ASUS A7V333-X help and more...

[FlapjackAttack]

Hiya

First Problem:

I've got an ASUS A7V333-X and I'm having trouble getting my FSB to 333MHz. Here are my system stats

A7V333-X, BIOS v. 1004, PCB 2.01
Athlon XP 2600+
512 Corsair XMS PC2700
Win XP Pro

According to everything I've found, this should work. Manual BIOS set to 333 does not help.
Checked FSB with 3DMark2003Pro, SiSoft Sandra, Asus Utilities. All report 166 FSB.

Second:

I may have a chance to dump this Motherboard into a budget system I'm building for a friend, so I'm taking suggestions for a Motherboard upgrade. Obviously something that will maximize my current component performance and allow for future CPU and RAM upgradeability is important.

Thanks for any input!

 

[Boonesmi]

which version of xp2600+ are you trying to use?
xp2600+ (tbred 266)
xp2600+ (tbred 333)
xp2600+ (barton 333)

im not sure if im understanding you right... is your fsb currently set to 166mhz? if so then thats correct (333mhz = 166mhz) its a marketing thing.. the fsb is 166mhz but since its double pumped its often times labeled as a 333mhz fsb (just like 133mhz fsb and 266)

also i would personally use that board in the budget system and buy something like the new soltek sl-kt600-rl or asus a7v600 (both are less then $80 at newegg, and both have all the new features like Sata with killer onboard sound... especially the soltek has killer sound since it uses the right codec to give it full via vinyl audio)

 

[FlapjackAttack]

Thanks for your quick reply!

I am running tbred 333 2600+, and I do understand the 2x166 thing, but I believe it is actually running at 166.

Comparing systems and scores with 3Dmark, comparable systems (same MB, CPU, RAM,similar video) blow my
scores away, the only difference being the FSB speed. Mine says 166, theirs 333.

Also, when my system was definitely running at a lower FSB with 512M PC2100, there was no
performance increase when I recently upgraded to PC2700 (first Kingston, then Corsair XMS).

No big deal either way because I was planning to get rid of it, but I wanted the moral victory.

Thanks for the MB suggestions!. I'll probably go with the Soltek for a change.

 

[Buz2b]

As Boonesmi stated, you ARE running @ 333 fsb if your doing 166. DDR means Double Data Rate; emphasis on the Double. 2X166=333. As to the 3Dmark scores, there are a lot of variables that could be holding yours back. Video card, it's drivers and memory speed are just part of a big list of those variables. However, it's not the FSB as yours is doing 333.

 

[FlapjackAttack]

Please. Give me a little credit here, Buz.

I already said I understood DDR, and I also said that in regards to 3DMark my system was the same as others except the reported FSB. Same gear, same drivers, same clock speeds, etc. I understand the different factors that can affect performance, OK?

I also stated that an upgrade from 512PC2100 to 512PC2700 yielded NO improved performance, which it certainly should have. Zero, nada, zilch. Obviously, it couldn't have been running at 333MHz with PC2100 (reported FSB with 2100 was also 166), so why was there no improvement?

PERHAPS it's because I have a legitimate problem. Maybe it's running single data 166 (emphasis on SINGLE, Buz) for some reason?

So if anyone else has an idea, I'd like to hear it.

PS The BIOS for this board refers to actual memory frequency ( i.e. 166MHz is an option, as is 333Mhz.) Also because of the XP2600 tbred 333, it asks that you make sure the memory is operating at 333MHz. So please, don't bother to respond if you're just going to tell me that 2x166=333, k?

 

[Boonesmi]

there is no such thing as "single" 166mhz
if the motherboard is set to run 166mhz fsb then its running the speed its supposed to be running (which is 333 ddr)

socketA motherboards only support 100mhz, 133mhz, 166mhz and 200mhz (but marketing makes it confusing since they are often times called 200mhz, 266mhz, 333mhz, 400mhz)



what bus speed have you been running your memory at? 133mhz? 166mhz? just replacing pc2100 with pc2700 doesnt do anything unless you change the memory bus speed.

 

[FlapjackAttack]

Boonesmi-

I realize there is not supposed to be a "single data" 166, I'm wondering if there is the possibility of some sort of hardware defect.

I can set my BIOS memory frequency to one of 3 options: AUTO, 133MHz, or 333MHz.
Obviously, Auto or 333 are the options I need, but they have had no effect.

Again, I understand the concept of DDR and the marketing thing, but regardless I should have seen some sort of improvement when I moved from PC2100 to PC2700, correct?

That event alone was my primary cause for concern and consequently my posting of this thread.

I really didn't expect anyone would have a solution as ASUS support was baffled and exhaustive net searches yielded no clues. The least frustrating avenue it seems is going to be upgrading my MB.

Anyway, I thank you again for your attentive responses, Boonesmi. I appreciate your genuine attempt to help.


Take care.

 

[Buz2b]

FlapjackAttack,
First, you DON'T have an option to only have those you agree with post in your threads here at AT. You are almost always going to get a mixed bag of replies. Perhaps when you've been around here long enough, you'll understand but this is not a good way to begin. Chill a bit with the attitude; especially when YOU are the one looking for assistance. You'll find it far more productive.
Second, I (re) explained the DDR because even after Boonesmi told you about it, you still didn't seem to understand or believe the truth. Either that or you were just in a state of denial.
Third:

Text(emphasis on SINGLE, Buz) for some reason?

is the silliest thing you could have said and shows that you do not understand DDR at all. I see Boonesmi had replied again to try and again explain it to you. Hopefully you will listen this time. Or perhaps you can wait around long enough for someone to reply with an answer you like. Probably won't be a correct answer but at least one you might like.
Oh, and on the 3Dmark scores that you were comparing, you didn't say EXACT same systems as yours. You said,

same MB, CPU, RAM,similar video

A "similar" video card can make a difference, hence my mentioning the vid card in my first reply when I said,

Video card, it's drivers and memory speed are just part

Are you getting the picture here? Read a little better before you spout off.

 

[FlapjackAttack]

Point taken. I was hot when I replied and I'll eat a little crow here. I shouldn't have taken a jab at you and I was a little heavy with the 'tude.

Frankly, I found your initial response insulting.

The point of your post seemed to be to point out that I didn't know the basics of DDR or any of the things I was asking about. You assumed that the problem I was experiencing stemmed from my lack of understanding rather than accepting the possibility that maybe something is actually wrong with my hardware or the way it's set up.

Also, as I explained in my last post, I suspect a hardware problem and although I know there is no 'single data 166' RAM, I don't see how it's so silly to wonder if a malfunction of the mobo or soemthing else could cause this effect.

Of course, maybe it's a silly question to you but it seems like a valid possibility to me.

anyway...I didn't post to start an argument and don't want enemies, just help.

I apologize for spouting off at you. Please, read my reasons for suspecting problems carefully and if you have any helpful input I'd love to hear it. For reals. No hard feelings, K?

 

[Buz2b]

No problem. It's in the past.

 

[Buz2b]

You might want to look around over here and in particular look up Senor Panadero (sp). Good knowledge base.

 

[Bitdog]

If one removes all the false hoods, what remains is the truth. "Shur Lock Holmes" er "Watson".
So if you've eliminated some stuff, or yer stuck on one thought.
Maybe you could look for another bottle neck

I think your mamma board has a "flash bios" upgradeable/programmable ? Right ?
If you've got the latest bios and loaded it, it might be a beta version, where an older stable version might be the cure.
Or a search for Bios upgrade info, might shed some light on it.

I had a DMA hard drive, but not a DMA cable.
Clearing Cmos Memory, was the cure to a fresh build when it wouldn't start.
I've bought bad memory in the past. Have you tried your memory chips on another computer that is built for the DDR mem speed your checking?

Another thought is: many RAM chips are basicly bare of info except for the 2 cent sticker that says what it is. A cheat can remove the sticker from his new memory and put it on his old memory and then sell it to pay for his new memory.
I found an honest man once, then later I found that I needed to keep looking.

The idea behind clearing Cmos is: if you remove power from volitile memory, it forgets.
So when/if you clear Cmos mem, unplug the computer, & let it sit unpluged for abit
so any capicitors go dead also. Then clear Cmos.
I'm no expert, but I just keep doing trial and error stuff, then I quit when it works.

Bitdog