[SOLVED] Where to find the bios-chip

[jon-bang]

Hello 🙂
i want to swap the bios-chip on a Dell vostro 3300 laptop, but i havent found the chhip yet. Anyone knows how to recognize this, and is it one or two chips for BIOS on that motherboard? I have read somewhere there can be two chips for BIOS, but i dont know.
The name of the motherboard is: DW30 UMA MB 09902 - 1 48.4EX02 .011
Thanks

 

[anotherdrew]

There are boards with a BIOS chip and a backup (2 chip), but this is less common in laptops. I was looking at a picture of that motherboard and found a couple strong candidates. The picture was not clear enough to get part numbers. The issue is (and normally will be with a laptop) that all the chips were soldered onto the motherboard, so replacement is difficult without a lot of experience.

*** Edit *** pretty sure I found it. The 8 prong chip between the southbridge and the memory.

 

[The Original Ralph]

of the 4 motherboards i've located the BIOS chip on,all were near the edge of the board, and 3 were at a corner of the board. Here's a link to a Ebay listing showing different BIOS chips (apparently the forum doesn't allow links to ebay listings - go to ebay and search for "Asus Z97M-Plus BIOS chips" the 2nd hit on the ebay search list will be the one showing the different images.

i've replaced the one on my ASUS Z97M-PLus motherboard. What i didn't know until the first one, they simply plug in, no solder

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BIOS-CHIP-ASUS-Z97-PRO-Z97M-PLUS-Z97-DELUXE-Z97-DELUXE-NFC-WLC-Z97I-PLUS/141387053804?hash=item20eb533aec:g:WaQAAOxyFXhSNrEM:rk:2😛f:0

in the top row, the center image is what mine looked like, and here it is installed on the mobo

it really did just pull out with my finger nails, and the new one went back in in similiar fashion

you will need to identify your mobo which might be difficult as Dell probably had a custom sized / shaped board for your computer and doubtful Dell parts is going to offer them

 

[jon-bang]

of the 4 motherboards i've located the BIOS chip on,all were near the edge of the board, and 3 were at a corner of the board. Here's a link to a Ebay listing showing different BIOS chips (apparently the forum doesn't allow links to ebay listings - go to ebay and search for "Asus Z97M-Plus BIOS chips" the 2nd hit on the ebay search list will be the one showing the different images.

i've replaced the one on my ASUS Z97M-PLus motherboard. What i didn't know until the first one, they simply plug in, no solder

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BIOS-CHIP-ASUS-Z97-PRO-Z97M-PLUS-Z97-DELUXE-Z97-DELUXE-NFC-WLC-Z97I-PLUS/141387053804?hash=item20eb533aec:g:WaQAAOxyFXhSNrEM:rk:2😛f:0

in the top row, the center image is what mine looked like, and here it is installed on the mobo

it really did just pull out with my finger nails, and the new one went back in in similiar fashion

the hip on may borad is soldered..🙂

you will need to identify your mobo which might be difficult as Dell probably had a custom sized / shaped board for your computer and doubtful Dell parts is going to offer them

I have tried to google the name of the motherboard, a name i wrote in my original post. But thanks anyway 🙂

 

[jon-bang]

There are boards with a BIOS chip and a backup (2 chip), but this is less common in laptops. I was looking at a picture of that motherboard and found a couple strong candidates. The picture was not clear enough to get part numbers. The issue is (and normally will be with a laptop) that all the chips were soldered onto the motherboard, so replacement is difficult without a lot of experience.

*** Edit *** pretty sure I found it. The 8 prong chip between the southbridge and the memory.

I know it is soldered, thats no problem, i have the skill and have the equio\pment, i just didnt find the chip. But can you see the marking, a number next to the chip? Something like U4201, c6203 or soething like that?

 

[The Original Ralph]

there is no script, text or numerical, around the BIOS chip, just tiny electrical circuits

and just re-read your orig post again, forgot to answer earlier, yes some boards have a back up BIOS chip, two of my have a backup chip, both of mine are mechanically switched - other boards that have a backup chip, it is only selectable thru BIOS itself

https://www.supplymb.com/dell-laptop-motherboard-c-3/dell-vostro-v3300-cn063cx9-484ex02011-099021-hm57-laptop-motherboard-mainboard-tested-working-perfect-p-486.html

i believe the BIOS chip on the motherboard you referenced, is in picture #4, bottom left in the image and there's a number imprinted just above it

 

[anotherdrew]

I know it is soldered, thats no problem, i have the skill and have the equio\pment, i just didnt find the chip. But can you see the marking, a number next to the chip? Something like U4201, c6203 or soething like that?

I used the picture here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-Express-Chipset-Motherboard-CN-063CX9/dp/B078MVZK67
The chip I was looking at is at U6202.
The number on the chip is 25L3205DM21 which this site http://www.bios-chip24.com/epages/63730052.sf/en_US/?ObjectID=34590424 identifies as a 4 MB flash chip ... that sounds about right.