asus x79 bios converter?

[t0m]

i saw this today on a random check for updates...a new bios format for asus x79 boards. it requires you to flash a converter bios first, then the new .cap format bios. the instructions (here) say its for win 8 compatibility...and the changelogs for the two new bios revisions released today just say 'improve stability' (for the rIVe, im didnt look up the other effected motherboards).

anyone tried it yet? i am tempted to dive in just out of curiosity, but i am not planning to use win 8 if i can avoid it, im not having instability (the claimed fix) and seeing two revisions in one day does not inspire confidence either.

[sswilson]

Released today, and it's more than just the standard bios flash???? I'd be staying well away from that for quite some time unless I had some pressing need to update my bios. Best to let others be the guinea pigs in a case like this. (Hell... I wait until folks start reporting benefits under normal circumstances, let alone something that's running a "converter"........ )

[t0m]

yeah this definitely requires a bit of reading on my part before ill be ready to jump on it. i was hoping someone else would already know what this is all about because it came out of left for me. ill try to make some time tonight and see what i can find out. if i find anything ill report back. the rIVe has two bios chips for situations like this, but i have a feeling this converter will 'do' both of them. if i can confirm it will only do one and leave my normal one alone, ill be the guinea pig.

[NyteOwl]

I generally use a simple rule with all BIOS updates - if it currently works, don't mess with it!

[t0m]

well mixed reports are coming in regarding success rates. it also updates both bios chips automatically, so there is no going back if something goes wrong. seems like a good time to start following NyteOwls advice :P (usually im quite reckless about fw/bios updates and things that 'could' break).

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by t0m

well mixed reports are coming in regarding success rates. it also updates both bios chips automatically, so there is no going back if something goes wrong. seems like a good time to start following NyteOwls advice :P (usually im quite reckless about fw/bios updates and things that 'could' break).

Has anybody reported having their motherboard bricked?

[t0m]

there is a guy on ocn who says the flash failed and his r4e wont post any more. i havnt been watching the threads for the other asus x79 boards, but that was enough to give me pause. there are a few who had no problems as well.

edit - a way to flash back to an older .rom format bios was posted at the rog forums. the guy who had a bad flash/no post has not reported back yet at ocn (the link to the fix was also posted in that thread). hopefully it works.

edit 2 - the guy with the bricked board is back up and running. he had to remove all but one gpu and stick of ram from the sounds of it...but that recovery thing worked in the end.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye_54

I guess I have more faith in Asus than some here. I figure they would have tested it vigorously before release. Any odd case of bricking isn't a surprise........Murphy's Law at work. I installed the conversion on my Sabertooth X-79 and it works flawlessly. The update did the covert from ROM to CAP, then installed the update to 2002. No issues to report.

It's not a lack of faith in ASUS specifically, it's a lack of faith in bios updates in general until they're proven to be useful / benign. My days of flashing to the latest and greatest (or even better... user modified bios') for anything other than an actual fix / hardware upgrade (as in a new series of procs) are done... at one time, new bios' could (and often did) add quantifiable improvements to either overclocking abilities or memory settings, I don't see that much any more so IMO the benefits just aren't there unless it's something specific in the bios upgrade that I'm looking for.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye_54

Agreed, but whenever they mention stability improvement in the comments, I tend to upgrade it. In this case, I understood that any upcoming upgrade to Win 8 makes this BIOS change a requirement. Of course I am going to upgrade to version 8......progress! LOL BTW, I guess I am just lucky because I have never had a BIOS update go south on me.....that is about 20 computer builds with about 3 updates each, some more some less. I guess having stable underground power here helps.

I've only had one go bad, and that was the fault of the manufacturer using the same model number designation for two completely different versions of the same chipset board. OTOH, I have had a couple that needed some pretty heavy TLC to get a properly functioning bios back on.

[crazyea]

I updated today. No problems.

Only concern is that is shuts off for a while and you have no idea what is happening. It isnt really expalined either. The power button is disabled. I can see someone freeking out and pulling power, thus bricking the mobo.