First time poster needs advice re M577 MB

[Five O]

I have scoured the forum for all of the answers to my questions but was not able to find everything I need. I see there are many helpful, learned, and esteemed fellows on this forum ( I WILL KISS UP! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif ) so please help!

I have a PC Chips M577 that I have had for a number of years now and have been really happy with it. I have;

AMD K-6 266 @ 333 no probs at all!
2 pc100 64meg SDRAM
VooDoo Banshee PCI
A3DXtreme soundcard (Turtle Beach)

I hope to grab a K-6II 500 or 550 and push it on up to 600 to hopefully tide me over till I can afford a new sys. I understand I have to have the 19990306 BIOS update and have found and D/L'd it. Also I understand there are 2 versions of the M577, one that will better support the 550mhz CPU.

I need to know how to determine my BIOS version and how to flash the BIOS. Also how do I determine the version of the MB itself? The manual makes no mention.

One final question, in the interest of buying something I can use in the future, can I put pc133 SDRAM in the MB or do I have to stick with pc100?

Any other advice regarding what I intend to do? I know it is a lot to ask but I really appreciate the advice!

[BFlurie]

Sometimes there's a VERY small version number written right where the keyboard connector is on the mobo -- have to look very hard. Also, hold down the pause key during startup & try to write down the exact BIOS number that shows briefly @ the bottom -- I actually had to take a digital picture to get it! Now look at this site & associated links:
http://www.ping.be/bios/index.html

for a wealth of info.

WARNING: Seems like some people are having trouble flashing their BIOSs even when following directions (well, almost). The result can be a dead box. From my experience & what I've read, it apparently is necessary to set the "Clear CMOS" jumper to "clear" for a few minutes, then set back to "normal" AFTER you have shut down after running the "Flash" program. THEN the first (cross your toes) restart attempt.

[Peter M]

Whatever you do, use the v6.xx AWDFLASH.EXE that came with the board - the newer v7.xx tend to screw up on the type of ROM chip that was used on the M577.

The mainboard revision number is printed to it next to the keyboard connector.

BIOS says "Release xx/xx/xxxx" right there on the POST screen, while testing memory.

Get a K6-2/500. The /550 isn't much faster but quite a bit more expensive. Overclocking them just helps your ego, not so much the board's performance - there are no bus speeds above 100, and the performance gain from /500 to /550 isn't worth it.

Regards, Peter

[Five O]

Thanks very much for the timely input, Gentlemen.

OK, I have "Award Modular V.451, 7-11-98 S, BIOS Extension V.10A" I will need to upgrade to the 3-6-99 BIOS... Scary for someone who has never done it! I hope I understand what to do. Do you just "Restart in DOS Mode" to do it or maybe "Safe Mode DOS Prompt"? How do you make a DOS bootable floppy?Heck, is there a "BIOS Flashing for Dummies" site anywhere?

Peter, I found a 550 for $8 more than the 500... Are there any other reasons I shoud avoid the 550? I would feel better at 600 even if the preformance jump is minimal. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Also, I do not seem to have the Flash exe and could not find the V6.xx one you reccomended. I did find V.5.00. Wim's BIOS site said to use this older one actually for older BIOS versions... Mine is V4.51 so shoud I use that one? It uses V4.50 as an example... Should I move up one? AHHHHH!!!

How about the RAM? PC133 OK?

Thank you both!

[Peter M]

* Avoid the v7.xx AWDFLASH.EXE. Too old ones will complain about "unknown flash chip" or something without screwing anything up. There should be a v6.xx lying around somewhere on the Internet - look again.

* If you can get the /550 for a good price, then take it. 2.3V is available with voltage jumpers A and B set. M577 v3.0 or older might not be capable of feeding it stably. Try, if it's unstable, step back to 500 MHz.

600 are definitely out of reach for K6-2.

Regards, Peter

[Peter M]

Oh, do the flashing from Safe Mode DOS prompt, please, and try to make sure there are no power interruptions in the one minute it takes ...

[IFReeman]

To answer your question about the ram, yes it is fine to put in the PC-133 ram as they are backwards compatible with the slower speeds e.g it will run at 100/66Mhz. Obviously,which you probably already know (but just incase) when you put it in it wont run at 133Mhz, it will run at the fast system bus (FSB) speed you have set the motherboard to.

e.g you set the FSB to 100Mhz, the ram will run at 100Mhz.

Simple stuff, but just incase.

The only small problem I can see happening ( this very rarely happens, so dont let it put you of) is that there may be compatibility issues between the PC-100 and the PC-133 ram.

I am currently running with

One stick 128 mb PC-100 sdram and
Two sticks 128mb (each) PC-133 sdram.
They are all running at 120 Mhz no problems.

So yes it is worth getting the PC-133 ram for future upgrades.

Hope this helps and everything goes o.k.

Iain

[Ricardo]

This scary operation(flashing bios) I did a year ago and my 577 is running very well. It´s true that Peter said, use a no-break to avoid any interrupt during the flash operation.
Today, mine is running with a K6-2/500 o´clocked to 600(yes, 600) and run flawlessly all my games(Combat Flight Simulator 2, WWII Fighters, NFS3...).
I´m using 2.5 volts in core and a HUGE heatsink with two fans blowing fresh air plus a third one getting the hot air out of the case.
My V3-3000 is running at 190 Mhz after some modifications in the original heatsink and a big cooler over it.
Remember, use the latest Via drivers to achieve the best performance, by the way I´m using two 64 Mb/133 Mhz sticks in the memory, no problem to use it.
Best luck.

[Five O]

Gentlemen, I am at my wits end and far beyond my ability level and really need some advice here.

Let me say that my sys has been working flawlessly except a few minor glitches. It consists(ed) of a PC Chips M577 with a AMD K6 266 @ 333mhz smoothly, 1 128 mb DIMM, 1 64 mb DIMM and 1 32 mb DIMM, 8 gig HD, Voodoo Banshee PCI vid card and a Turtle Beach A3DXtreme sound card.

I got an AMD K6-2 550 around Christmas to upgrade my PC Chips M577 and got some advice back then from some of you guys here...

Well I finally got the nerve and the time to flash the BIOS (required for the CPU) and all seemed to go very well. Cleared CMOS, disabled shadowing, caching, all that. The update posted on the startup screen.

I then swapped the CPU, set the freq @ 100mhz, multiplier @ 5.5x, and the core voltage @ 2.3.

From that point on Windows (98SE) would not start, giving a littany of errors during the process.

I had intended on reformatting and reinstalling anyway and my stuff has been backed up so I scrubbed the drive with a Western Digital utility and moved on to reinstall W98SE. The process appeared to go smoothly till near the end when the BSOD with "A fatal exception OE has occured at 0028:C0005338 in VXD VML(01) + 00004338. The current app will be terminated..." Striking a key restarts and reenters the install process, set time, start menu, control panel, etc, until "configure system" and then got the BSOD with the same message. This repeats when I try again...

I can start just fine in Safe Mode...

I would think this has to be software related as my hardware was just fine... BUT how can it be software when it is fresh off the disk? I guess it could be a bad CPU? That would suck...

I have tried various combinations of voltages, multipliers and frequencies.

Guys, I need help, the wife works from that computer most every day and I'm in trouble!

[surrealchereal]

You should post in one forum only.,
explained here. (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/faq/faq3.html)
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif oh,,
good luck with your computer problems and welcome to sysopt http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Five O]

Sorry, I'm a rebel... Still working on it...

[socalgal]

Five-O

Just don't do it, please.

Multiple posts frustrates the efforts of those trying to help you (as I lock multiples) and confuses a troubleshooting path.

Thanks.

[surrealchereal]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 128 mb DIMM, 1 64 MB DIMM and 1 32 MB DIMM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Well at least pull 2 of them out and try to boot. take out the 64, and 32, if no help then the 32 and 128. But I have never really had a problem that was related to memeory.
You say that you were trying different multipliers? Did you adjust anything else in the BIOS? Did you add or change any of the software?

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The process appeared to go smoothly till near the end when the BSOD with "A fatal exception OE has occurred at 0028:C0005338 in VXD VML(01) + 00004338
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VXD and VML are winderz virtual device drivers. Where were you in the installation of windoz? Were you to the point where windoz was in and then installing your hardware? With the PCCHIPs mobo I know that you can't let winderz install the drivers for the MoBo. Please post back this could be some of the problem. Also you used the western dig. utility? What is it called, and I'll go check it out. I had nightmares with the pc chips board I had, but finally learned a lot and got it going
whew.

I think this is a valid path, guy so I brought it over just to make sure you see it.
BUT! PETER MISEL IS MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE about the PCCHIPS boards than most the engineers at PCCHIPS. Do Whatever he suggests!~ http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
he's the best.

[surrealchereal]

* Avoid the v7.xx AWDFLASH.EXE. Too old ones will complain about "unknown flash chip" or something without screwing anything up.
Peter, that's what happened to me, I was terrified when I flashed them. I used the 7 whatever and got red print! File not found, or something like that. I almost had a heart attack. I also felt so stupid because I thought I couldn't do something that wasn't that tough,, I wouldn't post and ask anyone for help, because I thought I would be ignored or laughed at..... Gee just a year later.... I'm reigning Pres of the Moron Club. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif here at sysopt, I can admitt to any blunder ....... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Five O]

Sorry to all about the blunder... Did not mean to break the rules... I posted at the T S Forum then thought it may be helpful to post with my original thread. Sorry.

Anyway, thanks for the input. I messed with the voltage a bit more and all seems well now, althoug the BIOS post shows only 531mhz... I have it at 2.3v, 5X multiplier and noticed that there was a second 100mhz Freq setting with 66m (for RAM?). That seems to have done the trick... I have gotten the BSOD with the same message once so I hope all continues to be stable.

Surrealchereal, the utility I used is Western Digital Hard Drive Installation Utility V 9.09W. Pretty handy, allows for partitioning and reformatting and such. Ive used it several times. If you'd like I could Email it to you. Let me know.

Thanks again for yall's help!!

[surrealchereal]

Well, good to hear this is smoothing out. I don't have a western digi HD, but thank you.
Actually I'm just an "ole fashion kinda gal"
My way of doing it is to use Wipe a utility to take everything to 00's including boot record, and then good ole FDISK. My philosophy being simple is good. (whew! I'm really dating myself here http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif)
Please come back with more problems, different ones or just good ole opinions! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Peter M]

Well if fiddling with the RAM settings changes the behavior, use Peter's Parrot Answer #1:

Check your RAM. With a real RAM test software. Use memtest86.

Yes it takes ages, but it's worth it. Never trust any SIMM or DIMM until tested with memtest86. New or old, PC66 or DDR266.

regards, Peter

[prexaspes]

I have this motherboard. I also flashed my bios successfully. I, too was driven crazy by BSODs when tried to install Win98 se. I realized after some tweaking that the 2.2 vcore K6-2 needs to be run at 2.4vcore to be stable on this motherboard. I was also getting the occassional lockup at 2.3 volts. Disable the cache and it'll run stable at 2.2vcore. Slowly, but stable (heh). I know this board inside out. Overall, it was and still is a very stable board, when used properly. Not for overclocking, though.