Started on a full time contract in a client's office, he provided one of his machines for me. HP Pavillion a520n, judging by the dead CompUSA PSU that was in it and the missing case feet, it's an instore refurb.
Replaced the power supply with an Antec I had in my truck (don't ask) and booted up no problem.
While I was in there, checked out the other parts, and it's got 2x256 PC3200 ram. The machine and motherboard are both spec'd for PC2700, so I thought, cool, it's been "factory" overclocked.
Ran CPU-Z to get some more info. It's got a Barton 3200+ running at 200mhz FSB. But the memory? 6:5 at 166mhz. At least it's in dual channel mode.
Did a search of the forums and the web, couldn't find any resources to crack the OEM Bios that Pavillions come with in order to run the memory at 1:1. Ran nTune, only once, at "Best Memory Performance" and it actually ran worse. Already flashed the most current HP bios, but of course that's no help.
Closest cousin is the A7N8X-VM, but it's been recommended that you not try to flash to that bios (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?p=90553&mode=linear)
Boss sprung for 1gb ram, so I'll be testing new ram tomorrow to see if the memory itself is what was holding up the nTune.
There's gotta be a way to crack that bios. I mean, how do HP technicians do diagnostics? Witchcraft?
Man I hate OEM machines.
Any additional suggestions appreciated.
-z
HP info on motherboard
Main a520n page
Replaced the power supply with an Antec I had in my truck (don't ask) and booted up no problem.
While I was in there, checked out the other parts, and it's got 2x256 PC3200 ram. The machine and motherboard are both spec'd for PC2700, so I thought, cool, it's been "factory" overclocked.
Ran CPU-Z to get some more info. It's got a Barton 3200+ running at 200mhz FSB. But the memory? 6:5 at 166mhz. At least it's in dual channel mode.
Did a search of the forums and the web, couldn't find any resources to crack the OEM Bios that Pavillions come with in order to run the memory at 1:1. Ran nTune, only once, at "Best Memory Performance" and it actually ran worse. Already flashed the most current HP bios, but of course that's no help.
Closest cousin is the A7N8X-VM, but it's been recommended that you not try to flash to that bios (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?p=90553&mode=linear)
Boss sprung for 1gb ram, so I'll be testing new ram tomorrow to see if the memory itself is what was holding up the nTune.
There's gotta be a way to crack that bios. I mean, how do HP technicians do diagnostics? Witchcraft?
Man I hate OEM machines.
Any additional suggestions appreciated.
-z
HP info on motherboard
Main a520n page
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