Problem w/ Shuttle AN35 FSB and CPU speed

[bam099]

To start off this is a continuation of an old topic that was briefly discussed here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...hreadid=1613291&enterthread=y&arctab=y

I'm going to begin where the last post left off which was asking for detailed parts of my system. Basically I'm having problems getting my AMD XP 2600+ chip to run at full speed. I thought perhaps it was a memory problem but I just purchased a new stick of RAM and that did not change anything at all. So here are the components in my system:
This report is coming from CPU-Z
CPU:
Name : AMD Athlon XP
Codename : Thoroughbred
Package : Socket A
Voltage : 1.648 v
Specification : AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (this is incorrect though, the chip is a 2600+)
Core Speed : 1664.1 MHz
FSB : 133
Bus Speed : 266
Memory Frequency : 133 MHz
Memory:
Frequency : 133.1 MHz
FSBRAM : 1:1
CAS# Latency : 2.5 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 3 clocks
RAS# Precharge : 3 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras) 6 clocks

The PSU is a LPK2-30 400W. I think I remember it had an Antec sticker on it when I purchased the case but I'm not positive and a quick google turned up nothing so it very well might be a generic. After eliminating the RAM I think that its a very good possibility that an unstable PSU might be causing the restarts of my system. I just wanted to eliminate every possibility before I went forward. Please let me know anything else that I could give a shot and if you need any more info please let me know. Thanks in advance

 

[Zap]

Potentially a flakey power supply. Did the power supply come with the case? Is the case Antec?

Other potential problems... overheating... perhaps a better CPU cooler and properly applied heatsink compound.

Also, what are the markings on the CPU itself? I asked that back in June and you didn't give me the information. I'm not talking about what BIOS or CPU-Z says, what does the printing on the actual core of the CPU say? You're saying the chip is supposed to be a 2600+ but both BIOS and CPU-Z is reporting 2000+, which they might depending on how they detect the chip. What does the actual words on the CPU core itself say? It will be in the format of something like:

AXP2600DULTC

Will start with AXP, then have four numbers, then have five letters. It will be printed on the CPU core itself - the part that the heatsink touches. You'll have to remove the heatsink, remove the processor and clean it off to read the text. Afterwards, you'll have to re-apply heatsink compound.

The reason why I ask for the printing on the core is because perhaps you really have a 2000+ in which case it may not be stable overclocked to 2600+ (unscrupulous places have been known to misrepresent what they sell). Also, the markings tell us what voltage it is supposed to run at and perhaps the motherboard BIOS isn't giving it the right voltage, in which case we can adjust it.

 

[bam099]

Zap thanks for the reply. I will pull off the heatsink and check the CPU markings but I'll have to grab some compound first. I'll let you know what it says as soon as its done. Thanks for the advice. And no the PSU did not come with the case, I got the case from a friend blah blah blah and I know this one was a seperate PSU but I'm almost positive it was Antec branded

 

[Zap]

Also, what fan/heatsink are you using? Was the CPU from a sealed retail box? How is the case ventilation? These questions also matter because if the CPU is indeed a 2600+ and the motherboard is giving it correct voltages, if it cannot run at the proper speed but is stable at a lower speed, potential sign of overheating. I had a mobile Athlon XP (Barton 2600+) that was stable at 2.45GHz true speed, but became unstable after being installed into a small case that had poor ventilation.

BTW, if it takes you a while to get the CPU information and I don't notice this thread or it drops off the face of the forums, feel free to PM me.