Acer Aspire M3970G Bios Update? trying to determine if an i7 3770 processor can be installed in this

Anime_KittyX3
Anime_KittyX3 Member Posts: 2 New User

I'm trying to determine if an i7 3770 processor can be installed in this device or if a BIOS update is necessary. I've had difficulty finding additional drivers on the website beyond the few that were available. Although I understand this device is no longer supported, I would greatly appreciate any assistance with upgrading it to its maximum potential and recommendations on compatible GPUs. Thanks! :)

Specs are all original except for the C drive being an SSD & the GPU being swapped to a slightly better R7 ATi Card for the time being

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Best Answer

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,447 Trailblazer
    edited 8:39AM Answer ✓

    Just some further advice for you, you can take my advice or ignore it, also search the web as people who have tried this upgrade to a 3rd Gen cpu this desktop didn’t work and it didn’t boot, as the Aspire M3970 desktops Acer service guide only specifies the 2nd Gen Intel cpu’s for this desktop, the highest spec cpu fitted by Acer to this desktop is the Core i7-2600 cpu - Socket 1155 - 4 cores / 8 threads normal frequency of 3.4GHz with a turbo frequency of 3.8GHz and an L2 Cache of 1MB and L3 Cache of 8MB at TDP 95W which is what Acer has as a bios for this desktop.

    DO NOT upgrade this desktop to the 3rd Gen cpu as Acer did not release a bios for the 3rd Gen Intel cpu’s and this desktops last bios version P02.A2 does not make the 3rd Gen Intel cpu like the i7-3770 work with the Aspire M3970 desktop H67 chipset board, so be aware of this as you will be wasting your time and money.

    If you want appropriate drivers for your desktop, see HelpDrivers as this site has available 21 files for Acer Aspire M3970 desktop including this desktops last bios version P02.A2 – dated: 11/14/2011 which is a legit file and this site is not a virus or malware site. So try that bios out if its not what you have already on your Aspire M3970 desktop. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,964 Trailblazer

    Hi, not i7-3770 but i7-2600. You don't have to update BIOS, you are alright with your current version of BIOS, just put in an i7-2600 CPU and it will work. UserBenchmark: Acer Aspire M3970 Compatible Components

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,447 Trailblazer
    edited 8:39AM Answer ✓

    Just some further advice for you, you can take my advice or ignore it, also search the web as people who have tried this upgrade to a 3rd Gen cpu this desktop didn’t work and it didn’t boot, as the Aspire M3970 desktops Acer service guide only specifies the 2nd Gen Intel cpu’s for this desktop, the highest spec cpu fitted by Acer to this desktop is the Core i7-2600 cpu - Socket 1155 - 4 cores / 8 threads normal frequency of 3.4GHz with a turbo frequency of 3.8GHz and an L2 Cache of 1MB and L3 Cache of 8MB at TDP 95W which is what Acer has as a bios for this desktop.

    DO NOT upgrade this desktop to the 3rd Gen cpu as Acer did not release a bios for the 3rd Gen Intel cpu’s and this desktops last bios version P02.A2 does not make the 3rd Gen Intel cpu like the i7-3770 work with the Aspire M3970 desktop H67 chipset board, so be aware of this as you will be wasting your time and money.

    If you want appropriate drivers for your desktop, see HelpDrivers as this site has available 21 files for Acer Aspire M3970 desktop including this desktops last bios version P02.A2 – dated: 11/14/2011 which is a legit file and this site is not a virus or malware site. So try that bios out if its not what you have already on your Aspire M3970 desktop. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

  • realestatejot05
    realestatejot05 Member Posts: 1 New User

    If you're considering upgrading your Acer Aspire M3970G with an i7-3770 processor, a BIOS update may be required for compatibility. The i7-3770 is a third-generation Intel Core processor, and it’s crucial to verify if your motherboard and BIOS support it. First, check the current BIOS version in your system settings and visit Acer's official support website for the latest updates. Look for BIOS versions that list support for Intel's 3rd-gen processors. If a newer BIOS is available, updating it could enable compatibility with the i7-3770. Always back up your data before performing a BIOS update to avoid any potential issues.

  • Anime_KittyX3
    Anime_KittyX3 Member Posts: 2 New User

    I currently have BIOS P02-A3. Is this newer than the one mentioned above? I'm curious if there would be a significant performance improvement with the available processor options. My goal is to achieve stable performance with my 16GB RAM and a GPU with at least 4GB-8GB of VRAM (at most) to pair with the new processor. Thank you for the help provided so far

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,536 Trailblazer

    Acer n o longer has BIOS versions on their support site for the M3970G models, due to the age. To be safe, just stick with the supported 2nd gen CPUs unless you get the 3rd gen for free or close to it.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.