Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 CPU Support Upgrade

[Tigerfox]

Hey all

I looked into GA-M59SLI-S5 today and there is no doubt that it can handle the
955/965 but it would be in the same boat as the ASUS M2N series.

The reason the GA-M57SLI-S4 supports AM3 is due to it having a 3+1 phase design

I will also have a look at modding the GA-M59SLI-S5 bios if people are willing 2 test

Thanks
Ej52

I mean the GA-M59SLI-S5 will have the same problem as the M2N series
which requires you to set the CPU with software(Nvidia System Tools) due
to the board only having a single power plane.

That sounds to me as if the GA-M57SLI-S4 does have dual-powerplanes while the GA-M59SLI-S5 does not. I thought no AM2 board (without the "+") does have dual-powerplanes?

I'm interested on the matter because I'm trying to determine what CPU I can dare to try on my Abit KN9 Ultra if get it successfuly modded here. I'd like to use a Phenom II X4 955BE, but I discovered no nForce5 board that is certified for more than 945 95W.

[ej52]

That sounds to me as if the GA-M57SLI-S4 does have dual-powerplanes while the GA-M59SLI-S5 does not. I thought no AM2 board (without the "+") does have dual-powerplanes?

It seems like the GA-M57SLI-S4/GA-M57SLI-DS4 do have dual-powerplanes
how that is possible i do not know :p but they only have official support for
95watt CPU's, all 125w/140w are displayed as N/A on CPU support page.

Even the GA-M52L-S3P/GA-M52LT-S3P/GA-M52LT-D3 which all support x6
only have official support for 95watt CPU's and these all use the MCP65.

This has all come as a surprise to me as i don't really follow GIGABYTE :p

Regards
Ej52

[Tigerfox]

But why should the GA-M57SLI-S4 have dual-powerplanes while, as you said, the Asus M2N Series doesn't. The support exactly the same CPUs by now.
How do I determine if a board has a single or dual-powerplane?

[TheWiz]

Here is a proposed test BIOS that should ONLY be flashed IF you have a spare BIOS chip. I attempted upgrading AGESA to 3.7 with latest NCPUCODE.BIN

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1525839/Bios/m59slis5cpu3.bin

TheWiz

[Mr.Chippy]

any updates? I have a smt soldering class this winter, if I can find another bios chip I'll be willing to be the guinea pig that is if noone has tried your bios yet wiz.

[TheWiz]

I'll continue working on the BIOS but I think it would be prudent to try that BIOS once I give the go ahead.

Thanks,
TheWiz

[Mr.Chippy]

sounds good, I'll be looking forward to that.

[Overclockedtoster]

If the bios bricks my board, will the Dual bios allow me to revert to the original bios?
I have the GA-M59SLI-S5 that I intend to run with a Phenom II 710.

[MrTangoWhisky]

Normally this is the intention of a DUAL-BIOS...
Good luck!

[Overclockedtoster]

Normally this is the intention of a DUAL-BIOS...
Good luck!

Just making sure seeing how TheWiz Said to only try it if you have the ability to replace a bricked bios chip.
I'll test the bios out Monday or Tuesday, OCing results later in the week if it works. (the 710 can do 3.5 in my GA-MA790X-UD4P)