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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Processor issues...
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09/19/2002 03:38:20 PM · #1
I'm having a couple problems with my new system, but the biggest one is with my processor. At default clock settings on my motherboard (gigabyte 7vrxp), my system says my computer is running at 1.30GHz. The real catch is that it reports that I have an "AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1500+". This isn't (or certainly shouldn't be) true. I have an Athlon XP 2100+. I'd think I just got the wrong processor, but it was sealed, retail! Anyone know what's up? Thanks in advance.

Drew
09/19/2002 03:48:57 PM · #2
Is it still in warrenty?
09/19/2002 03:53:27 PM · #3
Yeah, 3 year AMD warranty. If it's somehow the wrong processor, I can't imagine why newegg wouldn't let me send it back. That just seems so unlikely, though. The box says XP 2100+. What really gets me is that the CPU model string seems like it would be something the motherboard reads straight from the CPU, right? Not something it's guessing based on speed or whatever.

Drew
09/19/2002 04:03:02 PM · #4
Drew, I haven't built a computer from scratch in a while, but you may need to check your motherboard documentation to see if it has switches or jumpers that have to be set for the specific type and speed of cpu...
09/19/2002 04:21:25 PM · #5
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Drew, I haven't built a computer from scratch in a while, but you may need to check your motherboard documentation to see if it has switches or jumpers that have to be set for the specific type and speed of cpu...


yeah, does your motherboard explicitly support a 2100 Athalon ?

You may still be able to use it, even if it doesn't, by setting the
correct clock multipliers etc in your bios.

Usually it isn't a string in the processor, it is a few bits that
are set on pins to indicate what processor version code it is, or
what clock speed is currently set.

I can change the clock speed in my bios and it reports various different
clock speeds.

Upshot is it probably isn't that you have the wrong processor (unless
it said so on the printed box) just that you haven't configured it
correctly yet for that bus speed.
09/19/2002 04:25:45 PM · #6
Well, here's the interesting thing. When I try to change my CPU clock setting to 133 (a perfectly legit clock speed both by the motherboard and the 2100 processor), it won't start. I've gone up to 102 just to make sure I'm phsyically able to change my clock setting, and it worked fine.

The motherboard supports up to 2600+ XP, so I can't imagine that would be it. I've looked over and over in BIOS. I'll check the manual to make sure there isn't a jumper I had to set.

Any other opinions certainly welcome. Thanks for those so far.

Drew
09/19/2002 04:26:56 PM · #7
Drew, most newer motherboards are jumperless. The place I would advise you looking is the BIOS. There should be setting there for the CPU multiplier. On the good side, running at this slower speed will make the processor last longer. (AMDs run at the MAX possible, while Intel doesn't push their processors as hard) I am a huge fan of AMD h/w, esp. with ASUS motherboards.
09/19/2002 04:40:47 PM · #8
Now, I'm right with swashbuckler on the thought that motherboards are by in large jumperless... apparently, this was not entirely the case for me. The motherboard wasn't getting the right speeds because the system bus frequency was set by default to 100MHz. I flipped that switch, and now I'm the proud owner of...

<img border=0 src="//www.self-destruct.org/junk/2100.gif]

Thank you all for your help. :) Now, if I haven't fixed my random restarting issue yet, I'll be sure to continue this thread ;)

Drew
09/19/2002 05:03:24 PM · #9
Originally posted by drewmedia:
Now, I'm right with swashbuckler on the thought that motherboards are by in large jumperless... apparently, this was not [i]entirely the case for me. The motherboard wasn't getting the right speeds because the system bus frequency was set by default to 100MHz. I flipped that switch, and now I'm the proud owner of...

<img border=0 src="//www.self-destruct.org/junk/2100.gif]

Thank you all for your help. :) Now, if I haven't fixed my random restarting issue yet, I'll be sure to continue this thread ;)

Drew[/i]

Random restarting is usually one of two things

1/ multiple stuff using the same interrupt, will give the appearance of random reboots
2/ more usually its a (over)heating thing. You can get various utils
to monitor how hot your CPU and case are getting it is worth having a
look at this.

To fix it you need good thermal paste/ compound and a decent heatsink -
also running the case off your machine may look 'cool' but it doesn't
help the airflow - the cases are usually designed to channel air
through the system, taking the case off just makes it hang around
warming everything up.

I was getting more and more random reboots as summer started here -
my cpu was running at about 50C, and now runs under 40C and I haven't
had a crash in months.

But I now do have 5 fans in the case...
09/19/2002 05:14:21 PM · #10
My old computer restarted because of overheating, and yeah, I ran it without the case sides on (often with a fan directly on it).

I'm sure this one can't be. I've got the biggest CPU fan in the world on it (volcano 9), arctic silver thermal grease, a power supply with the fan on the bottom (now all AMD recommends), and a case with lots of ventilation (including a fan on the side door blowing on the processor). If this one overheats, I'll cry :)

At least twice when it's restarted, I've turned the computer off and checked for heat inside the case. I know when my old computer would overheat, the processor would be too hot to touch. So yeah, I'm eliminating overheating as a cause.

I can find no rhyme or reason to the restarts. I know Langdon used to have the same problem because of his video card and the nvidia drivers. I updated, and that didn't fix it. I tried my old card, and that didn't fix it. So, it's definitely not the video card.

Actually, I don't want to jinx this, but I haven't restarted in about 2 hours. Last thing I did was turning off a bunch of the integrated stuff on the motherboard that I thought might be causing conflicts. Fingers crossed!

Drew
09/19/2002 05:19:35 PM · #11
Faulty power supplies and faulty UPS systems are also commonly culprits of unexpected shutdown issues...
09/19/2002 05:27:33 PM · #12
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Faulty power supplies and faulty UPS systems are also commonly culprits of unexpected shutdown issues...


Yeah, I thought of that, too. I took my computer off the UPS and plugged it straight into a surge protector that my other machine runs on... same thing. Do you know of a way to monitor the power supply or to be certain that the power supply is the problem?

Hopefully, this is academic now. Still no restart ;)

Drew
09/19/2002 05:28:01 PM · #13
I can fix your problem, take is back and get an Intel chip. That is what you get for buying AMD.


Of course I work for Intel
09/19/2002 05:30:32 PM · #14
Depending on the version of Windows you are using, you might be able to go to the system properties and view your configuration by IRQ. That should show you which IRQs are being used and by what hardware. Some IRQs can be "shared", but usually by devices that normally don't run at the same time (like network and modem, for example).

Try looking at your system properties icon in your control panel. Also look for red/yellow stop lights indicating hardware is not functioning or is in conflict. Hope that helps!
09/21/2002 10:12:05 AM · #15
I had trouble with my wife's AMD XP2000+ based system - found that upping the memory voltage by a little (0.20v, from memory) stabalised it a lot. If your motherboard supports that kind of tweaking (and you're feeling brave) you can try that, see if it improves things.

(obviously done at the risk of doing bad things to your warranty - although frankly all that is likely to happen is for your memory to run a little hot)

Ganders
09/21/2002 01:34:08 PM · #16
Thanks, Ganders. Actually, I've found a lot of people with these same issues with my motherboard. Apparently, a lot of people believe Gigabyte released a bad batch of motherboards, and most of them were sold through newegg.com. You guessed it... I ordered from newegg.

Some people 'fixed' it by upping voltage. Some by slowing down their memory. Some by getting new motherboards.

I tried the voltage -- didn't work for me. I'm currently doing the memory test, and I'm up for 2.5 hours so far. I'm not happy with turning down the performance of hardware I paid for because of a lame mistake by the manuf., so I've just ordered a new motherboard (MSI KT3 Ultra2-R).

The last thing I want to replace in this computer is the motherboard (the most work! ;) ... but I'll do it for stability. This is just ridiculous.

Drew
09/21/2002 03:51:24 PM · #17
If you would have bought Intel you would not have this problem.
09/21/2002 04:17:38 PM · #18
Originally posted by Zeissman:
If you would have bought Intel you would not have this problem.

No, you'd have paid twice as much, for a worse chip (P4, ugh, what a dog) and it wouldn't have be any more stable.

If you have decent cooling on your cpu, and a good power supply (even a *good* 200W if you don't have a lot of drives) either CPU will be as stable as the motherboard and RAM permit.

I had tons of problems getting a P3-650 to run well, a power supply that everything else worked with just didn't like this mobo and CPU. I later built an Athlon Thunderbird 1.3Ghz on that powersupply and ram and it worked perfectly without any tweaking at all.

So don't go lying to people, trying to make them spend much more than they need to for inferior parts, just to boost your stock options.
09/21/2002 04:31:10 PM · #19
Originally posted by Zeissman:
If you would have bought Intel you would not have this problem.

Much like the others who blindly shout for Intel, you've completely ignored the issue here for a plug. I just said the problem was with the motherboard, and that's got nothing to do with AMD. Gigabyte makes motherboards for Intel processors as well. For the record, I've been using AMD chips for 3+ years, and I have no intention of stopping. Maybe you can talk to someone at Intel and get them to stop being so ridiculous with their prices.

Drew
09/21/2002 04:37:00 PM · #20
Sure it does, Intel makes it's own componants too, and they work very well together.

Hmmm, ridiculous prices? You realize that Intel was barely profitable last quarter, and AMD is lossing money like a stuck pig losses blood? Selling products for less than it costs to make them is not good business


Maybe if you would have spent a few extra bucks you would not be having the problems you are now.

You get what you pay for. Intel is not perfect, but they stand behind their products.
09/21/2002 05:14:16 PM · #21
Originally posted by Zeissman:
Sure it does...

What's are componants? I'm not familiar with your English.

I have a P4 1.4 @ work. And a T-Bird 1.33 at home. They both have the same amount ram and other similar COMPONENTS. My T-Bird seems to annihilate the Pentium 4. In terms of multitasking w/ many applications, playing games, and doing anything -- the T-Bird just seems faster.

And why are you telling everyone that AMD is the problem, when its obviously not. The motherboard is. You can't argue a point that doesn't exist.

AMD is a great processor, and in many aspects blows away it's competition.


* This message has been edited by the author on 9/21/2002 5:14:31 PM.
09/21/2002 05:17:06 PM · #22
Processor preference is like photography preference. You'll get as many opinions as there are people. Doesn't mean anyone is wrong, and it doesn't mean anyone is right.

For that matter, this statement works with just about everything in life. ESPECIALLY "geek" items. I'm very big into high-end stereo and home theater, and that community is just as cutthroat. Opinions can be very bad things. heh.



* This message has been edited by the author on 9/21/2002 5:17:18 PM.
09/21/2002 06:19:05 PM · #23
***nevermind***

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/21/2002 6:23:36 PM.
09/21/2002 06:39:47 PM · #24
Oh heck Zeissman, you was on a roll. Ya shoudda left it.
09/29/2002 09:42:24 PM · #25
I got the new motherboard, and I've got everything running at full speed. I've gotten several "IRQ NOT LESS OR EQUAL" blue screens, though. I checked msinfo32, and my sound card and network card were being assigned the same IRQ. Moved the network card to a different slot, and that was no longer a conflict... but I'm still getting the blue screen! Tonight was the first time in two days, but still... once is more than enough. Here's my current "Conflicts/Sharing" from System Information. Anyone see the problem?

<img border=0 src="//www.self-destruct.org/junk/sshots/irqs.gif]

Thanks again,
Drew
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