MSI KT3 Ultra-ARU, fastest processor supported?

[VWaccord]

Does anyone know what the best/fastest cpu that this particular m-board will accept is?

Thanks,
VWaccord

 

[human2k]

It supports up to athlon XP2700 with the 166MHZ FSB. It doesn't have barton support I believe.

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: VWaccord
Does anyone know what the best/fastest cpu that this particular m-board will accept is?

Thanks,
VWaccord

Welcome to Anandtech & the forums

It supports up to athlon XP2700 with the 166MHZ FSB

As for barton support I dont see why it wouldnt support the 2500 Barton, seeing as it runs at the same 166/333FSB as the 2700.

Someone else will surely back this up, or tell me how very wrong I am

Dan :beer:

 

[Markfw]

Here is straight from MSI:

KT3 Ultra-ARU
BIOS Type AMI® BIOS File Size 521KB
Version 5.7 Update date 2003-2-24
Update Description -Support AMD Barton XP3000+ (FSB333) CPU (For KT3 Ultra2 Only)
-Add "CPU Halt Command Detection" item in the BIOS Setup
-Fixed ATI 8500 AGP card cannot be used

Special note This BIOS is intended for MS-6380E PCB with KT266A & KT333 chipset. K7T266 Pro2 & K7T266 Pro2-RU don't use the same BIOS,
Download 6380ev57.exe

So, yes with a bios update it will support any socket a out accoring to MSI.

 

[mechBgon]

Ooops, yeah, what he said ^

Here's MSI's CPU support chart. It seems to rule out the 166MHz-based models. But then if you look at their BIOS page, the latest BIOS says it supports up to the 3000+ with the 333MHz bus speed. Hope that helps

 

[DannyBoy]

So I was right

Another thing to add to the archive in the back of my brain

 

[VWaccord]

I suppose I am still a little confused. The compatability chart says no. The BIOS page says:

Support AMD Barton XP3000+ (FSB333) CPU (For KT3 Ultra2 Only).

I don't have a KT3 Ultra2 m-board, mine is a KT3 Ultra-ARU. They and others appear to have the same model numbers:

• K7T266 Pro2-A(MS-6380E Ver1.0)
• KT3 Ultra(MS-6380E)
• KT3 Ultra-ARU(MS-6380E)
• KT3 Ultra2(MS-6380E)

Does this mean the difference is simply a flash away, or is it rather a different board, period?

Thanks,
VWaccord

 

[Mitzi]

The first edition KT3 Ultra will support any Athlon with a 200/266FSB (the highest was the XP2600), the board will NOT support any chip with a 333FSB (including the Bartons). Proof.

 

[mcveigh]

I put a 2500+ barton in a KT3 Ultra2 and it works perfectly

 

[Mitzi]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
I put a 2500+ barton in a KT3 Ultra2 and it works perfectly

Yeah thats an Ultra2 not a standard Ultra.

 

[EpsiIon]

Originally posted by: VWaccord
I suppose I am still a little confused. The compatability chart says no. The BIOS page says:

Support AMD Barton XP3000+ (FSB333) CPU (For KT3 Ultra2 Only).

I don't have a KT3 Ultra2 m-board, mine is a KT3 Ultra-ARU. They and others appear to have the same model numbers:

• K7T266 Pro2-A(MS-6380E Ver1.0)
• KT3 Ultra(MS-6380E)
• KT3 Ultra-ARU(MS-6380E)
• KT3 Ultra2(MS-6380E)

Does this mean the difference is simply a flash away, or is it rather a different board, period?

Thanks,
VWaccord

I also have the Ultra-ARU and I'm running into the MB limits now. I bought an Athlon XP 2500+ w/ 512K Cache and 333 MHz FSB. The chip runs fine, but it can't overclock past 2800+ levels simply because the MB won't let it. I downloaded the latest BIOS, but the 13x/14x/15x settings just don't seem to work. Kinda frustrating. I'm trying to get around this, but I don't know how.

 

[DieHardware]

EpsiIon have you had any problems with the 2500 at or near stock settings? I want to put the same CPU in an ARU as well.

 

[DieHardware]

Well stuck a Barton in it(had to manually set the multiplier and FSB) and ran memtest86 for about 8hrs and no errors. Very nice performance boost from the 1800 that was in there originally.