Can I upgrade P166 to P200MMX in IBM 6587?

[JonathanB]

The IBM 6587 has a VRM which reads 2.8 and 3.3 but can't find any jumper related to cpu voltage on the VRM and the mobo. Does it automatically detect a 2.8v processor? Current is 3.3v P166. An oldie that we treasure here 'cause that's what we've got. The model is 6587JC3, board is 6WA812JOW6T with serial no. 97W8206.

[BipolarBill]

Since the board was made before the MMX was introduced, how could it anticipate those settings?

Besides, IBM - like all big PC makers - castrates their motherboards to prevent upgrades. :mad:

[AllGamer]

you can still use the P200 even if the board doesn't do MMX

but it will only be recognized as P200 thus wasting the MMX features

see if you can get a BIOS upgrade for that mobo

:t

by the way, yes i've done it before

[JonathanB]

I've flashed the bios fine. But the P200 is 2.8v. Do I just replace the P166 which is 3.3v and set the jumpers for the processor speed to get 200?

[AllGamer]

jumper for the Clock, and jumper for the VOLTAGE else you will fry that P-200 MMX

:t

[JonathanB]

Can't find the jumper for the voltage in the VRM. There's none either in the mobo. But a 2.8 and a 3.3 is printed in the VRM.

[deadkenny]

Have you tried getting an answer from IBM? As previously mentioned, you'll risk frying the CPU if it's at 3.3v rather than 2.8v. If you value the 200MMX chip, then you shouldn't risk it by assuming it will autodetect, although that is a distinct possibility. I'm not sure about your local market but socket 7 mobo's are generally pretty cheap, even good ones. You might be better off getting another socket 7 mobo that has documentation (ASUS is pretty good for having manuals, BIOS revisions etc. available for old mobos). If the VRM has 2.8v ability, then it will probably work, but without the proper documentation it's a guessing game. There was a split rail voltage pre MMX chip, so 2.8v doesn't imply MMX support necessarily.

[Midknyte]

The bios would also have to support mmx cpus. even if you had the right voltage, the bios may not detect the cpu properly. I would advise against it unless you see jumpers for core voltage at 2.8v.

[rmanet]

Originally posted by JonathanB
I've flashed the bios fine. But the P200 is 2.8v. Do I just replace the P166 which is 3.3v and set the jumpers for the processor speed to get 200?

you sure the flash got you MMX support?

deadkenney and midknyte are right - -

if you shop around (compgeeks, some others) you might want to cough up, say, $40 for a newer socket 7, and that could include a CPU......

[Sterling_Aug]

You might be surprised how much range the older mobo's have.

I upgraded an IBM PL-300 from a Pentium 100 up to a Pentium 200MMX and it has been runnign just fine for my neighbor.

Give it a shot. If the system does not boot, then what have you lost? Absolutly nothing!

[deadkenny]

Yes, but if he doesn't know for sure that the voltage will run at 2.8v, and it runs at 3.3v instead (jumper setting) then he stands to lose his 200MHz MMX processor.

[Sterling_Aug]

And he can get another 200MMX processor on ebay.com for $5.00 or less.

[JonathanB]

I upgraded an IBM PL-300 from a Pentium 100 up to a Pentium 200MMX and it has been runnign just fine for my neighbor.

Did it had any jumpers for the voltage? I correct myself. The VRM print is 2.x volts and no 3.3v print. Don't know what it means at that time.

[deadkenny]

Originally posted by Sterling_Aug
And he can get another 200MMX processor on ebay.com for $5.00 or less.

Excellent point. Same applies to the board. It would be easier and cheap to get another socket 7 board with documentation. Then there'd be no doubt about the voltage or MMX recognition / support. However, he is in the Philippines, so it might not be so cheap to get one locally. Personally I don't see the value in putting so much effort into a totally obsolete system, unless it's just a learning experience. But again, the local market might be very different there compared to here.

[Sterling_Aug]

Originally posted by JonathanB


Did it had any jumpers for the voltage? I correct myself. The VRM print is 2.x volts and no 3.3v print. Don't know what it means at that time.

Sorry, but I don't remember it having any jumpers for voltage, just the FSB settings.

[AllGamer]

yes Old mobos used Jumpers for voltage

just set it at the Lowest voltage you can

:t

[JonathanB]

Okay. I may not try the 200MMX into it because of uncertainty. It's a neighbors PC so I can't take the risk of frying my 200MMX and not being replaced. As I said, these obsolete systems are still treasured here by those with very very limited budget. Thanks...:t :t