How can I test this?

[cpucook]

Well, my k6-2 550 did NOT die from overclocking.....my VA503+ mobo is toasting every single chip I stick on it!! :-(

I have an old P166MMX running on it now, it seems the only cpu that will handle whatever is wrong with the mobo.

How can I test the voltage going to the cpu?....or is this not possible?

cpucook (may have cooked a mobo too)

[Barney]

I don't know your mobo,but I have an Abit VA6 and can see it in the setup under 'chipset features'.If you can't see it there,look on the CD you got with your mobo if there is somekind of hardware monitor program on it.If there is no such program,go to the homesite of your mobo's brand or to the site of your chipsets brand to download the HWM-program.For instance:my mobo has a VIA mvp4 chipset,so I go to the VIA homepage and download the program called viaHWM.It allowes me to see my systems and processors temp. and my fans' speeds.You can also see the processor's voltage,the I/O V,the 5V and the 12V voltage

Ronald

[akaBruno]

It's quite possible that the voltage regulators on the board are haywire. I've seen it before, but was lucky enough not to fry anything. Those old PI's can take a lot of voltage, like 2.9v stock, so that explains it.

The board should still be under warranty. Swap it.

Bruno

[CMonster]

I do know your board rather intimately - and I will tell you what I once heard here on sysopt:

...a long time ago, on the old Sysopt far-away he wrote to the effect that anyone who bought a FIC VA503+ should run back to the store as fast, as their legs could carry them, and return it...

I made fun of their words and commented that surely with "skill" they could configure that board correctly.... I now EAT MY WORDS.

Frankly the 503+ (I have been through 3 of them) is a POS (not an abreviaton for "+")!

Dump it!

Get on with your cyber life!

I read once on a review that the 503+ was "an overclocker's dream," -a nightmare is more like it!!

I am not pro Intel, and I prefer to promote AMD - but get with a CeleronII or the Athlon/Duron - you will not be sorry for the investment - trust me!

[cpucook]

CMonster,

Yes, I agree with your every word....unfortunately, your correct! I will be doing what I thought I would never do....I'm going to build an Intel system. I can get the parts REALLY cheap in my home town, so I cannot pass this up.

I will eventually get a AMD Tbird system too, so I'm not giving up on AMD...but I am giving up on SS7 systems. It is time to move on.

This VA503+ has been a flawless system until this....but I question how many burned cpu's are the mobo's fault...at least the last two for shure :-(

Now this **** thing won't even park the HD on shutdown, and the power saving features are going CRAZY, causing crashes when it goes to sleep mode DURING USE, even with all power saving features disabled!!

SO, BE WARNED VA503+ OWNERS.....this mobo cannot handle an overclockers torture.

NEVER again will I buy an FIC mobo.

cpucook.

[engracio]

Amen to that cpucook and cmonster!!!! Never again. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

Enough said.

e

[CMonster]

You took that well! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

I think my next board - for the forseeable future will be the Asus A7V.

Right now I have:

1. *(hate to admit it) FIC SD11 and an Athlon 600 (not ocd) - and although a clunker (the mobo that is) it is ROCK STABLE.

2. A CeleronII 533/Iwill SlocketII @800 on an Iwill VD133 - the VD133 is a fair board but has proved to be touchy when installing more than one DIMM. Perhaps that's just my board though.



[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 08-13-2000).]

[Win_98]

I made fun of their words and commented that surely with "skill" they could configure that board correctly.... I now EAT MY WORDS.
------------------------------
very true, very true I should have listened too I got a fic503+ in one of my computer that is now giving me a big big headache just trying to jumper it correctly. poor manual diagram confusing as hell and bios setup has too many unnecessary option such as, read around write disable/enable etc too many that you dont see in a decent board.
cpucook you could go for ASUS P5A-B and save $$$ without having to buy another CPU http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif since you love to overclock this is the dream for ya has >100mhz say 112, 124

[CMonster]

cpucook - you have checked the power supply haven't you? Your 5v+ could be way out of spec or something. Check red+/black- on a connector (accessory pigtail); should be right around 5v.

One other thing - the VA503+ does not overclock as well as other socket7 boards. I've noticed this form personal experience on 3 of these motherboards using about 8 different CPUs in various configurations. I think the board must be electrically noisy.

[sunofwolf]

I have a DFI series 7 board and it seems like a good one, with 66controler, and the volts 2 to 3 and up with nice little switches. they are only around 80$, My computer is running so good now , that i am just going to use it , after my new HP 8x4x32 cd burner comes and new HP 932 printer and dont forget a new sony tritron 27" tv , that I can use as a second display using my , g 400 duel head matox card,max!

[cpucook]

CMonster-

Yea, the power supply was my first suspect:-) but thanks for the thought.

I'm set on building an Intel system now. I have two other SS7 systems here not including the FIC VA503+ powered one, both have k6-3 400's on FIC's finest work, the PA2130 2mb L2 cache mobo's. I will NOT overclock my k6-3's.....I think that would be stupid since they are good solid systems as-is.

I want/am getting a Celeron this week, and have a Athlon system coming from a friend upgrading to PIII power. I will have two good overclockers soon, and will never look back at my SS7's problems. Oh man, I'm getting excited just talking about it!!!

cpucook

[Win_98]

you know, good thing come to those who wait. say another year i think i can a 1gig processor for 100 buck hmm still not 100 buck yet hell wait another year!!! like i said good thing come to those who wait. why pay 800 buck now when you can buy much later and save 700$$$$ know what I mean?!?