Preflashed BIOS Chips
Socketed SPI Serial Flash EEPROM
SPI Serial Flash EEPROM have been used now for some time on new mainboards and laptops. However these are the first examples of mainboards that have socket SOIC SPI Serial Flash EEPROM. Some mainboard makers are fitting SPI Serial Flash EEPROM Clamshell sockets to their mainboards. This makes changing the EEPROM a lot easier.
So far I have only seen these sockets fitted to DFI and EVGA mainboards.
One example is the EVGA X58 SLIYou can see the black socket alongside the CMOS battery on the X58 SLI. Changing the BIOS chip on these boards is relatively easy. Just be carefull to align the number 1 pin correctly when fitting the EEPROM. SPI Serial Flash SOIC EEPROM ussualy has a small Circular indent near the number 1 pin, and also a half moon cut out at the number 1 pin end. Care must be taken when refiting them, as it is possible to insert them the wrong way around causing damage to the EEPROM |
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DFI X58 |
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DFI X58 has a clamshell socket for the SPI serial flash EEPROM. The EEPROM can easily be removed for replacement on these boards Other DFI Models that use the SPI serial flash EPROM may well have the socket fitted also. The image below shows the open clamshell SPI Flash Socket fitted to the Lanparty DK X58. The seond image is the same socket with the eeprom removed |
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Clamshell SPI Serial Flash Socket OpenDFI X58 Series Clamshell Socket opened dhowing the eeprom sitting still in place in the socket |
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Clamshell SPI Serial Flash Socket no EEPROMX58 Clamshell socket opened with SPI Serial Flash EEPROM removed |
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Clamshell SPI Serial Flash Socket ClosedClamshell SPI Serial Flash Socket with EEPROM fitted and closed ready for use. |
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