Hello,
 
First time poster hoping I can get some clarity on what I can do here. I bought my rig from my g/f's brother who built the machine himself back when the 680i was fairly new as a great overclocking board. When it was built he had researched the best processors to use with this board (within reason and price constraints) and decided on using the Intel core2 duo E7300 Wolfdale processor. At the time of assembly he realized that the NForce EVGA stock bios would not work with the processor and so he updated the bios to a Phoenix v. 6.00 PG BIOS that allowed him to use this chip on this board. It has and is still functioning as well as can be expected. My question's are as follows:
 
Does the latest revision of the NForce EVGA Bios P33 provide support for this older chip? (upon reading through the specs on EVGA's site it shows support on legacy boards being compatible with wolfdales E8200-E8600 but not the E7300.)
 
Is there any functional reason to update to the latest P33 EVGA bios revision compared to my 9/4/2008 Phoenix 6.00 PG BIOS that i'm currently using?
 
If the chip is compatible and there is a performance based reason to update to the latest bios, how do I make sure I don't screw anything up in the process or ensure I can backup my currently working bios to re-flash if issues arise?
 
Thanks in advance, I generally know enough to be dangerous with these things, but certainly can give any other relevant details as necessary.

Welcome to the forums..Yes, the P33 supports your CPU and also has all the fixes included in the previous BIOS updates as well as the issues that the P33 fixes as you can see here..You can find info about BIOS flashing with a Floppy or with a CD/DVD or with Windows here or if you wanna flash from a USB stick here..The NVIDIA Update Center download will add the option to the NVIDIA Control Panel to flash and/or save your current BIOS .bin file..Flashing thru the OS using the NVIDIA Control Panel is generally not recommended but you can save/backup a copy of your current BIOS with it incase you wanna flash back to it..If you have nTune installed, uninstall it before you flash.
 
Phoenix 6.00 PG is not your BIOS version number..You need to freeze the first POST screen during boot by hitting the Pause/Break key and look at the "Release Number"..It should say something like I680P31 (P29, P28, etc.) whatever the P number is is your current version, hit any key to continue booting normally..You'll  need to go into the Advanced BIOS Features menu and disable Full Screen LOGO Show to see the POST screens if it's enabled.
 
Hope that helps. 

wolfdales duals work but yorkfield quads do not, and as bob said if your not at P33 then yes go ahead and update.

Thanks a ton for all the information and direction for flashing my bios. Before going through the process (i will probably opt for the CD flash instructions making sure to check the disc to ensure proper burning) I will get the actual current bios # from phoenix I'm using and post it here.
 
As a preliminary question, I noticed while researching that there was mention of clearing the CMOS before flashing the update, and other mention's about needing to replace the CMOS chip (i think) following problems with flashing to a new bios. I presume by your easy to follow steps, and links to directions to follow for flashing my bios that those issues are only relevant to folk's who maybe try to flash to an incorrect bios, or who mess up the flash process somehow. Once I make sure of my current BIOS version, I will post here, and review any final advice before going (nervously) through the flash process.
 
I'll post again in a few minutes with my current BIOS version

UPDATE: Upon installing the system update via Nvidia the current BIOS version stated there says 2.053.E2, and the Current Bios ID: 6A61ITT2.
 
Will I need to clear my CMOS manually or through the system update feature in NVIDIA control panel prior to flashing? or does it do all that as part of the flash process? 
Thanks again.

do not use the nvidia windows app to flash your bios, only use the bootable CD or flash drive method. Also do not flash on a day where you may have power problems, ie thunderstorms etc..., unless you have a UPS unit. If you lose power during a flash you will brick your board
you will need to clear the cmos via the jumper on the MB you can also go into the bios and select fail safe defaults, that puts the bios back to the factory state, then flash the bios with the bootable cd, you may need to select the cdrom as first boot device after reset, after you flash go ahead and clear the cmos (bios) via the jumper once more, boot the board and go into the bios and change the settings you need to change (disable floppy, manual memory setting if you used them before etc, etc.....) enjoy new bios.
 
And just to make it clear do not use the NVIDIA app (ntune or what ever they are calling it now) to make any changes to the bios or flash the bios or you may end up buying a new bios chip or new board