BIOS Re-flash AsRock 890gx to 880g

Alright so I purchased an AsRock 880g Extreme3 in 2010 and about a year ago I found out it's a rebranded, more expensive model (890gx Extreme3) and that it could be flashed as such. I flashed it from 880g to 890gx with zero issues. However, ever since getting an AMD FX-8150 a couple months ago, I've gotten random system freezes. Complete hard lock, no power down or restart, nothing in the event log (except "previous system shut down was unexpected"), nothing. It's only on occasion, but it's annoying when it happens. The most recent BIOS update for the 880g and the 890gx supports my CPU, so I wanted to see if the 880g BIOS would fix the freezing issue...except now that I have it flashed as an 890gx, the checksum doesn't match and I can't simply flash it to 880g. Before I take out my CPU, I want to rule out the BIOS first. It could probably be my CPU, sure, but I've been wanting to get my motherboard back to 880g BIOS anyways.

Can anyone help me with flashing my motherboard BIOS from an 890g Extreme3 to an 880g Extreme3? I would be super appreciative of any help!

EDIT: it should also be of note that I did NOT re-install Windows after getting the new CPU and updating the BIOS.

No idea how to help. Have you tried Asrock support? Maybe they can send you a tool that will allow you to flash back.

I didn't think about that...I figured since I totally screwed my warranty on it that I shouldn't even bother lol. It's worth checking into, I suppose.

Thanks

I always reinstall Windows after a major hardware change, or even most minor ones. If your OS is on your SSD it should be very quick to do. I keep a mem stick with bootable Win 7 Pro install always available. I started to get random BSODs with my FX-8120 after I installed the FX hotfixes that were supposed to improve performance. First thing... Load HWMonitor by CPUID and make sure your temps are OK. Next reload OS. If you still have issues it might be power related. What CPU did you come from? One more thing. Try turning off Turbo Core in BIOS.

Thank you, sinclair - your input is appreciated, I'll make a response when I get back home

stop!theradio said:

I didn't think about that...I figured since I totally screwed my warranty on it that I shouldn't even bother lol. It's worth checking into, I suppose.

Thanks

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Getting an email from Asrock support doesn't require for the warrancy to be still valid. It's not like you are RMAing. They don't lose any money by replying to you. In some cases, i 've read of people who were sent a special beta BIOS just to solve their issue. You never know what they may have for you.

sinclair-zx81 said:

I always reinstall Windows after a major hardware change, or even most minor ones. If your OS is on your SSD it should be very quick to do. I keep a mem stick with bootable Win 7 Pro install always available. I started to get random BSODs with my FX-8120 after I installed the FX hotfixes that were supposed to improve performance. First thing... Load HWMonitor by CPUID and make sure your temps are OK. Next reload OS. If you still have issues it might be power related. What CPU did you come from? One more thing. Try turning off Turbo Core in BIOS.

Click to expand...

I came from a Phenom II x3, and I did have turbo core turned off

Faethon said:

Getting an email from Asrock support doesn't require for the warrancy to be still valid. It's not like you are RMAing. They don't lose any money by replying to you. In some cases, i 've read of people who were sent a special beta BIOS just to solve their issue. You never know what they may have for you.

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Yes, thank you I'll try that.

One thing I just noticed in CPU-Z is that my vcore was 1.448v...my voltage wasn't staying where I manually put it in the BIOS and the only way to change it from 1.448 to my setting was to enable cool n' quiet. Now it doesn't go past 1.350v. I'll see if that might have been the problem - although with power saving features enabled alongside my overclock I might have a whole new sequence of stability issues. I'll be testing it out. Thanks guys

Cant you just use some command line options to force a flash even though the checksum check fails?

extide said:

Cant you just use some command line options to force a flash even though the checksum check fails?

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Well if that was a method that was guaranteed to work and I knew how to do it then that's likely what I'd do

My answer for you, though, is "I don't know."

So far no problems since I enabled cool n quiet. I'm thinking the 1.448v is what was causing the freezing. The highest it goes now is the 1.350v that I set it to. We'll see how it goes.

stop!theradio said:

Well if that was a method that was guaranteed to work and I knew how to do it then that's likely what I'd do

My answer for you, though, is "I don't know."

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Typically you just add a /X to the command line but of course it totally depends on the flashing utility.

I will try the DOS method if I end up getting another freeze. For now I seem to be stable since enabling CnQ - it seems to keep my voltage down to where I want it now. Thanks