justsomeguy
Technical User
OK, let me try to be as brief as I can. But, to give you all of the details, I'm not sure that is possible, so here we go:
In my research to build a new system, I wanted to make sure that I only used approved AMD parts. I wanted AMD chipsets, everything. So, during my initial investigation, I was planning on a 1333/266 processor. The DFI AK76-SN motherboard appeared to be the best choice since I didn't want on-board audio or video, and the board is AMD approved. However, when I did make my purchase, I found a better price on a 1400/266 CPU/Heat Sink / Fan combo. So, I wound up with
Enlight 250 Watt Case and Power Supply
1400/266 AMD T-Bird processor
DFI AK76-SN REV A Motherboard
256 MB 32X72 PC2100 184 Pin DIMM DDR REG (CRUCIAL)
COOLER MASTER Heat Sink and fan.
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER PRO 32 4X AGP
When I turn the machine on, I get the POST beep, the initial BIOS/configuration screen, and the details correctly listed of the CPU, Memory, and Hard Drives, then the video switches modes again (you can hear the monitor click). Then, the screen goes blank, and there is just a blinking cursor in the upper left corner of the screen.
If I press DEL during the initialization, I can go into the CMOS configuration and make whatever changes I want to and even check out the Health status. The CPU is heating up to about 112-116F in the health section. But, I cannot get anything beyond the CMOS configuration screen. I suspected there was a problem with the Motherboard, so I exchanged it for another identical one - exact same results. Also, I have tried the floppy drive and cable in another system and they work fine. When this system tries to access the floppy drive, the light comes on and stays on (but I know that it is configured correctly, because you get an error on the BIOS boot screen if it is not configured correctly…) I have also installed a boot IDE drive (and CD-ROM with bootable media and configured the CMOS accordingly), and still the same results
In going back and looking at both AMDs and DFIs sites, the AK76 MB is only approved for 1333Mhz. I originally suspected that the docs are just out of date. Now, I'm not so sure. Are there any technical reasons other than it just hasn't been approved that the 1400Mhz processor should not work with this motherboard that’s approved for the 1333? I have tried DFI technical support, and based on their responses, it seems that they also believe that is should work fine. But, I have not gotten a coherent sentence responded in English via our e-mail correspondence. I called their number in California, but have not gotten a response back (all you could do is leave voice mail). So, it appears that I am sitting here with $600 worth of junk. Is there some BIOS setting that I have not configured correctly (I have tried all defaults and completely resetting to no avail)? What should my next step be? Try another motherboard? Or maybe a 1333 CPU? Could it be the power supply? I feel confident that it is not the memory since it tests and displays correctly (or the CPU, for that matter). I have searched every web site known to man (at least that I can find), and have not found any similar problem listed by anyone. Everybody (including the DFI Tech Support) keeps telling me to Flash the BIOS. Since I can't boot from floppy, that makes this an impossibility. What do I do next? Any ideas? This was supposed to be a fun project, but somehow it’s not any more…..
Thanks in advance for your responses.
In my research to build a new system, I wanted to make sure that I only used approved AMD parts. I wanted AMD chipsets, everything. So, during my initial investigation, I was planning on a 1333/266 processor. The DFI AK76-SN motherboard appeared to be the best choice since I didn't want on-board audio or video, and the board is AMD approved. However, when I did make my purchase, I found a better price on a 1400/266 CPU/Heat Sink / Fan combo. So, I wound up with
Enlight 250 Watt Case and Power Supply
1400/266 AMD T-Bird processor
DFI AK76-SN REV A Motherboard
256 MB 32X72 PC2100 184 Pin DIMM DDR REG (CRUCIAL)
COOLER MASTER Heat Sink and fan.
ATI ALL-IN-WONDER PRO 32 4X AGP
When I turn the machine on, I get the POST beep, the initial BIOS/configuration screen, and the details correctly listed of the CPU, Memory, and Hard Drives, then the video switches modes again (you can hear the monitor click). Then, the screen goes blank, and there is just a blinking cursor in the upper left corner of the screen.
If I press DEL during the initialization, I can go into the CMOS configuration and make whatever changes I want to and even check out the Health status. The CPU is heating up to about 112-116F in the health section. But, I cannot get anything beyond the CMOS configuration screen. I suspected there was a problem with the Motherboard, so I exchanged it for another identical one - exact same results. Also, I have tried the floppy drive and cable in another system and they work fine. When this system tries to access the floppy drive, the light comes on and stays on (but I know that it is configured correctly, because you get an error on the BIOS boot screen if it is not configured correctly…) I have also installed a boot IDE drive (and CD-ROM with bootable media and configured the CMOS accordingly), and still the same results
In going back and looking at both AMDs and DFIs sites, the AK76 MB is only approved for 1333Mhz. I originally suspected that the docs are just out of date. Now, I'm not so sure. Are there any technical reasons other than it just hasn't been approved that the 1400Mhz processor should not work with this motherboard that’s approved for the 1333? I have tried DFI technical support, and based on their responses, it seems that they also believe that is should work fine. But, I have not gotten a coherent sentence responded in English via our e-mail correspondence. I called their number in California, but have not gotten a response back (all you could do is leave voice mail). So, it appears that I am sitting here with $600 worth of junk. Is there some BIOS setting that I have not configured correctly (I have tried all defaults and completely resetting to no avail)? What should my next step be? Try another motherboard? Or maybe a 1333 CPU? Could it be the power supply? I feel confident that it is not the memory since it tests and displays correctly (or the CPU, for that matter). I have searched every web site known to man (at least that I can find), and have not found any similar problem listed by anyone. Everybody (including the DFI Tech Support) keeps telling me to Flash the BIOS. Since I can't boot from floppy, that makes this an impossibility. What do I do next? Any ideas? This was supposed to be a fun project, but somehow it’s not any more…..
Thanks in advance for your responses.
