Guest Tony Sperling Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to 1603! Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely since flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single time! The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while back and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! (. . .if I can find it?) Tony. . .
Guest R. C. White Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Re: Congratulate me. . ! Congratulations, Tony! > flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single time! I KNOW the feeling! And I always feel so good after a successful flash. ;<) Once a flash went bad and I had to order a new EEPROM from some guy online. Everything went OK, but I was nervous until it was done. My current mobo was bought in December 2006 (EPoX MF570sli AM2 (http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-MF570SLI) w/Athlon 64 X2 5000+ CPU); its BIOS was dated 08/01/2006 and no updates have been posted since then. I started with 2 GB PC6400 and added another 2 GB last November. It's still running rock-solid. ;<) RC -- R. C. White, CPA San Marcos, TX rc@grandecom.net Microsoft Windows MVP (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1) "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message news:eVc6d7eaIHA.5976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to > 1603! > > Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely since > flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single time! > > The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while back > and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it > now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory > ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they > eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! > > > Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say > 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! > > (. . .if I can find it?) > > > Tony. . .
Guest Tony Sperling Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Re: Congratulate me. . ! It's a really strange thing. When the finger hovers over the enter key or the pointer on the OK button, I press it with almost absolute certainty of impending disaster while mumbling the magic incantation:"Don't turn off the power - don't turn off the power - don't turn off the power!". Well, so far, I've always been lucky. This is not my first Asus board, but I must confess - they have me impressed now. It took them a while to issue the first update but they've come trickling in a steady rate since and the system software is extremely solid and mostly to my liking. I've had my share of MSI boards too, and I've always liked the boards themselves, but I slowly tired of the various ALI and VIA chipsets, which was mostly junk for me. By far the most reliable board before this one was an Asrock (it still is!) with an SiS chipset - only thing was, it was my first 64bit machine and I didn't know what to ask for so they gave me a socket 939 which ended up being depressing, since I'd expected to have dual-channel memory. Well, it's still an amazing machine and I no longer care! Except it's an AGP board and I must keep watch so I don't miss the last batch of cards without noticing. It's like you say, RC. It really feels GOOD and you are left with the impression that you know what you are doing - at least until the next time, heh? Tony. . . "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message news:1EE9BF76-0F9E-4BEB-A409-44CE1BD5C68A@microsoft.com... > Congratulations, Tony! > >> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single >> time! > > I KNOW the feeling! And I always feel so good after a successful flash. > ;<) > > Once a flash went bad and I had to order a new EEPROM from some guy > online. Everything went OK, but I was nervous until it was done. My > current mobo was bought in December 2006 (EPoX MF570sli AM2 > (http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-MF570SLI) w/Athlon 64 X2 5000+ > CPU); its BIOS was dated 08/01/2006 and no updates have been posted since > then. I started with 2 GB PC6400 and added another 2 GB last November. > It's still running rock-solid. ;<) > > RC > -- > R. C. White, CPA > San Marcos, TX > rc@grandecom.net > Microsoft Windows MVP > (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1) > > "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message > news:eVc6d7eaIHA.5976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to >> 1603! >> >> Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely since >> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single >> time! >> >> The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while back >> and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it >> now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory >> ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they >> eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! >> >> >> Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say >> 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! >> >> (. . .if I can find it?) >> >> >> Tony. . . >
Guest Carlos Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Re: Congratulate me. . ! Congratulations, Tony! One of the things I have done in order to ease the pain is to have an UPS permanently powering my PC. That ensures that no power outage will interrupt the flashing process. Power outages may not be common in Denmark, but down here in Argentina... Carlos "Tony Sperling" wrote: > It's a really strange thing. > > When the finger hovers over the enter key or the pointer on the OK button, I > press it with almost absolute certainty of impending disaster while mumbling > the magic incantation:"Don't turn off the power - don't turn off the power - > don't turn off the power!". > > Well, so far, I've always been lucky. This is not my first Asus board, but I > must confess - they have me impressed now. It took them a while to issue the > first update but they've come trickling in a steady rate since and the > system software is extremely solid and mostly to my liking. I've had my > share of MSI boards too, and I've always liked the boards themselves, but I > slowly tired of the various ALI and VIA chipsets, which was mostly junk for > me. By far the most reliable board before this one was an Asrock (it still > is!) with an SiS chipset - only thing was, it was my first 64bit machine and > I didn't know what to ask for so they gave me a socket 939 which ended up > being depressing, since I'd expected to have dual-channel memory. Well, it's > still an amazing machine and I no longer care! Except it's an AGP board and > I must keep watch so I don't miss the last batch of cards without noticing. > > It's like you say, RC. It really feels GOOD and you are left with the > impression that you know what you are doing - at least until the next time, > heh? > > > Tony. . . > > > "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message > news:1EE9BF76-0F9E-4BEB-A409-44CE1BD5C68A@microsoft.com... > > Congratulations, Tony! > > > >> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single > >> time! > > > > I KNOW the feeling! And I always feel so good after a successful flash. > > ;<) > > > > Once a flash went bad and I had to order a new EEPROM from some guy > > online. Everything went OK, but I was nervous until it was done. My > > current mobo was bought in December 2006 (EPoX MF570sli AM2 > > (http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-MF570SLI) w/Athlon 64 X2 5000+ > > CPU); its BIOS was dated 08/01/2006 and no updates have been posted since > > then. I started with 2 GB PC6400 and added another 2 GB last November. > > It's still running rock-solid. ;<) > > > > RC > > -- > > R. C. White, CPA > > San Marcos, TX > > rc@grandecom.net > > Microsoft Windows MVP > > (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1) > > > > "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message > > news:eVc6d7eaIHA.5976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > >> I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to > >> 1603! > >> > >> Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely since > >> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single > >> time! > >> > >> The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while back > >> and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it > >> now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory > >> ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they > >> eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! > >> > >> > >> Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say > >> 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! > >> > >> (. . .if I can find it?) > >> > >> > >> Tony. . . > > > > >
Guest R. C. White Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Re: Congratulate me. . ! Hi, Tony. I'm with Carlos: UPS is the oooonly way to go! Got my first one about 25 years ago. It cost me nearly $1,000. But it saved me more than once when thunderstorms rolled through southeastern Oklahoma. I could just see myself trying to explain to my clients and the IRS that all those tax returns were late because of a storm in the second week of April that scrambled the FAT on my hard drive. That was a true UNINTERRUPTIBLE power supply. There was no "switching time" in its specs because it never switched. It powered my computer from the battery all the time, while continually recharging the battery from the wall plug. All I can find today are BACKUP power supplies wearing the UPS label. They feed conditioned power straight through from the wall to the computer, with the always-fully-charged battery standing by for virtually-instant switching in case the mains fail. It seems to me that the true UPS is better because there are never any brownouts or surges because only steady power comes from the battery; any fluctuations affect only the recharging side of the battery, not the side that feeds the computer. But my electrician friends tell me that it doesn't really work that way and that a modern BPS is just as good as my old UPS. One thing that first UPS taught me was DO NOT PLUG IN A LASER PRINTER! When the laser fires, its power surge will kill any but the biggest UPS. It killed my first one when I plugged in a Xerox 4045. :>( This is my third EPoX mobo and they've all been excellent. My second one (8KDA3+ with AMD 64 3200) is now in my grandson's computer. These last two allow BIOS updates from within Windows; a much less-traumatic experience. The first two had several BIOS updates, but this one hasn't needed any. ;<) RC -- R. C. White, CPA San Marcos, TX rc@grandecom.net Microsoft Windows MVP (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1) "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message news:ejN#zPgaIHA.4144@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > It's a really strange thing. > > When the finger hovers over the enter key or the pointer on the OK button, > I press it with almost absolute certainty of impending disaster while > mumbling the magic incantation:"Don't turn off the power - don't turn off > the power - don't turn off the power!". > > Well, so far, I've always been lucky. This is not my first Asus board, but > I must confess - they have me impressed now. It took them a while to issue > the first update but they've come trickling in a steady rate since and the > system software is extremely solid and mostly to my liking. I've had my > share of MSI boards too, and I've always liked the boards themselves, but > I slowly tired of the various ALI and VIA chipsets, which was mostly junk > for me. By far the most reliable board before this one was an Asrock (it > still is!) with an SiS chipset - only thing was, it was my first 64bit > machine and I didn't know what to ask for so they gave me a socket 939 > which ended up being depressing, since I'd expected to have dual-channel > memory. Well, it's still an amazing machine and I no longer care! Except > it's an AGP board and I must keep watch so I don't miss the last batch of > cards without noticing. > > It's like you say, RC. It really feels GOOD and you are left with the > impression that you know what you are doing - at least until the next > time, heh? > > > Tony. . . > > > "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message > news:1EE9BF76-0F9E-4BEB-A409-44CE1BD5C68A@microsoft.com... >> Congratulations, Tony! >> >>> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single >>> time! >> >> I KNOW the feeling! And I always feel so good after a successful flash. >> ;<) >> >> Once a flash went bad and I had to order a new EEPROM from some guy >> online. Everything went OK, but I was nervous until it was done. My >> current mobo was bought in December 2006 (EPoX MF570sli AM2 >> (http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-MF570SLI) w/Athlon 64 X2 5000+ >> CPU); its BIOS was dated 08/01/2006 and no updates have been posted since >> then. I started with 2 GB PC6400 and added another 2 GB last November. >> It's still running rock-solid. ;<) >> >> RC >> >> "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message >> news:eVc6d7eaIHA.5976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>> I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to >>> 1603! >>> >>> Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely since >>> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single >>> time! >>> >>> The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while back >>> and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it >>> now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory >>> ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they >>> eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! >>> >>> >>> Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say >>> 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! >>> >>> (. . .if I can find it?) >>> >>> >>> Tony. . .
Guest Tony Sperling Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Re: Congratulate me. . ! A UPS is probably a very good thing to have, Carlos - a bit expensive it used to be, but with the highest security. It's true, it is not every year we have a power failure, so they are always particularly shocking to us when they happen. I remember a short while after New York was out for 4 days, some years ago, Sweden was hit by an explosion at a small transfer installation (we buy lots of Swedish power from their Hydro-Powerplants), this had nearly the complete Danish network go off-line for one day. On both sides, nobody was aware of the consequences on the other side! Here where I am, power came back after some six hours, but supply was very unpredictable. That is a 'once-in-a-lifetime', event. Even the heavy hurricanes we expect to keep us in the cold and dark for maybe an hour or so. When Katrina stopped twisting, she payed us a visit, and layed down half the forrests all across mid Scandinavia, some of the more isolated Swedes were left powerless for two weeks, or more. Under normal conditions, anything beyond some three - four hours of outage once in three years, is unheard-of. It's a nice, safe place to be - no earthquakes, no poisonous snakes, no tsunamis - hence our long vacations! Here, if we stay home and broadband is up, we die of stupidity and boredom - not good for productivity. One thing I particularly like about the Asus Updater, is that if I download the *.BIN file, the Updater verifies it before flashing, this is very comforting. What scares me about the whole process is that if something goes wrong, that I should turn off the power myself as a spinal reaction. Having saved the current BIOS data in it's own *.BIN file, as a safety measure, apparently it should be possible to flash back the original as long as you have your BIOS in memory. Well, I didn't have the occasion to test that yet, but it sure sounds good. Tony. . . "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:BBFEF361-ECDE-4098-BE3A-ADBD5FCB4112@microsoft.com... > Congratulations, Tony! > One of the things I have done in order to ease the pain is to have an UPS > permanently powering my PC. > That ensures that no power outage will interrupt the flashing process. > Power outages may not be common in Denmark, but down here in Argentina... > Carlos > > "Tony Sperling" wrote: > >> It's a really strange thing. >> >> When the finger hovers over the enter key or the pointer on the OK >> button, I >> press it with almost absolute certainty of impending disaster while >> mumbling >> the magic incantation:"Don't turn off the power - don't turn off the >> power - >> don't turn off the power!". >> >> Well, so far, I've always been lucky. This is not my first Asus board, >> but I >> must confess - they have me impressed now. It took them a while to issue >> the >> first update but they've come trickling in a steady rate since and the >> system software is extremely solid and mostly to my liking. I've had my >> share of MSI boards too, and I've always liked the boards themselves, but >> I >> slowly tired of the various ALI and VIA chipsets, which was mostly junk >> for >> me. By far the most reliable board before this one was an Asrock (it >> still >> is!) with an SiS chipset - only thing was, it was my first 64bit machine >> and >> I didn't know what to ask for so they gave me a socket 939 which ended up >> being depressing, since I'd expected to have dual-channel memory. Well, >> it's >> still an amazing machine and I no longer care! Except it's an AGP board >> and >> I must keep watch so I don't miss the last batch of cards without >> noticing. >> >> It's like you say, RC. It really feels GOOD and you are left with the >> impression that you know what you are doing - at least until the next >> time, >> heh? >> >> >> Tony. . . >> >> >> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message >> news:1EE9BF76-0F9E-4BEB-A409-44CE1BD5C68A@microsoft.com... >> > Congratulations, Tony! >> > >> >> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single >> >> time! >> > >> > I KNOW the feeling! And I always feel so good after a successful >> > flash. >> > ;<) >> > >> > Once a flash went bad and I had to order a new EEPROM from some guy >> > online. Everything went OK, but I was nervous until it was done. My >> > current mobo was bought in December 2006 (EPoX MF570sli AM2 >> > (http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-MF570SLI) w/Athlon 64 X2 >> > 5000+ >> > CPU); its BIOS was dated 08/01/2006 and no updates have been posted >> > since >> > then. I started with 2 GB PC6400 and added another 2 GB last November. >> > It's still running rock-solid. ;<) >> > >> > RC >> > -- >> > R. C. White, CPA >> > San Marcos, TX >> > rc@grandecom.net >> > Microsoft Windows MVP >> > (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1) >> > >> > "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message >> > news:eVc6d7eaIHA.5976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> >> I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to >> >> 1603! >> >> >> >> Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely >> >> since >> >> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single >> >> time! >> >> >> >> The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while >> >> back >> >> and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it >> >> now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory >> >> ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they >> >> eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! >> >> >> >> >> >> Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say >> >> 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! >> >> >> >> (. . .if I can find it?) >> >> >> >> >> >> Tony. . . >> > >> >> >>
Guest Tony Sperling Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Re: Congratulate me. . ! Yes, I remember those - I also remember one manufacturer had a HD mounted on an expansion card that came with (or could be had with?) an internal UPS for immidiate back-ups and safe shut-down! I'm darned if I can remember the name, it was a well known brand, I think? I thought that sounded neat at the time. But you are right If you need it, going half-way doesn't cut the mustard. In Denmark we have a device we call a 'split-transformer' in dubious translation, they are usefull if you live very close or very far from your power station, or have old and unreliable installations. A UPS, they're not but I suspect that is the sort of thing they use in the modern version you mention. I don't really understand this, but if the switching parts are isolated from each other via a electromagnetic field, perhaps your electrician has a point there? Charlie talked me into ordering a good quality PSU for this machine. I got a Seasonic M12 and I've since had a few brownouts here that instantly shut down two other machines while this one didn't even flicker! (Thanks, Charlie!) Tony. . . "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message news:1BBB4DCA-B2F5-4936-8DF3-1017CA1C5C8C@microsoft.com... > Hi, Tony. > > I'm with Carlos: UPS is the oooonly way to go! > > Got my first one about 25 years ago. It cost me nearly $1,000. But it > saved me more than once when thunderstorms rolled through southeastern > Oklahoma. I could just see myself trying to explain to my clients and the > IRS that all those tax returns were late because of a storm in the second > week of April that scrambled the FAT on my hard drive. > > That was a true UNINTERRUPTIBLE power supply. There was no "switching > time" in its specs because it never switched. It powered my computer from > the battery all the time, while continually recharging the battery from > the wall plug. All I can find today are BACKUP power supplies wearing the > UPS label. They feed conditioned power straight through from the wall to > the computer, with the always-fully-charged battery standing by for > virtually-instant switching in case the mains fail. It seems to me that > the true UPS is better because there are never any brownouts or surges > because only steady power comes from the battery; any fluctuations affect > only the recharging side of the battery, not the side that feeds the > computer. But my electrician friends tell me that it doesn't really work > that way and that a modern BPS is just as good as my old UPS. > > One thing that first UPS taught me was DO NOT PLUG IN A LASER PRINTER! > When the laser fires, its power surge will kill any but the biggest UPS. > It killed my first one when I plugged in a Xerox 4045. :>( > > This is my third EPoX mobo and they've all been excellent. My second one > (8KDA3+ with AMD 64 3200) is now in my grandson's computer. These last > two allow BIOS updates from within Windows; a much less-traumatic > experience. The first two had several BIOS updates, but this one hasn't > needed any. ;<) > > RC > -- > R. C. White, CPA > San Marcos, TX > rc@grandecom.net > Microsoft Windows MVP > (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1) > > "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message > news:ejN#zPgaIHA.4144@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> It's a really strange thing. >> >> When the finger hovers over the enter key or the pointer on the OK >> button, I press it with almost absolute certainty of impending disaster >> while mumbling the magic incantation:"Don't turn off the power - don't >> turn off the power - don't turn off the power!". >> >> Well, so far, I've always been lucky. This is not my first Asus board, >> but I must confess - they have me impressed now. It took them a while to >> issue the first update but they've come trickling in a steady rate since >> and the system software is extremely solid and mostly to my liking. I've >> had my share of MSI boards too, and I've always liked the boards >> themselves, but I slowly tired of the various ALI and VIA chipsets, which >> was mostly junk for me. By far the most reliable board before this one >> was an Asrock (it still is!) with an SiS chipset - only thing was, it was >> my first 64bit machine and I didn't know what to ask for so they gave me >> a socket 939 which ended up being depressing, since I'd expected to have >> dual-channel memory. Well, it's still an amazing machine and I no longer >> care! Except it's an AGP board and I must keep watch so I don't miss the >> last batch of cards without noticing. >> >> It's like you say, RC. It really feels GOOD and you are left with the >> impression that you know what you are doing - at least until the next >> time, heh? >> >> >> Tony. . . >> >> >> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message >> news:1EE9BF76-0F9E-4BEB-A409-44CE1BD5C68A@microsoft.com... >>> Congratulations, Tony! >>> >>>> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single >>>> time! >>> >>> I KNOW the feeling! And I always feel so good after a successful flash. >>> ;<) >>> >>> Once a flash went bad and I had to order a new EEPROM from some guy >>> online. Everything went OK, but I was nervous until it was done. My >>> current mobo was bought in December 2006 (EPoX MF570sli AM2 >>> (http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-MF570SLI) w/Athlon 64 X2 >>> 5000+ CPU); its BIOS was dated 08/01/2006 and no updates have been >>> posted since then. I started with 2 GB PC6400 and added another 2 GB >>> last November. It's still running rock-solid. ;<) >>> >>> RC >>> >>> "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message >>> news:eVc6d7eaIHA.5976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>>> I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to >>>> 1603! >>>> >>>> Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely >>>> since flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every >>>> single time! >>>> >>>> The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while back >>>> and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it >>>> now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory >>>> ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they >>>> eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! >>>> >>>> >>>> Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say >>>> 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! >>>> >>>> (. . .if I can find it?) >>>> >>>> >>>> Tony. . . >
Guest Carlos Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Re: Congratulate me. . ! R.C., I am running 2 pc's at home with two cheapo separate backup ups's One in APC and the other is Lyonn. Power outages are quite common here in summer due to the strong winds banging the aerial power cables. The setup has worked flawlessly. Carlos "R. C. White" wrote: > Hi, Tony. > > I'm with Carlos: UPS is the oooonly way to go! > > Got my first one about 25 years ago. It cost me nearly $1,000. But it > saved me more than once when thunderstorms rolled through southeastern > Oklahoma. I could just see myself trying to explain to my clients and the > IRS that all those tax returns were late because of a storm in the second > week of April that scrambled the FAT on my hard drive. > > That was a true UNINTERRUPTIBLE power supply. There was no "switching time" > in its specs because it never switched. It powered my computer from the > battery all the time, while continually recharging the battery from the wall > plug. All I can find today are BACKUP power supplies wearing the UPS label. > They feed conditioned power straight through from the wall to the computer, > with the always-fully-charged battery standing by for virtually-instant > switching in case the mains fail. It seems to me that the true UPS is > better because there are never any brownouts or surges because only steady > power comes from the battery; any fluctuations affect only the recharging > side of the battery, not the side that feeds the computer. But my > electrician friends tell me that it doesn't really work that way and that a > modern BPS is just as good as my old UPS. > > One thing that first UPS taught me was DO NOT PLUG IN A LASER PRINTER! When > the laser fires, its power surge will kill any but the biggest UPS. It > killed my first one when I plugged in a Xerox 4045. :>( > > This is my third EPoX mobo and they've all been excellent. My second one > (8KDA3+ with AMD 64 3200) is now in my grandson's computer. These last two > allow BIOS updates from within Windows; a much less-traumatic experience. > The first two had several BIOS updates, but this one hasn't needed any. ;<) > > RC > -- > R. C. White, CPA > San Marcos, TX > rc@grandecom.net > Microsoft Windows MVP > (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1) > > "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message > news:ejN#zPgaIHA.4144@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > > It's a really strange thing. > > > > When the finger hovers over the enter key or the pointer on the OK button, > > I press it with almost absolute certainty of impending disaster while > > mumbling the magic incantation:"Don't turn off the power - don't turn off > > the power - don't turn off the power!". > > > > Well, so far, I've always been lucky. This is not my first Asus board, but > > I must confess - they have me impressed now. It took them a while to issue > > the first update but they've come trickling in a steady rate since and the > > system software is extremely solid and mostly to my liking. I've had my > > share of MSI boards too, and I've always liked the boards themselves, but > > I slowly tired of the various ALI and VIA chipsets, which was mostly junk > > for me. By far the most reliable board before this one was an Asrock (it > > still is!) with an SiS chipset - only thing was, it was my first 64bit > > machine and I didn't know what to ask for so they gave me a socket 939 > > which ended up being depressing, since I'd expected to have dual-channel > > memory. Well, it's still an amazing machine and I no longer care! Except > > it's an AGP board and I must keep watch so I don't miss the last batch of > > cards without noticing. > > > > It's like you say, RC. It really feels GOOD and you are left with the > > impression that you know what you are doing - at least until the next > > time, heh? > > > > > > Tony. . . > > > > > > "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message > > news:1EE9BF76-0F9E-4BEB-A409-44CE1BD5C68A@microsoft.com... > >> Congratulations, Tony! > >> > >>> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single > >>> time! > >> > >> I KNOW the feeling! And I always feel so good after a successful flash. > >> ;<) > >> > >> Once a flash went bad and I had to order a new EEPROM from some guy > >> online. Everything went OK, but I was nervous until it was done. My > >> current mobo was bought in December 2006 (EPoX MF570sli AM2 > >> (http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-MF570SLI) w/Athlon 64 X2 5000+ > >> CPU); its BIOS was dated 08/01/2006 and no updates have been posted since > >> then. I started with 2 GB PC6400 and added another 2 GB last November. > >> It's still running rock-solid. ;<) > >> > >> RC > >> > >> "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message > >> news:eVc6d7eaIHA.5976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > >>> I've just succesfully updated my BIOS (Asus M2N32) from version 903 to > >>> 1603! > >>> > >>> Oh, I know it's a trivial thing, and I've been doing this, largely since > >>> flashing was new, but this gives me the shakin' willies every single > >>> time! > >>> > >>> The system was stable, but they tweaked the memory timings a while back > >>> and this is the fourth or fifth update since, and I just had to try it > >>> now - I don't remember precisely, but I think Sandra upped the memory > >>> ratings and it makes me feel rather good right now. Anyway, when they > >>> eventually crack the Phenom difficulties, I'll be ready! > >>> > >>> > >>> Have a nice - whatever it is that you're all doing - I'm off to say > >>> 'Hello' to a bottle of Islay Malt! > >>> > >>> (. . .if I can find it?) > >>> > >>> > >>> Tony. . . >
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