NF7's new beat bios available...

v1.x http://fae.abit.com.tw/download/beta....x/nf719b0.zip

v2.0 http://fae.abit.com.tw/download/beta...0/nf7d14b1.zip

Fixes: SATA RAID0 data corruption, cpu temp reading, HyperX compatibility, FSB up to 300MHz

Cheers! :banana:

300Mhz FSB!!!!

I think the mobo can support it, but finding memory that can run at that speed!!!

600mhz DDR Dual Channel...Now get me some PC4800 memory :)

I just d/l it and can't go past 200fsb now as before I was at 222 sucks for me,hehe.

1. Fixed CPU temperature too high issue.

woohoo!!!

i sense OPP is going 300MHz ;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by EQuito
hehe...
btw: they fixed temperature readings too, they're right on the money now!

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You absolutely sure on that? I'm only raising the question....well, because I'm getting 23c idle/28c full-tilt on what you see in my sig.....on a AX-7 + a Tornado.

If that's the case, and they are truly accurate....well....looks like 2500mhz isn't the barrier for me anymore.

Ya they knocked off about 10 degrees off the temps alot more accurate now. I have a temp probe right next to my cpu die and its 1 degree warmer than what bios says.
I got her working good agian this bios is little wierd with the mem timings now. But I got her running at 230x11 and the mem timings at 4,2,2,2 and passed 3dmark with no problem and before it would not pass at 227 so diffenitly alot better there. Seems very stable at first it was f00ked but you just have to mess with the mem timings and voltages. And of coarse it goes up to 300fsb in bios not that I need it but someone might. There's alot of changes like fsb/ram has auto now, shows that your running dual channel, and a bunch of other little things I like. I hope this is enough info for you guys,lol.:D

ooo ooo i'll download this sometime tonight maybe and let everyone know how it goes. Looks promising, although mook, your temps are way too low IMHO unless you've got a very cold room.

Thanks EQuito,

You da man!:D

Thanks...I'll give it a whirl.

Was thinking a new bios would take 2-3 month :D

As I yesterday updated my bios to 1.2 and could not revert back to 1.0.

I 'll try immediately...:cool:

Flash went fine...playing with it now...so far I love it! Who modded this bios? This isn't from Abit?

Quote:

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Originally posted by TheDude
Flash went fine...playing with it now...so far I love it! Who modded this bios? This isn't from Abit?

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I think it is indeed from abit :eek:

Cause the changes...

3. Fixed SATA RAID-0 data corruption issue by adding a new option "EXT-P2P's
Discard Time" in "integrated Peripherals". The default setting is "30 us"
; which is recommended by NVidia. In case the problem is still there, try
"1 ms" please.
4. Changed DDR400 DRAM timing according to NVidia's recommendation.
5. Updated BPL to v3.01 according to NVidia's recommendation.

It must be... :cool:

Cool....they are really starting to get on the ball lately!:D

But....what's with the "new beat" thing...doesn't sound like abit... just noticed it's an Abit link so must be..I'm impressed!

Yeah temps are fixed now, looks like a 10C drop. It also seems more stable at high FSB, now priming away at 240FSB, maybe 250FSB next? :D And I love the option to have 300FSB but I doubt I'll get there anytime soon ;) Now I wonder if there going to adjust for the VCore undervolting? But if they don't, I really don't care since I have alot of head room anyways,

Calcu

Quote:

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Originally posted by TheDude
But....what's with the "new beat" thing...doesn't sound like abit...

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dude it's a typo: "new beta" :p

hey sweet, and i should be ordering my NF7-S V2.0 soon. :D

it is secure or not to flash this bios? at nf7-s 2.0??

i've haven't heard any probems with flashing the BIOS on Nforce2 boards in quite a while. maybe the kinks have been worked out.

Quote:

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Originally posted by beatnic
dude it's a typo: "new beta" :p

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DUH! LOL Thanks Beatnic :D

Come on OP, it's the 300 fsb challenge! ;)

I got the impression that maybe the changes in the pc3200 timings recommended by nvidia have sth to do with our issue. Could boot into windows at 225 dual and do sandra mem benches but complete no 3dmark - flaky at the beginning and dropping me bach to desktop.

But at 215 I could prime 1,5hours without a hickup, but 3dm2k1 dropped me at nature test. Weired... :confused:

WTH did they do?

Quote:

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Originally posted by MickeyMouse
I have too much of a good thing going on right now on my 2.0 to risk losing anything :) allthough it might speed things up some, lol.. what to do what to do :)

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Just being able to see correct temps is worth it for me. :D

Flashed it as well. Running fine but about the same as with the earlier bios. If you check the fsb options now we have 234 and 235 which were missing before.

I tried things like 270 and 6/5 ram dividers, but my setup definitely don't boot like that....

I didn't take much notice of that. Will have to have a look later. However I don't think so.

It would just be great if the cpu v-core didn't under volt so much. I still get up to .1 of a volt under at times of high load. Maybe if there were better caps at the mosfets. Another mod in the making.. :rolleyes:

[LORD EDIT: Before I forget. Mickey, volts are 2, 2.03, 2.06. Just to be different]

Quote:

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Originally posted by MickeyMouse
ahh so the missing fsb sped are in there now. what about vcore?? do we have 2v,2.025v,2.05v, and so on??

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FSB goes in 1MHz increments all the way to 300 now, but VCore is still the same. Now to get a CPU that likes high voltage :D

Calcu

I've been playing with the new bios for about 3 hours now. It is all good so far !!!

Temps are fixed for sure, right on the money with my probe on cpu.

No longer likes slots 1 & 3 for me, went back to 2 & 3.

Was able to get 3 mhz more on dc sync. :) not much but a good improvement just from a bios update.

Quote:

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Originally posted by MickeyMouse
no you mean a 2700mhz 1.9v chip don't ya ;)

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That would be better ;)

Calcu

I think this BIOS also increased the memory controller's efficiency. Check this out. 200 fsb DC w/HyperX PC3000 2-2-2-5. I'll see what I can crank out of it later tonight. Here's also a bit of news to me. Apparently, according to CPU-Z, I have an A2 stepping NB and A3 SB. Yet it reaches ~210mhz stable with 1.7v (haven't had the chance to push it further yet. I haven't checked the reading on the NB yet though.

Note: I accidentally posted this info on the overclocking board

I just flashed and went right to 250Mhz (have been there b4 the new bios) and all was fine. Then I tried 252Mhz and it all went to sh*t. It booted fine but froze loading windows and froze going into the bios.

Has anyone hit more than 250 yet?

Steve

been playing with the new bios for a couple hours now. and so far
im happy with the results.

seems to be working ok. still no 226fsb OR 224fsb on mine.

its knocked 10c off my temp readings.

tried 227fsb, still fails <1min just like it did before, regardless of timings and even though itll run at 225 and 7/2/2/2. its the crappy hardware on the boards themselves limiting the fsb, not the bios.

its also still reporting incorrect fsb speeds at the POST screen, always 2mhz below what it should be except when on default 200fsb, only then does it read correctly at 400fsb. no big but not exactly hard to fix either. its also still making the strange beep on boot sometimes, as well as the siren noise every now and then when you change bios settings.

identical in every way to 1.0 and 1.2 for me except for temp reading.

Right I downloaded this morning and now waiting to get back from work to flash it :)

Which slots should I have my ram in then on my v1.2?? I have 1 and 3 but it confused me in the txt file about slots 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 whcih ever it is :p which slots should it be??

Quote:

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Originally posted by Firelord-OCHW
Right I downloaded this morning and now waiting to get back from work to flash it :)

Which slots should I have my ram in then on my v1.2?? I have 1 and 3 but it confused me in the txt file about slots 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 whcih ever it is :p which slots should it be??

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In the past it's always been considered 1-3. However I believe, Abit recommends 2-3 for Dual Channel operation.

300 for a FSB?

jesus...

has anyone even got past 250?
even like 253 or something?

I just ask cause I wonder if it's another phantom feature, like hacked bios for A7N8X and VDD voltages to 1.8.
hopefully it's not cause I wanna see some crazy high FSB's.

;)

Just flashed it up now!

Getting much more acurate tempterature reading, i sense some 2.5ghz action with my new 1800+ :D

Quote:

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Originally posted by TheDude
DUH! LOL Thanks Beatnic :D

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or is that Betanic :)

Quote:

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Originally posted by MickeyMouse
ahh so the missing fsb sped are in there now. what about vcore?? do we have 2v,2.025v,2.05v, and so on??

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212fsb is still out for me in this new bios .

my idle temps dropped 11.5° , load dropped 9.5°

can't oc any higher though , can loop prime all day at 219fsb but 3dmark locks up on everything above 210 .
so i'm running 209 fo now :rolleyes:

I uploaded to my web server since it was down for me a couple times, and now it's super slow (in the bytes)

http://www.gmpexpress.net/~kencap/nf719b0.zip

btw i havent tried it yet.. im gonna try it in a couple minutes though

I cant wait to get home and flash my bios so I can see what my watercooling can really do!!!! Thanks guys!!!:toast:

Quote:

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Originally posted by Kalway
I think this BIOS also increased the memory controller's efficiency. Check this out. 200 fsb DC w/HyperX PC3000 2-2-2-5. I'll see what I can crank out of it later tonight. Here's also a bit of news to me. Apparently, according to CPU-Z, I have an A2 stepping NB and A3 SB. Yet it reaches ~210mhz stable with 1.7v (haven't had the chance to push it further yet. I haven't checked the reading on the NB yet though.

Note: I accidentally posted this info on the overclocking board

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Is that on a v2.0? I didn't any notice any difference in bandwidth results on my v1.2, @200fsb 5-2-2-2 I get ~40MB/s less than that. :(

Temps are now the same as they used to be on my KX7-333, I can't believe it took them that long to fix this. :rolleyes:

Maybe they got fed up answering questions about high temperatures and just added temp=temp-10 to the bios. :lol:

Now they'll be getting complaints from ppl who have fried their cpu. :D

But unless my KX7 also displayed wrong temps these seem closer to the mark to me. Makes me feel happier anyway. :)

Quote:

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Originally posted by MrLavender
Is that on a v2.0? I didn't any notice any difference in bandwidth results on my v1.2, @200fsb 5-2-2-2 I get ~40MB/s less than that. :(

Temps are now the same as they used to be on my KX7-333, I can't believe it took them that long to fix this. :rolleyes:

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Look at the sig! v1.2, which is fine with me since 2.0 has HyperX issues and I LOOOOVE my HyperX. Having switched from Kingmax to GeIL to HyperX is quite a path. I noticed my temps are about 7-9C lower.

On the temperature issue on 2.0's, reflash it with this BIOS again and it might fix it. I heard this on the FM boards where a guy was getting 9C idle and he reflashed it so it then correctly read ~30C. The SATA corruption issue is another good thing solved with it.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Kalway
Look at the sig! v1.2, which is fine with me since 2.0 has HyperX issues...

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Not anymore. They fixed that too with beta v1.4 :D

Oh happy day!!

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kzimme...MI/oldtemp.gif

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kzimme...MI/wtlight.gif

:banana:

I don't know what bios I was on but it looks like I have corrected the incorrect fsb issue I was seeing... Setting the bios to 166 resulted in 332FSB now its 333, cool:thumbsup:

I flashed last night and what an a$$hole BIOS to get setup properly. For me to get it stable @ my usual 202FSB I had to set to performance default and then reboot run for a bit and then run again to set settings :rolleyes: :stick:

Nice to see the temp thing sorted though :toast:

The temps are RUBBISH now!!!

I did loads of testing with this board(NF7-S V1.2), my Epox 8RDA+ and my MSI 745 Ultra with a temperature controlled fan and a Digidoc with 2 thermal sensors.....

While the MSI and Epox boards generally read 7 to 10C too low compared to the thermal sensors the Abit board was more or less bang on.

Now with this new BIOS the temps are just stupidly low, like 10C lower than what both my thermal sensors on DigiDoc read!

I think the same problem has happened that happened with Epox and their 8K3A board.

They make a board that reads internal diode or has another more acurate way of reading temps. But as temps are higher stupid noobs complain too much when they don't know what they are talking about, and basically hassle Epox and Abit into "fixing" the "problem" that doesn't even exist! The problem is the user!! ARGHH!

Oh well, rant over, I just know not to trust any motherboard's temp sensors now as they are all just innaccurate!

Quote:

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Originally posted by Walrusbonzo
They make a board that reads internal diode or has another more acurate way of reading temps. But as temps are higher stupid noobs complain too much when they don't know what they are talking about, and basically hassle Epox and Abit into "fixing" the "problem" that doesn't even exist! The problem is the user!! ARGHH!

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But the NF7-S doesn't read the internal diode does it? That's why I'm expecting the temps to be about the same as my KX7 using the in-socket sensor...

I just flashed mine and now have the same temps with the same chip as on another NF2 board and a KT333 board at 3 settings on each. I do think that temp reporting on the NF7 series is via the in-socket sensor and the Thermal Protection is via the internal diode.

Wow,

this bios did nothing for me... Im not sure what Abit's deal is with the temperature thing, but my temperature doesnt change when the processor is idle or under 100% load... Obviously like everyone else the new bios dropped about 10c off my temp's... but I still think the temp sensor is horribly innacurate...

I heard someone in another thread say that this bios fixed the Kingston HyperX problem... is there any truth to this? because ill be really angry since I just RMA'd my HyperX 3500 back to Newegg for this very reason two days ago...

As my luck would have it, something like this will happen, the new bios will make the board love HyperX and hate Corsair which is what im exchanging for... guess we'll see how bad my luck is when more users try the bios...

Someone with HyperX 3500 please post and see if your max FSB has gone up from this bios!

Quote:

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Originally posted by MrLavender
But the NF7-S doesn't read the internal diode does it? That's why I'm expecting the temps to be about the same as my KX7 using the in-socket sensor...

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I never said it uses the internal diode. But it uses an in socket sensor that I made sure was pressed right up the backside of the CPU. So it should be reading fairly accurate temps.

Now I tested this against the Epox 8RDA+ which has a sensor in embedded in the board, miles away from the back of the CPU, so how do you expect it to give accurate temps? It will be reading in socket air temps, NOT the temps from the CPU, so it's bound to be low, the socket isn't air tight!!! I can also say that by using my highly sensitive hand that when the Epox board says 50C, the CPU heatsink is way hotter than 50C! Yet my on the Abit board the temps feel about right.

Anyway, like I said, I used 2 sensors from my DigiDoc 5 and used a thermally controlled Fan to get an idea of CPU temps, I had all 3 sensors placed right next to the CPU core, topside. I found the Abit NF7-S was about bang on, usualy 1 to 2C higher. But the 8RDA+ was reading 10C too low. I just got annoyed hearing people say the 8RDA+ was accurate and the NF7-S wasn't.

Put it like this, if we did use internal diode temps they would be 10C~ higher than most in socket sensors, but the NF7-S is an exception due to the fact you can get the sensor to touch the CPU rather than just reading the air temps in the socket.

Now Abit have ruined this by reducing the temp readings in the BIOS because too many idiots complained.

Look what happened to Epox and their 8k3A, it read from the internal diode of the CPU and obviously read more accurate temps than any in socket sensor. But as they were higher, as expected, some idiots complained to Epox so much, and gave them so much hassle that they went back to inaccurate in socket sensors. Holst(A Epox tech) of AOAForums confirmed this.

Read This Thread on AMDMB

This bios sucks....I have seen no real improvment.The only thing I have seen is that my CPU temp wen't way down and that on bootup it will sometimes report wrong memory speeds and cpu speeds like with what I got now (230x11) it shows that the memory speed is 558mhz dual channel...

Quote:

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Originally posted by Walrusbonzo
Put it like this, if we did use internal diode temps they would be 10C~ higher than most in socket sensors, but the NF7-S is an exception due to the fact you can get the sensor to touch the CPU rather than just reading the air temps in the socket.[/URL]

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The KX7-333 uses exactly the same sensor arrangement that can be bent up to touch the cpu. And my temps are now the same as I got with that. Even touching the back of the cpu temps are still going to be lower than the on-die diode, the substrate is not a good heat conductor.

With my KX7 I knew that anything over 50C was getting hotter than I wanted, that's why the NF7 temps seemed high to me, even idle temps were well over 40C. I always thought that ABit just bumped up the temps so they compared with boards that were using the XP diode (or being more cynical, to make it look like they were using the diode...).

I've seen other ppl comparing the reported temps to a sensor placed next to the cpu die and saying that the old ones were too high. Your mileage may vary...

In the end you either like the lower reported temps or you don't, no point arguing about it. Just add on 10C like I used to subtract it from the old reading. ;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Method Man
This bios sucks....I have seen no real improvment...

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really? this BETA bios wasn't design to improve things but rather fix things.
The fix to SATA data corruption alone it's worth flashing this BETA bios.

Snoodge, I have some hyperX 256mb pc3500 and now in dual channel i am able to go to 210(420) while before i was only able to go to 185. My roomate was able to take the same sticks to 460 dual channel. Maybe with a little more tinkering i can get higher. I only messed with it for about 5 minute and had to leave for the weekend. I will be going home soon to tinker somemore.

Until i can hit 450 dual channel or higher i am sticking to a single stick which runs great at 490.

I knew it!!! I knew that as soon as I RMA'd my HyperX something would happen that would make it run just fine... this is such nonsense...

arghhhhhhh...

well... XMS 3500 couldnt hurt me could it... shouldnt be a problem...

...72 hours so far and raid1 is problem free. The SATA issue was my only issue with the board.

Quote:

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Originally posted by sequoia464
...72 hours so far and raid1 is problem free. The SATA issue was my only issue with the board.

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As Homer would say....."WoooooHoooooo" :toast:

That is real good to hear.

Just curious, those using the SATA interface for stand alone drives, have nothing to worry about when not using this BIOS?

I've recently gone to an NF7-S 1.2, and purchased a 1200JB. I have setup both using the SATA interface/IDE -> SATA adaptor.

Bravo,

According to reports on other forums, single drives are not immune to corruption but it's harder to detect.
In my case, I never had corruption either way (single or raid). I even tried really hard to make it happened just for testing purposes to no avail.

I Flashed this beta bios but I Cant boot, am I´m doing something Wrong?: I get past the cpu and DDR speeds screen then it goes blank, flashed 1.2 back and everything it´s ok now

Quote:

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Originally posted by Bravo
Just curious, those using the SATA interface for stand alone drives, have nothing to worry about when not using this BIOS?

I've recently gone to an NF7-S 1.2, and purchased a 1200JB. I have setup both using the SATA interface/IDE -> SATA adaptor.

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I've been running my 1.2 + single 800JB on SATA for about 3 months now with no corruption problems (with the .28 SiI3112 driver). My only complaint is that either the SATA cable or the convertor is a POS in terms of connection reliability, I've lost count of the number of times that it has failed to see the drive on boot and the only way to fix that is to take the side off the case and jiggle the connector around a bit. :rolleyes:

Like EQuito says though I have seen reports of problems even with single drives, just hasn't happened to me. Although I would be willing to bet that at least some of those problems could be put down to too tight ram timings...ppl do get corruption on IDE too for that very reason.

had regular corruption with my single 800jb when i was using the sata adapter on my nf7-s 2.0. eventually worked out it was probably the sata and not my overclock attempts. putit on the ide and havent had a single corruption since.

shame it gave me several bad sectors on my new drive before i noticed it.

how do i flash it?
do i put all files in to a floppy disc and make a botable dos dics? then what?

Yes, then boot into DOS and type runme.

Quote:

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Originally posted by twiggy
Yes, then boot into DOS and type runme.

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thx :cool:

ok i have flashed it now :D now i will go play with it

It's advertised to get there, so no. STARTS DREAMING.......... ;)

Calcu

i dont like this bios, the original bios allowed higher fsb :( , btw can anyone recommend a good bios for abit nf7-s v1.2

Is it only this beta bios that allows fsb adjustments in 1mhz increments??? I hate the 245 to 250 jump....not too mention the others also.. Just wondering if there was an official bios that allowed this...

;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Lunatic
i dont like this bios, the original bios allowed higher fsb :( , btw can anyone recommend a good bios for abit nf7-s v1.2

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I was running the 16 bios before flashing this one, that worked very well for me (as does the 19beta).

Guess I'll have to learn the NF7 bios's now............ considering I just ordered 1 and an 1800 DLT3..........:D :banana:

Should have some fun next week :D

Needed to try something else for some fun.:)

Unfortunately I have a TP480.
It runs well, but no adjustable rails, and haven't seen a mod for it yet........ I was hoping that with the TrueControl out now we may have been able to spot the differences between them, but I haven't seen anything as of yet.

May be fine as it is, we'll see though... and if not, well I may just have to get another......
Still trying to save some Mad Money for a prommy too :D

:D

I do have a 156W pelt for the northy if needed though.......:D

Bios 14 is now official: Download ;)

So is 19 for the v1.2 - http://fae.abit.com.tw/eng/download/bios/nf7-s.htm

BTW, I've noticed a weird bug, I don't know if this was in the previous versions or not. If I set the bios password to System (don't ask ;)) then the boot process locks up after the SATA bios has detected my HD (single WD800JB). Anyone else?