CPU faster than MOBO allows - problems. 1

[meckeard]

Hi,

I have a SOYO K7VTA Motherboard that supports up to a 1GHZ Duron CPU.

I fried my old CPU and had to order a new one. After I installed the new CPU, I started having problems with my PC.

It will shut off randomly or not even start at all.

I noticed after the install that the CPU was a 1.1GHZ Duron. But my Motherboard only supports up to 1GHZ.

Could this be the problem with my PC?

If so, is there something in the byos to "underclock" my CPU so that the Motherboard thinks its a 1 GHZ?

TIA,

Mark

 

[dakota81]

To prevent overclocking, the multiplier on the cpu is locked. This also then prevents underclocking. The easy way to adjust the cpu's frequency is then adjusting the FSB, but Durons use a 100MHz FSB and I bet that's as low as your board goes.

I bet your motherboard will accept the 1.1GHz, maybe a bios update will be what's needed? But what might be more important is why your first cpu fried? Even if the frying was due to a non-mobo issue, such as failed fan or heatsink not seated, that still can damage the motherboard.

http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/20010917/index.html

 

[meckeard]

dakota81,

The previous CPU fried due to my ignorance.

I upgraded my heatsink/fan from a thermaltake 5 to a thermaltake 9. It seemed like there were some problems, so instead of swapping the 2, I just held the new one over the CPU to test it.

To make a long story short, the CPU heated up rather quickly (something I always experience with AMD's) and fried. It's rather embarrising, as it was totally preventable and all my fault. And that ultimately lead me to getting another CPU.

I did order a 1GHZ, but they shipped a 1.1 instead.

If I can get the PC to stay on for an extended period of time, I will go to the Soyo site and try and get an updated bios.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Treeking]

meckeard: If your mobo is SY-K7VTA, then it looks like you are limited to a 1G Duron.........from the soyo website:

http://www.soyousa.com/kb/kbdesc.php?id=16

There are NO Bios updates listed for a plain K7VTA mobo.

Here is a link to the Bios update page:

http://www.soyousa.com/search/index.php?searchtype=3&query=bios+update+for+sy-k7vta

 

[Cindy1]

Did you try to clear the cmos, sometimes that will help. Just take the small battery out for 10 sec. and reset the configs. Don't feel foolish about what you did to the cpu, you did nothing different from what we have done but at least you owned up to it! he he he I have smoked a cpu by setting the jumpers for the core at 3.3 instead of 2.2. Now I know most amd's should be 2.2! Most of the boards now you don't have to worry about that because they are jumperless. Good luck and keep us posted.
Cindy

 

[jimcr]

You are limited to 1.2 it says that is for a Thunder Bird but it all comes down to fsb and muliplyer. make sure you are at 100mhz fsb and a muliplyer of 10 or 11 so that you don't over clock. Another post stated to reset you bios and its a good idea because so much is configured by the bios it may well solve your problem.
make sure and use a good quility heat sink and fan. Thermogreese also.

 

[meckeard]

Update:

I have another PC with a Soyo board and Duron CPU (900mgz).

I swaped the CPU/heatsink/fan from the other PC (it works fine) and put it in to the non working PC. Unfortunately, I got the same results.

With this said, I am going to assume that the 1.1GHZ CPU is not the problem.

When I fried my old CPU (see original post), could I have done some damage to the MOBO (like Dakota81 suggested)?

And do my symptoms suggest possible MOBO issues?

Thanks for all the replied. I really appreciate it.

Mark

 

[dakota81]

Take a look at that link from my post up top, that'll actually let you see in video what happens when the heatsink is removed during operation.

 

[meckeard]

All,

OK, I have tried to replace both the CPU and the MOBO, and still no luck.

I now have:
AMD 1.1 Duron
ASUS A7V MOBO
Gainward GeForce4 4200 128 MEG

I swapped the CPU with no luck. Thinking the MOBO might have been fried, I replaced it too.

After I did, it booted 1 time. I got to the Windows XP screen for about a minute and then it rebooted itself. Now I can't even get any video.

I swapped the CPU with another AMD 900 Duron that I have, swapped the power supply, video card & RAM. No luck.

Does anyone have any idea why I am not getting any picture????

Thanks,
Mark