, my c90s won't boot to A:\ prompt. Everytime I select boot from CD it reads the CD for a few seconds and loads windows normally. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong...please help!

 

didnt burn the cd right... that or the new iso has issues. I have not tried the new, new one

 

try burning it with a slower speed - or use a dvd - or a different program

 

Thanks guys.. will try that tonight

 

I had problem with my first Bios update CD that I burn also, although it boot up but when I try UPDATE nothing happend...

Then I burn another one with slower speed works.

A quick way to check, after you burn the CD, go right-click on the "update.bat" file, and choose "edit", it should open up as a text file with this line:

aflash2 /auto:C90502.ROM /force

if it can't be opened, it's definitely a bad disc