Strange problem with AMD xp 2600!

webe3 · 04-08-2004, 05:02 AM

OK, I keep having something wierd happen to my computer. It slows to a crawl and so I reboot hoping that it will clear. A error comes up and says something about the CPU speed not being set correctly. So I reboot my Asus A7N8X Deluxe and hit del. to go into the BIOS and I had the CPU external freq. previously set at 166. (that is SUPPOSED to be the correct speed for a AMD athlon core xp 2600) I went ahead and dropped it down to 133 and saved by hitting f10 and saving and everything seemed to be ok, but every now and then it still happens randomly, even with it being set to a lower CPU external frequency! Does anybody know what is wrong?? Why does this keep happening!??

Here are my specs in the BIOS of my Asus A7N8X Deluxe as to what I have my settings on my processor:
CPU External Freq. (133) (NOTE: THIS was what I was talking about!)
CPU frequency multiple setting (auto)
xCPU frequency multiple setting (12.5x) (NOTE: lines with an x before them are greyed out)
system performance (user defined)
CPU interface (optimal)
memory frequency (100%)
resulting frequency (166 mhz)
memory timmings (optimal)
xSDRAM active precharge delay (7)
xSDRAM RAS to CAS delay (3)
xSDRAM RAS precharge delay (3)
xSDRAM CAS latency (2.5T)
FSB spread spectrum (0.50%)
AGP spread spectrum (disabled)
CPU Vcore setting (auto)
xCPU Vcore (1.650v)
graphics aperature size (64 mb)
AGP frequency (auto)
system BIOS cacheable (disabled)
video RAM cacheable (disabled)
DDR refrence voltage (2.6v)
AGP VDDQ voltage (1.5v)
AGP 8x support (enabled)
AGP fast write capability (enabled)

I just can't understand why, even after setting the CPU External Freq. at a lower speed (It is SUPPOSED to be set at 166, but I lowered it to 133, hoping that would fix the problem!) that this problem is STILL happening! Does anybody know what could be a cause for this?

By the way.... I DO NOT and HAVE NEVER overclocked my processor! It just has the standard fan that comes with it when I bought it retail, so I wouldn't even try that without a bigger fan! My AMD xp 2600 is also an ATHLON core!

igalan · 04-08-2004, 07:36 AM

The XP 2600 can be either 133 MHz FSB or 166 MHz; older models where designed for 133 Mhz. Leave it in auto and the motherboard will use the correct bus speed. Then set the memory to run at the same bus speed (CPU interface 1:1 or something similar, the RAM should run at 133 MHz if the CPU does).

What BIOS version do you have? Latest is 1007, you should upgrade to this BIOS because older releases had problem saving BIOS parameters.

webe3 · 04-08-2004, 09:38 PM

OK, now that would make sense! I have BIOS version 1006! So mabye it is the BIOS after all? Hopefully if I upgrade it to version 1007, that should fix the settings!

webe3 · 05-17-2004, 07:27 AM

I have upgraded to version 1007 in the Bios flash. Hopefully that will fix it! I will keep you posted.

Wobbel · 05-17-2004, 07:38 AM

I had a simular problem a while ago, Asus A7V266 mobo, XP1800, when rebooting my pc, got a bios screen, stating : 'computer hang due to an improper set cpu speed' or something simular.
I flashed my bios to a newer version, haven't had that problem since.
Is a really easy thing to do btw, with that award flash tool.

LPDad · 05-17-2004, 01:35 PM

And don't forget to put a nice new battery in your MOBO.

They are cheap and will also help keep the settings from being lost during a powerout.

webe3 · 06-01-2004, 02:43 PM

Well I really don't know WHAT is going on, but I HAVE the latest vesrsion of the BIOS (1007) for the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and I STILL a,m getting those stupid error messages! I am beginning to wonder if it is my processor! I may get a new AMD xp 3000 (Barton Core) and put it in and see if that will fix it. I will also try a new battery for my MB.

(UPDATE) BINGO! It was the BATTERY! Turns out that the STOCK battery that comes with the Asus A7N8X Deluxe boards don't provide enough power. They are SUPPOSED to be 3v....but the stock battery that comes with it only gives about 2.95v and this is what is causing the strange problems with the BIOS not saving. They reccomend getting a energiser battery (2032) and replace the stock CMOS battery with that. You can pick them up at any Walgreens or drugstore, as it is only a watch battery. I did it and it is working OK, but time will tell. This article give you more info on it.
http://www.maximumoc.com/guides/a7n8x_modding.html

04-08-2004, 05:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
webe3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 108	Strange problem with AMD xp 2600! OK, I keep having something wierd happen to my computer. It slows to a crawl and so I reboot hoping that it will clear. A error comes up and says something about the CPU speed not being set correctly. So I reboot my Asus A7N8X Deluxe and hit del. to go into the BIOS and I had the CPU external freq. previously set at 166. (that is SUPPOSED to be the correct speed for a AMD athlon core xp 2600) I went ahead and dropped it down to 133 and saved by hitting f10 and saving and everything seemed to be ok, but every now and then it still happens randomly, even with it being set to a lower CPU external frequency! Does anybody know what is wrong?? Why does this keep happening!?? Here are my specs in the BIOS of my Asus A7N8X Deluxe as to what I have my settings on my processor: CPU External Freq. (133) (NOTE: THIS was what I was talking about!) CPU frequency multiple setting (auto) xCPU frequency multiple setting (12.5x) (NOTE: lines with an x before them are greyed out) system performance (user defined) CPU interface (optimal) memory frequency (100%) resulting frequency (166 mhz) memory timmings (optimal) xSDRAM active precharge delay (7) xSDRAM RAS to CAS delay (3) xSDRAM RAS precharge delay (3) xSDRAM CAS latency (2.5T) FSB spread spectrum (0.50%) AGP spread spectrum (disabled) CPU Vcore setting (auto) xCPU Vcore (1.650v) graphics aperature size (64 mb) AGP frequency (auto) system BIOS cacheable (disabled) video RAM cacheable (disabled) DDR refrence voltage (2.6v) AGP VDDQ voltage (1.5v) AGP 8x support (enabled) AGP fast write capability (enabled) I just can't understand why, even after setting the CPU External Freq. at a lower speed (It is SUPPOSED to be set at 166, but I lowered it to 133, hoping that would fix the problem!) that this problem is STILL happening! Does anybody know what could be a cause for this? By the way.... I DO NOT and HAVE NEVER overclocked my processor! It just has the standard fan that comes with it when I bought it retail, so I wouldn't even try that without a bigger fan! My AMD xp 2600 is also an ATHLON core! __________________ System Specs: ATX generic case with Antec 550 watt power supply. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. Western Digital 7,200 RPM 40 gig IDE Hard Drive.(FAT 32- file system) AMD Athlon XP 2600 processor.(standard fan and heatsink-Thoroughbred Core-standard speed-NO OVERCLOCK) 1 gig of Samsung DDRAM(PC 2700- 333 mhz....2-512mb sticks running in dual channel mode).Ati Radeon 8x 9600 XT (8x is enabled on motherboard). Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card. Motorola sb 5100 cable modem (Insight Communications-Cable Connection) Sony DRU 500 AX DVD- RECORDER.(records -R/-RW or +R/+RW and CD-R formats-4x-24x-4x) LG 52x32x52 CD Burner. Zip 100 internal drive and a generic 3.5 floppy drive. Windows XP Professional Operating System. I also have a bearpaw scanner, HP Deskjet 3520 inkjet printer and a KDS X Flat 17 inch CRT monitor. Last edited by webe3; 04-08-2004 at 05:12 AM.

04-08-2004, 09:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
webe3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 108	OK, now that would make sense! I have BIOS version 1006! So mabye it is the BIOS after all? Hopefully if I upgrade it to version 1007, that should fix the settings! __________________ System Specs: ATX generic case with Antec 550 watt power supply. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. Western Digital 7,200 RPM 40 gig IDE Hard Drive.(FAT 32- file system) AMD Athlon XP 2600 processor.(standard fan and heatsink-Thoroughbred Core-standard speed-NO OVERCLOCK) 1 gig of Samsung DDRAM(PC 2700- 333 mhz....2-512mb sticks running in dual channel mode).Ati Radeon 8x 9600 XT (8x is enabled on motherboard). Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card. Motorola sb 5100 cable modem (Insight Communications-Cable Connection) Sony DRU 500 AX DVD- RECORDER.(records -R/-RW or +R/+RW and CD-R formats-4x-24x-4x) LG 52x32x52 CD Burner. Zip 100 internal drive and a generic 3.5 floppy drive. Windows XP Professional Operating System. I also have a bearpaw scanner, HP Deskjet 3520 inkjet printer and a KDS X Flat 17 inch CRT monitor.

05-17-2004, 07:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
webe3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 108	I have upgraded to version 1007 in the Bios flash. Hopefully that will fix it! I will keep you posted. __________________ System Specs: ATX generic case with Antec 550 watt power supply. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. Western Digital 7,200 RPM 40 gig IDE Hard Drive.(FAT 32- file system) AMD Athlon XP 2600 processor.(standard fan and heatsink-Thoroughbred Core-standard speed-NO OVERCLOCK) 1 gig of Samsung DDRAM(PC 2700- 333 mhz....2-512mb sticks running in dual channel mode).Ati Radeon 8x 9600 XT (8x is enabled on motherboard). Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card. Motorola sb 5100 cable modem (Insight Communications-Cable Connection) Sony DRU 500 AX DVD- RECORDER.(records -R/-RW or +R/+RW and CD-R formats-4x-24x-4x) LG 52x32x52 CD Burner. Zip 100 internal drive and a generic 3.5 floppy drive. Windows XP Professional Operating System. I also have a bearpaw scanner, HP Deskjet 3520 inkjet printer and a KDS X Flat 17 inch CRT monitor.

05-17-2004, 01:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
LPDad Admin & "Fixer" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 2,293	And don't forget to put a nice new battery in your MOBO. They are cheap and will also help keep the settings from being lost during a powerout. __________________ We don't need no stink'n TechSupport We ARE TechSupport. *LPDad* Administrator

06-01-2004, 02:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
webe3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 108	Well I really don't know WHAT is going on, but I HAVE the latest vesrsion of the BIOS (1007) for the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and I STILL a,m getting those stupid error messages! I am beginning to wonder if it is my processor! I may get a new AMD xp 3000 (Barton Core) and put it in and see if that will fix it. I will also try a new battery for my MB. (UPDATE) BINGO! It was the BATTERY! Turns out that the STOCK battery that comes with the Asus A7N8X Deluxe boards don't provide enough power. They are SUPPOSED to be 3v....but the stock battery that comes with it only gives about 2.95v and this is what is causing the strange problems with the BIOS not saving. They reccomend getting a energiser battery (2032) and replace the stock CMOS battery with that. You can pick them up at any Walgreens or drugstore, as it is only a watch battery. I did it and it is working OK, but time will tell. This article give you more info on it. http://www.maximumoc.com/guides/a7n8x_modding.html __________________ System Specs: ATX generic case with Antec 550 watt power supply. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. Western Digital 7,200 RPM 40 gig IDE Hard Drive.(FAT 32- file system) AMD Athlon XP 2600 processor.(standard fan and heatsink-Thoroughbred Core-standard speed-NO OVERCLOCK) 1 gig of Samsung DDRAM(PC 2700- 333 mhz....2-512mb sticks running in dual channel mode).Ati Radeon 8x 9600 XT (8x is enabled on motherboard). Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card. Motorola sb 5100 cable modem (Insight Communications-Cable Connection) Sony DRU 500 AX DVD- RECORDER.(records -R/-RW or +R/+RW and CD-R formats-4x-24x-4x) LG 52x32x52 CD Burner. Zip 100 internal drive and a generic 3.5 floppy drive. Windows XP Professional Operating System. I also have a bearpaw scanner, HP Deskjet 3520 inkjet printer and a KDS X Flat 17 inch CRT monitor. Last edited by webe3; 06-02-2004 at 01:33 PM.

04-08-2004, 07:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
igalan PCTT Articles Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Barcelona, SPAIN Posts: 1,018	The XP 2600 can be either 133 MHz FSB or 166 MHz; older models where designed for 133 Mhz. Leave it in auto and the motherboard will use the correct bus speed. Then set the memory to run at the same bus speed (CPU interface 1:1 or something similar, the RAM should run at 133 MHz if the CPU does). What BIOS version do you have? Latest is 1007, you should upgrade to this BIOS because older releases had problem saving BIOS parameters.

05-17-2004, 07:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wobbel PCTT's Gatherer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 2004 Posts: 2,861	I had a simular problem a while ago, Asus A7V266 mobo, XP1800, when rebooting my pc, got a bios screen, stating : 'computer hang due to an improper set cpu speed' or something simular. I flashed my bios to a newer version, haven't had that problem since. Is a really easy thing to do btw, with that award flash tool.

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