AB9 QuadGT BIOS Update dissappointment

[EtheAv8r]

I have to say that I am somewhat disappointed with abit from the support perspective - but am please to find downloads of updates are nice and fast. My last abit board was an NF7-s V2 – which sadly gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago following a spillage during cleaning off old Arctic Silver during a re-fit.

For my new build I decided over Christmas that 680i was not worth the money and that P965 ‘mk II’ boards would represent the best (fastest and most stable) options for a good everyday overclock for my next system. This effectively meant ASUS Commando or Abit AB9 QuadGT.

Both looked excellent quality and performance boards and in the end I bought a Commando simply because it was released first. Lots of people had problems with the Commando, and it appears to have suffered Build Quality issues being made in a new factory in China. Mine is OK but very hot and not entirely stable. This was my first ASUS board, and I am utterly appalled by the performance (rather non performance) of their support web site and have had huge difficulties downloading BIOS updates and other drivers.

The QuadGT was launched and apart form some issues “easily fixed with a BIOS update”, appeared to be very well received, fast and stable, good build quality. When I said on Hexus I was considering replacing my Commando with a QuadGT I was regaled with what a good board it was and how so much better Abit support was.

So I bought an AB9 QuadGT – and very nice it looks – not installed it yet as I am waiting delivery of a Tuniq Tower 120 to keep it as cool as possible.

However I am equally appalled that the only official BIOS for this board is the original launch BIOS – m621e10.zip BIOS ID:10 dated 11 December 2006. It is now 10 April 2007 a full 4 months later and no BIOS update is available. I understand there are ‘beta BIOSs’ available from the abit USA Forum – and they may be very good, but it is a terrible situation you should not have to use BIOS versions very kindly put together by enthusiasts, at least ASUS have released 3 BIOS versions for the Commando!

Being a abit ‘newbie’ – it is also not so easy to find these good/best beta BIOS to use - also flashing the abit BIOS (from what I read in Forums) is not so easy or reliable as with the ASUS EZ Flash 2 or CrashFree BIOS??.

[Agent]

also flashing the abit BIOS (from what I read in Forums) is not so easy or reliable as with the ASUS EZ Flash 2 or CrashFree BIOS??.

No idea where you have read that, but its really not true. Flashing the BIOS on the QuadGT is no different to almost every other motherboard out there.

As for the beta BIOS - fully agree, they need to be put onto the site much sooner. There are features of this board which dont even work without an updated BIOS (RAID for one - not exactly somthing small).

Once it has the latest BIOS on though, it really is trouble free sailing. Its probably the best 965 board ive used.

[EtheAv8r]

No idea where you have read that, but its really not true. Flashing the BIOS on the QuadGT is no different to almost every other motherboard out there.

Good news on the BIOS flashing..... several posts on abit usa forum from people who had updated their BIOS and not then been able to access the BIOS - or even boot. http://forum.abit-usa.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12

Once it has the latest BIOS on though, it really is trouble free sailing. Its probably the best 965 board ive used.

Where does one get this latest BIOS (or are you refering to the imminently expected one from abit?). It has been a long wait it seems.

[BUFF]

You can generally find the beta BIOS via the abit-USA forum Beta BIOS thread within a day or 2 of them getting into the wild.
The beta BIOS are not put together by enthusiasts but by abit themselves (although B06"R" was a modified version of B06 done by a user, Richh).
BIOS11 final for the QuadGT is supposed to be out today or tomorrow afaik.

FlashMenu in general is fine (although a few people have reported problems with Vista) as long as you take sensible precautions like not running an overclock during a flash.
Then of course you can also flash from a floppy, USB stick etc. using awdflash.

[BUFF]

Good news on the BIOS flashing..... several posts on abit usa forum from people who had updated their BIOS and not then been able to access the BIOS - or even boot. http://forum.abit-usa.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12

generally once you look into it further there is a reason e.g. having RAM that requires more than the JEDEC 1.8V default.
It's really pretty rare to have a bad flash but if you do that's the beauty of the socketed BIOS chip.

[EtheAv8r]

You can generally find the beta BIOS via the abit-USA forum Beta BIOS thread within a day or 2 of them getting into the wild.
The beta BIOS are not put together by enthusiasts but by abit themselves (although B06"R" was a modified version of B06 done by a user, Richh).
BIOS11 final for the QuadGT is supposed to be out today or tomorrow afaik.

FlashMenu in general is fine (although a few people have reported problems with Vista) as long as you take sensible precautions like not running an overclock during a flash.
Then of course you can also flash from a floppy, USB stick etc. using awdflash.

Good news og the imminent full release BIOS - looks like it will be arrive in time for me to do my Commando replacement at the week-end.

The QuadGT Manual is not exactly very detailed or informative is another observation I would make.

Can you tell me why there are two different Gigabit LAN drivers on the Drivers site - Realtek 8110SC (V5.650.616) and 8111B (V5.65)?

[BUFF]

The QuadGT Manual is not exactly very detailed or informative is another observation I would make.

Agreed, for some reason the BIOS section bar the front page seems to be missing .
However, if you download the AB9/AB9 Pro manual & look at the BIOS section of that it should be very similar.

I don't know why the 2 Realtek ethernet drivers - I suspect simple human error. If you notice it also lists a SiL3132 driver but the mobo doesn't have a SiL controller ...

[EtheAv8r]

Agreed, for some reason the BIOS section bar the front page seems to be missing .
However, if you download the AB9/AB9 Pro manual & look at the BIOS section of that it should be very similar.

I don't know why the 2 Realtek ethernet drivers - I suspect simple human error. If you notice it also lists a SiL3132 driver but the mobo doesn't have a SiL controller ...

You aswered my next question before I asked it! LOL

[BUFF]

http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/contact/webmaster.php

[DratUK]

http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?t=122393
Beta Bios release's.

have a look through the forums, if you haven't already, some very useful threads in there.

[Nelly.]

Trouble is that Beta Bios list is quite old you listed above, their has been quite a few newer beta releases since then, I'm surprised it hasnt either been deleted or modified.

[Nelly.]

Anyway here is the latest beta bios, with all fixes which have been made since the initial release.

Beta BIOS

DISCLAIMER:
Universal abit will not be held responsible or liable for any damage made with using a BETA BIOS.
Please proceed with discretion and do not attempt to use unless you know what you are doing!

Beta BIOS M621E_11.B08

1. Correct SPDIF phohe jack to meet Reltek Utility
2. Support 50 ohm ODT
3. Fixing CMOS Checksum error/CPU changes message show At the same time.
4. Fixing to adjust CPU VTT 1.2V, MCH 1.25V, ICH 1.05V, ICHIO 1.5V, voltage high limit resulting
5. Fixing EM64T string was covered while Clear CMOS
6. Adjust E-SATA signal
7. Fixing BIOS option “Summarized by Alarm” to “Wake Up by Alarm”
8. Fixing can' T boot from floppy, when I set SATA to RAID/AHCI mode and with the PATA HDD
9. The CPU Core Voltage highest limit is 1.9V
10. Fixing can' T boot from SATA HDD, when I install bootable USB device
12. Quad Core and Vista64 Exits resolved.
13. RAID/IDE resulting almost resolved.
14. The EIST function can't be disabled issue.
15. The SATA CD-ROM can't boot when ICH8R in Raid mode.

[BUFF]

Trouble is that Beta Bios list is quite old you listed above, their has been quite a few newer beta releases since then, I'm surprised it hasnt either been deleted or modified.

You didn't look closely enough as B08 is already on it though & they don't come any newer (yet)

[DratUK]

Hah and I thought I was going stupid in my old age

[Nelly.]

Haha, my apologies - my fault for not actually taking a look as it hadnt been updated for months previously.

[BUFF]

no problems, we took action a couple of weeks ago to improve/update that thread as it was rather out of date.