Suppliers of BIOS chips

[chowder]

Can anyone recommend a supplier of pre-flashed BIOS chips? I've Googled a few, but could do with a reliable one

Need a replacement for an Abit NF7-S v2.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Suppliers of BIOS chips

I've used this site before, it's located in Sweden:
http://www.eksitdata.com/_uk/index.asp

You could of course buy a programmer on eBay quite cheaply instead of you need to do a few...

[stj]

Re: Suppliers of BIOS chips

what's the actual flash-chip part number?

[japlytic]

Re: Suppliers of BIOS chips

I have read that a number of modern Flash ICs have an electronic serial number - one which is set only by the factory, and one which can either be set by the factory (for the customer) or by the customer (the Customer/Factory Programmed Serial Number flag is typically present), although this can be circumvented by the addition of a CPLD with appropriate programming.

Fortunately, I did not have this problem as at the time of posting by upgrading a non-PVR digital set-top box to one with full PVR functionality (both had the same logic boards and components thereof) by flashing the firmware from the PVR unit into the non-PVR unit, but I had to have a remote programmed with the additional IR codes used by the PVR unit for full PVR functionality.

[stj]

Re: Suppliers of BIOS chips

you read a bit wrong,
there is a one-time area in some chips, but if you buy a new chip it's blank and you can program it yourself.

i'v not seen that function used on any pc's though.

[trebo]

Re: Suppliers of BIOS chips

Can anyone recommend a supplier of pre-flashed BIOS chips? I've Googled a few, but could do with a reliable one

Need a replacement for an Abit NF7-S v2.

this place specialise in bios chips, but I have never used them, there is a email address in link
https://www.facebook.com/Grains-BIOS...?tab=page_info
trebo

[stj]

Re: Suppliers of BIOS chips

depending on the chip, it may be possible to get both a new chip AND a programmer for £5 and still have change.

[japlytic]

Re: Suppliers of BIOS chips

you read a bit wrong,
there is a one-time area in some chips, but if you buy a new chip it's blank and you can program it yourself.

i'v not seen that function used on any pc's though.

An example of such devices I mentioned with security functions in an earlier post on this topic are:

MX25L1605D/MX25L3205D/MX25L6405D datasheet:
II. Additional 512-bit secured OTP for unique identifier: to provide 512-bit one-time program area for setting device unique serial number - Which may be set by factory or system customer. Please refer to table 3. 512-bit secured OTP definition.

- Security register bit 0 indicates whether the chip is locked by factory or not.
- To program the 512-bit secured OTP by entering 512-bit secured OTP mode (with ENSO command), and going through normal program procedure, and then exiting 512-bit secured OTP mode by writing EXSO command.
- Customer may lock-down the customer lockable secured OTP by writing WRSCUR(write security register) command to set customer lock-down bit1 as "1". Please refer to table of "security register definition" for security register bit definition and table of "512-bit secured OTP definition" for address range definition.
- Note: Once lock-down whatever by factory or customer, it cannot be changed any more. While in 512-bit secured OTP mode, array access is not allowed.

Am29LV320D datasheet:
The SecSi Sector (Security on Silicon) is an extra sector capable of being permanently locked by AMD or customers. The SecSi Indicator Bit (DQ7) is permanently set to a 1 if the part is factory locked, and set to a 0 if customer lockable. This way, customer lockable parts can never be used to replace a factory locked part. Current version of device has 64 Kbytes; future versions will have only 256 bytes. This should be considered during system design.