Asmedia SATA Controller Firmware

[RickROG]

I was wondering if anyone might know the procedure to update the firmware for the RIVE Asmedia SATA controller downloadable from here: (as posted earlier for USB 3)

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/asmedia.htm

The ASMEDIA AHCI SATA Controller 1.3.4.000 for Windows VISTA/2008/7 driver installs fine; updating or integrating. Should one only update the Asmedia controller firmware through BIOS updates, or, can the DOS executables included in the firmware package be safely used? (instructions are sparse and vague).

Thanks

ASUS Rampage IV EXTREME/BF3 motherboard
Intel Core i7 3960X CPU @ 3.3G (stock)
Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B Headsink
Corsair CMT16GX3M4X2133C9 Dominator GT 16GB Quad Channel memory at 2133Mz (xmp profile)
Seasonic ATX 1000W 80PLUS Platinum Power Supply
LG GGW-H20L Blu-ray writer
2*Western Digital Velociraptor 600GB in RAID0 on the x79 at SATA 3
1*Western Digital Velociraptor 600GB in AHCI on the x79 at SATA 2
2*XFX FX-797A-TNBC Radeon HD7970 OC Black Edition video cards in crossfire
Auzentech X-Fi Hometheater HD Audio Card
Silverstone Temjin TJ10B-W NVIDIA Edition Case
TJ10 USB 3 upgrade kit
1*Noctua NF-S12B FLX 120mm, 4*Noctua NF-P12 120mm Chassis Fans
Asus PA246Q, 24.1" Widescreen P-IPS Monitor
Canon MP560 series Printer
Logitech G9x Laser Mouse
SteelSeries 6G V2 Mechanical Keyboard
APC Smart-UPS SMT2200

[Necrosan]

I've ran the correct updater for our chip (and posted a link to it) in a different thread.
Bottom line: The updater couldn't write to the chip. Looks like it will need to be distributed in a BIOS update.

[RickROG]

Thanks Necrosan, much appreciated. These third party controllers are not good. I always thought x79 would natively support alot more than it does. Oh well, hopefully ASUS will update the firmware. Thanks again 🙂

[ChiefZeke]

I read the instructions - to me it infers a DOS boot floppy must be created, boot the system from it, run the two batch files to update the firmware. Similar to how many of us flashed the BIOS back in the 'dark ages' of real-mode DOS and early Windows.

Problem is - The R4E would have to be booted from an external USB floppy boot device or a bootable USB boot device created to boot into DOS.

[RickROG]

Ya' that's doable, but, I'm not prepared to suffer the consequences should it go South and bag my motherboard. Murphy's law-if it can happen it will! 🙂

[Necrosan]

ChiefZeke wrote:
I read the instructions - to me it infers a DOS boot floppy must be created, boot the system from it, run the two batch files to update the firmware. Similar to how many of us flashed the BIOS back in the 'dark ages' of real-mode DOS and early Windows.

Problem is - The R4E would have to be booted from an external USB floppy boot device or a bootable USB boot device created to boot into DOS.

There is an updater made specifically for Windows Vista/7 I used (Which verifies matching chip correctly and attempts to write, but fails out.)
The chip cannot be written to; My guess is it's set to read only.
You can confirm same results with a bootable DOS USB stick or google around for the updater for Windows.
Definitely going to need Shamino or someone else involved with the boards development to update the ASMEDIA ROM via BIOS update.

[RickROG]

I hear ya' on that one Necrosan-and would be safe.

[ConkersGrillfor]

I tried to update the firmware with a bootable usb stick. I tried version 0.951 and 3.02 from station-drivers website.
I got the following messages in DOS mode, R4E Bios settings for Asmedia 106x Controller: AHCI + Oprom enabled:

0.951:
C:\>106spi -u ahci0951.rom
DOS/4GW Protected Mode Run-time Version 1.97
Copyright (c) Rational Systems, Inc. 1990-1994

ASM106X SPI Flash ROM Write V2.5
Find 2 ASM106X Controller

Can't find SPI ROM!!!

Can't find SPI ROM!!!

3.02:
C:\>106spi -u ahci302.rom
DOS/4GW Protected Mode Run-time Version 1.97
Copyright (c) Rational Systems, Inc. 1990-1994

ASM106X SPI Flash ROM Write V2.6
Find 2 ASM106X Controller

Read_RomID Failed!!
Program Stop!!!

ÿžÉ ÿžÉ SPI ROM found...
Read_RomID Failed!!
Program Stop!!!

Has anyone managed to do a succesful update? or what do I have to change to update the ASM106x controller firmware?

[BOLTS4BREKFAST]

If you let me know which bios revision you are using.. I can mod that bios version with the latest Asnedia firmware.. Which I believe is 0953.. Let me know 🙂

[ConkersGrillfor]

BOLTS4BREKFAST wrote:
If you let me know which bios revision you are using.. I can mod that bios version with the latest Asnedia firmware.. Which I believe is 0953.. Let me know 🙂

I have the latest bios version 4802. Thanks for your help. 🙂