K7ADA Soyo and AMD Athlon 1700+

[Confucius]

I picked up this barebone kit and processor from the Hot-Deals forum. I can not get the thing to boot. I read all the specs from the manufacturer of the board and the processor. Has anyone else purchased this combo and gotten it working?? I have tried to let the system board auto configure it .. no luck. Below are the jumper and DIP switch settings I used:

RJ2 and RJ3 on pin 2&3 - This is the frequency multiplier settings; the unlock

RJ11 - DIP switch all on except 2 this gives it a multiplier of 12

FJ1 - CPU frequency DIP - 1 on , the rest off (I am using DDR PC2100- 1 module of 128Mb)

VJ2 Jumper - manual on pins 2&3

VJ2 DIP - CPU voltage 1.475 or all dip switches off except 5

The system powers up but it never sends anything to the monitor. I have changed some of the settings and the system will beep so I know the processor is seated but I am not sure if the system board requires 2 DDR PC2100 to work or what. I have also changed out the video card .. swaping it from a AGP 2X to a PCI card .. still nothing. I have played with may of the settings and can not seem to get it working. The one thing that is strange to me is that the highest processor that the manufacturer lists is a Athlon 1.3 for this board .. If this is the case then why the He!! would ouptpost sell this as a combo .... thanks for your help

 

[LynneB]

try multiplier of 11. No need to fool with voltage - reset those to auto, or set them to 1.75 - I have the same board and it is now reporting cpu speed correctly. email me if you need more help. lynneblack@charter.net
Lynne

 

[Confucius]

Thanks for the info .. still no go . I plan on email you to see what all the DIP and jumpers are set like .. What processor do you have?? I am wondering if it has something to do with the system specs and the fact that I am putting in a 1.47Mhz processor ..

 

[LynneB]

I have the same board with the 1700 processor, works fine - settings as follows:
VJ2 CPU Vcore- set to auto
FJ1 CPU Frequency setting ON OFF OFF OFF
Move jumper on RJ2 & RJ3 to pins 2&3
RJ1 CPU Frequency Multiplier (11) set as follows: ON ON ON ON
Also, if you stick the Soyo CD in a working PC and go to updates, you will find updated bios that is not found on the Soyo default website for the board, you might try to flash the bios if all else fails.

 

[Confucius]

I appreciate the info .. I have the same settings and still nothing .. I am down to either it being a bad DDR or system board. I doubt that it is the DDR because it was brand new, but you never know.

 

[scarper]

I am having potential issue with my 64mb AG315P AGP video adapter I got from Newegg.com and the K7ADA Soyo and AMD Athlon 1700+. (I am running Windows 2000 sp2.) When I load a large music file (650mb) in my program Cool Edit 96, my computer reboots without warning or blue screen. Also, it occasionally does it also when moving really large files over my peer-to-peer network.

If I downgrade my video settings from 800x600/32bit True Color @100Hz to 640x480/256 colors, it does not reboot. Also, if I remove the AG315P card and replace it with an old ViRGE/GX card running at 800x600/32bit True Color, it does not reboot. Only when the AG315P is running at higher resolutions do I have problems with the crash/reboot.

I have tried disabling my integrated sound card to no avail. I have also checked out my DDR RAM (256mb) which checks out okay. I have no other clues. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[RedSox]

Scarper,

Have you checked for updated drivers for your video card? Try a windows update run and see if anything shows up in the driver section.

Someone in the Hot Deals thread about this system (I have one too) mentioned that this MB seems to be very picky about video cards. I stuck with a name brand GeForce3 to prevent having to deal with it.

Other than that, I'm really happy with the system. Hope it works out for ya'.

 

[truface]

I installed linux mandrake 8.1 on this system and had varied results. The system would be alright for some time and then it would reboot suddenly - actually hiccup, meaning the screen goes black then comes back with the login screen, like xfree just collapsed. I thought it was mandrake so I installed redhat 7. Same thing.

I had everything set up the same way except for the multiplier setting [I don't even know what that'll do]. Another thing to mention is that my system performance is set to "maximum." When it's set to "normal", the system won't boot completely: it gets to the gnome opening screen, stalls, and the hiccup. I don't know. Anyhow, I've now set the mulitplier to "11" and am giving it another shot.

Anyone have any symptoms close to these? Or even better, is anyone installing Linux on this system?

 

[MrEnigma]

When you set it to maximum it disables USB and also disables the onboard audio. If you don't need either, then it wouldn't be a bad thing, hence the maximum setting. A lot of people have been complaining about the video hiccuping, this board seems to not like any video cards. I have been running a PCI 2mb ATI 3D Rage II card in my system because my other AGP ATI will not boot at all when it is in. My geforce got here today, so we'll so how that fares....hopefully well...otherwise everything else is great..although it runs a tad hot.

 

[ralphp]

Try a new stick of memory. I bought same mobo and 1.2 AMD - no boot.....Had a NEW stick of ram. Tried the ram in another machine and it worked but it did not work in the Soyo mobo. A different brand of ram worked just fine...

 

[wasssup]

a few questions...

1) anyone think a thermaltake volcano 6cu would fit? I'm gonna need something strong, because when my case is closed my cpu tends to overheat (i've gotta buy a 60mm and 80mm fan too...)
2) for anyone who installed a visiontek GeForce3 Ti200 --- any problems? I just ordered that today, and i'm hoping for a miracle (ie. no random freezing!)

this system hates ATI products, my ATI TV Wonder VE freezes in this computer, even under Win2k (which blows, I wanted a cheap solution for on-the-fly mpeg2 capturing...guess the card goes back to compusa)

 

[scarper]

On my crash-reboot problem:

1. I did load the latest video drivers.
2. I did try the "maximum" mode.
3. I have reseated my AGP card several times.
4. I don't have another DDR memory stick to try.

Thanks for the suggestions. Any others before I give up and try to return my video card for another?

 

[MrEnigma]

I just put my geforce2 GTS-V in, worked great, oc'ed the card, oc'ed the chip to 1800+, and now I need to run it with the case off...because of the insane heat. Oh well...everything works now..I'm happy.

 

[RedSox]

To address the last few posts:

The GeForce 3 Ti200 works fine in the system. I bought one new and it has worked fine without any hiccups since the beginning.

The heat in this case is insane. I've been up & running a week, and it seems like the temps increase each time I use it. I'm up to about 48C on load for the processor (not too bad), but around 40C on the mobo sensor - way too high compared to other boards.

I'm probably going to have to opt for another CPU cooler soon. I added an 80MM fan to the front side of the case (which didn't seem to help at all - too far from everything) and will be adding a 60mm exhaust fan in the next few days.

Other than that...no problems. Loaded down w/ 768MB (Crucial 256 & no-name 512), and 200GB of storage (three Maxtor drives).

 

[MrEnigma]

Yeah..mine is smoking also 122 the chip runs at and 110 or so the case is at...that's pretty hot...added a few fans no help...crappy case..oh well..everything runs great...got a cheap geforce2 gts-v runs great...3d benchmark at 4059...which is decent for 260 bucks worth of hardware...

 

[RedSox]

<< Yeah..mine is smoking also 122 the chip runs at and 110 or so the case is at...that's pretty hot...added a few fans no help...crappy case..oh well..everything runs great...got a cheap geforce2 gts-v runs great...3d benchmark at 4059...which is decent for 260 bucks worth of hardware... >>



Tonight I added two hard drive coolers and a slot fan (about $25 total). I have my CPU temp down to 39-41C under load and the board down to 35-37C. I still can't understand why this board runs so damned hot, but my guess is the crappy case.

This is my first AMD system - I never thought I'd own a PC where heat management would consume me, but at least it's fun experimenting.

 

[truface]

<< To address the last few posts:

The GeForce 3 Ti200 works fine in the system. I bought one new and it has worked fine without any hiccups since the beginning. >>




so i guess you're thinking that it's the video card in combination with the motherboard that's the problem. i bought a hercules stingray 128 / 3d because it was relatively cheap and it looked like it was going to work with the linux distros i planned on installing. i didn't take into account the fact that the video card might not work with the motherboard.

anyone else having good luck with this card or any particular set of cards?

 

[ShizNitz]

I have a question regarding cooling for the case.

It appears as if there are vents for only 2 fans, one at the front of the case below the hard drive (bigger), and one at the back of the case by the MOBO cooling fan (smaller). I hooked up one fan (I don't know what size it is, but it fit in the bottom-front position).

My questions are:
1. Is my bigger fan an 80mm fan?
2. Is there a particular direction you want air to flow. i.e. In the bottom-front vent and out the top-back vent. I was wondering because I don't know which direction to point the fan.
3. Should I get a smaller fan (would it be a 60mm) for the top?
4. I'm not overclocking so would this be enough cooling for this system?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[RedSox]

<<
My questions are:
1. Is my bigger fan an 80mm fan?
2. Is there a particular direction you want air to flow. i.e. In the bottom-front vent and out the top-back vent. I was wondering because I don't know which direction to point the fan.
3. Should I get a smaller fan (would it be a 60mm) for the top?
4. I'm not overclocking so would this be enough cooling for this system?

Any help is greatly appreciated. >>



To answer:

The front case fan is an 80mm fan. It should pull air in (blow toward the innards of the case). The smaller fan location by the MB is a 60mm unit and is designed for an exhaust fan location (blowing out of the system).

I posted my results last night after adding two HD coolers, and a slot fan. Unfortunately, I had hit the bus setting jumper and slowed my 1700+ down to 1100...hence the lower temps. When I set the bus back to the correct settings, my temps were back to normal (as in high).

I really don't know if there's any way to cool this case/MB combo. Even with two HD coolers, my 80mm fan unmounted and pointed directly at the MB, and the slot fan blowing directly on my AGP card, I'm still getting 46-50C under load (CPU) and around 40C(!!) for the MB.

I just think this case blows...and not well. I'm considering removing a few of the 5 1/4" plastic panels from the top of the case to try and improve things, but I doubt it's going to do any good.

 

[ShizNitz]

Thanks for your help RedSox.

 

[clay82]

well at least i got mine and it works!

 

[clay82]

ok...my CPU is running @ around 46-49 degrees under work, and the board gets up to 42...is that high enough that i should worry?

and also...has anyone oc'ed this? if so let me know how it went and if i should try, my roomate got the 1.6 p4 and its at well over 2 ghz, and im jealous!!!!:|

 

[RedSox]

<< ok...my CPU is running @ around 46-49 degrees under work, and the board gets up to 42...is that high enough that i should worry?

and also...has anyone oc'ed this? if so let me know how it went and if i should try, my roomate got the 1.6 p4 and its at well over 2 ghz, and im jealous!!!!:| >>



Your CPU temp is about what I have..nothing to worry about under standard clockings. The board temp is also about right under load. It is HIGH, but will be fine. I've been gaming for hours on mine the past few days and it's rock solid.

I honestly wouldn't OC this board unless you add an extra-strength CPU cooler. The case design doesn't promote airflow too well. At least the few review out on the Web seem to indicate that this board is great for overclocking. I don't have the links handy, but they can be found under the original thread in Hot Deals.

 

[clay82]

ok...bumped it up and am running windows it says its an AMD 1900+.....but thats only 1.57 ghz, so no big gain, and any more upping and it wont load windows....yea im prob not gonna leave it unless i get a new case, while i did that i took the sides off for airflow

 

[RedSox]

Clay,

What are your temp readings with the side panels removed? I'm just curious. I only see about a 2-3 degree C drop on both readings.