Can't get 133/44X6.5 on Abit KT7A - help please?

[Hawk_EYE]

Just finished this build:

AMD Tbird 850/Globalwin FOP32
Abit KT7A VIA 4/1
256 Crucial PC133

Running well at default settings, Sandra cpu temperature c. 22C.

This mobo defaults to 100/33mhz and I set 8.5 multiplier, in Softmenu III.

Have I got this wrong? I want to use the 133 mhz FSB setting - so I chose 133/44 X 6.5 = 864.5. The system refused to boot. All other settings are at default.

If I have PC133 memory I need 133 mhz FSB don't I?

Thank you folks!

Hawk.

[Franklin Jones]

I hope I get this right cause I took mine to the shop and the tech show me.In the bios under soft menu/Dram clock the setting should be hclk+pciclk option ....also in advance chip set he set allthe banks up for turbo...when he set it up mine did the same thing so he went in the back and got a 64meg/pc133 stick ,pop it in and off to the races we went. I got home and pop in a 128mg /pc133 stick and that problem is taken care of. Tech told me to call kingston and exchange it so I called Kingston up told them my problem and they said we'll send ya another one.
I'm in the motherboard section with a prolem list as abit kt7a /72x kenwood ...hope it helps I'm back to work.

[[H2O]Tman]

Hawk..is your CPU unlocked? If not i don't think it will boot. Also i think you are limited to a 7.5 multiplier when going to the 133mhz (and higher) FSB range. Try first setting the multiplier to 7.5 . If that doesn't work, try setting your multiplier to 8.5 . Then lastly set your FSB back to 100. If setting the FSB to 7.5 works..we know that you had a TOO low FSB setting. If 8.5 works we know your CPU is locked. If you have to set it back to 100 we know that you have a CPU that won't overclock good.

[jad1097]

It should be 133/33 133 is the FSB and /33, or in your case, /44 is the PCI bus speed.

You may also need to bump the Core voltage up a bit.

Tman, some socket a boards, the ones with jumpers and softbios, have problems with a 133fsb and a multiplier lower than 7.5. If you read this in anandatechs review, they are wrong. The KT7A does not have this bug/problem, I have had mine down to 5.5 with no problems.

I always forget something.

Look in the manual pg 3-3 thru 3-7,



Also is the CPU unlocked? If not then you have to either pencil in the L1 bridges of use the 8.5 multiplier.



[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 03-26-2001).]

[Hawk_EYE]

Thank you, all.

The cpu is unlocked - I bought it from Overclcokers UK and it's modded tested (and guaranteed ) to 1gig.

I have followed the manual 3-3/3.7 but have not altered any other settings beyond default.

If the machine won't boot at 133X6.5, I am reluctant to try any higer multiplier.

I wonder if anyone has a recommendation for vCore on the KT7A? Thing is, 864 isn't much more than than the standard 850 and shouldn't need more volts - should it?

Franklin - hclk+pciclk - will give it a whirl - when I get back from work!

Many thanks all - please let me have any other thoughts - I built this for the benefit of the 133 mhz fsb!

Should be glad it boots it all.

Hawk

[jad1097]

You do not want to set it at hclk+pciclk. That would run your ram at 166MHz while the CPU is at 133! It is the fsb + the PCI bus speed 33MHz. I am sure it is fine if you have PC133 and are running 100MHz FSB but that is not what you want to do.

Pg.3-4 bottom of page

CPU FSB/PCI CLock:

There are several settings, the relation ship between the two numbers, the left side is processor front side bus speed, right side is PCI bus speed.

If you read this then you did not comprehend it or you would have known the PCI bus speed you have set is at 44MHz. Take the time and read this manual while not at your computer working on it.

[Hawk_EYE]

I am not explaining myself well. I can run at 100 FSB X 8.5.

I want to run at 133/44 FSB.

Will the KT7A run at that FSB speed?

If I want to set 133 I have to accept the 44 mhz PCI setting -

When I set 133 and a 6.5 multiplier the systems fails to boot.

Yes, I am confused, but I assure you I have read the manual, but I do not understand WHY 133/44 X 6.5 will not run.

Can anyone confirm please:

Are AMD 850 Tbirds capable of accepting a multiplier different to 8.5? This cpu has been "modified, tested and guaranteed" to 1 gig by OCuk - but does that have to be achived by using 8.5 (only) against FSB instead of, for example 133 X 7.5.


Thank you muchly.

Hawk.

[This message has been edited by Hawk_EYE (edited 03-27-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Hawk_EYE (edited 03-27-2001).]

[gyoung]

The problem you are having is described in detail over at Anandtech. (www.anandtech.com)

In summary:

Since you have an Athlon 1000MHz "B" processor it is set to run at 10x 100MHz = 1000MHz. In order to run this processor at 1000MHz with a 133MHz FSB you would need to set the multiplier to 7.5x.

Ok, alls good so far. The problem is that for the first few milli-seconds when the motherboard boots it takes the processor's default multiplier (10x) and initializes it at 133MHz (for a total of 1333MHz) which your processor probably cannot do. Thus it hangs.

If it cannot take the initial hit of the default multiplier then it will cause problems. If you had a slower Athlon (700MHz - 800MHz) then it may work.

The fix is to unlock the L6 bridges. Check the Anandtech article out on how to work around the problem.

[This message has been edited by gyoung (edited 03-27-2001).]

[Hawk_EYE]

Thank you gyoung - and apologies to all who suggested I need to unlock the cpu.

Of course the cpu was supplied locked at 8.5.

With these AMD chips selecting a different multiplier involves closing L6 golden bridges, or worse, cutting one or more bridges with a Dremel.

I won't tell you what I think of any store, especially an "overclockers" store that recommends and bundles a 133 mhz capable mobo with an AMD Athlon/Duron combination at least without pointing out the multiplier aspects. Who the hell amongst us mortals is brave enough to take a Dremel to a new chip?

Much obliged for all input here.

Hawk.

[gyoung]

Glad to help!

And welcome aboard!

[jad1097]

gyoung, I don't think this is affected the same way for the Kt7A since it has no jumper on the board. From what I have read this only affects boards with jumpers on the board.


If you read this, http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1440&p=3 , you will notice it says

This theory perfectly explains the issues we have experienced with KT133A motherboards that use a 100/133MHz jumper and multiplier controls in the BIOS. And from the list of KT133A motherboards we have reviewed so far, the affected motherboards are EPoX 8KTA3, MSI K7T Turbo, Iwill KK266, and AOpen AK73 ProA.

If what you say is so then why does my Duron 700 boot at 6x150 when it will not at 7x150? If I go with what you are saying then that would mean that I should be able to boot my cpu at 1050MHz, right?


<IMG SRC="http://personal.bna.bellsouth.net/bna/m/d/mdevan/cpuid_150x6.gif" border=0>

Hawk why is it you want to run the PCI bus at 44MHz? You do not have to. There is a 133/33 option in the BIOS. If you look through the options you will find it, I know it is not in the manual but it is there.

[ThiemeMD]

Jad1097 and AuraEdge are on the right track. The 44mhz PCI bus is too fast for alot of peripherals. Esspecially if you have a network card installed in there. Set it for 133/33. Start at the 6.5 multiplier and work up from there.

You wont have the "hclk+pciclk" option when running any FSB speed over 120mhz. Memory speed will automatically reset to the FSB speed when going over the 120mhz.

Hawk, you shouldn't need to alter any other bridges on the CPU. All the settings (FSB, multiplier and voltage) can be set in the BIOS. If it still absolutely refuses to boot at 133, make sure the memory timings are set as slow as possible, then work up from there. If all else fails, try a different stick of memory. I once had a stick of Mushkin PC133 that would not work in an Abit KT7 at 133mhz.

Good Luck!
ThiemeMD

[jad1097]

I checked my BIOS and this is what I have. Going from 100/33, hit page down I get 133/33, hit page down again, I get 101/33. Going from 100/33 again, hit page up, I get 155/38.Is this not what you have?


All you need to do to unlock the CPU is close the L1 bridges with a pencil. YOu do not need to cut any of the L6 bridges when using this motherboard.
http://myhome.netsgo.com/wesleycrush...r000803a-2.htm
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum3/HTML/010762.html



[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 03-27-2001).]

[AuraEdge]

It took me a while to find 133/33 on my board too..thought mine was defective when it wouldnt boot 133/44 til i pressed page down and found 133/33.
Make SURE its set on 133/33 not 133/44. on 133/44, the KT7A will not boot.

[fritzp]

sound's like a bios vertion variation