AMD Athlon XP 1800/1.53 Problem

[Sangasu]

Hello all,

First I would like to say I was pointed here by a friend when I described my problem. I tried to search around to see if anyone else posted this same scenario but I was unable to find it.

Here's the situation:

Three people I know purchased this exact same CPU (all from New Egg). Specifically, AMD|1800+/266 ATHLON 1.53G XP.

In my case, I assembled everything and, with default settings, powered on. Everything worked and I got it to POST correctly. This was at 1150 mhz. (10.5x and 100 mhz.). I then took it down to try and up it to 11.5x and 133 mhz. to get the desired speed capabilities. Nothing happened. Tried it back the way it was. Nothing. In essence, no matter what I did, it wouldn't POST no matter what after this point.

Person #2 had the exact same events take place, only he was able to POST at 10.5x and 100 mhz. (default) two times before the CPU died and was totally unfuctional afterwards (the same thing that happened to me).

Person #3 had the exact same events take place, only was and still is able to POST at 10.5x and 100 mhz. (default) but cannot POST at anything else.

My question is, what in the hell is going on? Surely this cannot be normal? Did we all get a 'bad batch' of CPUs? One of my friends mentioned that it is not uncommon for AMDs to not be able to accept increased speeds but this is absurd.

I sent it back via RMA and I guess I'm just going to wait and see what happens next time but am I just being naive and this is totally normal or something?

 

[gunf1ghter]

Welcome to AT.

That is weird... you and your friends are doing something incorrectly. I have installed dozens of CPU's for myself, friends and family and have never had a CPU just "go bad" for no reason.

What motherboards are you guys using? What kind of power supplies? What kind of HSF?

 

[Sangasu]

I can vouch for one of my friends: he builds computers professionally and knows far, far more than me. I'd accept the argument that I may not know what I'm doing and could fubar something pretty easily, but he knows his stuff, I trust him, and he didn't believe me either when I first told him the problem. Then he orders the same thing himself and has the same problem and believes me.

I can't remember all of what components they are using but for myself the m/b is a Soltek VIA KT333 (SL-75DRV5) with 300wt power supply in an Antec case. The HSF claimed to be ideal for AthlonXP CPUs and was rated to support speeds higher than what I was trying to achieve (1.53ghz). Other person is using MSI K7N415 (the nForce 415-D chipset) and tried a different CPU on the same setup and it worked.

 

[kind-of-blue]

Did you try clearing CMOS after your machine failed to POST?

 

[Sangasu]

Yes, tried all of the typical procedures.

Someone else told me that I have to "unlock" the CPU before it will accept an overclock. Correct, or no?

 

[gunf1ghter]

Well, you simply cannot run the CPU at the wrong multiplier if you don't unlock it.

I never, ever, EVER run a CPU at other than it's rated speed for the first 48 hrs that I am getting it working and testing stability.

 

[dunkster]

I had the same problem when I first set BIOS settings for XP1600+, then using 6G BIOS@KR7A.

Go into your BIOS and set the cpu as 'User Define' instead of 'XP1800+', with correct multiplier for your cpu and set FSB as desired. That should work.

What is even stranger is that after the cpu is recognized by your BIOS, you will then be able to set cpu as 'XP1800+' and it will be accepted.

There is something strange about BIOS cpu-recognition for AMD XPs. I've read numerous posts about this from others, most with Abit BIOS.

Hope this helps!

 

[jaybee]

If you haven't unlocked the cpu, you're wasting your time playing with the multiplier. I have an XP1600+, and my Abit board lets me specify either the speed or the multiplier, but you can't overclock without unlocking the cpu. As a matter of fact, I changed the cpu setting with the cpu locked and I couldn't get my system to boot -- had to clear the CMOS. So you can try unlocking the cpu (I haven't) or leave the multiplier settings alone.

jaybee

 

[crzyricn]

allright i have the same motherboard and processor you have.
1. next 2 the cpu you will see a dip switch make sure the one that is numbered 5 is down

2. between the ide slots and the memory there are more dip switch's make sure 1-5 are in the off position and 6 is on

after that it should boot at the default speed
as for overclocking you do have 2 purchase a kit you cant mess with the multiplier without it
another thing is that from what i have seen with this board you cant raise the fsb much over 145
and it wont go 2 166 even when the multiplier is down 2 like 7
i have crucial pc2100 ram just like you

 

[cbrenna1wa]

I also have the soltek SL-75DRV5 and it was running great with my 1600+, but I just bought an 1900+ and I am having the same problems as the previous poster. With the 1900+ my system wont even POST. Could it be the BIOS? Do i need to upgrade it? I cant figure out what could be wrong, like I said when I use my XP 1600+ it works fine. Any suggestions. Thanks

 

[gunf1ghter]

The other poster indicated it posted one time then would not boot up after that... not sure that such symptoms fit with the idea that the BIOS is out of date but it is a possibility.

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: cbrenna1wa
I also have the soltek SL-75DRV5 and it was running great with my 1600+, but I just bought an 1900+ and I am having the same problems as the previous poster. With the 1900+ my system wont even POST. Could it be the BIOS? Do i need to upgrade it? I cant figure out what could be wrong, like I said when I use my XP 1600+ it works fine. Any suggestions. Thanks

Suggestions? Check your power supply. Can you swap with a better one? Or try unlocking the 1900+, set it to default voltage and 1700+ speed, then 1800+, etc. My best guess is it draws too much current.

jaybee

 

[cbrenna1wa]

How exactly do you unlock the cpu? Im kinda new to this, so can you explain it in more detail. I would appriciate it very much. My power supply is an Antec 330watt. I don't think its the problem, and I know my mobo is not the problem because I tested it out with my 1600+. How do you know if your cpu is bad, or fried?

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: cbrenna1wa
How exactly do you unlock the cpu? Im kinda new to this, so can you explain it in more detail. I would appriciate it very much. My power supply is an Antec 330watt. I don't think its the problem, and I know my mobo is not the problem because I tested it out with my 1600+. How do you know if your cpu is bad, or fried?

I haven't unlocked an XP, so I can't talk from experience here, but it looks like a complicated procedure. The XP's supposedly have laser pits in the cpu that make it more difficult to unlock. There's an article here and a video here that show how to do it.

The Antec 330 should be big enough, but that doesn't mean your unit is up to the task. Where did you get the cpu from? It may be bad. I probably shouldn't have mentioned unlocking it, as that would void any warranty you may have. Anyway, have you tested the 1900+ in another machine?

jaybee

 

[dajeepster]

well, I tried unlocking mine and I wasn't too successful at it. I need to find some better conductive material.

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: dajeepster
well, I tried unlocking mine and I wasn't too successful at it. I need to find some better conductive material.

I just unlocked mine over the weekend using a car defogger repair kit (thx Technonut & Grunjee). At first I was intimidated by how small the bridges actually are, but when I was done (30 or so minutes later) I was surprised that it wasn't as hard as it looked. The key points:

1- Pick up the car defogger repair kit at an auto parts store. I used one by Loctite.
2- Use scotch tape to mask all the bridges but the one you're working on. Mask over the bridges below first (L3?), then mask to the left and right. Of course, the tape has to be very close to the bridges to minimize the amount of paint you apply.
3- Wait for the paint to dry each time before pulling the tape (3-5 minutes).
4- Use a pushpin or safety pin to separate the paint traces if need be.
5- Use a multimeter if you have one to ensure you've done it right.

LMK if you have any more questions.

jaybee

PS My 1600+ is running at default voltage at 1.666. I don't have any higher multipliers in the bios.