Page 1 of 1
Comp Help!
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:21 pm
by CA180
Ok, i've got an older comp.
MSI KT3 ultra mobo, had an athlon xp-1800+ that worked fairly decent. I bought the athlon xp-2600+ hoping that it would be an easy chage out. Well, after plugging it in the os reads it as a xp-1700+.
Now, I have checked the mobo specs and the 2600 is the max upgrade. I also checked the part number on the cpu chip and it matches for the 2600+ with the 133/266 fsb.
Like I said, the os reads it as a 1700. And its running at 1.1mhz.
I went under setup and changed some of the settings and the max I can get it to run is 1.47mhz. I've read alot of online crap that give the recommended settings for the chip and my bios wont have it. I adjusted to what was supposed to be close to what i wanted and it read as 700(something)mhz.
I'm waiting on my buddy to help me flash the bios, but i really don't think I'm getting anywhere.
Much help needed, and is appreciated.
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:51 pm
by kevo
what speed is your ram? Some motherboards will determine your FSB speed depending on the type of ram you have in.
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:54 pm
by CA180
333
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:09 pm
by kevo
CA180 wrote:333
DDR 333 is pc2700 ram. You should be fine when it comes to your FSB. does your motherboard have any dip switches on it to force a fsb speed?
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:00 pm
by CA180
Dont really know what a dip switch is.
Strange though. You said 2700. But it says 2100, and 333.
I wish I had the damn thing in front of me. Its at my friends house.
For some strange reason the fsb speed only goes to 220 for the cpu. Thats ok though, because the cpu i got runs at 133 and is double through the ddr... right? But the cpu voltage only goes to like 1.55 or 1.60, but all the sites I have seen recommend 1.65 with a multiplier of 16 and my mobo only goes to 15. So wtf?
oh, and on another note... there is a bios update for my mobo that mentions the 2600+ cpu but I don't completely understand it. When I tried to update I get errors cause the exe wont extract.
Basically I know just enough about computers to get myself in trouble and spend money I don't have.... Thats why I need help.
Any idea why a 2600 chip would be read as 1700?
Sorry, too many questions
You seem to know what you're talking about. I'll try and hit you up when I get the comp back, if you don't mind.
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:34 am
by jT
if there is a bios update that specifically mentions the chip, then you probably need that update. im not going to go and find out what the bios update says but im sure its there for a reason
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:18 am
by BlackRoseRacing
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/deta ... KT3_Ultra2
^^^
stock supports up to AMD 2200+ chip only.....
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func ... rod_no=497
^^^
Make sure you install the CORRECT bios update since there are several versions of your board. The bios update will allow the board to recognize the newer processor. If you feel uncomfortable doing a bios update on your motherboard, install the MSI Live update program and it will guide you through downloading and installing updates....
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:26 am
by zerocoolok
Also, dont increase the FSB a lot unless you feel like killing your new processor. The AMD processors are designed to run at a 200 MHz FSB, if you increase it you may fry the chip. Also don't increase the CPU voltage that much either, as the chips are very sensitive to the voltage changes. If it is not booting with the correct settings by default (after you clear the CMOS settings), you either need a BIOS update, or it is not supported by the motherboard.
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:06 pm
by CA180
Ok, Did a little updating...
According to this link...
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func ... 3_no=#menu
I can support up to the 2600+
I flashed the bios with the newest version available.
I am still limited in the adjustability, and still cannot excede 1.47ghz.
My ram is pc2700, 333mhz
The bios update was a bitch. I had to disable all the drives except for the A: drive. Boot with a win98 floppy. Copy the update to the memory and execute. It succesfully updated, but didnt do what I had hoped.... Soooooo
I'm screwed.
I got the cpu off of ebay (i know, bad idea) and he only gives a 24hour (upon post office records of arrival) doa warranty.
But what I don't understand is that it isn't doa. The chip number matches what I can run. The bios is up to date. and the little shit still aint right!!!
Suggestions are welcome.
If no one has any ideas I may sign up on a comp forum for the help...
Thanks in advance...

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:00 am
by aperson
Whats the normal clock speed for that processor? Also what multiplier, HT multiplier (if any not sure if that used it or not). Seems to me like you're trying to push your ram too far. You might want to get some DDR 3200 (400mhz) if you want to attain that clock speed.
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:12 pm
by CA180
Still not quite right. After a little massaging I've got the cpu reading as a 2000+ and running at 1.67ghz. I left the fsb speed at 133 and changed the multiplier to 12.5. When I try and bump it to 14 or 15 the cpu speed goes down to like 763mhz.
Chip temp is reading 38c.
I still don't understand what the deal is.
Also, how do I turn down the RAM speed to match the cpu? I didnt see that option in my bios settings.
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:49 pm
by CA180
A little more messing around and i've got the fsb @ 166, multiplier set to auto (running @11) and had to up the core voltage to 1.6v because of a crash on initial startup. Temperature readings are at 40c.
Runs much faster now than ever, but still only reads as a 2200+ @ 1.83mhz.
Advice is welcom!!! Thanks!
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:48 am
by BlackRoseRacing
Replace the board,chip,ram.....
I'm upgrading a Dell 4550 P4 system to an Athlon 64 X2 w/1GB of ram for $136shippied. All new components too with an ASUS motherboard....
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:52 am
by kevo
CA180 wrote:A little more messing around and i've got the fsb @ 166, multiplier set to auto (running @11) and had to up the core voltage to 1.6v because of a crash on initial startup. Temperature readings are at 40c.
Runs much faster now than ever, but still only reads as a 2200+ @ 1.83mhz.
Advice is welcom!!! Thanks!
does your bios support autodetecting the cpu type and speed? If so, set it to auto and see what happends.
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:39 pm
by CA180
kevo wrote: does your bios support autodetecting the cpu type and speed? If so, set it to auto and see what happends.
I'm not sure... I really don't know how to set it up for that.
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:53 pm
by kevo
CA180 wrote:kevo wrote: does your bios support autodetecting the cpu type and speed? If so, set it to auto and see what happends.
I'm not sure... I really don't know how to set it up for that.
are you able to enter into your bios? how are you changing the multiplier settings?
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:16 pm
by CA180
Oh... of course. I've been making all those changes from the bios. However, I'm not sure that it has an auto detect setting, and if it does I really don't know how to turn it on. A guy on a comp website has been telling me that my mobo is unlocked.
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:58 pm
by OverDrive418
Did it come from Nigeria?
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:50 pm
by kevo
CA180 wrote:Ok, Did a little updating...
According to this link...
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func ... 3_no=#menu
I can support up to the 2600+
I flashed the bios with the newest version available.
I am still limited in the adjustability, and still cannot excede 1.47ghz.
My ram is pc2700, 333mhz
The bios update was a bitch. I had to disable all the drives except for the A: drive. Boot with a win98 floppy. Copy the update to the memory and execute. It succesfully updated, but didnt do what I had hoped.... Soooooo
I'm screwed.
I got the cpu off of ebay (i know, bad idea) and he only gives a 24hour (upon post office records of arrival) doa warranty.
But what I don't understand is that it isn't doa. The chip number matches what I can run. The bios is up to date. and the little shit still aint right!!!
Suggestions are welcome.
If no one has any ideas I may sign up on a comp forum for the help...
Thanks in advance...

well now that you updated the bios and i had a look at the link you put up above. it seems as if the column the chart refers to as the ration column is actually the multipliers. If you look at the 2600+ it shows auto. There has to be an option somewhere in the bios to let the mobo determine by cpu type (auto/default). I believe this might also be set by changing the ram fsb speed. Some bioses simply let you control the fsb. check for either of these settings in the bios.
Your particular mobo also has a pretty in-depth manual. you can download it at the link below. the third chapter has lots of info on bios settings.
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func ... rod_no=273
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:36 pm
by CA180
Ok, well I "downgraded" the bios to version 5.6 rather than 5.7... Only because that version mentions the 2600+ cpu.
That didn't fix it. I am finally going to just contact the seller that I got it from.
I will update when I learn something new.