ASUS A7V133-C & XP 2100+

[rsfnatik]

I was trying to get an XP 2100+ (Thoroughbred) working lastnight but couldn't get the system to boot... The machine powers on but hangs at a black screen. The HDD light stays solid but nothing happens beyond that - no beeps.

The jumpers are set for "jumper free" mode and voltage is set to "CPU default". The correct settings should detect.

I'm running an ASUS A7V133-C v1.05. (note the trailing "dot") w/ BIOS v1009 (latest). As far as I can tell, this setup supports both the Palomino/Thoroughbred - see here.

I found some more info at A7VTroubleshooting.com that would also suggest the CPU is supported.

The CPU is a working pull (tho I don't have another AMD system to test it in) and my 1.0Ghz works fine in this system.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[fishybawb]

Try setting the jumpers manually instead of letting the board decide what to do. The settings for a 2100+ are 13x multiplier and 133Mhz FSB @ 1.6v.

[rsfnatik]

Yeah, i'm going to give that a shot tonight. I didn't have the time mess with it lastnight... but from what read I was expecting the CPU to have been detected correctly. We'll see what happens when I get home.

[rsfnatik]

Well, I tried again tonight and the now the system is messed - it won't boot with the either the 2100+ *or* my old 1.0Ghz. I get one long beep then the machine turns off - black screen the whole time. This happens in both manual and jumper free modes - tho the beep comes soon when in manual mode (7.5x133).

Anyway, here's what I did when I got home. I booted with the 1.0Ghz - OK. I restarted and entered the BIOS and set the CPU settings for the 2100+ @ 133FSB. Then shutdown the CPU - didn't actually attempt to boot with the 1.0Ghz installed (this may have been my own undoing). I then installed the 2100+ and tried to boot, no go. I went jumper free and tried manual settings and tried pretty much every multiplier starting with 5x - no go. I cleared the CMOS by shorting the solder points on the jumper (no actual "CLEAR CMOS" jumper on the A7V133-C). Same problem... I pulled the battery for a bit, reinstalled it and tried again - same problem. I got frustrated and thought I should post my findings here so I went jumperless again and set all DIP switches to "off" as per the manual and reinstalled the 1.0Ghz. Now i'm getting the behaviour I described above...

At this point, I still can't get the 2100+ to boot. The frustrating part is that I can't get the system to boot with the 1.0Ghz that was previous installed either. I've checked to ensure all RAM and cards are seated and that all fans are plugged in and spinning...

Any suggestions, leads, hints or tips on this one? I'm to the point where i'm considering buying a new board/RAM for the 2100+ and just moving on (but i'd prefer not to part with the cash right now if this system can be salvaged).

Thanks.

[rsfnatik]

Bumping this up out of desperation.

[simon13]

I had same problem with A7V classic.. and XP1600
Anyone seems to drop anything on A7V and make it run but I never managed to even post.
I tried everything, clear cmos, dip switches, jumperless.. no result.
so I m painfully running with an old Athlon 900 Mhz.

but I will be back.
I ve planned to test my 2500 barton on it. if it works, I ll buy another to have 2 solid configs.

In your case, did you try to remove the battery while you are clearing the cmos ?(all cables unplugged).

[rsfnatik]

Originally posted by simon13
In your case, did you try to remove the battery while you are clearing the cmos ?(all cables unplugged).

From what I recall, I believe I removed the battery then shorted the solder points to clear the CMOS. The "correct" process is not covered in the manual so... At this point, I don't really care about getting the 2100+ working, I just want this system back as it was... running the 1.0Ghz would be acceptable.

[naptownman]

Did you follow good practices for handling static sensitive devices?

Also, you might want to try raising and lowering teh CPU socket lever several times. I worked on one board once where all I did was swap the CPU and when I fired it back up it hung without a post and a black screen. I removed the cpu and again and just moved the lever back and forth once and could feel something internal to the socket stick. When I felt something change (by feel) I put the cpu back in and it's worked 24/7 for the past 6 months.

[rsfnatik]

Originally posted by naptownman
Did you follow good practices for handling static sensitive devices?

Yes. I am typically very careful when handling components and arranging work surfaces.

Originally posted by naptownman
Also, you might want to try raising and lowering teh CPU socket lever several times.

Hmm. I will give this a shot when I get home tonight. Thanks for the suggestion.

[rsfnatik]

Well, I can boot with my 1.0Ghz again... still no go with the 2100+. It turned out to be the CPU fan RPM. I had replaced the stock CPU fan with a Vantec Stealth a few months ago and disabled CPU fan RPM monitoring in the BIOS (the board didn't like the low RPM of the Vantec). When I cleared the CMOS the settings defaulted back to monitoring the RPM and wouldn't boot.

I'm going to continue looking into the 2100+ as there are several people running them (even at OC'd above 2Ghz). Not too bad for a KT133A board.

[simon13]

what does the mobo do ?
one long beep ?
no post ?
no bip ?


I had this problem last night with fan monitoring (one long bip) because I plugged the cpu fan on pwr fan connector, and nothing on cpu fan connector...

[fishybawb]

A Google search reveals all kinds of theories about which CPUs are supported and which aren't. Would it be possible for you to get a Palomino chip to try out? I read in more than one place that the A7V133 has around a 50/50 chance of being T-Bred compatible. That goes against what Asus say in that link you provided, but you never know...

Oh, and you are running 133Mhz RAM right? Might be a stupid question, but I didn't see you mention it anywhere

[rsfnatik]

Yeah, i've done some more reading into the issue and it sounds like Thoroughbred support on the A7V133-C is kinda hit or miss - even tho it *is* on ASUS' list of "Thoroughbred Ready" boards. Doh...

I'm thinking of just picking up a mid-range NFII board and 512MB DDR400 and calling it quits. I hadn't really planned on doing such an extensive upgrade but I should be able to sell the ASUS board and the 1.0Ghz to make up a portion of it.

[Happy Joe]

I had similar problems with that board and a 1900+. the only way that i could get it to work was by setting the jumpers manually ( to 100 or 133 and a 12 multiplier.. I think)(it was a long time ago but I seem to recall a 1.3gHz speed) any other settings would cause black screen and no boot and the only recovery was to reset the cmos.
The NFII board idea sounds like the least frustrating route.
Enjoy!