Nice firmware Intel. Not!

[Ruined]

Check this out. Two different setups with two different motherboards (Intel G965OTMKR and Intel G965WHMKR) both experienced major problems with Intel motherboard firmware updates.

I've tried a number of different firmwares on these Intel boards and I've come to the conclusion that the firmware gets WORSE the more changes Intel has made. Here is a summary of the firmware "improvements" based on the ones I've tried.

BIOS VERSION 1612 - December 27, 2006
Ran pretty good. No major issues, though missing the Vista update of the next version firmware.

BIOS Version 1618 - January 17, 2007
Also runs great, no major issues. Full compatibility for Vista now.

BIOS Version 1649 - February 27, 2007
Another great BIOS. Now we add Vista Media Center OCUR Host Firmware Support, which may come in handy when the ATI OCUR HD cablecard box comes out.

BIOS Version 1663 - March 20, 2007
A lot of fixes here, but there is a catch...
Release notes say: Fixed issue where Microsoft Vista* not booting with 4GB memory.
Real World Translation: On 4GB system this "fix" makes Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro go completely haywire and constantly output blaringly loud distortion and noise from all analog outputs, enough to destroy a speaker. All firmwares released after this one suffer from this problem as well.

BIOS VERSION 1676 - April 13, 2007
Lots more fixes and speedups, but another catch.
Release notes say: Fixed issue where system would run slow with 4 GB of RAM and certain PCI Express Graphics cards.
Real World Translation: Ironically makes system completely slow and unusable when 4GB of RAM is installed, about the speed of a 486. All firmwares released after this one suffer from this problem as well.

This was verified on two different builds (using similar components). In the end, the 1649 BIOS offers the best balance of features, performance, and stability. Intel managed to virtually destroy their BIOS for many 4GB users after this build. So 1649 is where I'm sticking!

[umainebearman]

So why do you keep using intel?? Theres a Speedier, cheaper, more reliable alternative out there.

Just think of it like this....

Intel = Blue Ray

AMD = HD-DVD.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by umainebearman

So why do you keep using intel?? Theres a Speedier, cheaper, more reliable alternative out there.

Just think of it like this....

Intel = Blue Ray

AMD = HD-DVD.

Yeah right. Show me an AMD CPU that compares to the Intel Core 2 Quad I just bought (4 "conroe" cores, 2.4ghz each) for $273. Also, I'm not stating that other board manufs have any better firmware. ASUS and all the third party players have goofed up as well - this is unusual for Intel IMO, though.