Sabertooth 990FX + FX 8150 = impossible?

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tulx

tulx

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May 17, 2009
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Hello!
I'm about to build a new PC and was wondering about the Asus Sabertooth board which, although seems to be the perfect choice for the system, seems out of question, because it requires a BIOS update to use AMD FX processors. As I understand it, the board comes with BIOS 0402, but requires BIOS 0705 to support FX. And, to install the BIOS, I need a CPU.
I really think someone hasn't thought this through - Sabertooth is socket AM3+, the only purpose of which is to support FX, yet I can't buy it, because I won't be able to update the BIOS. Am I missing something or is the situation really this ridiculous?

PS - as you can immagine, I (and probably 98% of buyers) don't have any AM3 CPU's lying around, which I could insert for the BIOS update.
 
ASUS Tier 2 CONFIRMED:
1. RMA the MOBO and ASUS will Flash the BIOS.
2. Donor CPU.
3. ROG or any ASUS with USB BIOS Flashback.

This is the SAME for ANY MOBO without the minimum BIOS on AMD 'Bulldozer' FX CPU aka Zambezi,

[strike]This is the same for ANY AM3+ MOBO that's been released prior to the CPUID info in the BIOS.

The MOBO + Zambezi (FX-1850) will boot into the BIOS with no problems, no reported so far. Yes, the lacking CPUID 'dummies-down' the CPU, but it can be flashed without a 'donor' CPU.

S go get your ASUS Sabertooth 990FX[/strike] :)
 


Oh, that sounds good. What you're saying is, that the older BIOS won't make use of all the CPUs features, but will still boot with it?
I think I've read about a couple of cases where people had to swap CPUs, like this one.
 
I can only imagine the insanity the MOBO Manufacturer's are going to be seeing during this transition to AM3->AM3+ CPUs!

[strike]I don't think that way the OP's issue was 'solved' was from a donor CPU.[/strike] Sure you can get a cheapo Sempron 140/145 ~$40. I run across the BIOS being less than minimum requirements all the time with both Intel and AMD, and it's a very rare instance that I required a donor CPU. Frankly, if this were a problem there would be TONS of ASUS posts and alike and I'd be seeing them.

Only guarantee in life = Death and Taxes.

If a 'Reviewer' were so dumb not to update their BIOS then the tests would be ridiculously off. Before 'I' build I always check the supported CPU's and BIOS updates --- I don't always use the latest unless there's a reason to update.

This is one of them 😉
 
Sounds somewhat reassuring. I'll look around if i find some specific examples where people got a FX CPU working in a mobo with the original BIOS version.
 
I just ran into this exact situation, and after several days of pulling my hair out and changing parts out I could not get my Sabertooth 990fx to POST. I was very lucky and stumbled across a few post on the ASUS forums where people have used an older AM3 chip to get it to POST. So after running to the nearest COMPUSA and talking to the tech, he let me borrow an old AM3 chip that they had sitting around (great customer service by the way!). I installed the older AM3 and posted first try. Then I updated bios to the latest version released on 10/11. Replaced old AM3 with new FX8150 and vrooom it started right up. Hope this will help with anyone who has the same issue, seeing as I had a very hard time finding info on my situation.

My build:

CPU- FX8150
MOBO- Sabertooth 990FX
RAM- Corsair vengeance (4x4gig)
VID- 2x XFX 6970
HD- 4x 10k 6gbps Velociraptors
PS- Thermaltake toughpower 1050w
CASE- Cooler Master Stacker SE (recycled from last build) love this case!
HEATSINK - Corsair H80 Water cooler (very quiet and dropped idle to 31c)

Enjoy,

Lance
 


Thnkas a lot, Lance! This was the definitive answer I was looking for!
 


I've seen that, yes. I was just wondering if by "run" was meant "fully support" or "be able to boot", as some people stated above. Seems it's the latter. I'm really not sure how I'll get a AM3 CPU here. Have to think of something.
 
I noted this reliable link - http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/new-builds/46956-my-new-bulldozer-build.html ; i.e. it is required. IF so then that's a bad move on MOBO manufacturers - considering they knew it was coming out.

[strike]I put a call into ASUS and I'll know 100% in a matter of 20 minutes. I also asked if necessary can you use a BIOS Recovery method; CrashFree BIOS 3 via CD/DVD.

CrashFree BIOS 3 is used this way:
1. Insert the media (USB key, floppy or CD) that contains the unzipped BIOS file that failed to update, renamed to MOBO_NAME.ROM e.g. P5BD.ROM.
2. Power down.
3. Power up.[/strike]

[flash=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/v/LirQ-oM9XBI[/flash]
 


Wow, thanks a lot, mate!
 
Frankly, I was surprised - I'm rarely surprised. The ASUS Technician was extremely knowledgeable and most of our conversion was centered around OMG this is going to be an expensive and laborious process. Engineering F'UP There should have been an alternate BIOS updating scheme in those MOBOs. Up until recently they could simply send you a User Replaceable BIOS ROM...

Never would I have guessed the (lack of) forethought.
 


Same here. The situation sounded too absurd to be true, so I thought I had missed something. I'll visit the local PC stores (provided there are any in Galway, Ireland - moved here just a week ago) and try to find/rent a donor CPU.
 
just flash it from stick if you can't get donor.
Click to expand...

I think we found out that only select motherboards (like the ASUS models with USB BIOS Flashback) can be flashed without a CPU. It will not be possible on a Sabertooth. At least I didn't find any indication on the Asus site that Sabertooth supports Flashback.
 
didn't know that about the Sabertooth...
you'd think that it would be loaded with all those toys.
jaquith knows his stuff though....
good-luck.

P.S.
how's the food over there in Ireland.?
they say Ireland food is the worse.
Click to expand...

Hmm, it's not what you'd describe as "healthy" by today's standards, yes. I'd say it's more American than European, in a way. But I arrived here from Luxembourg, so maybe I was just too used to that.
 
so right now you have this motherboard and FX-8150 CPU.?
Click to expand...

Luckely I haven't bough them yet (the 8150 is really hard to come by, because of the limited supply), but that was the configuration I had planned. Mostly for multitasking and some high-end gaming (Battlefield 3, Skyrim). Maybe newer Sabertooth boards will come with the most recent BIOS, who knows. I'm planning to buy before Chistmas.
 
OK here's the deal.....
you do not want this first release of the FX-8150 Bulldozer chip.
you want to wait until the next stepping revision is released and that should be first quarter of next year.
so you need to wait longer.
also there is Bulldozer Enhanced as well as Piledriver to be on the AM3+ socket/motherboard.

me as an example.
I waited for the release of Bulldozer and then when I saw for gamers, enthusiast and for desktops it's a flop.
servers, it's great.
since I wasn't buying a Bulldozer chip yet I had the AM3+ motherboard, GA-990XA-UD3 and I had a 955BE C2 stepping.
so for $25 out of pocket money I upgrade to a 965BE C3 stepping.
I was only looking at the FX-41xx and want the FX-4170 and not the current FX-4100.
same principal for you, do not get the first release of the FX-8150.
wait for the next stepping and get the FX-8190 when released.
my opinion..
Click to expand...

This was also an option I considered. I might just do that, infact, yes. I can use the PII for my girl's PC afterwards. Good tip.
 
You are fine with that board~
However bios update is MUST.
Before purchase 8150 i was had a 1055T.
I update new bios asus crosshair v formula then~ after 2 days later newegg send me 8150.
lol works fine.
But i am worry about H100 cooling system
So many people post review with fail boot after 2~3days....
-_-;;; let see how it goes....
 
Hi Guys,

Here is My Headache experience...

I purchased the Sabertooth with the FX-6100 (the 8100 was a little out of price range and i got the 6100 instead for 159.99 :) ).

I had it tested in the shop and the Bios was compatible, I thought Bonus! and took it home. Now after running the setup for three weeks (until sat past) It's dead : /.

So this is what happened:

Win 7 Froze while working on downloading some vid editing software (windows movie maker to be exact).

OH NOES! what do I do? Forced reboot of course, *Presses Power Button - Computer turns off - waits, Turns computer on..waiting... waiting... waiting... Black screen*

I think, well that can't be right, *Resets Computer* this time I listen for the POST Beep... waiting...waiting... waiting... nothing but a big black screen...

So at this point I rush to Forums on one of my 3 other computers and frantically search, It appears that it's a compatibility issue... how odd.. but it WORKED for THREE WEEKS!

I Complete the Following troubleshooting:

Removed and reseated Ram, Turn on.. No POST.. Black Screen
Removed all ram and installed one stick... No POST.. Black Screen
Changed Graphics Card (AIT Radeon 4550 from HD 5750) No POST.. Black Screen
Reset CMOS - No POST.. Black Screen
Reseated CPU- No POST.. Black Screen
Read More on forums... Usually the LED's Indicate an issue and Light Up Solid Red
Turn on and check LED's - Everything is fine, yet - No POST.. Black Screen
Read something about the CMOS Battery causing an issue
Take out battery, wait 10 Mins, Reseat Battery - No POST.. Black Screen
Change Battery - No POST.. Black Screen
Reset CMOS again - No POST.. Black Screen
Hit Memok! - No POST.. Black Screen

after exhausting my efforts I called ASUS - Closed... FAK
So I wait until Monday Call ASUS wait an hour, talked to the agent, "Sounds like your preformed everything I would tell you to do" My response "well, I'm an Infrastructure specialist, I kinda know what I'm at..."

after all this the resolution is... Exchange the board..

So I've Contacted the shop and I'm changing my board the afternoon, I've also Packaged up the CPU and Ram I purchased ( i got a REALLY sweet deal-442$ for everything :) ) so they can test it when they give me the new board.

My Suspicion is the following - yes the 7* BIOS is compatible, BUT it must be updated as soon as possible. I run by the "if it's not broke don't fix it" policy when it comes to BIOS flashes but in this case it's pretty much garbled my setup. I honestly do not know if the board is indeed faulty, and believe if i drop a different CPU in it it WILL boot. but I didn't shell out the cash for this to screw with it this much, so I'm getting a warranty replacement.

It would of been seriously handy for that USB flash thing to be integrated in this series but it's not and I don't have more cash to blow on a cheap processor and after checking with ALL my techie friends they don't have any either. I can see a lot of you ending in this predicament eventually, so this is what I suggest.

1) Purchase the Board from a Local shop (not online, and it's good to support Local businesses)
2) Before you leave the Shop Have your components tested in the board so any exchanges can be made immediately (they don't charge because you haven't left the store, At least in Canada they don't).
3) Have them Fully Update the BIOS before packing it back up (if they screw up the BIOS they have to replace it 😉 )


when this setup was running, I can tell you the speed was amazing, I could pound it with Assassins creed and all kinds of other activities and there was no lag. YAY! But unfortunately, there is a problem, maybe I got a bad board, maybe it's the BIOS choking.. I don't know but it doesn't work.

I'm not telling anyone not to Buy this setup or something similar, to be honest It's the best setup I've had in YEARS and I will continue to support AMD and ASUS, I just wanted to WARN of something that could cause quite a headache for you.

So make your purchases, but make sure everything works before you leave the store. (which is what I did the first time, but i left out asking for the bios update /facedesk)

- Wiz






 
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