Installing P4 2.6 CPU, Screwing up settings

[ITGL72]

I have done this once before but this time around on this machine it seems to need more from me. So heres where I am at. I purchased a P4 2.6 CPU 400mhz FSB. It is a 478-Pin Package. The link I purchased it from is here http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80650

My moitherboard is a Abit BL7 the link for my MB is http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/bl7raid/

Now I installed the CPU and all seemed fine until I restarted it. It came up and said it was an Intel Pentium 4 2.6ghz (100mhzx26.0) but my memory frequency was at PC100 (I have PC133) and it stops with the message:

CPU is unworkable or has been changed. Please recheck - CPU SOFT MENU

So I go to the BIOS and click the option for SOFTMENU III Setup

Under CPU Operating speed is says 800(100) and if I change it to something higher it will only go to 2300(100) but this should say 2600(100) NO??

the rest of the settings look like this:

ext clock: 100/66/33mhz
fsb ratio: 3:1
multiplier factor: x23
Mem Frequency: AUTO

that seems to be the main thing there thats displayed...

Now my MB website says it can go up to up to 2.6GHz (400MHz FSB) so thats what I got.

Well I'm a little confused now. Learning to be a system builder is great until you hit a snag, hopefully I can learn from this. So thanks in advance, look forward to your responses!

[Sweeper]

Just a quick thought.... Do you have the latest BIOS for the board? Sounds like it needs the BIOS updated.

[x51out]

If you don't have any multipliers above 23 (at PC100 RAM, 100 mhz fsb, you'd need 26 x 100, right?) then a bios update is needed. I know this was not part of your question, and you didn't come here to read critisism, I just feel I have to say that that motherboard is a Pentium 4 castrator. Sorry :rolleyes: .

[ITGL72]

Originally posted by x51out
I just feel I have to say that that motherboard is a Pentium 4 castrator. Sorry :rolleyes: .

The bios date after looking in my registry is 07/16/01.
Im going to flash the BIOS later today. I'll see if that helps. Hopefully it should let me get up to 2600. Looks like I can grab it at http://fae.abit.com.tw/eng/download/bios/bl7.htm

Regarding your comment, in an effort to try and understand things a little but more every day, why do you think this MB is so bad? Is it because it only supports PC133 memory, and is only 400mhz FSB?

Months ago this PC had a bad PIII CPU after 3 years of great service. It was about the same price to jump to a P4 1.6 CPU/MB and this was seen as an upgrade. This MB was used in order to re use the existing memory. Thats just the way it worked. Today I am just trying to eeek out the last bit of upgraded power from this box. I looked at the MB website and it sayd 400mhzFSB 2.6 max. So thats what I got. I'm assuming now I just need a BIOS update. Ofcourse sometimes things are not that easy!

I'll look forward to your comments.

[x51out]

I'm not saying it is a "bad" motherboard. If the memory sub-system is running at 133 mhz (PC133), then the much faster Pentium 4 will constantly have to wait for it to catch up, so to speak. That is why the 845 chipset was and is considered an acceptable, but not optimal, solution. You could get very much more out of your P4 with a DDR solution, the ASUS P4E4 as an example. Paired with that chipset and PC2700 at 166 mhz DDR the P4 flys. Just a thought.
Btw, just because the P4 is capable of 200 mhz fsb ( 400 mhz DDR basically), doesn't mean you are actually running it at that speed. In fact, you are doing 100 mhz.

[ITGL72]

Well like I said. This system was not planned this way. It just ended up this way over time.

I did a BIOS update. It allowed me to set it to 2600 and I am typing to you on it now. So it seems I got it going. Thanks for the assistance.

So tell me, on a CPU that can handle 533 on a MB that is capable of 533 FSB, are you saying its not really running at 533?
See that's what's confusing me slightly here... Because then I'll see 100/133 fsb. Ahh, just have to keep reading and tinkering. One night I guess it will all come together! Like a light bulb going off.

[x51out]

So tell me, on a CPU that can handle 533 on a MB that is capable of 533 FSB, are you saying its not really running at 533?
Then it would be. The ABIT spec. sheet on the link you provided is very misleading and it agitates me when they do that.
Abit:
- Intel Socket 478 Pentium 4, up to 2.6GHz (400MHz FSB) Here they imply a 400 mhz fsb. I think maybe the "up to" is the key. No offense, I don't mean to snub you or anything, alright? :cool: ?

[ITGL72]

Don't worry about trying to offend, tough as nails and don't care about much.

back to this...

When they say up to 2.6GHz, I read it as a CPU up to 2.6ghzthat handles 400mhz FSB, not possibly up to 400mhz FSB. But that's just how I was reading it... What do they say about it?

HA!

Well one thing is definitely better, I picked up about 3000 points on the mad onion benchmarking program I use to test.. so that was fun.

[x51out]

If you set the memory subsystem to run at 400 mhz with PC133, it would fizzle. They included dividers to keep the cpu bus speed up and the memory bus down. Is it true 1:1 400 mhz all around? No. That would take a mobo with the appropriate chipset, that uses DDR RAM PC3200 and that P4 2.6/400. Then on that system there would still be dividers to keep the PCI bus and AGP bus at 33mhz and 66 mhz respectively. And yet, in your case, the CPU is so fast and unfortunately the RAM too slow. The Pentium 4 with PC133 is just not ideal... it works though. That is all that matters.

[ITGL72]

Well dang it. Performace is addicting. I noticed the big jump in 3dmark benchmark scores (3000+) and to think I can get it higher with a MB that can handle DDR memory of faster speed has me understanding this a bit more now.

[x51out]

Absolutely. If you have the cash, a DDR mobo is the way to go, although RAMBUS would be good also (but rambus can get very pricey). PC100 and PC133 really can't do it anymore. Those days are gone or going. If smoove graphics are what you are after, pair a DDR mobo with some PC3500 RAM and a video card GeForce4 Ti4200 and above. My system is already showing its age, but things are still great. My specs:
WinXP Home
AMD XP2000+ cpu
Epox 8RDA+ mobo
WD1200JB hdd
Samsung SV6004H hdd
Kingston768mb (3x256mb) PC2100 ram
Chaintech GeForce4 Ti4200/128mb video
CreativeLabs Audigy2 sound
Antec True430 psu
and other goodies
A TOTALLY SHAMELESS PLUG, I know. Those companies deserve credit for the fine stuff they produce though. On my end of computer obsession though, I'm looking to go at least PC2700 and at least a 2500+/333 along with something on the order of an ATI 9800Pro... we'll see how the money-struggle goes with the ever-controlling wife ;)