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Bios needs to be updated, need guidance.

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by paw_blue 1 view

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I am currently running an old 486 dx2 66mhz... (don't laugh.. it does the job) but i have recently been told it is possible to improve my running performance by updating the bios. I have briefly looked into this I have found my bios type, and was wanting to get information, files, sites on how to update my bios, Should i bother to look at flash or not, and if this will really improve my performace, (the little bit that is possible!)

I have a Phoenix 80486 ROM BIOS PLUS Version 0.10 MPOWER any help would be great... thanks

5 replies

by ann777

It may be possible to improve performance with a bios flash yes, but answer this:

If the bios flash fails for any reason, are you willing to expend the potential cost of replacing the entirety of the system board? And maybe the whole computer (since 486's or pentium boards are not readily available)?

If you find the proper bios upgrade for this computer, it may fail simply because of the age of your computer. You'd have to be very, very sure that you have the correct version for your bios and that your computer components will function with it.

For a performance increase, if I was willing to lose the computer.... I'd take the risk.

If I was not willing to replace the computer if the bios upgrade goes wrong, then I would notbe willing to risk a currently viable situation (i.e. a working computer) for a performance increase.

Just my opinion.

by maxwell edison

Greetings,

In your particular case I'd say that performance could not be improved by simply upgrading your BIOS. HOWEVER, it may be possible if you upgrade BOTH your BIOS AND your hard drive - IF your existing drive is a smaller drive. In your particular case, the only performance issue the BIOS upgrade addresses is support for larger hard drives. And, of course, the larger, newer hard drives could provide faster access speed.

Your particular BIOS upgrade could be found at this link (REMOVE SPACES if any snuck into the pasted URL):

http://www.firmware.com/support/bios/m4gs30.htm

BUT VERIFY THAT IS YOUR BIOS UDATE before you do anything!!

So my answer is, NO performance improvement with BIOS upgrade alone. MAYBE a performanceimprovement with a BIOS upgrade along with other upgrade(s).

Good luck,

Maxwell

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