Matt The Cat wrote on 2026-06-21, 15:35:

Say it does post, other than Cool'n'Quiet not working, are there any major quirks that would effect the actual operation?

There is a 50% chance (i.e. either yes or no) that the L2 cache will be detected as 256 kB.
But it is more likely to be 512 kB after all.
Also, the processor temperature will be displayed incorrectly in the range up to 50 degrees.
This is a known issue. Many manufacturers, even those who have released BIOS updates for the Venice, have not corrected these readings.

Socket 754, despite seemingly being a fairly new platform (even with PCI-e support), is still rather odd in places.
Alas, it all comes down to BIOS support from the motherboard manufacturer

There appears to be a 2004 string for a VXA42 update.
10/12/2004-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC
I'm downloading a copy of FIC's FTP to check for it.

PcBytes wrote on 2026-06-21, 17:48:

There appears to be a 2004 string for a VXA42 update.
10/12/2004-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC
I'm downloading a copy of FIC's FTP to check for it.

Were you able to find anything?

Matt The Cat wrote on 2026-06-23, 23:17:

PcBytes wrote on 2026-06-21, 17:48:

There appears to be a 2004 string for a VXA42 update.
10/12/2004-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC
I'm downloading a copy of FIC's FTP to check for it.

Were you able to find anything?

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing more than the VXA41 update (vxa41_k8-800t_pcb10.zip). Weirdly, can't even find a PDF of the manual on any of these sites.

Far as I can find, initial versions of this board had a serious BIOS-related flaw needing continual CMOS resets to even get the board to survive a reboot, which resulted in the release of the VXA41 update. My guess would be that VXA42 was only ever available on a later PCB release rather than as a separate update.

This entry on the FIC America archive is the most I could find re. the VXA41 update...

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 05:14:

My guess would be that VXA42 was only ever available on a later PCB release rather than as a separate update.

I think the same way. FIC "forgot" to upload the latest bios to their ftp. I found just two mentions of this VXA42 10/12/2004 version on internet forums.
P.S. Also it could be an OEM mainboard. But I've never heard of FIC as OEM.

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 05:14:

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing […]
Show full quote

Matt The Cat wrote on 2026-06-23, 23:17:

PcBytes wrote on 2026-06-21, 17:48:

There appears to be a 2004 string for a VXA42 update.
10/12/2004-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC
I'm downloading a copy of FIC's FTP to check for it.

Were you able to find anything?

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing more than the VXA41 update (vxa41_k8-800t_pcb10.zip). Weirdly, can't even find a PDF of the manual on any of these sites.

Far as I can find, initial versions of this board had a serious BIOS-related flaw needing continual CMOS resets to even get the board to survive a reboot, which resulted in the release of the VXA41 update. My guess would be that VXA42 was only ever available on a later PCB release rather than as a separate update.

This entry on the FIC America archive is the most I could find re. the VXA41 update...

The attachment FIC VXA41 BIOS Notes.png is no longer available

I suppose, once I get the cpu, gpu, and ram installed. I'll check which version it has and at least update to 12/15/2003-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC-00 6.00PG VXA41 if it isn't already. (Probably isn't already cause it's still in box).

Roman555 wrote on Yesterday, 13:43:

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 05:14:

My guess would be that VXA42 was only ever available on a later PCB release rather than as a separate update.

I think the same way. FIC "forgot" to upload the latest bios to their ftp. I found just two mentions of this VXA42 10/12/2004 version on internet forums.
P.S. Also it could be an OEM mainboard. But I've never heard of FIC as OEM.

I was about to ask if maybe it was for a different manufactures, but after looking it up I see 6A7L0F0BC is at least specific to FIC, and the only other FIC board based on the VIA K8T800 chipset has 6A7L0F0CC, but 6A7L0F0BC matches the FIC
K8-800T, so it must be for this motherboard specifically.

I suppose that is the only newer bios than 12/15/2003-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC-00 VXA41 that is evident to have ever existed...

I guess I should also ask, what will be the simplest way to flash the bios to the december 2003 update, as far as minimum getting into it.
I just noticed my spare dvd/cd drive from a 2012 dell is sata only (my seasonic psu supports it but I wouldn't rely on the board to). I have a spare CD only drive from 1999, but I haven't actually been able to confirm its operation yet. I have a spare ide hard drive that I planned on using in it until I could get a sata ssd to ide converter.

I have the means to image the ide hard disc from another computer, and the board has usb ports.
So I guess between using the ide hard disc and booting from usb...

for installing windows 7 x64 I will need to figure that out, either I will have to make an install partition as the first on the hdd or hopefully it supports usb booting... (or I could put plop boot manager as the first partition if it doesn't have native usb booting...)

I looked in the folder for 12/15/2003-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC-00 VXA41, and besides text files for reference, there is only flash824c and VXA41_0793.bin. According to one of the text files, I think I am supposed to rename flash824c to flash824c.exe. It doesn't open on Windows 11. I wonder if it is a DOS program or just 16 bit application or something. For the sake of getting the update done, I wonder what the minimum environment I can load to use the flasher is?

I am kinda running through my thoughts, but call me out if I am saying something stupid cause I don't wanna make ridiculous mistakes.

Edit: I'll either boot free dos from a usb thumbdrive or from the hard disc. Then run the flasher from there, I'll just have to flash it from my main PC.

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 05:14:

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing […]
Show full quote

Matt The Cat wrote on 2026-06-23, 23:17:

PcBytes wrote on 2026-06-21, 17:48:

There appears to be a 2004 string for a VXA42 update.
10/12/2004-K8T800-8237-6A7L0F0BC
I'm downloading a copy of FIC's FTP to check for it.

Were you able to find anything?

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing more than the VXA41 update (vxa41_k8-800t_pcb10.zip). Weirdly, can't even find a PDF of the manual on any of these sites.

Far as I can find, initial versions of this board had a serious BIOS-related flaw needing continual CMOS resets to even get the board to survive a reboot, which resulted in the release of the VXA41 update. My guess would be that VXA42 was only ever available on a later PCB release rather than as a separate update.

This entry on the FIC America archive is the most I could find re. the VXA41 update...

The attachment FIC VXA41 BIOS Notes.png is no longer available

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.comp.periphs. … c/c/sKI7FbR8kuE

Ahh, I think I found the thread you were referring to. Here's hoping I don't have that problem, I am hoping it will actually be feasible for me to do the update if it wasn't already updated.

And apparently I will have to go through installing windows and use a winflash tool to bypass if it blocks it within dos...

Matt The Cat wrote on Yesterday, 15:08:

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.comp.periphs. … c/c/sKI7FbR8kuE […]
Show full quote

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 05:14:

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing […]
Show full quote

Matt The Cat wrote on 2026-06-23, 23:17:

Were you able to find anything?

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing more than the VXA41 update (vxa41_k8-800t_pcb10.zip). Weirdly, can't even find a PDF of the manual on any of these sites.

Far as I can find, initial versions of this board had a serious BIOS-related flaw needing continual CMOS resets to even get the board to survive a reboot, which resulted in the release of the VXA41 update. My guess would be that VXA42 was only ever available on a later PCB release rather than as a separate update.

This entry on the FIC America archive is the most I could find re. the VXA41 update...

The attachment FIC VXA41 BIOS Notes.png is no longer available

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.comp.periphs. … c/c/sKI7FbR8kuE

Ahh, I think I found the thread you were referring to. Here's hoping I don't have that problem, I am hoping it will actually be feasible for me to do the update if it wasn't already updated.

And apparently I will have to go through installing windows and use a winflash tool to bypass if it blocks it within dos...

Pretty crazy eh!

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 15:15:

Matt The Cat wrote on Yesterday, 15:08:

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.comp.periphs. … c/c/sKI7FbR8kuE […]
Show full quote

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 05:14:

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing […]
Show full quote

Not sure where @PcBytes might have looked, but the various FIC ftp mirrors were the first places I checked and they hold nothing more than the VXA41 update (vxa41_k8-800t_pcb10.zip). Weirdly, can't even find a PDF of the manual on any of these sites.

Far as I can find, initial versions of this board had a serious BIOS-related flaw needing continual CMOS resets to even get the board to survive a reboot, which resulted in the release of the VXA41 update. My guess would be that VXA42 was only ever available on a later PCB release rather than as a separate update.

This entry on the FIC America archive is the most I could find re. the VXA41 update...

The attachment FIC VXA41 BIOS Notes.png is no longer available

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.comp.periphs. … c/c/sKI7FbR8kuE

Ahh, I think I found the thread you were referring to. Here's hoping I don't have that problem, I am hoping it will actually be feasible for me to do the update if it wasn't already updated.

And apparently I will have to go through installing windows and use a winflash tool to bypass if it blocks it within dos...

Pretty crazy eh!

Seemingly I wont have to worry about that cause they sent the wrong fricken motherboard in the fic k8-800t box.

The listing never actually showed the motherboard itself but listed it as being that motherboard and of course the box...

AEYEYEY....

What board did they send?

I'm actually not surprised that the wrong motherboard was int there as I see a ton of eBay listings where the item being listed is not even close to what is actually in the box per the pictures.

Sometimes you can get lucky and get something way better than what is listed.

Hopefully not a red PC CHIPS one

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on Yesterday, 16:44:

Hopefully not a red PC CHIPS one

Slot A I think. M810d v7.5 YES IT IS PRECISELY a RED PC CHIPS one... I already am trying to get my refund and I'll return or whatever, the seller is acting kinda clueless on purpose no doubt.

And it is a super low-end board... Wheeeee.

Pics online show it with a soldered in CPU. Looks like the one you received had an actual CPU socket. What CPU did it come with?

cyclone3d wrote on Yesterday, 17:14:

And it is a super low-end board... Wheeeee.

Pics online show it with a soldered in CPU. Looks like the one you received had an actual CPU socket. What CPU did it come with?

Mann... I don't even wanna open it again. It hurts to look at. I am most likely going to leave it packed for when the seller hopefully is ready to go through with the return and full refund.

Couldn't be anything that special, not for my purposes... plus I think the fan is in the way.

Never buy anything based on a package or generic picture. PCChips M810DLU is a piece of junk. You should get your money back, but you may have to send the item back.

It happened to me once that seller sent another PIII CPU, same frequency but different FSB which did matter to me. They did a refund without me having to return it.

I always offer possibility of return without any questions asked. In case the item turns out to be defective despite testing, I would just ask for proof of destruction. That is another option you can ask from seller as the board is worthless.

AlexZ wrote on Yesterday, 19:29:

Never buy anything based on a package or generic picture. PCChips M810DLU is a piece of junk. You should get your money back, but you may have to send the item back.

It happened to me once that seller sent another PIII CPU, same frequency but different FSB which did matter to me. They did a refund without me having to return it.

I always offer possibility of return without any questions asked. In case the item turns out to be defective despite testing, I would just ask for proof of destruction. That is another option you can ask from seller as the board is worthless.

I got my free return shipping label after contacting a bit.

GOOD NEWS & Bad news.

I managed to order a GIGABYTE GA-K8VT800 Pro
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/gigaby … 800-pro-rev-1-0
from a huge eBay seller (huge seller = legitimacy....????) for a fair price
says excellent condition, and it shows to be the board only (which is fine and planned for anyway)

This one will still take all the same components as the FIC board since it is the same chipset and socket, but it supports up to 3GB DDR1.
And of course bios availability will be much better. Still a 2003 board.

Bad news is that CPU Medics cancelled my order of the venice athlon 64 and sent me a voicemale saying that it turned out to be unavailable.
So if anyone knows where I can buy a 3200+ or better venice athlon 64 socket 754 for under fifty bucks, let me know!
(In the meantime I am still gonna get a 2003 clawhammer)
Also, I am gonna have to get a case for it, I guess I can't ask recommendations about that on this thread though, I pretty much have to be done here, eh? As long as my further conversation is irrelevant to the topic...
However, I am still eventually going to receive a cheap https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/fic-k8m-800m as a backup board to have, and it has integrated graphics. Quite common. Whenever the seller remembers to ship it...

For the sake of anyone else whoever gets this board and sees this thread in the future. I wish you well.

Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 00:34:

I got my free return shipping label after contacting a bit. […]
Show full quote

AlexZ wrote on Yesterday, 19:29:

Never buy anything based on a package or generic picture. PCChips M810DLU is a piece of junk. You should get your money back, but you may have to send the item back.

It happened to me once that seller sent another PIII CPU, same frequency but different FSB which did matter to me. They did a refund without me having to return it.

I always offer possibility of return without any questions asked. In case the item turns out to be defective despite testing, I would just ask for proof of destruction. That is another option you can ask from seller as the board is worthless.

I got my free return shipping label after contacting a bit.

GOOD NEWS & Bad news.

I managed to order a GIGABYTE GA-K8VT800 Pro
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/gigaby … 800-pro-rev-1-0
from a huge eBay seller (huge seller = legitimacy....????) for a fair price
says excellent condition, and it shows to be the board only (which is fine and planned for anyway)

This one will still take all the same components as the FIC board since it is the same chipset and socket, but it supports up to 3GB DDR1.
And of course bios availability will be much better. Still a 2003 board.

Bad news is that CPU Medics cancelled my order of the venice athlon 64 and sent me a voicemale saying that it turned out to be unavailable.
So if anyone knows where I can buy a 3200+ or better venice athlon 64 socket 754 for under fifty bucks, let me know!
(In the meantime I am still gonna get a 2003 clawhammer)
Also, I am gonna have to get a case for it, I guess I can't ask recommendations about that on this thread though, I pretty much have to be done here, eh? As long as my further conversation is irrelevant to the topic...
However, I am still eventually going to receive a cheap https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/fic-k8m-800m as a backup board to have, and it has integrated graphics. Quite common. Whenever the seller remembers to ship it...

For the sake of anyone else whoever gets this board and sees this thread in the future. I wish you well.

I'm afraid that's not how it works.
After the memory controller moved to the CPU, the chipset's importance diminished.
A cheap FIC might actually be more enjoyable than a flashy Gigabyte.
Its 3 GB of DDR1 will only run at 333 MHz.
I have a Jetway and a Gigabyte.
And both are flawed in their own way.

By the way, if these motherboards have an SMD socket and not a Truehole socket, then the Gigabyte one might have already fallen off.
Because the FIC has a metal backplate.
And also, switching power supply for memory.

And how much pleasure you'll get from the spring-loaded latch of the AGP slot on the Gigabyte one. 😀

shevalier wrote on Today, 04:31:

I'm afraid that's not how it works. After the memory controller moved to the CPU, the chipset's importance diminished. A cheap F […]
Show full quote

Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 00:34:

I got my free return shipping label after contacting a bit. […]
Show full quote

AlexZ wrote on Yesterday, 19:29:

Never buy anything based on a package or generic picture. PCChips M810DLU is a piece of junk. You should get your money back, but you may have to send the item back.

It happened to me once that seller sent another PIII CPU, same frequency but different FSB which did matter to me. They did a refund without me having to return it.

I always offer possibility of return without any questions asked. In case the item turns out to be defective despite testing, I would just ask for proof of destruction. That is another option you can ask from seller as the board is worthless.

I got my free return shipping label after contacting a bit.

GOOD NEWS & Bad news.

I managed to order a GIGABYTE GA-K8VT800 Pro
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/gigaby … 800-pro-rev-1-0
from a huge eBay seller (huge seller = legitimacy....????) for a fair price
says excellent condition, and it shows to be the board only (which is fine and planned for anyway)

This one will still take all the same components as the FIC board since it is the same chipset and socket, but it supports up to 3GB DDR1.
And of course bios availability will be much better. Still a 2003 board.

Bad news is that CPU Medics cancelled my order of the venice athlon 64 and sent me a voicemale saying that it turned out to be unavailable.
So if anyone knows where I can buy a 3200+ or better venice athlon 64 socket 754 for under fifty bucks, let me know!
(In the meantime I am still gonna get a 2003 clawhammer)
Also, I am gonna have to get a case for it, I guess I can't ask recommendations about that on this thread though, I pretty much have to be done here, eh? As long as my further conversation is irrelevant to the topic...
However, I am still eventually going to receive a cheap https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/fic-k8m-800m as a backup board to have, and it has integrated graphics. Quite common. Whenever the seller remembers to ship it...

For the sake of anyone else whoever gets this board and sees this thread in the future. I wish you well.

I'm afraid that's not how it works.
After the memory controller moved to the CPU, the chipset's importance diminished.
A cheap FIC might actually be more enjoyable than a flashy Gigabyte.
Its 3 GB of DDR1 will only run at 333 MHz.
I have a Jetway and a Gigabyte.
And both are flawed in their own way.

By the way, if these motherboards have an SMD socket and not a Truehole socket, then the Gigabyte one might have already fallen off.
Because the FIC has a metal backplate.
And also, switching power supply for memory.

And how much pleasure you'll get from the spring-loaded latch of the AGP slot on the Gigabyte one. 😀

Well, I guess sometimes you just have to settle. And in this case, the other fic board was far more expensive that the gigabyte on ebay.

Can't be that much of a compromise, eh?
Also, you mention it will only run at 333mhz. Is that because of the clawhammer, or is it if I use all three slots with 1gb DIMMS, rather than sticking to 2 1GB DIMMS?

I am still looking into potential venice cpus, and I think there might at least be slight memory controller improvements there.
This mother board is eBay certified refurbished (try not to laugh if you think that's ridiculous please).

Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 12:48:

Well, I guess sometimes you just have to settle. And in this case, the other fic board was far more expensive that the gigabyte […]
Show full quote

shevalier wrote on Today, 04:31:

I'm afraid that's not how it works. After the memory controller moved to the CPU, the chipset's importance diminished. A cheap F […]
Show full quote

Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 00:34:

I got my free return shipping label after contacting a bit. […]
Show full quote

I got my free return shipping label after contacting a bit.

GOOD NEWS & Bad news.

I managed to order a GIGABYTE GA-K8VT800 Pro
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/gigaby … 800-pro-rev-1-0
from a huge eBay seller (huge seller = legitimacy....????) for a fair price
says excellent condition, and it shows to be the board only (which is fine and planned for anyway)

This one will still take all the same components as the FIC board since it is the same chipset and socket, but it supports up to 3GB DDR1.
And of course bios availability will be much better. Still a 2003 board.

Bad news is that CPU Medics cancelled my order of the venice athlon 64 and sent me a voicemale saying that it turned out to be unavailable.
So if anyone knows where I can buy a 3200+ or better venice athlon 64 socket 754 for under fifty bucks, let me know!
(In the meantime I am still gonna get a 2003 clawhammer)
Also, I am gonna have to get a case for it, I guess I can't ask recommendations about that on this thread though, I pretty much have to be done here, eh? As long as my further conversation is irrelevant to the topic...
However, I am still eventually going to receive a cheap https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/fic-k8m-800m as a backup board to have, and it has integrated graphics. Quite common. Whenever the seller remembers to ship it...

For the sake of anyone else whoever gets this board and sees this thread in the future. I wish you well.

I'm afraid that's not how it works.
After the memory controller moved to the CPU, the chipset's importance diminished.
A cheap FIC might actually be more enjoyable than a flashy Gigabyte.
Its 3 GB of DDR1 will only run at 333 MHz.
I have a Jetway and a Gigabyte.
And both are flawed in their own way.

By the way, if these motherboards have an SMD socket and not a Truehole socket, then the Gigabyte one might have already fallen off.
Because the FIC has a metal backplate.
And also, switching power supply for memory.

And how much pleasure you'll get from the spring-loaded latch of the AGP slot on the Gigabyte one. 😀

Well, I guess sometimes you just have to settle. And in this case, the other fic board was far more expensive that the gigabyte on ebay.

Can't be that much of a compromise, eh?
Also, you mention it will only run at 333mhz. Is that because of the clawhammer, or is it if I use all three slots with 1gb DIMMS, rather than sticking to 2 1GB DIMMS?

I am still looking into potential venice cpus, and I think there might at least be slight memory controller improvements there.
This mother board is eBay certified refurbished (try not to laugh if you think that's ridiculous please).

Perhaps, with exceptional luck, you'll get an exceptional set of RAM sticks.

Where a 2 GHz single-core processor is sufficient, 2 GB of RAM is sufficient too.
This isn't an Intel 815 with 0.5 GB.
Back then, 3GB of RAM on socket 754 made sense for some server applications where capacity was a critical advantage over speed.
But I wouldn't bother.
Just don't immediately discard all motherboard options; simple boards can be quite good.