How To Update Award CPU Microcode

[ej52]

Hi all

This is a quick tutorial on how to update the CPUCODE in Award bios
the easy way by only using CBROM, no hex editing

This was tested with the 5002 bios from the M2N32 SLI DLX
This is done at your own risk, i will not be held responsible if
something goes wrong when you flash the bios :p

Requirements:
1. Award bios file you want to update
2. CBROM v1.95 Download
3. NCPUCODE.BIN (Extracted from donor bios or see attached for latest AMD Code)
4. Knowledge with using CBROM (optional) :p

Step 1:
Put CBROM195.EXE, NCPUCODE.BIN and BIOS FILE into the same folder
We are using CBROM195 coz it's the only 1 that worked for me :p

Step 2:
Make sure NCPUCODE.BIN is Read-Only (Right Click->Properties->Read-Only)
This is done so that CBROM does not extract the existing NCPUCODE.BIN
If you wanted to extract the NCPUCODE.BIN uncheck Read-Only

Step 3:
Run the following command to update NCPUCODE

Code:

cbrom195 "Your Bios".bin /nc_cpucode ncpucode.bin

Step 4:
Run the following command to see if update was successful
NCPUCODE size should have changed and new "Micro Code" entries

Code:

cbrom195 "Your Bios".bin /d

Thanks for letting me waste your time :p

Ej52

[1234s282]

Excellent Tutorial Ej52 Congratulations

Of course you dont explain how to extract NCPUCODE but thats good because we are the only people who know how and we are keeping the secret safe lol

Regards
Admin

[ej52]

Thanks 1234s282

There is a hint on how to extract it in there though :p

Ej52

[actionpie420]

hey im new to the idea of bios modding but im pretty sure i devloped a basic understanding since i joined this site. i have an abit NF-M2s which im getting a new cpu for but i saw this and i thought i should consider the posiblities of updating the cpu microcode in the bios and see if i have any better options. is there anyway to get it to support even a few of the AM2+ processors?

[TheWiz]

You'd have to post your BIOS in a new thread because I'm not familiar with that BIOS layout for that mobo off hand.

[actionpie420]

ok i certainly do that as well, but the .bin is here too if anyone around wants a look.

[mockingbird]

I have a question. I followed the instructions, and I was able to extract NCPUCODE.BIN by making a 1 byte ncpucode.bin dummyfile and running the command. Good work finding that out.

So:
515F1P55.BIN is my motherboard's BIOS, the one I want to modify
667F1P51.BIN is the motherboard I want to clone the CPU microcode from

The problem is that the microcode BIN from 667F1P51.BIN is too large to fit into 515F1P55.BIN. I know there are some things in my BIOS I don't need, can you tell me what I can safely get rid of?


Things that come off the top of my head that I probably don't need:
AwardBmp.bmp
raid_or.bin - Not sure what this is. This motherboard is ICH7, not ICH7R.
b44pxe - I think this is PXE for a Broadcom wireless card, which I don't even have
b5789pxe.lom - This is for the onboard Broadcom LAN. I don't need to boot from it
Foxconn.bmp

int13h.bin is the ATAPI firmware for the onboard ITE8212F IDE Controller. I already replaced this module, because it had the ATA firmware which wouldn't work with my optical drives. So raid_or.bin is a mystery to me. Maybe that's the RAID mode of the 8212F. If it is, I don't need it.

Here is the output for the source BIOS, if you're interested:


Another question... What would be the equivalent of updating the Agesa for this board? The board is a Foxconn P9457AA-8KS2 and the other BIOS is from a slightly newer model from Foxconn with the same chipset. They probably just wanted people to buy the newer model.

What I'm trying to accomplish here is to implement Core or Core2 compatibility, because this board "officially" supports only up to Pentium D. I don't see why it shouldn't be able to handle Core or Core2.

Attached are the BIOS.

  515F1P55.BIN (Size: 512 KB / Downloads: 15)

  667F1P51.BIN (Size: 512 KB / Downloads: 8)

[1234s282]

raid_or is the RAID Storage Controller Option ROM required for RAID

As for the AGESA Equivalent , there isnt one. Intel just use microcodes although hardware specific limitations like the TDP support of the motherbaord will prevent you installing some processors (Obviously the CPU SOcket type has to match too!)

Admin

[Antinomy]

Nope, the TDP doesn't matter. What matters - is the socket pins being changed when Core2 was implemented. Thus preventing Core2 CPU from starting on old boards. But anyway the BIOS must support Core2 and microcodes are not enough.

A thing to work out?

[mockingbird]

raid_or is the RAID Storage Controller Option ROM required for RAID

As for the AGESA Equivalent , there isnt one. Intel just use microcodes although hardware specific limitations like the TDP support of the motherbaord will prevent you installing some processors (Obviously the CPU SOcket type has to match too!)

Can I safely get rid of raid_or? I will probably never use the 8212F's IDE raid.

Nope, the TDP doesn't matter. What matters - is the socket pins being changed when Core2 was implemented. Thus preventing Core2 CPU from starting on old boards. But anyway the BIOS must support Core2 and microcodes are not enough.

A thing to work out? Smile

So here's the question... Why would a 945P board not be able to electrically support the Core2 chips? And if so, how could the later 945P boards support the Pentium D and the Core/Core2?

Also another thing which I'm confused about... You say microcodes are not enough, that the BIOS must support it - can you elaborate?

In any case, what command would I use in CBROM to remove raid_or or the Foxconn logo?