Athlon 800 won't run 800

[UThomas]

Ok, this is a weird one. A few months ago I got a slot A Athlon 800 to replace my 500 running at 700. Anyway, the game plan was to overclock the 800 as well. I put it at 900 and it ran some tests but was not 100% stable. So I put it down to 850. It would run quake 3 and 3dmark2000 very well, but I noticed I was getting some trouble and lockups in other games now like Age of Empires 2 and MDK2. A month later of testing an the only thing that resolved it was UNDERclocking my 800 to 700 mhz, where they all ran fine. Any thoughts on what the deal is? I have a huge heatsink and run on an Epox KA7 (?) board (the first KX133 board out). It won't even run these games stable at its rated 800. I figure it could be:

1) The chip. Either not really an 800 (the case said it was) or I damaged it running it at 900 (possible?).

2) The motherboard. Maybe it doesn't handle speeds above 700 well?

Thoughts?

Thomas

 

[Zephyr]

the chip in question is not by any chance a slot A Tbird? Just an idea

either way if your motherboard bios is not newest rev, I suggest trying to flash it to newest version.

 

[UThomas]

Yea, I thought that about being a T-bird because they said it would work at the lower frequencies but not the higher ones. From the code on the case (before I cracked it off to overclock it), it is not a T-bird. Motherboard bios is the newest.

Thomas

 

[Hanky]

If you already opened the CPU's case you may take a look at the core to verify whether it's a real 800 model?

 

[hominid skull]

It is strange that it won't work @800, i would have a look at the core, like Hanky said, to see if it's a real 800 and not remarked. Also you could try and increase the core voltage to the CPU, upto 1.85V see if that'll help.

 

[UThomas]

Tried upping the voltage. It even locks at 750, but takes a little while longer too. Here is the serial # on the case:

K7800MPR52b A

I'm pretty sure I looked this up, but I'll do so again. It really would make sense that its a thunderbird, but I really don't think it is (and I know I didn't order one).

Thomas

 

[Hanky]

You shouldn't go by the # on the case but take a look at the core! For example there were Athlons entitled as a 750 on the case which had 900-cores. Maybe you were unlucky and got a 700 marked as a 800...

 

[UThomas]

Yea, you can tell I'm hesitant to pop the core though Any websites with the description or any tips on what I'm suppose to do? I'll first test it in my friends K7V and if it doesn't work there I'll pop it open all the way.

Thomas