Mobo revisions questions

[dunbar]

Due to lousy translations and whatnot, I do not know if my mobo manufacturer knows what is going on.

DFI AK75EC mobo. AMD Socket A.

I have an early mobo revision... something like 1.0 through 1.2, but I can't check right now.

Manuals for the mobos were produced by revision.

A few months ago, I checked into CPU capabilities. The manual for my version says Athlon Thunderbird up to 1.2 GHz. I have a 1.0 GHz Tbird in it. Works fine, but I'm thinking that those 3.0+ GHz CPUs are telling me I have an 8-track tape recorder/player right about now.... I guess I got the itch to upgrade.

Later revisions of the same mobo use different manuals, those manuals talk about using 2.0 GHz Athlons.

Ok, so the mobo design changed and allowed better CPUs, I'm thinking. A few months go by.

I go back to DFI because the manual is at home.... the site has changed. There is only one manual now, it is talking about the last revision of the board that DFI made. That manual says 2.something GHz.

Uh-oh. Now what do I do?

I fired off an email to their tech support staff. Hey, what CPU can I use on the revision of AK75EC mobo which I had.

Their answer: All mobos can use the latest CPU, provided you remain with a Socket A type Athlon.

To Xtreme PC Central, I plead my case: Should I risk my lame allowance on the chance that the DFI tech support person is a fool?

[SoopaStar]

what chipset is in your motherboard? Do you know if your board will support 333+mhz FSB? As long as its not the KT266a or something comparable, you may be able to use something newer. It may require a bios update to support the multipliers.

Paul

[Xeroid]

Yeah, it should show the chipset # on screen when your PC posts. My KT266a EpOx board (8kha+ rev2) will handle up to a 2600 T-bird. The 8kha+ rev1.3 versions would only handle up to a 2000 T-bird.

I never did find a 2600 T-bird though. Every 2600 I saw was a Barton so I settled on a 2400. :)

[Toast]

I'm working against the same problem. I have the Athlon processor ready to go but I can't get the system to boot with it in place. I've upgraded the bios according to the manufacturers recommendations but no dice. Here's the link to the complete specs on the board. http://www.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_product_spec_details_r_us.jsp?PRODUCT_ID=1279&CATEGORY_TYPE=MB&SITE=NA It has a KT133a/686b chipset and that conforms to what I have in my box. According to DFI this will handle a 266mhz frontside bus. I'm not convinced. Any input anyone?

[ThRoNkA]

Biggest bus you can use on that board is 133. Hence the KT133 chipset.

[Xeroid]

CPU supported:
AMD Athlon XP 266 MHz FSB (1500+ to 2100+)
AMD Athlon 200/266 MHz FSB (up to 1.4GHz)
AMD Duron 200 MHz FSB (500MHz to 1.3GHz)

Acording to your link. My brothers old EpOX 8kta3 kt133a motherboard would handle the 200 or 266mhz fsb. It would not handle the Athlon XP processors though so he topped out with an Athlon Clasic 1400. You board seems to top out with an Athlon XP 2100 using the 266mhz fsb.

[Shyguy]

If it uses the 266FSB, it may be able to support XP2200+, XP2400+ & the rare 2600+'s as well, though I think they were different Cores than the others, Thoroughbred (can't remember if they were "A" cores or "B" cores), other than Palomino cores. its also possible they don't & that teh Multiplier may not go high enough for them?

[Carl D]

in order for the thoroughbreds to work with that board... it needs a voltage setting of 1.650v.

i have 2 ASUS boards with the kt133A chipset, and only "one" is supposed to work with XPs up to 13.5x133. they're both 1.05, but the one has a "dot" after 1.05. i did have one before that worked with my 2100 that didnt have a dot. its bios rev. was 1005 though before my bios update to 1009. note this is ASUS (and it has lots of voltage adjusting)

when you change the cpu try clearing the cmos before you boot with it...my soyo dragon plus i used to have wouldnt boot after changing cpus unless id clear the cmos.