AMD Multipler Lock / Asus A7V Problem AHHHHHHHHH

[shoe]

Okay, so I got my 900mhz AMD T-Bird, Asus A7V w/ Dip switchs, and two sticks of 128mb PC133 Cas2 RAM last night, plugged it all in, booted up first time, installed Win2k first try, everything peachy. Stable as heck, 4.25 hour seti units.

Now time to overclock. I get the pencil out (conductive pen from radio shack coming soon, $14 shipped), connect the L1 bridges as best I can, plug it in, strap the FOP38 to it with some radio shack thermal compound, set the multiplier DIPS to 9.5x, boot up, and it still says 900mhz, and boots as normal. Same thing happens when I change the DIP's to 1ghz. WTF?

I get the magnifying glass out, look, and everything seems to be connected fine. Still, I get a different kind of pencil, in case something was messed up with the graphite or something, and retrace it. Still doesn't work.

So, my question is: Are there any other settings or things I need to change to unlock the multiplier? Or... Am I a complete idiot and should need to be shot for being completly clueless?

Email me at jschuh@uwyo.edu if you have any other questions for me or need some info that I didn't or forgot to post.

Shoe

 

[compuwiz1]

You might not have enough voltage. Try moving it up a little.
Your not gonna be happy with the RS conductive pen, they suck. I got 2 and they either apply too much, or dry up.
I still prefer the loctite electric rear defogger grid repair paint.

 

[shoe]

Nadda, voltage didn't help it post higher with multiplier adjustment alone.

I forgot to mention... The processor is running right now on a 111mhz bus @ 998mhz @ standard voltage. I would really like to adjust the multiplier, though.

Also, what is the factory voltage of the 900mhz T-Bird? Also, what is the highest bus speed the A7V can attain and be stable (usually)?

Thanks again,
Justin Schuh

 

[jinsonxu]

1.75V i think. Could check the processor spec sheet.

Take off that HS and use the regular ole 2B mechanical pencil trick. Worth a try.

By the way, the RadioShack thermal grease isn't going to get you far. This thread has some thermal compound recommendations.....
Here, i think. Hope it helps.

 

[paulip88]

It really sounds like a problem with the pencil. Its pretty typical that the machine boots at default speed if the pencil isn't working. Also, have you checked to make sure that the DIP switches are set correctly? Remember that switches 5 and 6 need to be ON for any of the multiplier settings to work.

Also, though everything is working fine now, it may be good to stay away from that Radio Shack stuff. The thermal compound will last for now, but you should *seriously* consider getting something more effective and durable. TBird generate a lot of heat, and if one day you discover your thermal paste has dried, it may already be too late.

 

[jinsonxu]

Ahh, yep!

Make sure that you have the Dipswitches 5 and 6 set to ON. You've to disable the CPU FID or else your multiplier adjustments will never work.

 

[codeyf]

I'm assuming you changed the bus in the soft menu.

there is an additional jumper near all the LED and Power switch jumpers that needs to be changed. It switches the settings from Jumper Free (changes done in BIOS) or Jumpers Active (voltage with jumpers, bus and clock with DIPs). See the diagram here.

 

[shoe]

I'm suprised nobody wanted me shot...

It was DIP switches 5 and 6 that wouldn't let me change the multiplier.

Running along at 11x100 @ 1.75v now. Thanks a bunch, guys.

I'll tinker with it more later and post an update.

 

[roc919]

Informative info. I too will have the A7V and 900 TBird coming in w/radio shack thermal compound. Dont have a conductive pen, so I will have to use the pencil trick.

 

[shoe]

Another update.

The max I can get out of my system is 1.1ghz. The best PERFORMANCE (quake 3, sandra memory, sandra processor) is 1071mhz (10.5 x 102) 322 memory. It won't post any higher, and I don't want to crank the voltage up to 1.85 (its at 1.8 right now).

Observations (I used to have a P3 600e @ 840 on an Asus P3V4X):
-The Tbird is much faster... launches programs faster, snappier doing everything
-the A7V runs my fans about 6% faster than the P3V4X did, according to Anal, err, Asus Probe. I didn't notice it at first, but once I stuck the case back in its normal environment I noticed the noise level is much higher. (Fong Kai 603, 80mm and 40mm intake, 80mm Exhaust, Power supply exhaust, geforce 2 fan, 60mm ystech fan on heatsink).
-Earlier I lied, I have the fop 32, not 38.
-According to Asus probe, chip runs at 120F under full load
-Does SETI@Home Units in less than 4 hours (exact measurement coming soon)
-Sandra scores: Processor 3002 MPS Dhrystone, 1465 MFLOPS Whetstone; Memory: Int ALU/RAM 477 MB/s, FLoat FPU/RAM 553MB/s
-3965k/keys a second in RC5 Long benchmark
-Very stable so far at this mhz.
-I might pick up some PC150 ram... anyone know if they make 256mb sticks of this yet?
Thanks for your help people!

 

[johncar]

Anyone wanting to see how the A7V handles oc'g and switches #5 and #6, go to http://members.nbci.com/candjac/index.htm Duron OC article, esp page 3.
John C.

 

[jdaves]

shoe, yeah when I switched from my P11 650@880, I had a litle learning to do, but now Im cruising @ 1GHz so easily with low temps. I have 4 case fans, Alpha PEP66 27cfm(38cfm drove me crazy!). an Istorm bay cooler, and 2 vlue orbs. Still wanting to bya duron600 and put a peltier on it...I think after christmas I am going to do that...118watt pelt strapped to a Duron600, and BTW: I use artic silver mixed with radio shack, works better than regular artic silver...

 

[DaddyG]

Roc,

Please,do yourself a favor, NO RADIO SMACK GREASE. It squeezes out dries out and simply is useless for high heat BIRDS. If your HSF has PCTC pre-applied, use it. If not, don't mess with ANYTHING other than Arctic Silver. YOUR BIRD DEMANDS IT !!!

 

[roc919]

Okay Daddy...J/K. Thanks. Where can I find some Arctic Silver?

 

[roc919]

Okay Daddy...J/K. Thanks. Where can I find some Arctic Silver?