ecsk7s5amobo w/xp1900 cpu

[hondo8671]

:( just installed mobo and cpu went fine .but! it wll only run at 1200mhz . i have updated bios,changed cpu freq. from 100 to 133 and it locks up i can only change to 100,133,166, it will run at 100 but not at 133. help

[BipolarBill]

You can't use PC100 RAM is you want a 133MHz FSB. Are you using PC100 RAM? You need PC133.

[gjimene2]

looks to me that the ram can't be clocked any higher than 100.


When my g/f had a gate way, I bought her a stick of 256 Crucial pc100.

She has that stick in her K7s5a pro and a 200+0or 2400+ and it runs fine.

I'm trying to get her into DDR, told her that I would get her the ram, but she says that it runs fine.

So why don't you use DDR isntead?:t

[hondo8671]

tried running 256 ddr ram i can run or change to 133 on ram but when i change to 133 on cpu in bios it locks up on bootup

[BipolarBill]

Have you cleared CMOS since updating the BIOS?

There is DDR that's not rated 133MHz ou there. What are you using?

What is your power supply like? The K7S5A doesn't like weak PSUs.

[hondo8671]

:eek: is it ok to clear cmos ? i have tried every thing else , new power supply, on one page on the net alot of users said to remove the plastic sheet under the mobo heatsink and replace w/heatsink compound. this is a brand new board why would they leave this problem ! last resort!!!

[fishybawb]

Yes, clearing the CMOS is a good idea.
There should *not* be a "plastic sheet" between the heatsink and the CPU - I suspect you're referring to the standard thermal pad, which is OK. At least I hope you are...

[hondo8671]

i will try the cmos, no they are talking about the motherboard chip heatsink not the cpu sink. they said to gently pull it off and replace the plastic sheet w/ heatsink compound. my problem is why would ecs the board maker not fix this problem at the factory before they send them out to customer.

[BipolarBill]

I don't get it. If there was a plastic film between the "northbridge" and it's heatsink, how would it stay on?

[fishybawb]

Originally posted by hondo8671
i will try the cmos, no they are talking about the motherboard chip heatsink not the cpu sink. they said to gently pull it off and replace the plastic sheet w/ heatsink compound. my problem is why would ecs the board maker not fix this problem at the factory before they send them out to customer.

Sounds like bad advice, just ignore them. The only time anyone would consider additional northbridge cooling would be if they were overclocking, which you're not. How did the CMOS clear go?

[BipolarBill]

When you updated the BIOS, are you sure that you got the latest BIOS? ECS lists them backward - oldest on top and newest on the bottom (at the US site):

http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/k7s5a_pro.html

In BIOS setup, be sure to keep the DRAM frequency at the same level that your memory is rated at.

[hondo8671]

cleared cmos set sdram to 133mhz thats the ram im running .but still only running 1200 mhz . the bios is newest ver. 8-20-03. my power supply is brand new 250watt . the shop told me this whould be plenty , and the box said it would handle p4 cpu

[BipolarBill]

Originally posted by hondo8671
my power supply is brand new 250watt . the shop told me this whould be plenty , and the box said it would handle p4 cpu Um - no. The K7S5A needs at least a 300W PSU and preferrably a 350W.

Understand that there's no free lunch. While the K7S5A costs less, it requires the best memory and power supplies - more than offsetting any initial savings.

[hondo8671]

well i guess i will try a 350watt pwr sup. its the only thing left!i will try later today.

[lptech]

hondo8671-

You definitely have an inadequate PSU (power supply unit) as BipolarBill had pointed out. As he had pointed out to you, the cost savings on the motherboard is offset by the fact that you need very good quality memory and power supply unit to run the motherboard! The 250-watt power supply unit is just not going to work on that motherboard because it cannot deliver a clean and stable output current on the 12-volt rail which is critical for that motherboard.

Please read up on the following links to give you a better understanding on power supplies.

http://firingsquad.gamers.com/guides/power_supply/

http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/index.html

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/maxpc/index_cases.htm

You could calculate what your total PSU wattage usage is by adding up what each individual component requirement is and multiplying it by a factor of 1.8 times to get what your PSU wattage rating should be at. (Use the guide given at the PC Power & Cooling Inc. site). Good luck.

LPTECH

[BipolarBill]

Make sure that it's a good 350W. Fortron and Sparkle make good ones. The low-line Antecs are reasonable too.

[hondo8671]

put new 256ddr mem and changed cpu fan w/ better one it finely booted up at 1.6 ghz!

[BipolarBill]

Great - but keep in mind that the power supply is marginal...

[BipolarBill]

Here's a good one that's really cheap:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=0&submit=Go&description=N82E16817104979

It puts out about 360W in actuality.

[Bullion]

If the system is stable with the 250watt, leave it. I had a duron 1000 @1400 (cheepoman bios) on that same board, on a codegen 250 watt psu that was around from when i had a celeron 466.
Admittedly the duron uses less power than the 1900 but the only test you can use is the stability of the system.

As an aside i was using cheap generic pc133 that was also from the 466 and the cpu hsf was shall we say less then adequete. These boards were deffinity a hit and miss affair IMO, i had a hit but there is always the chance of a miss.

[Rugor]

Never had a problem with our ECS K7S5A, Duron 850 combo. But first thing we got with it was a new case and 400W PSU. Nice and stable with good power.