Prebuilt [SFFn] ASRock's DeskMini A300 - Finally!

[gustav]

Ok, I bought it back in january already but not from the german Alternate site (local version .nl instead of .de) and mine came in a little blue antistatic box (but at the time you got the wraith stealth cooler with it as well for free). Had about 20 bent pins, if not more, but managed to straighten them out. But luckily you didn't get this packaging ...

Oh boi, glad you were able to figure it out! - Now I understand why you're asking!
It's kinda shame the retailer did not think well about that "trivial" part. I know also those blue packages, but the black underneath should "fill out" the bottom. And it's suitable for Intel Socket 775+ CPU's which are without PINs unlike Ryzen.

This is how mine was packed;

 

[Valantar]

Ok, I bought it back in january already but not from the german Alternate site (local version .nl instead of .de) and mine came in a little blue antistatic box (but at the time you got the wraith stealth cooler with it as well for free). Had about 20 bent pins, if not more, but managed to straighten them out. But luckily you didn't get this packaging ...

IIRC mine arrived in similar packaging, though it had a softer foam pad above the chip as well. The hard foam on the bottom worked well to keep the pins protected, with the softer foam keeping things from jostling around. The IHS is heavy enough that I could easily see things getting damaged without that though.

 

[apis29]

IIRC mine arrived in similar packaging, though it had a softer foam pad above the chip as well. The hard foam on the bottom worked well to keep the pins protected, with the softer foam keeping things from jostling around. The IHS is heavy enough that I could easily see things getting damaged without that though.

Yes it did also have the softer foam on top to keep things in place but I feel they should've have put the soft foam on the bottom instead to protect the pins. Seems there was perhaps still some room to slide but it is also very possible they already had it beforehand (someone else posted a review on the website as well with the same complaint about bent pins).
In any case, I managed to solve it and glad I got my hands on it locally (still have to set up my video editing workflow so not really put it to the extreme test yet. Been some years since I last did it as well ...).

Packaged combo with Wraith Stealth

 

[Valantar]

Yes it did also have the softer foam on top to keep things in place but I feel they should've have put the soft foam on the bottom instead to protect the pins. Seems there was perhaps still some room to slide but it is also very possible they already had it beforehand (someone else posted a review on the website as well with the same complaint about bent pins).
In any case, I managed to solve it and glad I got my hands on it locally (still have to set up my video editing workflow so not really put it to the extreme test yet. Been some years since I last did it as well ...).

Packaged combo with Wraith Stealth

That sounds like either the pins got bent beforehand or someone was too heavy-handed pushing the pins into the foam. I can definitely see how that might damage things if one isn't careful - that foam is pretty hard. I don't think the softer foam would work beneath the chip though, as the pins might compress it rather than poke into it, risking that the pushback from the foam might itself bend pins over time. Those plastic trays actually designed for holding CPUs would definitely be better, but this should also be safe if done correctly.

 

[apis29]

That sounds like either the pins got bent beforehand or someone was too heavy-handed pushing the pins into the foam. I can definitely see how that might damage things if one isn't careful - that foam is pretty hard. I don't think the softer foam would work beneath the chip though, as the pins might compress it rather than poke into it, risking that the pushback from the foam might itself bend pins over time. Those plastic trays actually designed for holding CPUs would definitely be better, but this should also be safe if done correctly.

Yeah I guess if they stored them like this then it would factor in (didn't seem like it was pushed into the hard foam, it just laid on top of it. Also received it within 24 hours of ordering).
The latest buyer review posted had no problems so they've probably changed the packaging here as well by now. (out of stock in any case but always worth keeping an eye out for any prospective buyers. They do have the 4750G in stock right now I see).

 

[rubicoin]

my 4650g packaging was really interesting back in the day. and it came from a local retailer, not ebay or aliexpress.

 

[fadsarmy]

When you connect the antenna cable to the deskmini chassis, does the washer go inside or outside?

 

[A300]

Since I upgraded to 4650g, Sleep Function does not exist in Windows 10, BIOS 3.60S.

Is there any way to get back that Sleep function? Kind of need it.

 

[gustav]

Since I upgraded to 4650g, Sleep Function does not exist in Windows 10, BIOS 3.60S.

Is there any way to get back that Sleep function? Kind of need it.

Nope, unfortunately. It's BIOS-level. You can enable 'Hibernate' or "Ruhezustand" in German.
There is no classic 'Stand-By' for us anymore.
Check earlier post on that topic: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/sffn-asrocks-deskmini-a300-finally.10553/page-90 (post #1783)

 

[KingDiamond]

New Bios file for X300 Rom v.1.58 - March 26th, 2021, Source ASRock

https://botflakes.github.io/ASRockWiki/beta_bios/beta_bios_consumer/beta_bios_deskmini.html

=>

 

[HydrAxx747]

New Bios file for X300 Rom v.1.58 - March 26th, 2021, Source ASRock

https://botflakes.github.io/ASRockWiki/beta_bios/beta_bios_consumer/beta_bios_deskmini.html

=>

Thanks!!! Excellent, very thanks!!!!

And from what I can see via verification of the SMU of this bios v1.58, it seems perfectly and fully compatible with Cezanne APUs (Zen3 APU - 5xxxG) and must be normally under AGESA v2 v1.2.0.1 for that, but this remains to be verified of course. In any case, really thank you for sharing this friend!

 

[gustav]

Very interesting news, what wonders me now is question whether any Cezanne-based APUs are announced or about to come?

 

[KingDiamond]

yes, this is really the latest version of Agesa 1.2.0.1
and there is a slight redesign of the bios:

 

[ramalhais]

New Bios file for X300 Rom v.1.58 - March 26th, 2021, Source ASRock

https://botflakes.github.io/ASRockWiki/beta_bios/beta_bios_consumer/beta_bios_deskmini.html

=>

Thanks!

I tried flashing that on my A300 using AFUWINx64, but bricked it
Luckily, i had bought a CH341A programmer, grabbed my laptop, and after a few hours i was able to recover it and flash X300 1.58.
Memory seems more stable and i have no USB audio dropouts so far.
Let's see...

 

[limsandy]

Thanks!

I tried flashing that on my A300 using AFUWINx64, but bricked it
Luckily, i had bought a CH341A programmer, grabbed my laptop, and after a few hours i was able to recover it and flash X300 1.58.
Memory seems more stable and i have no USB audio dropouts so far.
Let's see...

Any luck for us who has a A300 and doesn't have access to a CH341A programmer but wants to flash X300's BIOS 1.58 ???

 

[The_Bavarian]

@ramalhais: May I ask which APU you are using? As far as I know only apu's up to the 3400G are able to work with the X300 bios on A300 where you can permanently store the bios settings. With the Renoir apus 4350G and above the change of bios settings in X300 bios on A300 are not saved after reboot as far as I read from alles_alles in a German forum.

@limsandy:
Perhaps flashing the new agesa based X300 V1.58 directly over the A300 old agesa 3.60S is a too drastic version gap. Flashing the A300 with an older X300 e. g. 1.46 and then updating to 1.58 could be successful. As I do not either posses a CH341A programmer and my A300 is my productivity system, I cannot try this procedure.

Have a nice weekend.

Tom

 

[ramalhais]

Any luck for us who has a A300 and doesn't have access to a CH341A programmer but wants to flash X300's BIOS 1.58 ???

It's 4EUR from aliexpress

1.44US $ 18% OFF|Tzt Original Ch341a 24 25 Series Eeprom Flash Bios Usb Programmer Module + Soic8 Sop8 Test Clip For Eeprom 93cxx / 25cxx / 24cxx - Integrated Circuits - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

I'll try to see if i can flash it with flashrom

 

[ramalhais]

@ramalhais: May I ask which APU you are using? As far as I know only apu's up to the 3400G are able to work with the X300 bios on A300 where you can permanently store the bios settings. With the Renoir apus 4350G and above the change of bios settings in X300 bios on A300 are not saved after reboot as far as I read from alles_alles in a German forum.

@limsandy:
Perhaps flashing the new agesa based X300 V1.58 directly over the A300 old agesa 3.60S is a too drastic version gap. Flashing the A300 with an older X300 e. g. 1.46 and then updating to 1.58 could be successful. As I do not either posses a CH341A programmer and my A300 is my productivity system, I cannot try this procedure.

Have a nice weekend.

Tom

I'm using a 3400G. I'll try 5800G when they come out. If this BIOS had come out sooner, i would have been able to buy an engineering sample from hong kong

 

[ramalhais]

Any luck for us who has a A300 and doesn't have access to a CH341A programmer but wants to flash X300's BIOS 1.58 ???

So, i bricked my A300 again using afuwin, but found a way to flash any bios.
Do this at your own risk.

EDIT: WARNING!!! You will not be able to flash any other BIOS after this, unless you have a flash programmer!

Download this file, unzip it, follow the instructions in notes.txt
flashrom-dos-ryzen.zip

EDIT2: You may be able to flash another BIOS after all, by loading an UEFI shell in BIOS and using afuefix64 A3MSTX_3.70 /P /B /N /K /L /X and answering "E"

 

[Ldthxv]

So, i bricked my A300 again using afuwin, but found a way to flash any bios.
Do this at your own risk.

Download this file, unzip it, follow the instructions in notes.txt
flashrom-dos-ryzen.zip

I tried this. Was able to boot after flash. Booted into setup. Removed core boost and changed fan settings and rebooted. But then it failed to show anything on screen. Power off. Waited a while. Power on. But now the Led will not even turn on. So it is bricked.

Will now try and get a CH341A programmer to bring it back to life again :-)

Was on 3.60S with 4750G.