Gigabyte GA-7DX+

Don't ask how to over-clock.
Post Reply
JEWilson
Chip off the ol' block
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:51 am

CPU upgrade issue. Sorry can't attach jumper settings
from manual.

I purchased a mobile Athlon XP with a Barton Core
Model # - AXMA2600FKT4C

Installed in the mobo and posts as a Mobile Athlon 800MHz

The mobo auto detects the part at six times multiplier.
The mobo has DIP switches for setting the FSB and the multiplier.

The mobo is set a FSB 133MHz and the multiplier set at auto.

Problem - When set as above, bios id's mobile athlon 800MHz.
If I manually set the jumper to x12 - the bios id's an Athlon XP 2100+
Despite repeated attempts, the multiplier cannot synthesis a
15x mult, that is, the actual multiplier for the Barton XP-M.

As position 5 is used for auto, the DIP switch has a further position
6 which appears to be unused. Position 1 is used for a 0.5 mult
increase.

So... positions 2, 3 and 4 determine the multiplier and being 8
possible settings are available, the max. mulitplier on this mobo
is 12 (plus 0.5 of course for position 1 on the DIP switch).
This accounts for a mult of 5 to 12 inclusive.

It appears the auto setting cannot ID the barton XP-M part.

So... it appears, in order to get the XP-M to be correctly identified,
I would require possibly, a microcode update to the BIOS to enable
the BIOS to do this correctly and automatically.
I recall doing a uCode upate with intel parts but not AMD.
Is it possible?

As it has been sometime since I posted here, apologies in advance
if my intent is erroneous.

I acknowledge prior posts in respect of mobile bartons.
I have reviews these in turn.
Being as the barton mobile starts at 6x mult per PowerNow!
Is there alternative methods available for auto CPU detect
to id the CPU at full rated speed?

It may be, the recent F8a beta bios as I have applied for the mobo recongises Bartons. Dunno.

The problem with the DIP switch only allowing, what appears to be
a max. mult of 12.5x may be an oversight on my part.
Please, not the actual DIP SW (mult cannot be set in the BIOS)
has an further position 6 (one extra over and above the 5 in the
manual)

I do not know if this is used in any way. Suggestions?

I cannot discern if there is a pattern to DIP SW settings for the
multiplier - does no make any sense!

Thanks for your consideration
cp
BIOS Guru
Posts: 1914
Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2002 9:07 pm
Location: Germany

read this:
http://fab51.com/cpu/barton/athlon-e24.html
I purchased a mobile Athlon XP with a Barton Core
Model # - AXMA2600FKT4C
mobile processors are not made for desktop boards. and if you've read the link above then you'll recognize that there are MANY problems involved if you don't know what you are doing.
So... it appears, in order to get the XP-M to be correctly identified,
I would require possibly, a microcode update to the BIOS to enable
the BIOS to do this correctly and automatically.
NO. microcode updates are NOT meant to automagically detect new processors correctly. a bios update _could_ help, BUT once again...if you've read the link above then you would know that desktop boards and mobile processors is a different kind of tale to tell.
It may be, the recent F8a beta bios as I have applied for the mobo recongises Bartons.
if it does: get a non-mobile processor. look, the whole cpu configuration on AMD socket a/462 processors is made via their bridges. there are ways to configure the multi via external jumpers, too BUT AMD disabled that possibility very early by cutting the L1 bridges. on mobile processors they are however still intact which means you could set them.
the problem with your board is: since the old AMDs only had 4 BP_FID pins (maxing out the multi at 12.5), the newer AMDs have 5 BP_FID pins! by the time of producing your mainboard the manufacturer couldn't know about that, so he connected the 5th BP_FID pin according to AMDs recommendations.
so if you want to mofify your mainboard (physically, with a soldering iron) to access multis beyond 12.5 then read this:
http://fab51.com/cpu/barton/athlon-e20.html

otherwise i really do advise you to buy a desktop processor if you want to keep your mainboard or if you want to keep the processor a more recent socket a mainboard made by a premium manufacturer (ASUS, ABIT, MSI).
If you email me include [WIMSBIOS] in the subject.
JEWilson
Chip off the ol' block
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:51 am

Cp thx, I have reviewed the link at Fab 51 and acknowledge your
comments.

Well...

The AXMA2600FKT4C - Athlon XP 2600+ Barton 2000MHz 15.0x 133MHz 1.65V is seen as a desktop
replacement processor as it is not a LV model.

Simply.... as the mult by mobo DIP SW maxes at 12.5 mult.
I used crystalCPUID to raise the mult to x15 by software and it appears
to be ok. I simply run the app once at boot to faciltate this.
All the same, I have had a number of issues with the PC failing to start
on occassion.

This may be due to a number of reasons, namely;
I recapped the Enermax PSU,
I recapped the mobo with polymer caps on the O/P side of
the VRM and raised the bulk capacitance marginally on the I/P side
with wet Panasonic FMs eletrolytics.
It is a 5V VRM as it is a dated mobo (but new) and hence I used the Enermax EG651P-VE FMA PSU
for what is supplies on the +5V rail O/P.
I also applied a BIOS beta version as suggested by Gigabyte.
This is version F8a.

In the first instance, I will go back to the most recent stable bios of F7
and work from there.

Thanks again, for your input.
Post Reply