Help with new cpu installation

[alex666]

Replaced my xp1700+ palomino with the high performance 2100+ t-bred version b on my soltek drv5. When I turn on the power, it starts normally for 3 seconds, then it starts to rhythmically go hrmmm, hrmmm, hrmmm. Sounds like the mobo has dry heaves. I can hear clicking, my fdd starting and stopping, a little light near my ram starts flashing in unision. It does not post, I get no beeps. I'm using a new vantec hsf, it starts just fine. Those are a rough description of the symptoms.

Now, the power requirements of the 2100 are less than the 1700. Nevertheless, it seems almost like there is not enough power. So I unplugged everything except the ram, cpu, and video card, but absolutely no difference, same symptoms. Kept all the mobo settings the same, as based on the experiences of others upgrading to the 2100, I should not have needed to make any mobo adjustments other than an adjustment to ram voltage, which I did make. I did forget to reset my memory timings to default. They were not particularly aggressive, I was not ocing or anything, just had everything set to "fastest". I had set the cas latency to 2 vs. the default 2.5 setting, but I never had any problems with this setting when using the 1700. I used artic silver II with the hsf, the hsf seemed to seat just right, but I'm thinking of removing it and resetting it. I am open to any other ideas. The beauty of this particular cpu on the soltek drv5 is that one can set the fsb via jumpers on the mobo to 166 (it currently is at the normal 133) for an overall fsb speed of 333 and get a significant speed increase (up to almost 2200) without stressing the pci and agp buses. For now, I have kept the fsb at 133 until I know everything is running right. While I eventually want to bump the fsb setting to 166 for max speed, my initial goal simply is to get this sucker up and running. I am very open to suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Marty
verona, va

[saphalline]

Did you happen to take out the mobo while you swapped CPU's? What might have happened is that you somehow caused a short in the mobo circuitry (probably with the case). Also check other obvious things, like reseating cards & RAM & power connectors.

To test for a short, do the same RAM, CPU, vid card test, except this time put the mobo on a piece of cardboard. If it works, there's a short between the mobo and case.

Find it! :p

[BigBlue66]

Adjustment to VDIMM? What brand of RAM do you have? I assume by adjustment, you mean upwards? Maybe the RAM can't handle it. Do you know how much it can take?

At this point, I would try clearing CMOS and going back to default speeds until you get the system stable. Then tweak away.

[alex666]

Thanks BigBlue and Saphalline; update. I figured out what was going on, I think. Tried reinstalling the hsf with both old and new processor, same problem. Thus, it did not seem cpu-related per se. So then I reinstalled old cpu with old hsf and the problems went away. Hmm. Why would the hsf be causing these problems? I see no evidence that it is touching anything it should not be touching. It's a vantec, the one with that new fan that's magnetic. It consistently has started, but something about it apparently has caused these problems. Any ideas? I bought the vantec to provide better cooling for the 2100. If there is some simple fix to the vantec, I'm open to suggestions. Otherwise, I am not going to do anything until I buy a new hsf.

Thanks all.

Marty
Verona, VA

[Budfred]

I would guess it is a bad connector for the hsf to the motherboard. You could try replacing the connector or at least check to make sure the wire is properly attached to the hsf, but it may be best to simply RMA it and start over.

[alex666]

Thanks Budfred. I found my problem. Feeling rather stupid. There was a piece of tape that I had missed, I just did not feel it. Well, once removed, the hsf runs fine, I made all the adjustments, and I now have my t-bred 2100 version b running at 2.17 mz. I'm running the fsb at 166 X 2 = 333 (whcih the soltek drv5 is designed to do) using the mobo fsb setting. This is so cool because the agp and pci buses run at their normal speed. For whatever reason, this chip runs at 333 despite being rated at only 266. My sandra scores are comparable to a 2800. More important, my flight sim 2002 and train sim, my "real world benchmarks", show an incredible improvement in both framerate, rendering in general, and overall performance. I don't know that much about memory and synchronous vs. async, but on sandra my memory performance took a huge increase. Maybe that's just the faster cpu speed, I don't know, or is it because the memory, which always has run at 333, now matches the fsb's 333, they are now synchronous I guess. Anyway, I'm a very tired but happy camper. Thanks all for the help. Sometimes I can just be really stupid, although in fairness I simply did not feel that tape when I first put the hsf on the mobo. Anyway, good night all.

Marty
verona, VA