Myles Watson wrote:
While you're waiting, you could:
- Check the serial port with another computer and a null-modem cable
- Compare the lspci from the M4A78 PRO & EM
- Check to see if the SuperIO is the same
- Try out AMD SimNOW with coreboot to familiarize yourself with the boot
process
A zoomable photo of the board available at
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131362
shows that the SuperIO chip is ITE IT8720F. This is not yet supported in Coreboot. ITE web pages offers a data sheet, but it is only a short summary with no programming specs. But you could always try with e.g. ITE IT8718F driver code, in case that is similar enough for booting.
If the serial port cable is not included with the board, you need to also get or build a cable to connect the null-modem cable to "COM1" connector on the board.
Remember to keep your original BIOS chip safe, so that you don't accidentally flash over it. The safest thing should be to first practice with flashrom by reading the original BIOS image, then replacing the BIOS chip with a new one while the board is running, and then flashing the factory BIOS to the new chip.
Best regards, Juhana Helovuo