1st Generation AlienWare (upgrade)

[theWhaleHunter]

Hi, I got this computer about 7 years ago and I want to upgrade the cpu. Its a PII 300 mhz on a soyo SY-6BA motherboard. I guess it is one of the first BX motherboards with the 100mhz bus.

Anyway, I bought a cheap Katmai PIII 500 mhz w/ heatsink and I want to put that in. However, I don't know how to install it. I've tried to just throw it in, but the computer locks up on the BIOS. Then I tried to switch the cpu settings to the new specs with the old one in and then put in the Katmai, but that doesn't work either. Any help would be appreciated.

ps. there is a "Flash" file on the Soyo website but it doesn't work under Windows XP. And unfortunately the whole harddrive was formatted so I could install a full Windows XP on it.

 

[ViRGE]

Looking through the BIOS notes, it makes it pretty clear that they made some changes for P3 CPUs, so I'm guessing it doesn't work with P3 CPUs at all on the original BIOS. Your best option then would be to make a DOS boot floppy, and load up the Flash and BIOS utilities on it, and flash the new BIOS(all of this with the original P2 in there of course). Do a search for BIOS flashing if you're not familar with the process.

 

[jasonawatkins]

I agree with Virge, without a BIOS update, you are out of luck.

 

[theWhaleHunter]

thanks guys. I'll try your suggestion and get back with the results. however, a tech guy from Soyo contacted me today and tol me that "officially" the motherboard does not support Windows XP. I guess we'll see.

 

[dmw16]

The real question is why you didnt just go on ebay and get a 500mhz P3 to start with?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: theWhaleHunter
thanks guys. I'll try your suggestion and get back with the results. however, a tech guy from Soyo contacted me today and tol me that "officially" the motherboard does not support Windows XP. I guess we'll see.

Officially means that they didn't get it validated by MS(which costs $); I'm sure it works just fine with XP.