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Newbie Needs HElp!!

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2003 2:05 am
by snyder9
hey there!..
this is my first post in this forum...
as im not gonna have a new pc assembled for at least another 6 months...I thought I'd get something out of my present PIII 600E...liek overclock and all that...
thing is I need to check the CPU temperature.. the pc health option or something like that available in the BIOS setup in most of my mate's pc's... isn;t there in mine... cos i cant check that.. and also can't play with the voltage..

the current info on the startup screen...
Award Modular Bios v 4.51 PG
12/14/2000-693-686-2A6LGV3GC-00

i know my motherboard if from Vtech(PCPartner).. and ia lso know the chipset... VIA Apollo Pro 133(693A+686B)

my motherboard model --> AP133AS13-B957C

I downloaded the correct BIOS file from the website http://www.pcpartner.com.hk

the thing is that there are three different BIOS files..

VIA-ApolloPro133 (ATX) Motherboard - Award BIOS
(VT82C693A+VT82C686A/686B)


V1212AG.BIN For Winbond (39A) Clock Gen IC
Dec/2000

V1218AG.BIN For Winbond (39B) Clock Gen IC
Dec/2000

V1214AG.BIN For ICW-W144 Clock Gen IC
Dec/2000

and the following remark is given

Remark :
======
Please identify the clock generator IC on your motherboard before updating the BIOS. Upgrading with a wrong BIOS file may result in failure to power up after the upgrade !

I don't know how to check that.....

But my most important question is whether i already have the latest BIOS for my motherboard though the BIOS is like two years old...
and whether updating will add the options to check the cpu temperature and adjust voltage..
because the windows programs to check the temperature don;t feel right... its always around 21 22 and 23 degrees celsisus.... (tested with CPUcool, speedfan and Motherboard Monitor).. and doesn;t vary much under stress... I got a 5400 rpm(i think) CPU cooler fan and a 4400 rpm chassis fan at the back of my case... but still dont think the temps r accurate...

wonder if updating BIOS will do any good...
i knwo some of these questions are unrelated... but it would be great if you guys help me out..thanks!

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2003 4:11 pm
by Denniss
It's possible you already have the latest Bios - from file name and date you should have version three with ICW Clock gen

It's possible your board does not support Hardware monitoring as well as voltage changing
A P3-600E should be OL to overclock via raising FSb to 133 if possible ( or lower values)
Do you have the Slot-1 P3 or FCPGA with Adapter ?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 12:01 am
by snyder9
hey...thanks a lot for replying
yes i have a slot 1 PIII (my motherboard has both Slot1 and PGA370)...
i know how to overclock by changing the jumpers on my motherboard..
i got the thing to run as a PIII 800EB (133*6)that way...
but there is no way i can check the CPU temperature...
some people tell me to touch my heatsink..n chek whether its warm/hot... dunno if tht helps and besides I geuss its kinda risky placing my judgement of the temp on that alone...
but does BIOS updating give u new options in the BIOS menu.. if no.. theres no point in upgrading for me...
and are u sure bout my clock gen IC...

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 12:23 am
by ajzchips
The clockgen IC isn't too hard to spot.

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:02 am
by snyder9
and how is that?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 10:44 pm
by ajzchips
Look for a small black chip, Winbond or ICW, with its model number shown above.

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 12:17 am
by Denniss
You already have the latest bios - confirmed with Modbin
All file are from December 2000 and only th ICW one has 12142000 as date

Hardwaremonitoring has to be supported by the mainboard and the CPU
If CPU supports it but mainboard don't the you'll see no CPU Temp or PSU voltages

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 12:45 am
by snyder9
ok.. so i got the latest BIOS then..
so my motherboard and cpu support hardware monitoring?
I can see the voltage changes in basically any monitoring program( CPUcool, SpeedFan, Motherboard monitor)... but these above programs just give me one temperature.. which always goes about 21 22 23 and 24... whether under stress or not....
Motherboard monitor give sme one more... which is always stuck on 77 celsius... and my BIOs doenst have options to change the voltages...
motherboard monitor identifies three sensors on my PCpartner mobo..
something wrong with that then?