[___]

Hello,

A couple of things I hope you can help me with.

I have been given an AMD Athlon XP2400 processor to replace my AMD Athlon XP1800. I have replaced it, but I am unsure if it sucessful. When starting up, it shows the speed at 17XX. When Windows has loaded, I look at my system properties (My Computer > Right click > Properties) and it says 2.01 GHz.

I am aware I need to change settings in my BIOS to get the most out of my new 2400 processor, but I am not sure exactly what. I believe I need to change the multiplier, but I don't know what to. If you could tell me, I'd appreciate it.

---

My second problem is related. I would like to update the BIOS on my motherboard (Asus A7A266-E) (it's running version 1008, and the latest version is 1012) but I can't figure how to do it. I have got the file I need to update it, but the instructions on the manufacturers website tell me to do it in DOS mode. I cannot do this, as I am running Windows XP, and the command prompt will not do.

I think I need to update my motherboard BIOS because the multiplier only goes up to x13, and I think I need it to go up to x15.5 . I could be wrong on that - I'm hoping someone will be able to tell me for sure in my first question.

Thanks a lot for reading, and I look forward to your replies.

 

[UncleMacro]

2GHz is the correct speed for a 2400+. Unless you have an unlocked CPU (most aren't) then you can't change the CPU multiplier. You can be absolutely sure what CPU multiplier and clock speed it's at with CPU-Z. If it's already running at the correct speed then I'd leave your BIOS alone. The BIOS may report the wrong AMD speed number but still run the CPU with the correct multiplier. When it comes to BIOSes, "don't fix it unless it's broke" can save you a lot of misery. If you feel an uncontrollable urge to update your BIOS then you can build a bootable disk by getting one from bootdisk.com. They give you what you need to make a bootable floppy disk. They have simple boot disks set up especially for flashing BIOSes.

 

[keymaker]

hi,

the amd athlon xp 2400 has an FSB speed of 133mhz and a multiplier of 15x i believe. check in the bios and see that is the fsb and multiplier settings.

 

[___]

UncleMacro: I am able to change the "CPU Frequency Multiple" up to 13.0x. I believe (and keymaker confirmed this in his/her post) that it can go up to 15x. I know that the update available for my BIOS will "Support AMD XP2100+ CPU" (from Asus website). So if I can update my BIOS, I should be able to change the multiplier to 15x and have my new AMD Athlon XP2400 running to its full potential.

keymaker: Here are my settings:

• CPU Speed - Manual
• CPU Frequency Multiple - 13.0x
• CPU/PCI Frequency (MHz) - 133/33
• CPU/Memory Frequency Ratio - 1:1

As I said above to UncleMacro, the CPU Frequency Multiple won't go higher than 13.0x. I believe updating the BIOS will let me set it to the full 15x. Would you agree?

 

[UncleMacro]

Before flashing the BIOS I'd check first with CPU-Z to make sure what it's current frequency is. CPU-Z will tell you for sure what it's actual speed is. It could be that Windows is just displaying the CPU string and that's why it says 2GHz when it isn't really running that fast. If it's not running at 2GHz then make a BIOS flash boot disk at www.bootdisk.com and go ahead and flash the BIOS. According to ASUS, it will support the XP 2400+.

 

[___]

Thanks again for your reply. Here is a screenshot of CPU-Z. Please let me know if something looks wrong.

You are correct that my motherboard will support my XP2400, but if you see in that link you gave me, it says in the "Since BIOS" collumn, version 1012. I am using 1008, which is why I think I should update it. What do you think?

 

[UncleMacro]

As far as I know, CPU-Z always returns the real clock speed. You can check with another program like Everest to make sure that it also returns 2GHz. The vast majority of XP 2400+ CPUs have locked multipliers. When you plug one with a locked multiplier into a motherboard, it always uses the correct multiplier and there's nothing the motherboard or BIOS can do about it. If it's a CPU which is not recognized by the BIOS then the motherboard might set the wrong FSB or misreport the multiplier but the motherboard has no control over the actual multiplier value. So as long as the motherboard sets the correct FSB frequency, the CPU ends up going the correct speed even if the motherboard misreports it. Some people modify the bridges on top of the CPU to unlock the multiplier and some AMD CPUs ship unlocked but most CPUs have locked multipliers. That's why I suggested measuring the actual speed with CPU-Z rather than going by what the BIOS reports.

Unless CPU-Z is doing something bizarre then your CPU is already going the correct speed. Flashing the BIOS will just make it report things properly but the speed won't change. I tend to be very cautious about flashing BIOSes because of the number of people who nuke their motherboards while doing a flash. We see them coming through here all the time so I generally advise against BIOS flashes unless it's absolutely necessary. I've flashed plenty of them and never had a problem so you'll probably have no problem but your flash isn't necessary. If it was my machine, I'd just leave it alone.

 

[___]

Thanks once again for your reply. I didn't know that XP2400 CPUs have locked multipliers. So regardless of what I set it to in the BIOS, it will make no difference to the speed? I wonder how my motherboard Multiplier is 15.0x (as CPU-Z says) when it can only be manually set to a maximum of 13.0x.

If you say my CPU is running at the correct speed, and manually changing the multiplier won't make a difference, then I see no reason to update the BIOS, apart from having the latest version number. I know that if it goes wrong, it can be very wrong, so I'm not going to do it.

You mentioned about the motherboard setting the correct FSB frequency. From what you can tell in the CPU-Z screenshot, does mine look correct?

Oh, I had a look in the BIOS at the temperature of the CPU, just to see if it was okay. It reported 55 C (131 F). I believe the XP2400 is safe up to about 85 C (185 F). Is this correct? Does 55 C seem a safe temperature? Thanks once again.

 

[UncleMacro]

The multiplier in a locked CPU is set on the CPU chip itself. The motherboard can read the multiplier but it can't modify it. That's why the multiplier can be set properly even though the motherboard is confused.

An XP 2400+ should have a FSB=133MHz and a multiplier=15 so the numbers you have in CPU-Z are correct. Your FSB is shown as 134.3 rather than 133 but these kinds of programs usually show the FSB as a tiny bit faster than the "official" number.

You really need to check the idle temp and load temps to make sure they're okay. I'm not sure whether Athlons are idling while you're sitting in the BIOS. The best way to be sure is to boot Windows 2000 or Windows XP and check the idle temp while doing nothing. Then fire up Prime95 and check the load temperature after the temperature has maxed out. Prime95 is also a good way to make sure your CPU is stable. A load temp in the 60s is okay although they can run reliably at higher temps. I have an Athlon XP-M 2.166GHz and it is about 45C idle and 55C under load but it may be a bit cooler than your CPU since mine's a mobile CPU and runs at a lower voltage.

 

[alimeteralfa]

I am looking for the service manual for my xp2400+ motherboard to find out the capacity of the ram chip I want to install. It is a DDR1 type. Please tell me the capacity of the chip size I can install in the two bays available. Thank you.

Alimeteralfa

 

[Doby]

alimeteralfa,

Please start a new thread in motherboard &bios, its very confusing to jump in a thread that is this old.

In the thread list your full system specs especially your motherboard model number and I am sure someone will be along to help