PC Upgrading Questions - Page 4

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 11:10

Uh... just one question Sava... you have flashed the BIOS to the latest version, right?

(and if you haven't you shouldn't run off and try it without being fully aware of what you're doing)

Mercator · March 12, 2004, 11:44

Whoops! My mistake, that was the wrong mobo...

Manual:
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...UID=320&kind=1

BIOS:
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...UID=320&kind=1

The FSB can indeed only be set through the BIOS.

Try the latest BIOS update, reset the CMOS, set the FSB to 133, restart, check BIOS again if everything looks OK, restart, pray it works... That's about everything I can come up with.

alva · March 12, 2004, 11:52

I had to underclock my previous MB too, from a 1400 to a 1250 MhZ.

Some crappy ECS Elite board.

No link for the update Sava, like I said, I 'think' there was one sometime ago.
(Why do you have trouble updating your windows btw? )

Sava · March 12, 2004, 13:35

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBaggins
Uh... just one question Sava... you have flashed the BIOS to the latest version, right?

(and if you haven't you shouldn't run off and try it without being fully aware of what you're doing)

No I have not because I am a noob and have never done so before. Here are my complete specifications, if this helps any:

-K7T266 Pro2 Ver:2.0 (MS-6380 v2.x)
-AMI v.07.00t, SMBIOS/DMI v.2.30
-AMD Athlon XP +1700
-two SimpleTech - Elixir 266MB DDR 266Mhz CL 2.5 PC2100-26330
-VT GeForce4 Ti4200, nVidia Driver V. 5.3.0.3
-CODEGEN 350W, Model: 250X1;
+3.3V - 14A,
+5V - 30A,
+12V - 12A
-QUANTUM Fireball EL10.2A: 20 Gig,
Maxtor 53073U6: 30 Gig,
WDC WD400BB-00DEA0 10 Gig,
-ATAPI CD-R/RW 32X10 on IDE-0
-MS WinXP/2002 Home (Win32 x86) v.5.01.2600

on the MSI forums, one guys suggesting my PSU is too weak... do you guys know anything about that?

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 13:40

Your PSU might not have enough stability or load on the 3v line to run the RAM well... can you adjust the DDR voltage in the BIOS?

I've never had any power ralated problems since I've standardized on PC Power and Cooling PSU's. They're the only American made (parts and construction, IIRC) PSU's on the market and the quality and tolerances show. They are much nicer (abeit a bit more expensive) than Enermax or Antec ones for instance.

Sava · March 12, 2004, 13:51

Quote:

Your PSU might not have enough stability or load on the 3v line to run the RAM well... can you adjust the DDR voltage in the BIOS?

Yes, I believe I can adjust the DDR voltage. Although the manual for my mobo says "changing the DDR voltage is not recommended for the long term. Turning it up a notch won't seriously mess something up will it? I'm considering just buying a new PSU, although I'm scared I'll still have the problem.

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 13:53

Turning it up .1 from default won't damage anything... .2 is safe as long as the RAM isn't roasting hot.

Sava · March 12, 2004, 13:57

would that make much of a difference?
on the MSI forums, one of the admins said this

Quote:

thats a crap psu, 28a 32a 16a is more normal

a 350 watt enermax is 32a 32a 26a

considering mine is 14a 30a 12a, I wonder if .1 would do much of anything... oh wait, that's amps not volts... duh...

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 13:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
I'm considering just buying a new PSU, although I'm scared I'll still have the problem.

Could do... its a possiblity, but a bit of a long shot, in all probability. There are just a lot of possibilities for what the problem could be.

Although I've had some "fun" with them, I'm releatively unimpressed with AMD and Via chipsets, which have been more hit or miss, in my experience, than Intel ones...

I've not really regretted my move back to Intel. My last few systems have all been very painless.

Sava · March 12, 2004, 13:58

I'm too poor for Intel

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 14:02

Intel aren't that expensive these days...

An IS-7 is... like $100... and a P4 2.8c is like... $180 or so, retail. DDR ram is the same price as for AMD, and the graphics card is mostly what is going to effect your gaming performance... so... I don't see it as terribly expensive, for the average joe.

Sava · March 12, 2004, 14:08

hmmm... perhaps I shall give Intel a second look in the future.

okay, MSI's troubleshooting forum says it is most likely low amperage from my ghey PSU. I'm going to check to see if my processor cooler is mounted correctly, then I'm going to get a good PSU instead of the stupid one I have now.

more to come... hopefully my next post will be:

Quote:

YAY I ****ING FIXED IT! SUCK MY ASS YOU STUPID PSU!

wish me luck

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 14:14

Buying a decent PSU will be a good investment if you upgrade later... so yep, not a bad idea, or a waste.

Its your money, so do as you wish, but if it were my money I'd get a TurboCool 350 ATX from PC Power and Cooling. They don't overrate their specs and you know what you're getting. The 350ATX should run you $70 or so. I'm not a sales rep or anything, just a fan of high quality, reliable gear, after having a couple of disappointments like yourself

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
wish me luck

No such thing. How about I wish you success, instead?

Sava · March 12, 2004, 14:17

Quote:

No such thing. How about I wish you success, instead?

yay do that then

apparantly I have to mod my mobo as well... I have to remove a capacitor "C37". I'll replace the PSU first before messing with anything like that.

$70 ? ****, that's more than I thought a PSU would be

oh well for faster PC... ANYTHIGN!@$@*($$@*

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 14:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava

yay do that then

apparantly I have to mod my mobo as well... I have to remove a capacitor "C37". I'll replace the PSU first before messing with anything like that.

Uh? remove a component from the mobo? That sounds like a well made product, huh?

Quote:

$70 ? ****, that's more than I thought a PSU would be

oh well for faster PC... ANYTHIGN!@$@*($$@*

Its not cheap... no... but its the difference between a product made to good tolerances in the USA, and a product made to average (or poor) tolerances in Taiwan... again, all I'm giving you is my opinion.

And... it might not solve your problem... however, it will give you a head start on decent components that really will work to specification, when you decide you've had enough... if it doesn't actually work, that is.

Sava · March 12, 2004, 14:24

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBaggins
Uh? remove a component from the mobo? That sounds like a well made product, huh?

yeah, no ****... but my board may not require that... only a K7T266 Pro2 - RU needs that... and my board doesn't say "RU" anywhere... not even on the mobo box. So I doubt I will have to do that. MSI says I need to do that for a "TBred" processor. WTFz is that?

Quote:

Its not cheap... no... but its the difference between a product made to good tolerances in the USA, and a product made to average (or poor) tolerances in Taiwan... again, all I'm giving you is my opinion.

And... it might not solve your problem... however, it will give you a head start on decent components that really will work to specification, when you decide you've had enough... if it doesn't actually work, that is.

even if it doesn't, I will have a good PSU.

But all indications from MSI are that my problem is common and that this is the solution.

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 14:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
yeah, no ****... but my board may not require that... only a K7T266 Pro2 - RU needs that... and my board doesn't say "RU" anywhere... not even on the mobo box. So I doubt I will have to do that. MSI says I need to do that for a "TBred" processor. WTFz is that?

Shortened name for one of AMD's codenames for its processors... the Thoroughbred (.13 micron Athlon XP)

See here for details...

Quote:

even if it doesn't, I will have a good PSU.

But all indications from MSI are that my problem is common and that this is the solution.

It still could be the RAM (or the mobo even), but I agree, that other experiences are typically key. Follow their advice, obviously.

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 14:30

BTW... I wouldn't take that capacitor off, without better confirmation... the naming difference would worry me personally.

Did you look up the proceedure for BIOS upgrading, BTW? MSI should have a step-by-step guide in the download section for its BIOS'

oh.. and here's the link for PC Power and Cooling pricing and ordering.

Sava · March 12, 2004, 17:40

okay, I got my new PSU, an Antac TruePower550,
550W
+3.3v - 32a
+5v - 40a
+12v - 24a

and it was only $49.99

I was able to switch the FSB to 133 and at least get to the BIOS, but when the OS selection screen comes up (WinXP or Win98), it locks up. I resetted and looked at my processor temp... it was 60Celsius and rising. I switched back to 100 FSB and loaded so I could come online. At least I know the PSU is fine now. It seems to be the temperature. What can I do about this? I already have a bad-ass processor fan.

Sava · March 12, 2004, 17:45

okay, my processor fan is bigger than this one which that site you gave recommended for Athlon up to +3200

My fan is at least a centimeter larger on all sides. I'll see if I can find a pic online, or else I can hunt for my digicam to take a pic of it.

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 17:46

Yeah... I don't like PC-Power&Cooling fans... just the PSU's.

If you're interested in fans, check out www.plycon.com

Sava · March 12, 2004, 17:54

this is my processor fan

Tt Volcano 7

MrBaggins · March 12, 2004, 17:58

They now have the larger Volcano9 and Xazer from Thermaltake, as well as the obscenely large Thermalright SLK-947...

however... this is all moot, you should be able to run that proc at 133 with the stock retail fan... provided theres thermal interface material.