socket A FSB speed mismatch possible?

[Dr. Avery]

This one's a bit long sorry - if you aren't in the mood for a read, skip to the bold part at the end - that's the important stuff. I really need help here!!! -al

Ok,
Here's the situation.

I am, as you may have already heard, in a situation where my computer is in need of either a new motherboard, or a new processor.

Before I get to my question let me interject my computer's history as it may allow you to determine what really went wrong - as opposed to me just guessing it is one of two parts.

System:

mainboard - ECS K7S5A (SiS 735 chipset)
processor - Athlon XP 1600+ 266fsb
memory - 2 x 512MB pc2100 DDR (1024 MB total)
video card - Nvidia GeForce2 MX 200

Symptoms:

From the very first time I powered it up (Jan. 2002) this computer did not like to restart. That is to say if you tried to reboot it from the windows shutdown dialog, it would go through the P.O.S.T. and then hang (no caps lock response - full hang) while loading the windows pre-startup files. I tried to reinstall windows XP - even windows 2000 same response.

Not a big deal right? That just meant that every time I restarted I had to do a full power down / power up - then it would boot just fine at least usually it would. Rarely I would have to power cycle it twice before it would boot correctly. And yes - I left it off long enough for the drives to fully spin down. But that was a once a month kind of thing that I simply could not duplicate intentionally.

For about one and a half years this computer ran nonstop - usually under full load, and at increasingly higher temperatures as dust gummed the fan's airflow more and more.

Then sometime in the last month or two it started taking longer to boot.

More specifically it started taking longer to P.O.S.T.

I would hit the power and the lights would flash (hd, cd, cdrw) and then they would flash again - repeating this process of trying to initialize for about 15 minutes (up to 30 minutes) before something would catch and the vid card would start, the P.O.S.T. would go through and windows would successfully load (at least one time out of three).

It turns out MUP.sys was the windows file it would hang on during startup.

I have no idea what that is.

Now the drives flash, but it never starts up.

My first question is this - utilizing this information can anyonetell me which part is dead. I troubleshot every piece of hardware (tried the ram sticks individually, took out the sound card, took out the video card, etc)

My guess is that the processor fried - flipped it's last FLOP but it could also be the motherboard. I don't really have any way to test it out.

I tried removing the motherboard from the system to see if it was causing the problem but I still couldn't get it to boot. Just kidding.

I would just like to know if one of you guru types could explain what happened to my box - more for personal education than anything else. It seems like this problem was present from day 1, and just deteriorated from there.

I am pretty sure the problem is the proc.

That's all the relevant info I can think of for that question. Sorry if it's too much information, but I didn't want to leave anything out that might help someone solve the mystery of my non starting computer.
________________________________________

My REAL question is this:

Because most of my computer still works and because the computer I am using in interim is a PII 233mhz with 32MB of ram (ouch ) I am going to have to replace some parts. If I am going to replace parts I may as well upgrade to a 333 FSB. But because I can only spend about $100 / month I have to get the parts seperately.

SO

Is it possible to run a 333 FSB athlon processor on a motherboard that only supports 266 fsb?

More specifically, can I run an Athlon XP 2600 333 on my k7s5a until I can get get a new mobo?

I probably won't be able to run it at full speed, but if I can at least have my system running again for the month while I am waiting to afford my mobo - it would make life much easier for my me.

Your input is greatly appriciated!
thanks in advance,
al

[Dr. Avery]

Also, What motherboard / chipset should I upgrade to for the athlon xp 2600+ 333? I'm thinking via or Nvidia - but I really don't know wich to go for.

I'm a bit out of the loop on newer chipsets and have no idea what rocks - and what sucks the silicon twinkie.

Thanks again

[LPDad]

1. From what you describe, it sounds like your CPU died. (but it is probably a bunch of things..no way for me to tell without actually tinkering)

2. your ECS K7S5A is actually a very flexible mobo. You should be able to easily use an XP 2600 on it without problems--HOWEVER, without a BIOS upgrade you will be limiting your speed. (With the latest BIOS update from ECS your mobo will support an XP2400+, so you will at least be able to achieve those settings-- not too shabby!!!)

3. The Best socket A Mobos today are of the Nforce2 variety.
I would highly reccommend that you go with one of those, whichever brand you desire. All of the best new Nforce2 boards (make sure you get the latest revisions for future expandabilty) are running between $100 and $120 and come loaded with goodies (onboard 6.1 dolby sound, 1-2 ethernet, 2.0 USB, 8X AGP, Some have G-Lan. and the list goes on and on)

4. Also, swing over to www.jab-tech.com and get yourself a nice new thermalright SLK-800 heatsink and you can then use a relatively quiet 80mm fan to keep things quiet and cool. (Ask first, -jab-tech is offering a discount to pctt members)

By getting one of the latest revision Nforce2 boards you should be easily able to overclock, if you so desire, and after burn-in many people have been able to actually clock the XP 2500 to an actual clockspeed of 2500 (wich is comparable to a Pentium 4 running at 3.02)...once again, not too shabby.

You WILL be able to use your DDR memory in any of the new Nforce2 mobos, so that is a big positive.

Hope this helps you out.

[Dr. Avery]

That helps greatly. Thank you.

So the difference in bus speed won't stop it from working?

333 proc on a 266 mobo?

[LPDad]

I ammended my previous post. Might want to re-read it.

You should have no problem, just update to the latest BIOS and use the max settings.
it will work, just not at full speed (until MSI comes out with a bios upgrade again to support the higher chips--which will probably be soon.)

[igalan]

Originally posted by Dr. Avery
That helps greatly. Thank you.
So the difference in bus speed won't stop it from working?
333 proc on a 266 mobo?

Not all motherboards support newer CPU models. For instance, you can get an AMD XP2000+ model 6 and model 8; while both processors look exactly the same, some older motherboards won't accept the newer one (at least not without BIOS upgrade).

You will need to check the specs in the website of your m/b manufacturer, to find supported CPUs and model numbers (AMD decided to build some XPs that were TBred with the newer Barton core).

Edit: For what you describe, if the CPU fan was working, I don't think that the CPU died. I would try with another mobo and PSU.

[Dr. Avery]

the fan was overrun with 1 and a half years of dust from sitting on the floor. And I don't have a vacuum . When I took it apart it was like there was mud in the cpu fan from all the compacted dust. I am confident that this disrupted the fan's cooling ability.

In the end I am replacing both parts anyway.

[igalan]

Originally posted by Dr. Avery
the fan was overrun with 1 and a half years of dust from sitting on the floor. And I don't have a vacuum . When I took it apart it was like there was mud in the cpu fan from all the compacted dust. I am confident that this disrupted the fan's cooling ability.
In the end I am replacing both parts anyway.

Much better this way (CPU+M/B). If you buy a newer AMD CPU they run at lower voltage (1,65v instead of 1,75v), an older mobo wouldn't recognize the CPU properly so it would not work (and can even destroy the CPU in the worst case)...

[Dr. Avery]

so - how's things in barcelona?

[RipperRoo]

From the very first time I powered it up (Jan. 2002) this computer did not like to restart. That is to say if you tried to reboot it from the windows shutdown dialog, it would go through the P.O.S.T. and then hang (no caps lock response - full hang) while loading the windows pre-startup files. I tried to reinstall windows XP - even windows 2000 same response.

this is a 'known issue' with these boards, i had the same thing with my ecs k7s5a, i never bothered trying to find the solution at the time as i was getting a new board anyway.

[Dr. Avery]

I think I'm gonna go with the EPOX 8RDA+ for my new motherboard. I haven't heard anything bad about it - yet...

[Cirga]

Here is another board you might want to take a look at. Looks like it is only 122 dollars.. and this is the one I almost purchased.

its the A7N8X Nforce2 Asus Motherboard

I actually ended up going with the MSI KT4 myself.. bcause it was cheaper and supported the XP2500 barton core CPU chip.

I didnt want to spend 200 bucks on a processor.. and the XP2500 barton was on sale at www.newegg.com just last week for 100 dollars.

Got my mobo, cpu, and 512 DDR 2700 ram for 284 dollars total

[igalan]

Originally posted by Dr. Avery
I think I'm gonna go with the EPOX 8RDA+ for my new motherboard. I haven't heard anything bad about it - yet...

You may want to read this article which compares several newer nForce2 boards. This model of Epox was the only one that crashed during the test, but this doesn't necesarily means that this model is bad, maybe was just that board...

[igalan]

Originally posted by Dr. Avery
so - how's things in barcelona?

We had a pretty bad weekend raining a lot and cold, just it time for the local elections . During the week we have warm and sun, and rain during the weekend

[Dr. Avery]

who did you vote for?