BIOS settings that matter after a CPU swap
What to check in the BIOS after fitting a different CPU: defaults, recognition, C1E and EIST, vcore on Auto, memory speed, FSB strap, fans, SATA mode and a profile. Keep reading »
Tessa Quinlan
Tessa covers BIOS images, microcode and firmware recovery. Her rule for every flash: two backups of the original image, a known recovery path, and nothing else running on that power strip.
Articles by Tessa
How to flash a BIOS safely, on old and new boards
How to flash a BIOS without bricking the board: when to update, matching the exact model, backups, which flasher to use, steady power and a recovery plan. Keep reading »
Reading a BIOS chip with a CH341A programmer: a careful first recovery
How to read and restore an SPI BIOS chip with a CH341A and a SOIC8 clip: chip voltages, the 5 V problem, flashrom commands, checksums and a recovery plan. Keep reading »
What CPU microcode actually does, and why old boards need updates
Microcode is the patchable layer inside an Intel CPU. What it does, how the BIOS and OS load it, how to read your revision, and why old boards stop getting fixes. Keep reading »