ECS K7S5A overclocking question

[Superman9534]

I just built a system using an ECS K7S5A motherboard and an AMD Athlon 1700+ CPU. I want to be able to overclock my CPU using the BIOS. In the manual for the motherboard it says I can change CPU Multiplier, Core Voltage, and FSB speeds, but when I try to all I can change is my FSB and RAM speeds, and the only choices I have are 100mhz or 133mhz, everything else is greyed out. Why is this? I know its supposed to let me, but I can't.

And I bought a new fan so cooling isn't an issue, I know what I'm doing but I can't figure out why my BIOS is screwed.

 

[Buz2b]

Well, I hate to be the one to inform you but you should have done a bit more research before buying that MB. Don't get me wrong, I am one who likes the price/performance of that board and have built several systems with it in the past. HOWEVER, it is NOT meant to be an overclockers board. Period; end of match.
HOWEVER, you can find some excellent information about that board, including some links to download an overclocking BIOS for it. Keep in mind that these BIOS versions are NOT supported by ECS and only involve changing the FSB settings; not the multiplier. You will also find some information about overclocking using some software. So, all is not lost. You will not be able to change the multiplier though, unless they have come up with some new stuff and you have unlocked your CPU; emphasis on unlocking your CPU.
So, in answer to your last comment; your BIOS IS NOT screwed. Your information was. Sorry.

EDIT: Almost forgot the link for the info.

 

[kmmatney]

I overlcok my K7S5A using CPUFSB software. Its a windows program that will change the FSB and memory speed on the fly. There are a surprising number of settings to choose from I am currently running an Athlon XP1700+ at 143 MHz FSB and memory (SDR), which is equivalent to an XP1850+. Its rock solid. I bump the speed up to 147 MHz (XP1900+) overnight when its just running Team Anandtech projects.

Overall, I've been happy with the overclocking abilities of the board.

There is also an overclocking BIOS you can get. I personally don't like using a non-approved BIOS and the software was easy enough to use. CPUFSB is non-crippled shareware. There is also a freeware program out there that will change the bus speed.

 

[Superman9534]

Thanks man I have the 1700+ as well, i'll give that a try.

 

[pdo]

I also have an XP1700+ with the K7S5A and I went the hard way and change the multiplier through L3 and L4 bridges(don't recommend doing it this way though) and now it's running at 12x133=XP1900+. I can raised FSB to 138MHz which runs at XP2000+ but it's not stable don't know if it's the mobo or the RAM that's giving up.

 

[Superman9534]

well I got CpuFSB and messed around with it, but how do I know if it actually changed my speed? I selected my motherboard type and brand, selected a FSB of 138mhz and RAM 138mhz and hit "set frequency" and now CpuFSB reports my processor running at 1.51ghz. Is it really running at that? And what is a good program for finding my processor temp, I can look in the BIOS but i'd like to see it within windows.

 

[lsman]

if you have not check the link, check here and click on the download for all the things (temp....) you need.
Text

 

[Superman9534]

ok i used CPUFSB to increase my FSB and RAM to 146mhz, and its running very stable. My proessor is running at 1.615ghz. At 5% load its 129 degrees F, at 100% its 138 degrees. I'm going to run it all day and see how it goes.

 

[Superman9534]

has anybody had any problems with the overclocking BIOS? I know it will void my warrenty, and I don't really care, since I bought this board to learn and mess around with. I just don't want to mess up in the process of flashing it. So suggestions are wanted.

 

[DoctorBooze]

2 problems with the OC BIOS I got: (1) it doesn't list all the speeds CPUFSB does; (2) I was stupid enough to set it too fast and it took two or three goes with the Reset CMOS jumper before the system booted again. Get CPUFSB or CPUCooL - the latter automatically drops the CPU speed and/or forces idle cycles if things are getting too hot, and you can freak with it for multiple steps up/down based on temp. Got some seriously big overclocking last winter despite having quiet slow fans, now in the summer I don't get any better than 143MHz FSB.

 

[Superman9534]

well I went ahead with the OC BIOS and it works and i'm stable at 1.62ghz, which is all I want to do. I'm going to leave it at that, get some PC 2700 DDR and be happy.

 

[johncar]

If there is interest in hard modding the ECS K7S5A to enable varying the CPU multiplier, (from external mounted pcb), we have a diagram of the simple switched or jumpered circuit/s users could lay out on a small Radio Shack printed circuit board/pcb. then connect the leads to SocketA sockets on backside of mobo.
http://www.beachlink.com/candjac/index.htm link to Tbred article, scroll down to diagram.
John C.