Question BIOS Programmer to buy for ASRock x470 Taichi

[bloodedbythought]

I have a bios-bricked x470 someone gave me and wanted to try my hand at manually programming the bios, but I'm new to that.

Anyone have advice about what kit to buy that will work with this board's chip?

For example. could I use this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BYSRSZPC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1YZW40LYQY3L1&psc=1

Also, any suggestions on guides to use would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

You can start from here;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ0rAM-N7tY

and you might want to make sure you've got an antivirus of some sort since there have been instances of these downloads being a little shady;
https://www.onetransistor.eu/2017/08/ch341a-mini-programmer-schematic.html

Yes you will need a driver/software to operate the BIOS programmer tool but you will also need a functional system to work with.

 

[Satan-IR]

You can use a CH341A programmer (or others which are more expensive) to program a large variety of such chips EPROM etc. You might need some adapter sockets and daughter boards for some chips. But you'd have to check what you'd need for that specific chip on that board. I used one once I burrowed from a friend to program a 5v chip so it went well.

Also some of the cheap programmers might put too much voltage on chip data lines and destroy some BIOS ICs. You put 5v to data lines of some 3.3v or 1.8v chips and they're toast. You can check chip voltage if you can find a datasheet online.

I'm not familiar with the BIOS IC on that board and the board itslef really or if there's any JTAG connector/jumpers. Some programers and some boards won't be easy to do in-circuit programming.

If you get a programmer without cables or a clip (or flimsy low quality nonworking clips) or if board has no JTAG or won't let in-circuit, the process might involve desoldering the chip from board, programming it and resoldering it back on. Are you confident you can do those things if it comes to that?

There's always risk of damaging the board beyond any possible repair while doing a desolder/resolder, IF it comes to that.

EDIT: Took a while to finish this post and saw Lutfij posted a video link. I'm certain it's from a good source and I'd suggest you watch such videos too. I'd also advise to be careful with possible dodgy donwload links.

 

[bloodedbythought]

Ok, thanks for such thorough responses, guys! Much appreciated.

It's no risk to me, just trying to keep it from becoming e-waste, and maybe use it. Learn something, at the very least

A few followups:

1) I'll check the video and be sure to get a high-quality programmer kit. I noted the range on Amazon. Are there alternative stores for this type of thing?

2) Never soldered, but would like to learn. Any recommends for a good iron / kit to buy for this use case?

3) Is there a good archive to search for the datasheet on Mobos?

EDIT: Also, 4) a recommended kit to buy - hard to evaluate the offerings I see on Amazon.

Thanks!
Terry

 

[bloodedbythought]

Update:

BIOS chip details:

Winbond 25Q256JWFQ 1817

16pin, I think it takes 1.8V

Datasheet: https://datasheetspdf.com/datasheet/25Q256JWFQ.html
BIOS chip image: https://ibb.co/N2LhL4Y

EDIT: Board also has a BIOS_PH1 which may be able to be used as interface to program the BIOS chip, but from what I found online it seems hit or miss, perhaps due to security? The most successful strat seems to be desolder and program it 🙁

 

[bloodedbythought]

Update 2:

I purchased this CH341A programmer but it did not come with a 16pin clip - can I just buy a clip and use it with this programmer? The BIOS chip image I am targeting is linked on the previous post.