Intel ATC6430M appendix Update Microcode API

ATC6430M Mainboard Chapter 3 Award BIOS Setup

3-1-2 UPDATE MICROCODE API

Intel also provides MICROCODE API (Applications Programming Interface) for mainboard user to update data block in BIOS quickly and easily. (You can find this utility in the All-In-One CD in the mainboard package).

The BIOS code on the mainboards contains data that is specific to each silicon stepping of the processor. Integrators must ensure that this BIOS stepping data matches the used processor stepping. When the BIOS does not contain stepping data that matches the processor stepping, integrators must update the data in the BIOS before shipping the system. Historically, the systems have been updated by replacing the entire BIOS with a new revision of BIOS that contains the correct stepping data.

Intel’s BIOS update API allows just the stepping data within the BIOS to be updated as needed. Mainboards that contain a BIOS with the Intel-defined BIOS update API can be quickly and easily updated, if required, without obtaining a complete BIOS upgrade. Using this utility, integrators can easily verify that the correct stepping data is present in all mainboards. However, if the stepping data requires to be updated, the mainboard BIOS must contain the Intel-defined BIOS update API, otherwise a complete BIOS upgrade is required from the mainboard vendor.

Since API program can only be executed under DOS Real Mode, you must enter Real Mode first and load the API program to Drive C.

To load the program to C by following steps:

(1)Type “ md c:\ api ” and press Enter. Directory “api” is made in Drive C now.

(2)Insert the Driver/Utility CD into CD ROM Drive E.

(3)Then type “ copy e:\api\*.* c:\api ” and press Enter. (API program is loaded to Drive C now.)

(4)Type “ C:\ api \checkup ” to execute this program.

The main menu should now be displayed with the following four options :

1)Check and load update

2)Specify stepping data file [current : pep.pdb]

3)Help

4)Quit without loading update

Select 1 to know the stepping filename, select 2 to load right patch code, then select 1 to update proper patch code. Now, the screen will show the message “please remove the CD from CD-ROM drive”. Then cold boot (mechanical power off) system to continue. For more information, please refer to “CHECKUP.HLP“ file.

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