Motherboards for Dummies guide (newbheads)

napalmnthemorning

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Joined
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Messages
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I'm wondering if I need to update my BIOS. I'm lost when it comes to motherboards. I appreciate any insights or links. I realize flahing the BIOS is quite dangerous if you don't have the right flash. Any feedback is appreciated.

Mainboard SiSoftware Sandra
System
Manufacturer : ECS
Model : P4S5A/DX+
Version : 1.0
System Chassis
Manufacturer : ECS
Type : Desktop
Can be locked : No
Version : 1.0
Asset Tag : 0123ABC
Mainboard
Manufacturer : ECS
MP Support : No
Model : P4S5A/DX+
Version : 1.0
Memory Controller
Error Detection Method : ECC
Error Correction Capability : 1-bit
Supported/Current Memory Interleave : 1-way / 1-way
Number of Memory Slots : 4
Maximum Installable Memory : 512MB
Maximum Module Size : 128MB
Supported STD/FPM/(B)EDO Speeds : 70ns, 60ns
Supported Memory Types : STD, FPM, EDO, Parity, ECC, SIMM
Supported Memory Voltages : +3.3V
Physical/BIOS Memory Banks
ROW-0 (RASL-6 RASL-11) : 512MB DIMM SDRAM double-bank
ROW-1 (RASL-6 RASL-11) : 512MB DIMM SDRAM double-bank
ROW-2 : Empty
ROW-3 : Empty
Chipset 1
Model : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS645DX CPU to PCI Bridge
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI USB i2c/SMBus
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 100MHz (400MHz data rate)
Maximum FSB Speed / Max Memory Speed : 4x 133MHz / 2x 166MHz
Width : 64-bit
IO Queue Depth : 8 request(s)
Priority Master Queue Depth : 7 request(s)
Chipset 1 Hub Interface
Type : MUTOL
Width : 16-bit
Full Duplex : No
Multiplier : 1/1x
Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 512MB DDR-SDRAM 2.5-3-3-6CL 2CMD
Bank 1 : 512MB DDR-SDRAM 2.5-3-3-6CL 2CMD
Width : 64-bit
Refresh Rate : 7.80µs
Power Save Mode : No
Fixed Hole Present : No
Environment Monitor 1
Model : ITE IT8705/12 ISA
Mainboard Specific Support : No
Temperature Sensor(s)
Board Temperature : 25.0°C / 77.0°F
CPU Temperature : 32.0°C / 89.6°F
Power / Aux Temperature : 33.0°C / 91.4°F td
Cooling Device(s)
Auto Fan Speed Control : No
Chassis Fan Speed : 2860rpm
Voltage Sensor(s)
CPU Voltage : 1.46V
Aux Voltage : 2.58V
+3.3V Voltage : 3.22V
+5V Voltage : 4.89V
+12V Voltage : 11.79V
-5V Voltage : -5.76V
Standby Voltage : 4.97V
Battery Voltage : 3.28V
AGP Bus(es) on Hub 1
Version : 2.00
Speed : 4x
Fast-Writes Enabled : No
Side Band Enabled : Yes
Aperture Size : 64MB
PCI Bus(es) on Hub 1
Version : 2.20
Number of Bridges : 1
PCI Bus 0 : PCI (33MHz)
Multiplier : 1/3x
LPC Hub Controller 1
Model : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS PCI to ISA Bridge (LPC Bridge)
ACPI Power Management Enabled : Yes
Speed : 7MHz
USB Controller 1
Model : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS5597/8 Universal Serial Bus Controller
Version : 1.00
Interface : OHCI
Channels : 2
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No
USB Controller 2
Model : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS5597/8 Universal Serial Bus Controller
Version : 1.00
Interface : OHCI
Channels : 2
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No
USB Controller 3
Model : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS5597/8 Universal Serial Bus Controller
Version : 1.00
Interface : OHCI
Channels : 2
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No
USB Controller 4
Model : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS7002 USB 2.0 Enhanced Controller
Version : 2.00
Specification : 1.00
Interface : EHCI
Channels : 6
Companion Controllers : 3
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps) High (480Mbps)
Addressing Support : 32-bit
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No
System SMBus Controller 1
Model : SiS 5595 Internal SMBus
Slave Device Enabled : No
Expansion Slot(s)
PCI1 (1h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V Shared PME Full-Length Available (Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) Virtual PCI to PCI Bridge)
PCI2 (2h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V Shared PME Full-Length Available (Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS PCI to ISA Bridge (LPC Bridge))
PCI3 (3h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V Shared PME Full-Length Available (Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS5597/8 Universal Serial Bus Controller)
PCI4 (4h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V Shared PME Full-Length Used (Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS900 10/100 Ethernet Adapter)
PCI5 (5h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V Shared PME Full-Length Available
ISA1 (6h) : ISA 16-bit +3.3V Shared PME Full-Length
ISA2 (7h) : ISA 16-bit +3.3V Shared PME Full-Length
Port Connector
USB - Def : SSA SCSI - Mini Centronics / DB-25 pin male
Performance Tips
Warning 2533 : Disabled host controllers are present. Check BIOS settings.
Notice 224 : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Tip 2511 : Some memory slots are free so the memory can be easily upgraded.
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

SiSoftware Sandra
Benchmark Results
Integer iSSE2 : 11071it/s
Float iSSE2 : 13917it/s

Performance Test Status
Run ID : ************** May 26, 2004 at 11:48:01 PM
NUMA Support : No
SMP Test : No
Total Test Threads : 1
SMT Test : No
Dynamic MP/MT Load Balance : No
Processor Affinity : No
Rendered Image Size : 640x480
Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
Speed : 1.79GHz
Performance Rating : PR1972 (estimated)
Type : Standard
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous ATC (8-way sectored, 64 byte line size)
Chipset 1
Model : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS645DX CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 100MHz (400MHz data rate)
Features
MMX Technology : Yes
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No
Performance Tips
Notice 5008 : To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004 : Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-life' performance.
Notice 5006 : Only compare the results with ones obtained using the same version!
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

So what does this all mean?
 
It means you have too much time on your hands.

"If it ain't broke don't fix it."

The ONLY REASON to flash a bios is if something is not working (USB bad, stability issue, unsupported CPU speed, etc.) and the release notes for the bios say the bios fixes your specific problem. Bios flashes will not improve speed.
 
Yes ... the different "F" no, Bios updates on Manufacturers sites detail what fixes they repair during the first one to two year of mobo existence.

If you havent had those problems, you should not need to bother.
 
Somehow, your voltages seem low all across 3.3 / 5 / 12v lines.
Also the core voltage seems a lil low, as I believe the lowest P4 voltage is like 1.5~1.525v.

-_-;

but then again, if you dont experience any problems...

:D :cool:
 

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Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
Xie wrote on Electronic Punk's profile.
Impressed you have kept this alive this long EP! So many sites have come and gone. :(

Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
hello peeps... is been some time since i last came here.
Electronic Punk wrote on Sazar's profile.
Rest in peace my friend, been trying to find you and finally did in the worst way imaginable.

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