why won't L7S7A2 take AMD 2600+?

[homestarmy]

Well I tried to install this chip onto this motherboard and no luck. I installed the old chip, worked fine. Swapped again and no go. Should this motherboard not support this chip? I reset CMOS etc to no avail.

 

[pspada]

the 2600+ runs at 333fsb, perhaps your mobo only supports 266?

 

[Peter]

You need to reset CMOS when changing CPU. Besides, L7S7A2 regularly is an FSB266/DDR333 mainboard, FSB333 only achieveable via overclocking the chipset. Usually it does have the headroom, but as always with overclocking, YMMV.

 

[JediJeb]

The manual for my L7S7a2 says it has support for " Socket A AMD 133/166MHz processors" and memory to 200MHz async. So it should support the processor. Have you tried the processor in another motherboard to make sure it is good? Also check to see if there was a BIOS update to make it compatable in later Rev's.

 

[Peter]

The BIOS you should have in there is from December 2003.

 

[pspada]

Perhaps there is a jumper so you can set it for either "100-133" or "133-166"?

 

[Peter]

No there isn't. When planting a processor, you are supposed to clear CMOS so that the board reverts to safe frequencies. First thing to do then is to enter BIOS setup, and adjust CPU and RAM frequencies to what actually suits your hardware. RAM frequency is usually left on Auto.

 

[DieHardware]

homestarmy make sure the PSU is unplugged (or turned off if it has a switch) or the CMOS may not clear.

 

[JediJeb]

Another thing to consider, there are jumpers for multiplier settings, make sure the jumper is in the 1-2 position so that it will auto detect the setting. Those are bottom two pins on the jumper block.

Guess I wasn't doing what I was supposed to, when I went from my TBird 1G to my XP-M2400 I just dropped in the processor and put the HSF on and powered up, It called it a 2400 Mobile and fired right up.

 

[Peter]

sooo ... the L7S7A2 knows how to handle the Mobile chips? And runs them at full speed? Excellent news!

 

[homestarmy]

Hey guys thanks a lot for all of the replies!

I did clear the CMOS, but I did not disconnect the PSU. It did clear though because I had to go back into the BIOS and put all of my settings back to optimal (that means it did clear of course, right?).

I'm also thinking that a new BIOS might help. I believe I looked on ecs's website and couldn't find the BIOS updates for it though (if I remember correctly, I'll look again in a few). Incase I still have problems finding it, can anyone be kind enough to point me in the right direction?

I didn't realize there were any dip switches, I'll have to look into that as well...

And as far as the chip being bad... all I can say is I REALLY HOPE ITS NOT!! I don't have anything else really to try it in... until I get the case for my HTPC that is. I'm not sure how long the warranty is but it was an OEM chip soo...

The core isn't cracked or anything, it all looks fine. So chances of that are minimal. I was going to wait and try it on the motherboard that CAME WITH the processor when I get my HTPC case. That is if I can ever get around to ordering it (I'm hoping that I can find something better is really the case... anyone else out there know where I can find a nice black desktop case that is not too expensive?).

 

[homestarmy]

Well... I looked again and for bios I only see L7S7A listed... no '2'. And the bios there seems pretty old too, where can I find the december one mentioned?

http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/l7s7a.html

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: JediJeb
Another thing to consider, there are jumpers for multiplier settings, make sure the jumper is in the 1-2 position so that it will auto detect the setting. Those are bottom two pins on the jumper block.

Guess I wasn't doing what I was supposed to, when I went from my TBird 1G to my XP-M2400 I just dropped in the processor and put the HSF on and powered up, It called it a 2400 Mobile and fired right up.

Why'd you put a mobile processor in?

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
Well... I looked again and for bios I only see L7S7A listed... no '2'. And the bios there seems pretty old too, where can I find the december one mentioned?



http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/l7s7a.html

Go to www.ecs.com.tw for the complete list of products and their BIOS updates.

 

[homestarmy]

Thanks again for the very useful information!

Now can you or someone please point me in the right direction to find instructions on how to use the Flash Utility? I haven't done this in FOREVER!

 

[Peter]

Make a DOS boot disk. Put the unpacked ROM file (should be exactly 262,144 bytes) and the flash utility onto that disk. Reboot system, make it boot from that disk. Type the command line "utility.exe filename.rom", substituting the names of course. Make sure no one presses power buttons or blows fuses whilst the program is at it.

When it's done, and done successfully, power off, power back on. If it doesn't boot (this happens), cut mains power and use the jumper on the mainboard to clear CMOS, then try again. Don't be nervous if it doesn't come back on first try, every L7S7A2 I've flashed took two tries to fire back up.

 

[homestarmy]

Recently this board had a problem, so I sent it into newegg... do you think I'll get one back with the new bios already installed? That would be convenient. How long do newegg RMA's usually take anyhow?