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Hacking bios CPU microcode?

C

cyclone3d

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Aug 16, 2004
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In theory, what would happen if I replaced the i7-920 microcode with a higher model, like a 975?

The bios would still see it as a 920, but it would run the 975 microcode.

I have a second bios chip for my board so no worries about bricking a chip since I can hot swap and reflash.

I already tried removing the D0 update from my BIOS to see what would happen. It botted and worked fine, but said it was an i7 @9200 @2.66Ghz.
 
I do not know.

I would guess nothing good at all as the microcode concerns translating higher level software into the Assembly/machine code and if the "better" CPU implemented instructions your CPU did not have it would be a guaranteed crash. The system engineers/programmers have also gotten into the habit of using the microcode to work around certain CPU "errata" which again would cause a problem if you tried to force the machine to think it had a different CPU. If you stay in the same CPU family these issues would most likely not occur but I just do not see any great advantage to tricking the machine with microcode not designed for your specific CPU. But this is just an opinion, I have never tried it, so I do not know. Have fun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcode
 
Your trying to get an unlocked multiplier? Seems like it could damage your cpu. i7-920 is plenty fast anyways :p
 
I would think that if it was possible for a BIOS to trick a chip into thinking it was a higher binned chip that one of the major motherboard manufacturers would have all ready done it. If they could figure out a way to unlock the multiplier on the non-extreme chips I think they would have done that. I think your playing with fire and at best you are going to corrupt your BIOS and have to replace it. At worst you are going to brick your board or another component.
 
weuntouchable said:
I would think that if it was possible for a BIOS to trick a chip into thinking it was a higher binned chip that one of the major motherboard manufacturers would have all ready done it. If they could figure out a way to unlock the multiplier on the non-extreme chips I think they would have done that. I think your playing with fire and at best you are going to corrupt your BIOS and have to replace it. At worst you are going to brick your board or another component.
Click to expand...

Don't have to worry about corrupting the BIOS. I have a spare that I can put in, then hot swap (swap the chips while the computer is on) the bricked on in so I can reflash it.

As for bricking the board. Nope, don't see it happening.

I would think that in respect to the mobo manufacturers unlocking the chips.. Intel would probably pull their licensing.
 
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