CPU frequency problem with K7VTA3 mobo

Hi, can anyone help?

On Saturday I purchased an ECS K7VTA3 mobo and AMD Athlon 1900+ CPU.
Have had all sorts of problems, one of which is this: The CPU
frequency of the 1900+ is 133Mhz. The jumpers on the mobo come set for
100Mhz. If I run the CPU at this setting (which, in my ignorance, I
did to start with), the board will power up OK but shows the CPU as a
1200 and I have had problems with the graphics card, which is a
Geforce 3 MX440 SE 64Mb AGP. Am running Windows XP Home, and the
display driver has defaulted to "VGASAVE". I believe there is a
compatibility issue with this mobo/graphics card combination? I seem
to recall having problems with a mobo with a VIA chipset a couple of
years ago.

If I change the jumper settings to 133Mhz, by shorting pins 2-3 on
Jumper 3, the mobo will power up the first time, and recognises the
CPU correctly, but if I then restart the PC, the mobo won`t go into
POST at all. At least, nothing is showing on screen.

As I said, I have a problem with the graphics card and the display
setting which has defaulted to VGASAVE. I have installed the latest
drivers for the card but it keeps saying there is a problem.

Could it be a faulty graphics card? Unfortunately, I don`t have a
spare to try.

I read in one solution to the VGASAVE problem that setting the correct
frequency on the mobo will solve this.

My head is spinning trying to sort this out, can anyone advise?

TIA

Larry

 

Have you reset the CMOS, then set your FSBs to 133 mhz? Is your PSU
adequate? Are you using PC133 RAM? Is your BIOS set for an AGP rate which is
incompatible with the GeForce?

If your head is spinning, take a break and look at it tomorrow. There are
enough people here to help you if need be................

 

Hi, thanks for replying. I`m waiting until the weekend to try and sort
this out. I might just buy a different mobo, ISTR that I had problems
with a mobo with a VIA Chipset back when I first upgraded to an AMD
processor - it was 500 Mhz! Wouldn`t work with my Matrox Millenium
Graphics card. I must`ve forgot the golden rule - steer clear of mobos
with the VIA chipset!

You asked if my PSU is adequate, and I notice this is often asked in
other posts, is 350 watt not sufficient?! As for the ram, I bought a
DDR333 to go with it, as specified on the box!

 

It probably is, but not all PSU's are made the same. I am trying to
track down an occasional hang in my K7VTA3 system which may be caused by
a poor, older PSU. These days, I like the Antec True PSU's - have a look
here: http://www.antec-inc.com/us/pro_p_truepw.html, especially reading
more about feature 1.

--
R.

<> Richard Brockie "Categorical statements
<> The tall blond one. always cause trouble."
<>