Old motherboard

[Stoli300]

Hello,

i recently updated my computer. it was the Gateway FX 7020. Here is the newegg link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883113045

i had never upgraded any components before, other than switching out RAM, so this was definitely a learning experience for me.

i upgraded with these components:

1)win 7 64bit
2)SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
3) OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
4) AMD CPU HDZ955FBGMBOX Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2GHz AM3 125W Retail
5) KOMPUTERBAY 8GB ( 2 X 4GB ) DDR2 DIMM (240 PIN) 800Mhz PC2 6400 PC2 6300 8 GB - CL 5

i now have 10 GB total RAM (8+2)

what i didnt upgrade, was my motherboard, which is a ECS MCP61PM-GM with no BIOS update since 2007

running CPU-Z shows everything seemingly working ok, however i get an AMD Processor model Unknown message, and hence a low 3.9 score on the Windows Experience test.

any thoughts? does the motherboard matter really? any need to switch it out? and is this old mb hindering performance in any way?

thanks a lot in advance!!!

 

[abekl]

Which component is causing your low WEI?

 

[Stoli300]

the CPU/processor

 

[DelroyMonjo]

I looked around and didn't find anything on a BIOS update for that MB, just a lot of "I can't find a BIOS update for my MB" questions.
Go get a new MB. Unfortunately, DDR2 doesn't run in DDR3 MB's.

 

[Stoli300]

I looked around and didn't find anything on a BIOS update for that MB, just a lot of "I can't find a BIOS update for my MB" questions.
Go get a new MB. Unfortunately, DDR2 doesn't run in DDR3 MB's.

Thanks! but do you see a reason for me to get a new MB?

 

[DelroyMonjo]

Rokitty 06-17-2009 at 01:39:14 AM
-0+

7.3 Stock clocked Phenom II X955
7.5 Mushkin DDR3 1600 @ 1333
6.9 2 Sapphire Toxic 4890's in Crossfire (for reference 6.2 with single Toxic 3870!)
6.9 2 Sapphire Toxic 4890's in Crossfire (for reference 6.2 with single Toxic 3870!)
5.9 2 X WD Caviar 640G Black Raid 0

********************
Because this guy got a 7.3 score with a 955 CPU and you aren't even close!
That BIOS on your MB might not be addressing the cache correctly or using the newest extensions in the chip architecture.
I have an out of service socket 939 Athlon 3400 which could probably beat a 3.9 WEI

 

[Stoli300]

check out this screen of CPU-Z. doesnt everything seem fine?

i think that the processor has a low score because it is not recognized, (amd processor unknown) however it looks like everything is good.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/photoeeg.jpg/

 

[Stoli300]

can someone please verify from the CPU-Z report that everything is indeed working fine?

thanks!

 

[4745454b]

Looks fine to me. The question is if the CPU multiplier goes up as high as it should. Your computer was idle when you took that screen shot so the CPU multiplier was at 4x like it should be. If the computer doesn't know what CPU you have it might not go up as high as it should. Watch it in CPUz and see if you can make it hit 16x like it should. As long as it does then your fine.

 

[Stoli300]

Thanks for the reply! But I am confused. This is a quad core. Why would it go to 16x? Sorry for my lack of knowledge.

 

[4745454b]

I just woke up, anyone else want to take a stab at this?

Look at your picture again. Do you see where the CPU speed is 800MHz? This is because your bus speed is 200MHz, and your CPU multiplier is 4x. (if you don't know what it is, read this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_multiplier ) My worry is if your computer/bios doesn't know what chip it has, it might not use the max multiplier that your chip should use which is 16x.

 

[Stoli300]

Thanks! I am curious though, it should be 16x 200 MHz correct? Instead I am showing 4x 800 MHz. Is this a problem? I am not trying to over clock by the way

Thanks again!

 

[4745454b]

Looks fine to me. The question is if the CPU multiplier goes up as high as it should. Your computer was idle when you took that screen shot so the CPU multiplier was at 4x like it should be.

See if that helps. Its the energy saving feature that todays chips have. As I've been trying to say the only thing to worry about is to make sure it goes up to 16x like its supposed to.

 

[Stoli300]

i am pretty sure it doesnt budge from 4x

is this bad???

 

[4745454b]

What did you do to stress it? Run 4 instances of Prime95.

 

[Stoli300]

i will try to run multiple programs to see if that does anything....

on a side note, how can i determine what type of new motherboard will be compatible with the stuff i upgraded with? do you guys have any recommendations for a new motherboard, based on the components i listed in my first post?

thanks!

 

[4745454b]

Any of the AMD 8xx or 9xx boards. 9xx if you want to know for sure you can upgrade to AMDs new bulldozer CPUs. Many 8xx boards can do it but its not a for sure.

 

[Stoli300]

Any of the AMD 8xx or 9xx boards. 9xx if you want to know for sure you can upgrade to AMDs new bulldozer CPUs. Many 8xx boards can do it but its not a for sure.

thanks for the consistent replies!

a previous poster said that my ddr2 ram will not work on new mbs. do the ones you recommend support this ram or do i need to get ddr3?

thanks again!

 

[4745454b]

8xx and 9xx boards use DDR3. The 7xx boards can use DDR2.

 

[Stoli300]

Best answer selected by Stoli300.

 

[Stoli300]

Thanks again. Food for thought for possible upgrades

 

[4745454b]

Good luck.

 

[Stoli300]

hey man sorry to bother you again.

could you give me some advice about this mb?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157226

would this be compatible with everything i have?

thanks in advance!

 

[4745454b]

Should be alright. Supports the DDR2 you have, 140W CPUs (yours is 125W) and is "six core ready" so your 955 should be fine. Not totally sure $60+ counting shipping is worth it but it's not a bad board.

 

[Stoli300]

Thanks. Looks like mb supporting ddr2 is getting rare. I don't mind the price so much but I'll look for better bargains out there too.

Thanks once again