Intel DG965WH Bios Question + Memory question

[bstamp]

Hi everyone,

First off here is my system specs - if I left anything out let me know:

OS: Windows Vista 32Bit
MB: Intel Motherboard DG965WH
BIOS: MQ96510J.86A.0816.2006.0716.2308
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz
RAM: 2GB DDR2 Ram 667 (PC2 5300) 1.8V
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220
HD: Western Digital Hard drive 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA
PSU: 500 W PSU (don't remember the exact brand)


Now to my "problem". I would like to not only upgrade my OS to Windows 7 64bit but also add 2GB or 4GB of memory to take advantage of it. Before I blindly purchased the RAM and OS I did some research on my motherboard because I knew it was already picky about the memory it uses. What I found is that people who have put 4GB or more on their board with a 64bit OS has experienced severe slow down. For example, one of the people reported Windows taking 20 minutes to boot up. It was eventually determined that the problem was the bios version. Everyone found if they reverted back to Version 1669 it worked Ok.

So I'm running version 816, and have never updated my BIOS once because not only have I never done it period, but I understand that if it is done incorrectly it could brick the motherboard. I know there are good instructions out there, but then I read that reverting back to a previous version if a mistake is made is even more difficult. I don't want to mess my computer up by updating my bios if I don't need to. But I also don't want to spend money on the memory and Win 7 if it is going to cause me problems.

So there hasn't actually been a problem yet, but I'm preemptively planning for one! hehe Does anyone have any experience with upgrading this Intel motherboard? Is there anything additional I should know if I want to? Does anyone know if it is generally safe to just update to that BIOS version 1669 that supposedly works with the 64bit OS and 4GB+ memory? Or should I just stay at 816 and risk buying the memory and OS and not having it work? The OS isn't so bad because I could just run the 32 bit version if it came down to it, but I don't want to lose money on the memory. I'd really like to upgrade my system altogether, but that isn't an option so I'm stuck trying to figure out this blasted Intel motherboard.

Any BIOS advice for a technological newbie would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[JPindur]

I have two computers with this same motherboard. I've upgraded the bios on both. I never had problems, I only upgraded in order to support a quad core upgrade. Just follow the directions on Intels site, there is very little risk unless you get a power failure.

One thing you should keep an eye on is the version of the motherboard. One of my boards supports quad cores, the other doesn't. They are the same model, different versions.

I have seen a memory issue. The non-quad MB supports my 2x1GB DDR2-800 1.8V Kingmax, the newer quad-core supporting model doesn't boot with the Kingmax memory. Later, I upgrade the picky quad-core system from 2x1GB 6400 to 4x1GB 9600 (running at 6400), this didn't give me any issues after I relaxed the timing.

Just remember this MB doesn't give you any room to bump up the Voltage above 1.8V, so when you are buying memory make sure it hits the timing you want at stock voltage. Often its advertised as 5-5-5-12 but at 2.1V instead of 1.8V.

My suggestion is buy memory that works at 1.8V and before you install it relax the timing in the bios. Also, when you buy new memory, get it as a match set/kit. Ie 2x2GB or 4x1GB. Don't get 2GB of new memory to mix in with your old stuff. Much bigger chance for problems when you mix. If you have problems, then you can upgrade the bios at that time.

Good luck

Hi everyone,

First off here is my system specs - if I left anything out let me know:

OS: Windows Vista 32Bit
MB: Intel Motherboard DG965WH
BIOS: MQ96510J.86A.0816.2006.0716.2308
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz
RAM: 2GB DDR2 Ram 667 (PC2 5300) 1.8V
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220
HD: Western Digital Hard drive 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA
PSU: 500 W PSU (don't remember the exact brand)


Now to my "problem". I would like to not only upgrade my OS to Windows 7 64bit but also add 2GB or 4GB of memory to take advantage of it. Before I blindly purchased the RAM and OS I did some research on my motherboard because I knew it was already picky about the memory it uses. What I found is that people who have put 4GB or more on their board with a 64bit OS has experienced severe slow down. For example, one of the people reported Windows taking 20 minutes to boot up. It was eventually determined that the problem was the bios version. Everyone found if they reverted back to Version 1669 it worked Ok.

So I'm running version 816, and have never updated my BIOS once because not only have I never done it period, but I understand that if it is done incorrectly it could brick the motherboard. I know there are good instructions out there, but then I read that reverting back to a previous version if a mistake is made is even more difficult. I don't want to mess my computer up by updating my bios if I don't need to. But I also don't want to spend money on the memory and Win 7 if it is going to cause me problems.

So there hasn't actually been a problem yet, but I'm preemptively planning for one! hehe Does anyone have any experience with upgrading this Intel motherboard? Is there anything additional I should know if I want to? Does anyone know if it is generally safe to just update to that BIOS version 1669 that supposedly works with the 64bit OS and 4GB+ memory? Or should I just stay at 816 and risk buying the memory and OS and not having it work? The OS isn't so bad because I could just run the 32 bit version if it came down to it, but I don't want to lose money on the memory. I'd really like to upgrade my system altogether, but that isn't an option so I'm stuck trying to figure out this blasted Intel motherboard.

Any BIOS advice for a technological newbie would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!