Motherboard Upgrade Ques & CPU OC'ng

Alenthia

Hi Everyone; I have a few questions; I will put my Specs in my Sig; I bought an Acer E360 Aspire in Feb. Got a great Deal $600.00 worth it in parts alone. Ok Now my Acer has Motherboard Listed as an: Acer FC51GM - which I found out is a Foxconn MOBO. On another Forum I read that my MOBO was this Foxconn Model: 6150K8MA-8EKRShttp://www.foxconnchannel.com/products_motherboard_2.cfm?pName=6150K8MA-8EKRS

But I think my MOBO is this Model because my Board had the Nvidia 6100 Geforce 4 Chip; I think both models are actually the same though just the difference in chips.--------------------------------6100K8MA-RS - http://www.foxconnchannel.com/produc...me=6100K8MA-RS

OK now my Bios is Phoenix Technologies - R01-B2 - 12/27/05 = made for Acer. I can't get into the Bios to make changes on 99% of things. i called Acer as well as Foxconn but neither would help me at all. Foxconn told me to ask Acer & Acer said they make the Bios so that no one can access it.

I recently Bought OCZ Gold PC3200 DDR400 XTC Extreme Gamer Memory 2g Kit Cas 2.3.3.8 and because OCZ Defaults their Sticks to 2.5 I couldn't change the Latency; so I am sending them to OCZ so they can default them to 2.3.3.8 for me.

I have upgraded my PSU to an Antec 500w Smartpower 2.0; a BFG Nvidia Geforce 7600gt OC Stock 580/1450 I OC'd it to 621/1630; Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Extreme; 2g OCZ Cas 2 Gold Memory.

My OS: Windows Media Center Edition - Rollup 2/XP Pro My CPU is a AMD Athalon 64 3800+ X2 Dual Core -Toledo Version; HD is a Seagate Baracudda 250g; 72000rpm SATA; and 1 Dual Layer DVD/RW Player & 1 Basic DVD Player.

OK so here are my questions now that you have the History of my Computer.

When I go into the Bios the only thing I can chang is my CPU Frequency; now I cannot change my voltage; it is set to 1.41. When I use CPU-Z to check out Voltage, it always stays between 1.35 & 1.36 - Speed 2009.1 and Vcore 2 is always at around 1.22. Ok so can I change the Frequency in the Bios and if so; what increments should I do it in; 5,10, etc.

2nd Question: Is there anyway for me to access my Bios; I realize this will probably void my Warranty but at this point I don't care. If I can't access it at all. I was thinking about upgrading my MOBO because it's not really all that expensive to do; but I don't want to have to buy a new OS; is there a way to get the OS off the Recovery Disks they gave me with my PC. Don't I actually own that OS now that I bought my PC regardless of what I decide to do with it. And if so can I request from ACER the Actual CD's for Windows instead of just the Recovery Disks.

Would Love to hear some Opinions on my MOBO Problem and what I should do; like I said above at this point the Warranty is not all that important to me anymore.

If you need any other information let me know and I will post it.

OCZSpeedJunky · 05-04-2006, 22:20 | posts: 673 | Location: WI | User is Offline

Welcome to G3D bud! Sure someone will be able to solve you riddle here for ya

I'll get ya any info I find on it. Later

Sinker_UK · 05-05-2006, 00:09 | posts: 10 | Location: The North | User is Offline

Hi there,

We've got to stop bumping into each other like this ;-)

Right let's see...

Answer 1) You say you can change the CPU speed but do you mean the final CPU speed (2000MHz) or the HTT / FSB speed (200MHz)? Important difference. Raising the CPU speed by 10MHz will only raise the HTT / FSB by 1MHz, where as raising the HTT / FSB by 10MHz will raise the CPU speed by 100MHz! Also, if all you can do is raise the CPU speed then you'll hit a wall sooner rather than later. When OC'ng the HTT / FSB you will also be raising the RAM speed as well and as you can't change the RAM timings or divisors the OC will stop when you're RAM can't take anymore at it's given timings. Oh, and the PCI / PCIE speeds may OC as well, depending on whether the motherboard has the PCI lock implemented. So either of those will halt the OC process before the CPU, IMHO. Either way, up the speeds by enough to make the resultant CPU speed increase by, say, 50MHz (5MHz on the HTT / FSB, 50MHz on the final CPU speed).

Answer 2) There is a slight possibility you could flash you board with the BIOS from Foxconn. As I'm sure you can imagine this has a lot of risk attached. You'll need to be absolutely sure you want the new features, and be 110% that the boards match up. You could kill your motherboard, but it might work. I did this on what turned out to be an ECS board. Worked fine.

Hope this helps!

Sinker_UK

OCZSpeedJunky · 05-05-2006, 00:34 | posts: 673 | Location: WI | User is Offline

Errrr.....don't think answer #1 does alot of good for him, that's not his problem. But yes bud, answer #2 may work. And since ya may upgrade it anyway if ya can't find out how to unlock it, it really won't hurt trying to flash to BIOS, 'cuz if it kills the board, no biggy for ya since ya was talking about upgrading anyway. I'll do some checking for ya tomorrow on your board to see if there's a BIOS that may help. Otherwise, if nothing else, ya can get a decent board to run your system for less than $75 new. USD of course. I know we yapped about Oblivion, but I didn't catch where ya was from?? We'll get it figured out bud, in time one way or another.

Later

Alenthia · 05-05-2006, 18:07 | posts: 5 | Location: NJ | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinker_UK

Hi there,

We've got to stop bumping into each other like this ;-)

Right let's see...

Answer 1) You say you can change the CPU speed but do you mean the final CPU speed (2000MHz) or the HTT / FSB speed (200MHz)? Important difference. Raising the CPU speed by 10MHz will only raise the HTT / FSB by 1MHz, where as raising the HTT / FSB by 10MHz will raise the CPU speed by 100MHz! Also, if all you can do is raise the CPU speed then you'll hit a wall sooner rather than later. When OC'ng the HTT / FSB you will also be raising the RAM speed as well and as you can't change the RAM timings or divisors the OC will stop when you're RAM can't take anymore at it's given timings. Oh, and the PCI / PCIE speeds may OC as well, depending on whether the motherboard has the PCI lock implemented. So either of those will halt the OC process before the CPU, IMHO. Either way, up the speeds by enough to make the resultant CPU speed increase by, say, 50MHz (5MHz on the HTT / FSB, 50MHz on the final CPU speed).

It must be the HTT/FSB becuase I can only raise it by increments of 1: all it says is CPU Frequency 200. and increments of 1 from that point on 201. etc....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinker_UK

Answer 2) There is a slight possibility you could flash you board with the BIOS from Foxconn. As I'm sure you can imagine this has a lot of risk attached. You'll need to be absolutely sure you want the new features, and be 110% that the boards match up. You could kill your motherboard, but it might work. I did this on what turned out to be an ECS board. Worked fine.

I have been trying to find this out myself as far as Flashing the Bios; I mentioned Foxconn wouldn't tell me; they said it probably wouldn't work; yet On another Forum which is where I found out it was a Foxconn; It's that Motherboard Forum; well anyway one of the Guys on their told the Poster what MOBO the Acer FC51GM was and he also told him that their Bios was the same. I tried joining that site; but I can't get the verification email to come to my aol address. I tried emailing the admin. but never heard anything. Because I want to ask the Poster if when he flashed the Bios did he have any problems; and I would also like to ask the Motherboard Expert Team to verify my Bios; because even though we had the Same MOBO we had Different Bios Versions and I think that had to do with that I had the 6100 nvidia nForce 4 & he had the 6150 Nvidia; So I want to be absolutely sure before I flash the Bios. But this MOBO comes with software for OC'ng; I wouldn't mess with it too much; just a little at a time as I learn.

Also about OC'ng the CPU; that's one area where I would be careful because my Graphics card is already OC'd I think what' Ill do is put it back to Stock OC settings before I attempt OC'ng the CPU. And the Guy that works for OCZ is going to reset my timings to default at 2.3.3.8. So once that's done as well then I will work on Increasing the CPU Speed. This way maybe in a weeks time my RAM will be back from OCZ; and by then maybe I will have found out a definate answer about Flashing the Bios.

Glad to Hear From you.

Alenthia · 05-05-2006, 18:17 | posts: 5 | Location: NJ | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCZSpeedJunky

Errrr.....don't think answer #1 does alot of good for him, that's not his problem. But yes bud, answer #2 may work. And since ya may upgrade it anyway if ya can't find out how to unlock it, it really won't hurt trying to flash to BIOS, 'cuz if it kills the board, no biggy for ya since ya was talking about upgrading anyway. I'll do some checking for ya tomorrow on your board to see if there's a BIOS that may help. Otherwise, if nothing else, ya can get a decent board to run your system for less than $75 new. USD of course. I know we yapped about Oblivion, but I didn't catch where ya was from?? We'll get it figured out bud, in time one way or another.

Later

Hi; gald to hear from you too; I am from US; NJ to be exact. I don't mind getting a new MOBO; just a little nervous about putting one in myself. Not sure I would feel confident about it; it's not so much the hooking it up; it's the actual settings; fine tuning, etc. that makes me a little nervous. That's why I have been learning about each part that I upgrade; My last upgrade was the OCZ Memory; and a great Lesson from Sinker_UK on that. I have been putting to together a Gigantic Binder with Different Sections on everything I have learned so far; It's much easier to learn when someone explains something Clearly using Terms & Examples that Make Sense and I can Understand. So although the MOBO would actually be the next step in my Upgrade & Learn as you go Project; I don't feel quite ready for it. I guess on the off chance the Bios Flashing dosen't work I should start doing some major research on Installing a MOBO and all the Settings.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon

OCZSpeedJunky

Well, here's a link for ya bud that may help a bit. Has probably all the information you may ever need. Ok, maybe not ever, but it has a lot of damn info lol I posted this in a thread a while back, took a bit too find it again, but here, have a look. A ton of info for ya to chew on.

Later bud.

http://www.amdboard.com/ocspecial.html

Mobster · 10-14-2006, 17:23 | posts: 22 | User is Offline

Im curious if you tried flashing your bios , because im having the same problem as yours , also have the FC51GM motherboard. But im not quite sure which foxconn it is.
Here's a topic about someone who succeeded flashing the bios.
My current bios version is r02-a1 ...

Satan · 10-14-2006, 17:38 | posts: 6,637 | Location: Towson, MD, USA | User is Offline

If you get a new MOBO, get a DFI Ultra-D NF4 or DFI SLI-DR

Mobster · *Last edited by Mobster; 10-15-2006 at 14:19.*

I just took the risk to flash my bios. I downloaded the bios from foxconn for the 6150K8MA-8EKRS. But first downloaded the manual and read it trough ( good thing that i did that hehe ). After flashing the bios i couldn't restart my computer anymore , black screen and it kept beeping.
So i opened the case and resetted CMOS jumper set ( read that in the manual ) and it got me into winfast bios ---> http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Revi...rticleId=17437

Changed some settings in bios so that i could boot into windows , and i got into windows twice as fast. Ran both 3dmark05 and 06 to check if anything improved. I used to get around 6400 in 3dmark05 this time it was 10300 and 3dmark06 used to be 5040 it now was 6008. Test were done at stock and i didn't change anything in the configuration only the bios --> bassic settings and speedfan control because it ran for 100 %.

Edit:
Speedfan control doesn't work anymore , so it has to run at 100 % constantly. But if you have a quiet fan this won't be much of a problem.
Found out that this is my correct motherboard :
c51gm0301-2.0-8ekrs so that would be a winfast c51gm03-8ekrs. Havent been able to locate the bios update for this motherboard yet , but im still searching. In the meanwhile pc runs smoothly on the currently flashed bios.

troy.compdr · **try this -** 10-08-2008, 00:59 | posts: 1 | User is Offline

either remove the cmos battery for a half an hour if that dosen't work try IBIOS , http://www.technibble.com/downloads/misc/BIOS320.EXE it's freeware and works pretty good.

by the way make sure everything is unplugged including usb drives before you remove the cmos bat.

Iarwain · 10-08-2008, 05:11 | posts: 3,048 | User is Offline

Well that's fantastic man. Took some balls too.