Intel D975XBX2 Bad Axe 2 - microcode patch

[DeathBringer]

OK. I have free space for one more microcode with CPUID=06Fx for socket 775.
Please choose one from list: 06F2, 06F7, 06FB platform 01, 06FB platform 10, 06FD.

[mgabi]

OK. I have free space for one more microcode with CPUID=06Fx for socket 775.
Please choose one from list: 06F2, 06F7, 06FB platform 01, 06FB platform 10, 06FD.

Put the 06FB platform 10 if there's no other option - I've had a Q6600 (donated to a friend) so I wouldn't be able to test it.
The 06FB platform 40 would be the one that I need (the xeon E5335) and it's the same size.

One question - would the platform 80 version work or is that only for mobiles ?

[DeathBringer]

I've made BIOS mod.
Please don't flash it, but verify it by iflash:
iflash /v BX2838P.BIO
P.S. 06FB platform 80 is only for mobile CPU.

[mgabi]

I've made BIOS mod.
Please don't flash it, but verify it by iflash:
iflash /v BX2838P.BIO
P.S. 06FB platform 80 is only for mobile CPU.

iflash just says :

Intel Flash Memory Update Utility Part 643643-060

nothing else

It goes the same with an original bios (no message)

tried to flash it :

iflash /md /pf bx2838p.bio - unsuccessfull

from within iflash - unsuccessfull (it identifies correctly the version/build etc.) gives the same version error.

flashed an older version first with and without reboot, and tried again - unsuccessful.

I see you've injected the new microcode but you didn't mod the checksums (last 2 bytes - E7 98 in our case) and the bytes that I presume are some sort of checksum from the microcode block header (18 67)

My findings so far :
ucode block header :
0E AF 0B 14 12 8D 8F 47 A0 B4 17 B9 B7 B5 CE ED - this doesn't change between versions. ie: 2836 has the same ucode block as 2838, 2813 is larger
18 67 01 41 1A F0 00 F8 : the part that matters (i think) :

the block ends with 2 bytes (after the last ucode) : E7 98

chk8 of the entire data - is 99. they put 98 (last byte).
not(98) = 67 (see header) -> 18th byte

The 17th byte (18) here would be :

not (chk8 ( 0E AF 0B 14 12 8D 8F 47 A0 B4 17 B9 B7 B5 CE ED 00 00 01 41 1A F0 00 )) + 1 - notice 17th and 18th zeroed and not including the 24th (F8).
I reckon F8 is some status that can change and it's not counted in the checksum.

The penultimate byte (E7) = not (18) -> the 17th byte.

I've checked this theory with another ucode block (ie: from 2813) and it stands.

To test my theory, I've just updated the microcode for the running cpu (c2d e6600 - 06f6), and modded the checksums (also tried without ) but couldn't flash.
I've put the ucode block back (tried as a file or just body) using uefitool.

None could be flashed - ergo the thread.

[DeathBringer]

I need a foto with error on flashing mod.

[mgabi]

Here it is :

   

[mgabi]

In order to keep thing simple and to be able to test, just replace 06f6 platform 01 (bios is CB version, latest is D0).

The issue here is to be able to mod the bios and make it flash

[DeathBringer]

Thx! I forgot about three checksums. I've made new version of mod BIOS.
Please check.

[mgabi]

Thx! I forgot about three checksums. I've made new version of mod BIOS.
Please check.

nope, didn't work.

Error : Flash update was unsuccessful (same as before)

[DeathBringer]

Did you try to reflash native BIOS (2838) with iflash?
Try another syntax:
iflash /f /p BX2838P.BIO