Bios Update Question

[Gramps44]

Last month I embarked on a first time PC build for my daughter. I waited until now to take advantage of Intel price cuts to buy the CPU. I decided to buy the new 6420. I had already purchased the Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 for good or bad. I now see that Gigabyte has a new beta BIOS (f9d) for the MB to support the 6420. My question is, will the board boot with the original BIOS with this new CPU installed? Otherwise, how does one go about updating? Thanks in advance and thanks to GLC for the Intel price drop tip.

[Cricket]

If that motherboard needs a BIOS update to run that processor you won't be able to use the new processor until the BIOS has been updated. To do that you need a CPU that is currently supported by the motherboard in order to flash the BIOS.

Another option would be to get a new updated CMOS/BIOS chip from these guys.

Cricket

[Gramps44]

Rats! That's what I was afraid of. I have the question into Gigabyte but no answer so far. I did read on Newegg review that the chip works on the DS3 board of one guy. but he doesn't say his bios revision. Would there be any reason not to just try it at this point? Otherwise, worst case senario, I ditch this board and buy another, or buy a different CPU for this board. Any recommendations from anyone? Thanks again for the support

[Alaron]

You could pick up a cheap Celeron chip (~$35) to get the board going and flash the BIOS.

[Gramps44]

Thanks for the suggestions. Now for what might be a stupid question, where the heck is the BIOS chip on this MB (Gigabyte GA965P-S3)? The only thing that comes close to the manual specified location is a very small square chip with four legs on two sides soldered to the board. It has a green dot on it. I know my way around a soldering iron and was entertaining the possibility of replacing the BIOS chip if I could get one from somewhere. Anyone have this board who could enlighten me? I agree, that probably the cheapest way out of my screwup is to purchase a Celeron via Alaron's suggestion, but replacing the BIOS chip saves having to flash and potentially mucking it up.