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Help w/ Dual PII VRM!!

S

smp

Diamond Member
Hi all .. recently got a dual PII mobo from a gateway server but then I had to get a VRM for it too. I think that there are 12V and 5V VRM's for dual PII systems and I got a VRM but I don't know which voltage it is. I don't know anything about dual PII systems (or dual, don't mind the nick) ..
The VRM that I have is from a Diamond Micronics Helios board, and I can't find any information on the VRM, even in the manual for that board. Does anyone know if there is a standard as far as VRM's go for PII systems? I would have thought that all PII VRMs should be the same voltage because don't all PII's run on the same voltage? I'm afraid that it is more complicated than that however, and I have noticed that there are both varieties of VRM's .. I don't want to fry my two processors.. thanks.
 
Thanks Andy .. maybe there should be an FAQ 🙂 heh

I have already checked the manual for that board. That is not the board that I am using, I only have the VRM from the Helios board, and I want to use it on a Dell ALR 8200 motherboard. The manual for the gateway board specifies only 5V VRM's .. I was under the impression that most dual PII boards use VRM's .. anyways, the reason that I am digging up dirt on the Helios board is because the guy who I baught the VRM from said that Diamond Micronics sent him that VRM w/ his Helios board when he RMA'd it and had the extra. I got it from FS/FT.
Now I'm stumped, I am tempted to try this one that i have got because it fits in the slot perfectly. Any more suggestions?

The thing that gets me is that the Helios board's manual says it has integrated VRM's .. so I don't know how this VRM that i have could be from that board. 🙁
 
VRM = Voltage regulator module

It takes either the 5V lead or the 12V lead and 'regulates' the voltage down to CPU specific voltage .. ie, 3.3 or whatever..

Some VRM's take 12V and cut it, while others take 5V and cut it .. some are programmable at boot by the CPU ..

I need one of the 5V variety .. but I'm not sure what this "diamond micronics helios" board uses .. the VRM that I have apparently came off of that board and I have no way of figuring out wether it is a 5V or 12V VRM .. I'm just trying to luck out here to see if someone knows more than me or knows more about that board. Thanks all.
 


<< The thing that gets me is that the Helios board's manual says it has integrated VRM's .. so I don't know how this VRM that i have could be from that board >>

Most boards have one intergrated VRM and one detachable (theoretically you only need the second VRM if you run dual proc, but my dual Xeon won't detect the L2 cache if the second VRM isn't installed).
Anyway, it should work. However one can never be sure... anyway, good luck!
 
I finally got Gateway on the phone today and they want 35 plus 5 shipping for a VRM ... that is out of my price range and I already spent 14 bucks on the VRM that I have. I'm wondering how much of a risk I'm running if the VRM isn't correct. The manual for the Helios board says it has two integrated VRM's .. so that is why I don't know how this guy got a VRM from that board.

Please please please hit me w/ some suggestions. Thanks.
 
bump~

email from Diamond Micronics;


Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for contacting Sonic Blue Product Support.
The VRMs are actually integrated within the Helios mainboard. They are the
standard 3.3volts. If you have any further questions, please feel free to
email us anytime.
Regards-

3.3 volts? What does that mean? I asked them if they were 5 or 12 .. this is frustrating.
 
I would go with the one from them that you know is correct. 3.3 is common. 5V and 12V VRM's were commonly used pre-ATX motherboards because AT powersupplies didn't provide the proper voltages that a PentiumMMX or Pentium II needed. In ATX systems 3.3's were commonly used, but not always. It was entirely up to the motherboard designer.

Do you know what motherboard you have? You acquired a VRM from a Diamond mobo, but what mobo do you have?


 
I have a mobo from a Gateway 8200 ALR server. It's a really nice board matter of fact, onboard SCSI, video and lan. 440BX etc etc .. it's sweet!
I just don't want to fry it. That info was helpful though Bozo1, thanks. Anyone know how risky it is to use the wrong VRM? Would anything burn or would it just not post? That's all I'm really worried about because if I try it and it doesn't work, then I can send this VRM that I have back to the trader I got it from, he said he would refund me. I guess at that point I have to go to Gateway and pay 40 dollars for their VRM.
 
I don't think anyone has been brave enough to try. I certainly wouldn't try it. If the pin-outs are non-standard, which many are, you may see smoke.
 
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