AMD based computer having major porblems

[Matt]

I am having problems not only running but also installing windows ME and Windows 98 1st edition from clean installs. Its an AMD 1200MHz processor installed in a ASUS KT7A MOBO. After about one day the orginal processor (1000MHz bought brand new) fried after roughly 4 hours of running time. At that point I took it back to the vendor who replaced it with a 1200MHz processor for a fee. He said that the board was not damaged so I am still using the original board. All of these problsm started occuring after I switched the bus to 133MHz. Below are some desciptions of what has been happening

1. Durring the install process the computer would freeze at the registration screen and somtimes some of the text would become unreadable or just jumbled up.
2. If windows was installed while the board was set to 100 MHz Windows would work fine until the BUS would be set to 133MHz. At that point Windows would report registry errors and eventually crash. From that point it could be rebooted serveral times before finnally dieing.
3. Cab files for Windows ME would not be found durring the install.

[diurnal]

Could be bad memory chip.Have you tried another set of RAM.Also on installing the os have you disable virus protection in BIOS?

[sea69]

why are you trying to change your bus speed to 133 if it works @ 100??

also, what power supply and heatsink??

is your cpu fan even running?..

lol.. an Athlon chip can fry in seconds if not properly cooled.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif


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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 07-02-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

You need to find out the EXACT specs of the Athalon chip.....I rather doubt it is designed to run at 133 mhz and Win Me is a disaster from the git go anyway.

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Will XP save Me ?

[Matt]

It was not the RAM, at least I dont think it was. The RAM was PC133 and the Atholon was rated to go up to 133 MHz on the FSB. After installing Windows while the BUS was set to 100 MHz I have not had any problems....yet. I raised the bus speed because the Processor was only registering around 700 MHz even though it was a 1GHz. It did turn out to be an improperly installed heatsink on the 1st processor but I still cant use the enhanced 266 MHz mode with the 133 MHZ bus setting. Windows ME cant find its cab files while installing and windows 98 dies at the cd-key entry screen when the BUS is not set at 100 MHz.

[mjc]

Try setting the CL=3 in the BIOS when you change the bus speed to 133...the memory may be PC133 but CL3. Also check the jumpers/BIOS settings to make sure you are using the correct multiplier for the PCI BUS (not sure if your board adjusts that automatically or not) it should be 1/4...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Matt]

The board itself is jumperless. Thats why I tried relying on the BIOS to set the more critical settings such as multipliers and voltage settings. BTW, what is this CL=3 setting? I'm still used to tweaking my older 400MHz PII computer.

[mjc]

CL=CAS Latency, it should autodetect but some memory has a CL=2.5, which isn't a "real" setting, it basically means it may run at CL=2 but probably will run with fewer errors/better at 3.

Things to check,

[list=1] Vcore= 1.75v here (http://ask.amd.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=84,E=0000000000011459714,K=9827,Sxi=3,Case=obj (69}) is chart to decipher the chip markings.
PCI Bus multiplier = 1/4
FSB = 133
Multiplier = 7.5 (it is probably locked on the chip, but some 1GHz+ AMD have come from the factory unlocked...)
Power Supply...here (http://www1.amd.com/athlon/npower/index/1,1712,,00.html) is AMD's list for your processor.
[/list=a]


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[nimnorf2]

Hey Matt,
Did you say the first CPU was, indeed, fried due to an incorrectly mounted heat senk/fan? I really don't know, (evidenced by frequent "geek wannabee posts" of mine all over this forum)seems that the heat from a fried CPU would probably mess up your mobo too. Just a thought. Sorry!

[scroatbagg]

I had exactly the same problem.. I could not install win98 when my mobo was set at 133. I contacted the shop that sold it me and they said to ste the jumper at 100 and since then everything has been fine!!

[ranchdog]

Unless I'm missing something here----- The KT7A is an Abit Mboard. WinME HATES ABIT. Don't understand your mix and match w/Win 9x but to each his own. As you probably all ready know the high-end AMD Athlons (T-Birds) can be either/or 200/266 FSB. Did the store sell you a 1200/200 Bus Chip? The chip has a built in default multiplier for initially firing up. Then BIOS takes over and you get whatever your setting is there. If it's too far out of line then you get a crash. The 1200's up are pretty much unlocked from the factory (L1) for multiplier changes in Soft Menu. Your problems seem to stem from the 133MHz you are trying to use. True quality RAM will take it. But that VIA Northbridge chip will not! About 107-110 is it's limit. That's why you are having joy when things are set 100. Try this for a beginning.....Go into BIOS and use a setting of 12x100. Check your manual closely and see if you don't have a jumper for 200/266 on the Mboard. Set it accordingly for he chip you are going to use. Then get back with us. Deal?
M$ has some patches to download for the ABIT/Win9x clashes.
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"Lemmee Fix That Thing......."
-Beauty is only a light switch away.-

[This message has been edited by ranchdog (edited 07-19-2001).]

[Matt]

Well, I am no longer able to work on this particular computer. Someone else no has it. I have however just built ANOTHER AMD based computer for my brother and it works great. I have decided to try another MOBO company this time. Anyone ever heard of BIOstar? It only took one try to get everything up and running. Windows installed flawlessly and so far I have had none of the problems that I did with the other computer.

[iisbob]

Glad to hear of your success matt; and yes BIOSTAR is a recognized name in mobo's-i've used them myself, as well as ABIT, ASUS, PCCHIPS, etc..my personal favorites are EPOX and GIGAbyte-which i'm using in my current gaming system ( i had an asus boeard, but i pulled it to try this gigabyte ddr board, must say i like it ).

AS great as athlons are, they can be " temperamental " at best. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Downright hair pulling frustrating at worst! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

But look on this as a learning experiance; just wait till you can swap GPU's and memory on video cards like you do a mobo! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)