Gigabyte P35-DS3P - what cpu?

[Limetic]

hi all, i want to upgrade my cpu from my P4, and i think it's time to do it.

My DS3P is rev 1.0 , with the F4 bios.
I'm looking at 3 cpus, E2160, Q6600, E8200.

first of all are there any owners with the same Motherboard, rev and bios as mine ? if so what cpu are you using.

I would go with the E8200 but i will probably need to flash my bios which seems to be the thing u shouldn't do until you really have to. So i would want to try avoid that if possible.

E2160 i can put in without the need of bios flasing at all
Q6600 (G0) needs F5 according to the site, where as i have F4 - but is there a chance that it'll still work ?
If someone has the Q6600 (G0) in the same motherboard and bios as mine that'll be great, as i'll go for that.

Or should i flash my bios ? i've read around about it and it seems fairly risky, is there a really safe way to do it ?

thanks

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Does Gigabyte have that EZ flash thing like Asus?

All I know is I am no longer afraid to flash my bios using EZ flash. You just load the .ROM file to a USB flash drive, plug it in, when booting, press F2, select the file and let it do its thing.

Welcome to AT forums btw.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i think the latest for the DS3P is the F10 bios, i flashed in windows and it was fine

 

[Limetic]

thanks for the replies
im not sure if Gigabyte has something like EZ Flash, but i think it has @bios? cant remember what it was.

anybody know of any guides or the best way to flash it ?
in windows or with a usb drive when you turn on computer?
thanks

 

[The Keeper]

Originally posted by: Limetic
anybody know of any guides or the best way to flash it ?
thanks

Read the motherboard manual, it is described there.

 

[Limetic]

hi, i just read my manual and it seems there are two ways.

"Q-Flash" and "@BIOS"
Q -Flash is done during the POST where as @BIOS is done in the windows.
which is more safer? i read around that in windows it is more risky, but neither is 100% safe...

also i think my motherboard has "Dual BIOS" for backup. If i were to flash my bios using Q-Flash / @BIOS and it stuffs up how would i use the backup BIOS?

if i do flash my bios, should i take out everything from the usb ports (printer, other cables like ipod cables etc) and just leave the usb drive in with the BIOS to flash ? Or does it not matter?

thanks

 

[bigsnyder]

The board should automatically revert to the backup bios is something is borked. Unplugging non-essential stuff from the usb ports shouldn't be necessary, but as they say, better safe than sorry.

 

[Limetic]

so should i flash my bios in boot ?
if i do everything right (according to the manual) there shouldn't be a problem right ? or is there always a chance that it'll go terribly wrong.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Limetic
so should i flash my bios in boot ?
if i do everything right (according to the manual) there shouldn't be a problem right ? or is there always a chance that it'll go terribly wrong.

You wont die! Just FLASH IT!!!!!

 

[Limetic]

ok i hope i'll be fine. i'll flash it before i buy the cpu...

i know you're going to tell me to stop worrying but has anyone ever had a flash failing ? if so what did u do ?
im just a bit paranoid when it comes to computers, always thinking of the bad stuff happening before good lol.

 

[chriskwarren]

I would flash using the bios utility (Q-flash)...with windows running, and processes such as antivirus etc might cause your update to hiccup. Using the bios utility helps to take the OS and related software out of the equation

 

[Limetic]

with windows running you mean before u get into desktop etc?
thanks.

 

[Qbah]

I used @BIOS. No problems what so ever. The likelihood of a Windows upgrade going bad is as likely as the boot one imo. The only thing that can bork your mobo is a power outtage and if it'll happen during any of the two you're screwed the same way Never had my Vista x64 go unresponsive or BSOD or w/e during anything I have done.

 

[Limetic]

hi again..
how do i make sure that my computer is stable or know that it's stable before i go and use @BIOS to flash.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Don't use @BIOS in Windows. Use Q-Flash when you are in the BIOS screen. Put the flash file onto a USB flash drive and plug it in, and then hit the appropriate key on bootup.

 

[faster]

Dude, what CPU did u decide on? The q6600 was the one to pick of the ones you named. My recomendation, shop your cpu on ebay. With a used processor, there is no such thing as a bad buy as long as it works. They are almost always cheaper if you watch for a deal. You can also probably afford a better processor than the ones you are looking at. Go for a E8400 or step back to the e6850.

Oh, also I have flahed a lot of mobos and have never screwed one up. Well, except that time I flashed a board with a bios from a different manufacturer / chipset - that board got fried but it was totally my fault. Otherwise it is really easy. Just do not forget to completely power down the computer after the bios flash and then go into bios and load fail safe defaults then exit then reboot then reenter bios and change your settings to the way you like them and save those changes.

 

[Limetic]

havent decided yet, was most likely going to go for the E8400

@faster, which method did you use to flash ? at boot or windows.
thanks