The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Need Help- MSI WhiteBook BioS

    Discussion in 'MSI' started by DILLIGAFF, Nov 26, 2010.

  1. DILLIGAFF

    DILLIGAFF Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    310
    Messages:
    259
    Likes Received:
    195
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hi I tried searching the forum but did not find the answer under "msi whitebook bios" or similar searches. I also took a look at the msi faq but this was not answered.

    the basic question is how do you upgrade bios on an MSI whitebook ?

    Specifically i am considering picking up a 937-165641-005 (gx640 whitebook equivalent)
    MSI Notebook Product Specifications

    i am wondering if i need to, can i can flash using the gx640 bios from here MSI Global ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

    i see all sorts of warnings on msi pages about "retail bios incompatible with whitebooks" and am wondering what is the technical feasibility here (does it actually flash successfully, never mind support or warranty)...

    Do the bios not work, and just can;t be used to flash a whitebook ?
    OR
    Do the bios allow to flash but break your stuff if it's a whitebook?
    Or
    do the bios work fine and are just unsupported/void yer warranty by msi ?
    or
    something else?

    Has anyone succesfully or unsuccessfully flashed the whitebook version of the gx640 ?

    i am interested in the whitebook but fear if there are bios bugs or incompatibilities, and no way to flash bios, i could get stuck....


    thanks

    D
     
    DILLIGAFF, Nov 26, 2010
    #1
  2. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I own the same whitebook and I am going to call MSI to get the BIOS/VBIOS. Were you able to register your whtebook?
     
    Septimus_DSX, Nov 26, 2010
    #2
  3. DILLIGAFF

    DILLIGAFF Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    310
    Messages:
    259
    Likes Received:
    195
    Trophy Points:
    56
    i do not own one yet, so i have not registered or tried yet.
    please let us know what you find out from your call with msi

    i was wondering about this, because i am considering purchasing this whitebook.

    on the same subject i understand this whitebook uses a mxm 3 5850. whats peoples take on being able to upgrade this to a 6850 or similar in the future? do you think this will be possible? does msi use custom format mxm 3 in this notebook? could a 5870/6870 potentially fit as well ?

    thanks

    D
     
    DILLIGAFF, Nov 26, 2010
    #3
  4. Marecki_clf

    Marecki_clf Homo laptopicus

    Reputations:
    464
    Messages:
    1,507
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I own an MS-1727 Whitebook (GX740 equivalent). No problems with registration on MSI's Website. No problems with updating the BIOS, no problems with updating the vBIOS.

    MXM 3.0 is PCI-Express 2.0 compliant. With PCI-Express 3.0 specification ready, there is a chance that soon we will have a next generation of MXM standard. It is possible, that Mobility 6000 series cards will be made using both new standards. These are only my speculations, there is no way to tell anything for sure. All we can do is wait and see :).
     
    Marecki_clf, Nov 26, 2010
    #4
  5. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    As for upgrades, it may be possible, but I'm certain you would need another BIOS update to do it. I was hoping MSI would at the very least include something in the BIOS that unlocks RAID features... :eek:
     
    Septimus_DSX, Nov 28, 2010
    #5
  6. Marecki_clf

    Marecki_clf Homo laptopicus

    Reputations:
    464
    Messages:
    1,507
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    81
    This page:
    MSI Notebook Product Specifications
    says that MSI GX640 BIOS is NOT compatible with the MSI barebone, so I wouldn't risk trying to flash it.

    Edit:
    I just noticed that the above page is already linked in the thread by the OP, so my post can be disregarded :).
     
    Marecki_clf, Nov 29, 2010
    #6
  7. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Wonder why they say it's not compatible?

    The hardware is the same right?
     
    moral hazard, Nov 29, 2010
    #7
  8. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The latest whitebook Video BIOS can be downloaded here. It turned out that I already had that VGA BIOS.

    1656 VBIOS_BR36533.006.7z
     
    Septimus_DSX, Nov 29, 2010
    #8
  9. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

    Reputations:
    360
    Messages:
    2,029
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Whitebook/Barebones or whatever it's called nowadays can easily be flashed using the Bios/vBios supplied by MSI. They are pretty the same thing .. same hardware etc etc
     
    Dead2th3world, Nov 29, 2010
    #9
  10. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Septimus_DSX, Nov 29, 2010
    #10
  11. @tilla

    @tilla Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    321
    Messages:
    528
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    One owner of a X7811 Akoya flashed a GX 740 BIOS.
    It is still alive, but wifi isn't working anymore!
    Is it possible to backup the original AMI-BIOS or maybe to edit the bios file?
     
    @tilla, Nov 30, 2010
    #11
  12. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Will I brick my laptop if I flash to the GX640 VBios? Also, can somebody give me the BIOS file itself please?
     
    Septimus_DSX, Dec 1, 2010
    #12
  13. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    moral hazard, Dec 1, 2010
    #13
  14. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't see it there. Looks like MSI pulled the BIOS.
     
    Septimus_DSX, Dec 2, 2010
    #14
  15. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    moral hazard, Dec 2, 2010
    #15
  16. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Septimus_DSX, Dec 2, 2010
    #16
  17. Septimus_DSX

    Septimus_DSX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Confirmed that flashing GX640 VBIOS to the Whitebook works perfectly.

    [​IMG]

    Download the BIOS, batch file and ATIFLASH from my sig. The only difference between this BIOS and the old one is that additional powerplay entries have been filled. I checked for differences using Radeon Bios Editor.
     
    Septimus_DSX, Dec 2, 2010
    #17