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First post, by retro games 100

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I have an Abit KT7A mobo, non-raid, version 1.3. Currently, it has the wrong BIOS chip in it. (This BIOS chip was taken from a version 1.1 board.) This 1.3 board I have works OK, but when the BIOS POST screen appears, it tells me that the installed CPU is "unknown". My aim is to install a t-bred CPU in it (eg 2400+), and run it at 133fsb. Therefore, I would like to replace the incorrect "1.1 BIOS" chip, with a new one, with the correct BIOS file. A BIOS repair web shop told me in a tech support email -

"I have the EON EN29F002NT here in a pdip package. I also have the bios kt7_a9.BIN."

I don't understand this technical jargon - is this message correct? Also, is this "a9 file" OK for a non-raid version 1.3 board? Many thanks for any advice - I know there are a couple of Abit gurus out there!

Reply 1 of 9, by h-a-l-9000

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDIP (vs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_leaded_chip_carrier)
Look at your flash chip to see if it's the correct package type.

EON EN29F002NT is the chip number under the sticker.

EN = manufacturer specific prefix
29F = flash memory
002 = 256 kbytes
NT = manufacturer specific variant

It's a good sign if the number on your current chip matches. Some BIOSes/boards might support other types too though.

1+1=10

Reply 2 of 9, by Amigaz

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The BIOS stuff for the rev 1.3 board is here.
What suprises me though is that the latest BIOS date is from the year 2002 😵

My retro computer stuff: https://lychee.jjserver.net/#16136303902327

Reply 4 of 9, by retro games 100

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Amigaz wrote:

Unfortunately that webpage is entirely dedicated to the Abit raid boards, versions 1.0 - 1.2, and also 1.3. I have a non raid board, version 1.3

Reply 5 of 9, by retro games 100

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Looking at the "1.1 BIOS" chip on the Abit mobo, it is long and rectangular and has 32 metal legs, 16 on either side. The sticker on the chip says Award 1998. It looks like a typical BIOS chip, from that era. I don't want to scratch off the sticker, mainly because they are difficult to remove. I can see this small amount of information on it -

[STICKER IS IN THE WAY]-70
[STICKER IS IN THE WAY]7B0C

Reply 6 of 9, by retro games 100

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I think I've found the correct BIOS for the version 1.3 non-raid board -

ftp://ftp.abit.com.tw/pub/download/bios/kt7_1.3/ (kt7sb4.exe)

This kt7sb4.exe file includes the file KT7S_B4.BIN. The "read me" file says -

"Official BIOS release B4 for KT7A/KT7A-RAID V1.3 - BIOS Compile Date: 8/22/2002"

However, this is confusing - there is a beta BIOS here -

ftp://ftp.abit.com.tw/pub/download/beta/kt7s/ (b4_2351.zip)

This b4_2351.zip file also includes the file kt7s_b4.bin. The "read me" file says -

"Beta BIOS release A9 for KT7A V1.3 - Based on official release BIOS KT7S_B4"

So, am I correct in thinking that the A9 release immediately above is *newer* than the B4 release? Also, am I right in thinking that both of these BIOSes are OK for a non-raid 1.3 board?

Reply 7 of 9, by HunterZ

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Sounds like KT7A-RAID is the raid board, and KT7A is the non-RAID, so it should be fine.

Reply 8 of 9, by retro games 100

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Unfortunately the abit ftp site appears to be down. It's been inactive for about a day now. I need the BIOS file for a revision 1.1 Non-raid board. Anyone got this file, please? 😀

Reply 9 of 9, by Amigaz

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retro games 100 wrote:

Unfortunately the abit ftp site appears to be down. It's been inactive for about a day now. I need the BIOS file for a revision 1.1 Non-raid board. Anyone got this file, please? 😀

ftp://ftp.abit.com.tw/pub/download/bios/kt7/kt7a9.exe

My retro computer stuff: https://lychee.jjserver.net/#16136303902327