L2 cache not working

[fierofan]

I have the compaq version of the mitac 5114vu motherboard, and as the topic says, my l2 doesn't appear to be working. I have 512k of ram with a 533 amd and the computer gets it's doors blown off by a 430 celeron with 256kb ram. I am pretty sure that the main problem is the l2. The l2 chip is on the board, and I noticed that in the mitac manual there is a bios option to enable or dissable the l2 cache, but since I have the compaq version, that option isn't in the bios. I am wondering, is there any way for me to enable it? Did the chip fail? As a side note, the onboard graphics failed on the board before I got it, so maybe that affected the cache. I appriciate any help you guys can give me.

[fierofan]

Reading through the best of motherboards sticky, i found this tidbit of info:

11 short Your L2 cache memory is bad and your computer disabled it for you. You could reactivate it by pressing -Ctrl- -Alt- -Shift- -+- , but you probably shouldn't. Instead, replace your L2 cache memory. Obviously, this could lead to outright motherboard replacement.

now my board doesn't beep, but that is because I don't have a speaker hooked up to it,( I also read that the mitac ones beep through the system speakers, but i don't know if that is true for the compaq ones). But could I reenable my l2 cache by pressing cntr alt shift +? or does that only work with an award bios? I may have dissabled the l2 by accident when I tried to find out what combination of keys got me into bios back when I first got the board.

[fierofan]

the keys I previously mentioned did not do anything, most likely because this is a compaq bios and not an award bios. Does anyone know if there is a key combination for the compaq bios that will reenable the l2 cache?

[missiveusa]

DELETE key at POST does not give access to BIOS on COMPAQ machines. However, there is a limited BIOS called a setup menu that can be accessed by one of the "F" keys at POST. It's been so long since I've worked on a COMPAQ I don't remember the correct key. Perhaps a search of the COMPAQ website/support page will give you the magic key. I seem to remember an option in the setup for L2 cache.

[Sterling_Aug]

Compaqs use F10 to access the BIOS.

[fierofan]

I know how to get into bios, it is a combination of escape and f10. However, once in, it does not give the option to enable l2 cache as far as i know, so I was wondering if there was some hidden enterance that compaq put in for service guys to enable or dissable the l2 cache. I may have on accident dissabled it, if there is such and enterance, when i was trying to figure out how to access the bios.

[jflan]

When I upgraded my CPU on my elderly Compaq (5610) it required a BIOS flash to get L2 cache recognized. Also jumpers had to be switched.

The board originally was 3x128 max and after the flash it went to 2x256.

I can put more memory in but the system won't cache it, everything slows down.

In summary the BIOS update was key in getting L2 cache recognized and a nice by-product was the insrease in memory handling. Use Everest, Sandra or CPU-Z to track what is going on.

[G Ray88]

Is there a jumper on the MB for the L2 cache, enable or disable. It may not be in the BIOS on your Compaq.
Good Luck

[fierofan]

There was no such jumper that I could find. I bought the mitac version of this board recently where I can enable and dissable the l2 cache in bios and it still wont work. does win xp have a problem finding external l2 cache?

[jflan]

Re-read my post of 10-29.

Determine your current BIOS and see if an update is available.

If so, and after reading and understanding all precautions, flash your BIOS.

Then use one of the free, aforementioned tools to see if L2 is recognized.

BTW, in my case Compaq was VERY helpful in regards to the BIOS flash procedure.

Should you decide to contact Compaq, start from "square-one" and let them do the diagnosis.

Good Luck,
JF