Kt7A and Sempron 2400+ FSB333

Hi,

I need to update my Duron 1600 processor due to constant lock-ups
whenever I do any DVD processing work (I was unlucky that I was sent the
'brown' MIXIB duron since I have read that there are problems with this
version of the processor, however I hear that the 'green' MIUHB version
is very good).

My question is what would be the best FSB settings in the bios to
maximise the speed of the Sempron 2400+, bearing in mind that the
Sempron has a FSB of 167/333 MHz and of course the KT7A has only 133/266
MHz.
For example, if I set the "CPU FSB Plus (MHz)" to 27 and the "CPU
FSB/PCI Clock" to 140/35MHz what effect will this have on the memory
speed (I'm using 1 stick of Crucial PC133 512MB).
Also, is the Sempron 2400+ multiplier locked and if so is there a method
to get round this.

My current setup is:
KT7A version 1.1 with 7N bios
Duron 1600 MIXIB processor
Crucial PC133 512MB
Seagate 160GB hard drive
Radeon 9200 256MB
MSI DVD rewriter
sound/network/modem (ISA)/TV tuner cards
500W P.S.
Win XP Pro SP1

Regards,
Tony

On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 22:18:58 +0000, Tony Foreman wrote:

> I need to update my Duron 1600 processor due to constant lock-ups
> whenever I do any DVD processing work (I was unlucky that I was sent the
> 'brown' MIXIB duron since I have read that there are problems with this
> version of the processor, however I hear that the 'green' MIUHB version
> is very good).
>
The color means nothing. You've got an Athlon XP Tbred B core with the
cache set for 64K instead of 256K. I don't have a problem running mine at
12x185 @1.7v in a K7S8X-R3 Asrock board.

> My question is what would be the best FSB settings in the bios to
> maximise the speed of the Sempron 2400+, bearing in mind that the
> Sempron has a FSB of 167/333 MHz and of course the KT7A has only 133/266
> MHz.

Forget using a Sempron with a KT7A. If you really want to upgrade the CPU,
get an XP-M, which has a default 133MHz FSB. If bit 5 (AJ27) isn't pulled
high, pull it high, set the multiplier to 9, which will be 17x and set the
FSB to 133Mhz, vcore about 1.70v should do it for a fast stable 2260MHz
with 512K cache.

> For example, if I set the "CPU FSB Plus (MHz)" to 27 and the "CPU
> FSB/PCI Clock" to 140/35MHz what effect will this have on the memory
> speed (I'm using 1 stick of Crucial PC133 512MB).

What you will have is a system that won't boot. And even if it did would
still only run about 1667 MHz. The most FSB you can get out of the KT7A is
about 150MHz if you're lucky. Probably won't be very stable there either.

> Also, is the Sempron 2400+ multiplier locked and if so is there a method
> to get round this.
>
Yes, it's locked. With luck, you might be able to turn it into an XP-M,
but it will still have the smaller cache. Don't waste your time or money.

> My current setup is:
> KT7A version 1.1 with 7N bios
> Duron 1600 MIXIB processor
> Crucial PC133 512MB
> Seagate 160GB hard drive
> Radeon 9200 256MB
> MSI DVD rewriter
> sound/network/modem (ISA)/TV tuner cards 500W P.S. Win XP Pro SP1
>
I don't know what's causing your lockups, but a new cpu probably won't fix
it. Have you checked the caps on the MB. They're notorious for failure
with leaking and bulging. Sometimes a better PSU wiil compensate for this,
but if you have a cap problem, it's better to either fix it or get a new
board (what I'd do). Actually, at that point, you might as well go to
socket 754 or 939 and sell the old stuff on ebay. Socket A is dead. Let it
die.

--
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Wes,

Thanks for your reply.

> The color means nothing. You've got an Athlon XP Tbred B core with the

I'm only going by the reviews on the site where I bought it:
++QUOTE
There seem to be two varieties of this excellent CPU, one comes on a
brown coloured substrate and the other with a green substrate. They both
have the same part number DHD1600DLV1C, but the number under the part no
on the brown one is MIXIB0404MPMW and the number on the green one is
MIUHB0405RPMW.

In practical terms you can take the green one and set the FSB to 333MHz
and hey presto you have a 2GHz Duron and it works just great at only a
couple of degrees hotter than running it as a 1600 using the big
Coolermaster Silent heatsink.

If you try this with the brown one it looks like it will work as well
until you start to make it work, playing a DVD for instance and surfing
the net at the same time, when it will lock up on you quite quickly. It
will work OK as an 1800 MHz Duron though.

So Ebuyer, can we just have the green ones in future please because in
terms of value and performance for money I don't think there is any
better CPU right now!
UNQUOTE++

> Forget using a Sempron with a KT7A. If you really want to upgrade the CPU,
> get an XP-M, which has a default 133MHz FSB. If bit 5 (AJ27) isn't pulled

My problem is sourcing any 133MHz FSB processors - the only one I can
find at my usual suppliers is the Duron 1800.

> What you will have is a system that won't boot. And even if it did would
> still only run about 1667 MHz. The most FSB you can get out of the KT7A is
> about 150MHz if you're lucky. Probably won't be very stable there either.

Thanks for that information.

> Yes, it's locked. With luck, you might be able to turn it into an XP-M,
> but it will still have the smaller cache. Don't waste your time or money.

OK, point taken.

> I don't know what's causing your lockups, but a new cpu probably won't fix
> it. Have you checked the caps on the MB. They're notorious for failure
> with leaking and bulging. Sometimes a better PSU wiil compensate for this,
> but if you have a cap problem, it's better to either fix it or get a new
> board (what I'd do). Actually, at that point, you might as well go to
> socket 754 or 939 and sell the old stuff on ebay. Socket A is dead. Let it
> die.

Caps look OK and I have tried 3 different PSUs so it looks as if my best
bet will be a new board/processor/memory stick combination.

Once again thanks - your time and advice are much appreciated.

Best regards,
Tony

On Tue, 03 Jan 2006 17:31:15 +0000, Tony Foreman wrote:

> Wes,
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
>> The color means nothing. You've got an Athlon XP Tbred B core with the
>
> I'm only going by the reviews on the site where I bought it:
> ++QUOTE
> There seem to be two varieties of this excellent CPU, one comes on a
> brown coloured substrate and the other with a green substrate. They both
> have the same part number DHD1600DLV1C, but the number under the part no
> on the brown one is MIXIB0404MPMW and the number on the green one is
> MIUHB0405RPMW.
>
Well, the color doesn't mean anything, but I missed the difference in the
MIXIB and MIUHB. That's where the difference is. they are different
steppings and may even be different cores. What's the stepping on the one
you have, 680, 681, etc. You can get the stepping codes with many of the
fre utils, like cpuz, etc. I may be split up like this 681;

processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 6
model : 8
model name : Unknown CPU Type
stepping : 1
cpu MHz : 2400.188

>> Forget using a Sempron with a KT7A. If you really want to upgrade the
>> CPU, get an XP-M, which has a default 133MHz FSB. If bit 5 (AJ27) isn't
>> pulled
>
> My problem is sourcing any 133MHz FSB processors - the only one I can
> find at my usual suppliers is the Duron 1800.
>
Only more proof that socket A is dead.


--
Want to control your HTPC. Tired of paying for guide data?
Want the ultimate in free OTA HDTV Recorder. mythtv.org
alt.video.ptv.mythtv is now available request it from your server.

Wes,

> Well, the color doesn't mean anything, but I missed the difference in the
> MIXIB and MIUHB. That's where the difference is. they are different
> steppings and may even be different cores. What's the stepping on the one
> you have, 680, 681, etc. You can get the stepping codes with many of the
> fre utils, like cpuz, etc. I may be split up like this 681;
>
> processor : 0
> vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
> cpu family : 6
> model : 8
> model name : Unknown CPU Type
> stepping : 1
> cpu MHz : 2400.188
>

Using WCPUID ver. 3.3:
Processor #1 : AMD Athlon (Model 8) / 84F96A90
Platform : Socket A (Socket 462)
Vendor String : AuthenticAMD
CPU Type : Original OEM Processor (0)
Family : 6 (7)
Model : 8 (8)
Stepping ID : 1 (1)
Brand ID : - (-)
APIC : ----
HT Log.CPU Cnt : ----
Name String : Unknow CPU Type

Internal Clock : 1600.06 MHz
System Bus : 266.68 MHz DDR
System Clock : 133.34 MHz
Multiplier : 12.0

> Only more proof that socket A is dead.

I guess you're right.

Best regards,
Tony