x205 sli1 BIOS update

I was wondering what is the benefit to updating the BIOS using the download from toshiba support. I want to keep my computer up to date but was nervous of doing it. Is it risky? I just updated the HD DVD and the Toshiba Value Added Package and I don't know what the Value package does but the HDDVD update I notice improvements. Also is it wise to download Vista Hotfixes in order to improve sli performance or just wait for Vista Service Pack 1.

 

The February BIOS update was probably for the new Penryn processors maybe?
And probably also for new bootup options.

There is a risk that if the update is somehow corrupt half way and it is incomplete that the motherboard becomes useless...
I done the previous BIOS update before that and i noticed no difference so i doubt I will want to update it again.

 

I updayed my Bios on my X200 FG1 [Canadian model] and now I get random BSOD on bootup. Then it goes thru a procedure of trying to figure out why it happened. I want to roll back the Bios but cant figure out how to do it. If your machine is working good then dont update. It can be more grief than its worth.

 

what's BSOD?

 

I upgraded to the 2.3 BIOS my GPU drivers started crashing afterwards while tryin to play WoW but I reinstalled my drivers and was good to go.

 

blue screen of death. its a hard system crash that the computer cant recover from

 

djskitzo24 what did the upgrade do? did it enhance anything? and what GPU drivers did you have on and reinstalled? Lastly is it stable now and should I update?

 

Well i updated to v2.30 and the sttutering i had in FIFA 08 dissapear, along with all my other games running smoother, all with the same video driver...

 

thanks joseperez, was it a simple process? cause now I'm being swayed to do it. Dj was the stuttering fix true for you too?

 

It's a really simple process... Because it's an .exe setup file... Just install and it will tell you to restart and done... Less than a minute... And the machine have been working great after the update... The sttutering was present since the v1.50... Tried the 1.80, 2.0 and nothing... Update to 2.30 and it got solved...

 

yeah I just did the update, did it with a toshiba tech on the phone incase I ran into trouble, although I don't notice much of a difference playing Call of Duty 4. I noticed your 3d mark score of 8162 at 580/1333/840 I tried overclocking once but got nervous doing it for 30 min at 555/1130/837 using riva tuner and got a 3dmark06 score of 7456 also using the 174.31 drivers, have you tried those drivers and how long can you overclock without damaging your system? i.e. can I leave it on as default settings as long as it doesn't pass 90c? or will it still shorten the life of my gpus? I was also thinking of trying out 169.32 since I saw those drivers posted on your sig.

 

For overclocking, just use it when you need it. I have been able to play any game so far on my Sli1 (even crysis on medium) without any overclocking. So what i would do is just overclock only when your games are lagging and then turn it back down when your done playing. i have never gone much over 90 on my gpus even when playing crysis for an hour overclocked so you should be good to go. as for your 3dMark score, i would definitely check out the 169 series drivers you should easily be able to hit 8000.

 

exactly, i overclock when i feel i need it... usually i let it at 500/1300/800 and that gives me a really big increase in performance (because of the shaders at 1300) without getting the temps too high (usually around 83~87) while playing crysis or bioshock... The best driver for me is the 169.32... Although i don't remember if i'm using that one right now (i'm at work, so no sli here )... However all the 169 and 174 series are good, with little difference between all those drivers...

 

I never had a stuttering problem, and I used the 169.44 beta drivers from NVIDIA with a modded INF file. Now I see some improvements in performance but not alot wether it came from the new BIOS or the upgrade to my GPU drivers not sure but I am gonna swing towards teh GPU drivers. But as others have said this update I think is mainly for Penryn support which I do plan to upgrade to one shortly so I would have needed the BIOS update anyways.
Overall I would say my X205 is runnign very stable.

 

how do you upgrade to the Penryn? I hear it's real technical as far as tearing apart the notebook to get to the cpu.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=179789

heres a link for a great guide for the Sli1 that was made by jesse6749. It is a little tricky and will void your warranty so i would only attempt it if youre pretty good with messing with electronic stuff. Also if you have a toshiba authorized tech shop somewhere close by they could help you with the dissasembly if youre not comfortable.

 

I updated mine to 2.30 like 2 hours after I pulled it out of its box on 2/28/08 and it works fine. I always update the BIOS when a new one comes out. The software runs in Windows and makes sure the BIOS is the correct one before it flashes, so there is like no way to screw it up unless you turn off the power or something.

-J.B.