Whizpro BIOS: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Whizpro BIOS.png|thumb|Whizpro BIOS on the BCM BC845DL motherboard]]
[[File:Whizpro BIOS.png|thumb|POST screen on the BCM BC845DL motherboard]]
'''Whizpro BIOS''' (sometimes referred to as ''WhizBIOS'') is a discontinued computer BIOS that was developed by Whizpro Technology from the late-90s to the mid-2000s. It was mainly used by industrial and/or embedded computers, mainly the ones made by BCM Advanced Technology and Iwill. Its earliest known instance is from 1999, while its latest known version is from around 2004-2005, seen on the BCM IN915GV and IN915GVR motherboards.
'''Whizpro BIOS''', also known as '''WhizBIOS''', is a [[BIOS|personal computer BIOS]] developed by Whizpro Technology from the late-90s to the mid-2000s. It is mostly used on industrial or embedded systems, especially the ones made by BCM Advanced Research and Iwill. Its earliest known instance is from 1999, while the last known is from circa 2004-2005.


The last known trace of Whizpro Technology is a February 2005 version of WFLASH, a BIOS flashing tool developed by the company.<ref>https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/bios-tools.529/page-13</ref>.
The last known trace of Whizpro Technology is from a February 2005 version of WFLASH, a BIOS flashing tool for Whizpro BIOS ROMs.<ref>https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/bios-tools.529/page-13</ref>.


== Known versions ==
== Known versions ==
=== COMDEX Fall '99 Demo Release ===
=== COMDEX Fall '99 Demo release ===
This version was mentioned in the "News" section of the defunct whizpro.com website<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20010401185040/http://www.whizpro.com/</ref>. It is the earliest known version of Whizpro BIOS. A demo of it was supposedly showcased at COMDEX Fall '99 in Las Vegas in November 1999, however nothing else is known about this version. It is also uncertain whether the demo was for a pre-release or final version of the BIOS.
According to the "News" section of the defunct whizpro.com website, a "demo BIOS product" was showcased by Whizpro Technologies at COMDEX Fall '99 in Las Vegas in November 1999.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20010401185040/http://www.whizpro.com/</ref> Although this "BIOS product" was likely Whizpro BIOS, it's unknown whether a pre-release or finalized version of it was demoed.


=== 2000 Release ===
=== 2000 release ===
Based on information from the same website, Whizpro BIOS was already available for desktop and embedded computers in 2000. The desktop version supported the following chipsets by that point:
Based on information from the same website, Whizpro BIOS was already available for personal and embedded computers in 2000.


*VIA 693 Family (Apollo Pro Plus and Apollo Pro 133, with VT82C596B southbridge only)
The following platforms were supported (or planned to be supported) by the desktop version:
*VIA 694 Family (Apollo Pro 133A, with VT82C596B southbridge only)
*VIA KX133 and KT133
*Intel 810 and 810E
*Intel 815E


Support for VIA's DDR-based chipsets and Intel's "Timna" processor was also announced, neither of which were released at the time, although the latter got cancelled later in 2000 and therefore was likely never supported.
*Intel 810, 810E and 815E chipsets
*VIA Apollo Pro Plus, Pro 133 and Pro 133A chipsets (with VT82C596B southbridge only)
*VIA KX133 and KT133 chipsets
*Future support for VIA's DDR memory chipsets and Intel's [[wikipedia:Intel_Timna|Timna processor]] was also announced, neither of which were released at the time. Although the Timna processor was later cancelled by Intel before being released, meaning it likely never became supported.


Meanwhile, the embedded version supposedly supported the following chipsets:
Meanwhile, the embedded version supported the following platforms:


*Intel 430TX
*Intel 430TX, 440BX and 440ZX chipsets
*Intel 440BX and 440ZX
*National Semiconductor Geode GXLC, SC1400 and 5530 series of processors
*National Semiconductor Geode GXLC, SC1400 and 5530 series of processors
*STMicroelectronics STPC chipsets (exact models unclear, but likely all models released until that point)
*STMicroelectronics STPC chipsets (exact models not listed, although likely all models released by that point)
A mobile version (likely for laptops and other portable devices) was also mentioned on the website, although its supported platforms were never listed.


=== January 2002 Release ===
=== January 2002 release ===
According to the newer Whizpro website, the desktop version already supported the following platforms by January 2002 (along with the platforms already supported by the 2000 Release), although it is unclear when each platform exactly began being supported:<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20020126000257/http://www.whizpro.com.tw/</ref>
According to the newer whizpro.com.tw website, the desktop version also supported the following platforms by January 2002:<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20020126000257/http://www.whizpro.com.tw/</ref>


*Intel 845 northbridge
*Intel 845 (original) northbridge
*National Semiconductor Geode GX1 and GXM processors
*Transmeta Crusoe TM3xxx and TM5xxx processors
*VIA KT133A and KM133 northbridges
*VIA P4X266 and P4M266 northbridges
*VIA P4X266 and P4M266 northbridges
*VIA KT133A and KM133 northbridges
*VIA PM133 northbridge
*VIA PM133 northbridge
*VIA PRO266 and KT266 northbridges
*VIA "PRO266" (likely a typo of KM266 Pro) and KT266 northbridges
*VIA "VT82C593A" (assumed to be a typo for VT82C596A), VT82C686A and VT82C686B southbridges
*VIA "VT82C593A" (likely a typo of VT82C596A), VT82C686A and VT82C686B southbridges
*Transmeta Crusoe TM3xxx and TM5xxx processors
 
*National Semiconductor Geode GX1 and GXM processors
=== May 2002 release ===
According to the same website, Whizpro BIOS also supported various ALi, AMD and SiS chipsets by May 2002, although exact models of these supported chipsets are unknown.


=== May 2002 Release ===
The website also claimed support for any x86 architecture based processor.
According to the same website, Whizpro BIOS already supported various ALi (Acer Labs Inc.), AMD and SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems) chipsets by May 2002, although exact models of the supported chipsets are unknown. The website also claimed support for any x86 architecture based processor.


=== June 2003 Release ===
=== June 2003 release ===
According to the same website, the following platforms were already supported by June 2003.
The following platforms were already supported by June 2003:


*Intel 875P northbridge
*Intel 845D, 845G, 845GL, 845E, 845GE, 845PE, 845GV and 875P northbridges
*Other variants of the Intel 845 northbridge (845D, 845G, 845GL, 845E, 845GE, 845PE and 845GV)
*VIA CLE266 northbridge
*VIA CLE266 northbridge
*VIA KT266A, KM266, KT333, KT400 and KM400 northbridges
*VIA P4X266A, P4X333 and P4M333 northbridges
*VIA P4X266A, P4X333 and P4M333 northbridges
*VIA KT266A, KM266, KT333, KT400 and KM400 northbridges
*VIA PLE133, PLE133A, PLE133T and PM133 northbridges
*VIA PLE133, PLE133A, PLE133T and PM133 northbridges


=== November 2003 Release ===
=== November 2003 release ===
According to the same website, the following platforms were already supported by November 2003:
VIA's K8T800 and K8M800 northbridges were already supported by November 2003. This was also the last time the website was updated.
 
*VIA K8T800 and K8M800 northbridges
 
November 2003 was also the last time the website was updated.


=== Later Releases ===
=== Later releases ===
Although the Whizpro website has never been updated after November 2003, it is known that BCM's IN915GV and IN915GVR motherboards (both with the Intel 915GV northbridge and the ICH6 southbridge) shipped with Whizpro BIOS, although no ROM updates or dumps are available for either. These are likely one of the last instances of Whizpro BIOS, as the Intel 915 series chipsets were introduced in 2004, months after the Whizpro website was abandoned. They are also the only known instances of Whizpro BIOS for a PCIe-based platform.
Despite no more updates being made on the website, Whizpro BIOS' development apparently continued for a while. Sometime around 2004-2005, support for Intel's 915G chipset (and likely also other 915x series of chipsets) was implemented, as seen on the BCM IN915GV and IN915GVR motherboards. Although no ROMs are available for either of these motherboards, their specifications mentioned Whizpro BIOS before they were removed from the BCM website. These motherboards run not only the last known instances of Whizpro BIOS, but also the only known instances for a PCIe based platform.

Latest revision as of 08:41, 5 June 2025

POST screen on the BCM BC845DL motherboard

Whizpro BIOS, also known as WhizBIOS, is a personal computer BIOS developed by Whizpro Technology from the late-90s to the mid-2000s. It is mostly used on industrial or embedded systems, especially the ones made by BCM Advanced Research and Iwill. Its earliest known instance is from 1999, while the last known is from circa 2004-2005.

The last known trace of Whizpro Technology is from a February 2005 version of WFLASH, a BIOS flashing tool for Whizpro BIOS ROMs.[1].

Known versions

COMDEX Fall '99 Demo release

According to the "News" section of the defunct whizpro.com website, a "demo BIOS product" was showcased by Whizpro Technologies at COMDEX Fall '99 in Las Vegas in November 1999.[2] Although this "BIOS product" was likely Whizpro BIOS, it's unknown whether a pre-release or finalized version of it was demoed.

2000 release

Based on information from the same website, Whizpro BIOS was already available for personal and embedded computers in 2000.

The following platforms were supported (or planned to be supported) by the desktop version:

  • Intel 810, 810E and 815E chipsets
  • VIA Apollo Pro Plus, Pro 133 and Pro 133A chipsets (with VT82C596B southbridge only)
  • VIA KX133 and KT133 chipsets
  • Future support for VIA's DDR memory chipsets and Intel's Timna processor was also announced, neither of which were released at the time. Although the Timna processor was later cancelled by Intel before being released, meaning it likely never became supported.

Meanwhile, the embedded version supported the following platforms:

  • Intel 430TX, 440BX and 440ZX chipsets
  • National Semiconductor Geode GXLC, SC1400 and 5530 series of processors
  • STMicroelectronics STPC chipsets (exact models not listed, although likely all models released by that point)

A mobile version (likely for laptops and other portable devices) was also mentioned on the website, although its supported platforms were never listed.

January 2002 release

According to the newer whizpro.com.tw website, the desktop version also supported the following platforms by January 2002:[3]

  • Intel 845 (original) northbridge
  • National Semiconductor Geode GX1 and GXM processors
  • Transmeta Crusoe TM3xxx and TM5xxx processors
  • VIA KT133A and KM133 northbridges
  • VIA P4X266 and P4M266 northbridges
  • VIA PM133 northbridge
  • VIA "PRO266" (likely a typo of KM266 Pro) and KT266 northbridges
  • VIA "VT82C593A" (likely a typo of VT82C596A), VT82C686A and VT82C686B southbridges

May 2002 release

According to the same website, Whizpro BIOS also supported various ALi, AMD and SiS chipsets by May 2002, although exact models of these supported chipsets are unknown.

The website also claimed support for any x86 architecture based processor.

June 2003 release

The following platforms were already supported by June 2003:

  • Intel 845D, 845G, 845GL, 845E, 845GE, 845PE, 845GV and 875P northbridges
  • VIA CLE266 northbridge
  • VIA KT266A, KM266, KT333, KT400 and KM400 northbridges
  • VIA P4X266A, P4X333 and P4M333 northbridges
  • VIA PLE133, PLE133A, PLE133T and PM133 northbridges

November 2003 release

VIA's K8T800 and K8M800 northbridges were already supported by November 2003. This was also the last time the website was updated.

Later releases

Despite no more updates being made on the website, Whizpro BIOS' development apparently continued for a while. Sometime around 2004-2005, support for Intel's 915G chipset (and likely also other 915x series of chipsets) was implemented, as seen on the BCM IN915GV and IN915GVR motherboards. Although no ROMs are available for either of these motherboards, their specifications mentioned Whizpro BIOS before they were removed from the BCM website. These motherboards run not only the last known instances of Whizpro BIOS, but also the only known instances for a PCIe based platform.