Hi all, I am in need of some assistance/advice.
I have 1 computer I want to upgrade, and 1 I have built, but am having problems with the CPUs for both of them.
Before anyone jumps in and says I probably fried it, well, maybe, but I doubt it. I carefully followed the right guide for installing the CPU, and I know how to fry one anyway (don't ask )
The CPUs are both AMD, and the problem is, after installed the systems both seem to power up ok, but the monitor's don't come on at all.

System 1:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7ZX
CPU Current: AMD Duron 850
CPU Upgrade: AMD Athlon 1800+ XP Palomino and fan it came with
PSU:250watt
RAM 512mb pc133sdram
20gig hdd
Vid Card: Geforce 2 MX 400 64mb
This system works fine with the 850 chip, but won't run with the 1800+

System 2:
Motherboard: DFI AD70-SC DDR
CPU: AMD Athlon 1800+ XP Palomino and fan it came with
PSU: 300 watt
RAM: 128mb pc2100 DDR
20 gig hdd
Vid Card: GeForce MX440 64mb DDR
All parts are brand new, and the correct lights go on on the mobo when the power comes on, but the hdd light doesn't seem to be on for long, and again, the monitor doesn't turn on.

I haven't touched anything else, no jumper settings, etc. Do I have to? they are both on auto atm.
and, as a final note, both mobo's websites say they support the 1800+ chip. I would be very appreciative of any help anyone can give me thanks.

It may be a grounding issue. Assemble the computer outside of the case and give it another go. My first setup acted similarly. The CPU and Graphics fans came on but just a black screen on the monitor.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

System 1:
I'm not sure on your MB revision but some don't look like they support FSB 133(266) or Athlon XP
And for that you need the one of latest BIOS (well not the latest but since you have to flash it anyway...)
On Gigabyte's site you'll get the detail of all the Horrible problems this board had in the past and were solved by BIOS updates... believe me, you want none but the latest!

System 2:
does this one boot with the duron chip?
That MB had a few BIOS updates seemingly solving nasty problems, try the latest.

Also, on both system, clear any PCI slot while you debug.

if you know the MB revision on system one I would like to know in case you come back for more pointers

Have fun

Halkebul: Thanks, tried it, nothing changed, but that is my exact problem (fans come on, etc)

Snotling: Not sure on the revision, I'll find out tonight when I get back from work. Another thing I wanted to ask (I think I know, but just to be on the safe side exactly how do I flash my bios?

One point, the XP processor requires a minimum 300W power supply, according to the AMD website.




Details, Details, Its all in the Details, If you need help, Don't leave out the Details.

Gigabyte has a little program just for that. I'm not sure if it comes with the new BIOS when you download it or if you have to download it seperately.

in anycase you'll have to do it "blind" if you have no display on your monitor! so read the instructions and maybe print them! so you'll know "what should happen" when you press a key.

for system 2, if the duron chip does not work, we'll have to figure out something...

I believe that's more of a recommendation. I successfully used a 230W power supply with an XP 1700+. Thanx for chiming in though as he seems to be in a need of help.


<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

Well Im a beginner compared to these guys however in your situation it would be good to know one thing. Does either setup actually POST? Meaning do the CAPS lock, NUMLOCK and Scroll lock on your keyboard (among other thing) light up and go dark. It sounds to me like your processor is actually doing nothing, the MOBO has power but its not processing any instructions. This could be RAM (not likely) BIOS (not likely) or the processors not receiving/processing instructions from the BIOS.

As usual if I am out of whack, tell me to stick it

System 1 is up and working, it was just a bios problem
one thing, it shows up as an Athlon 1146 ghz processor.. I thought the 1800+s were around 1.5ghz?

System 2: won't do anything diferent with the 850 duron chip, and, no, it isn't posting either.
The DFI (system 2) board is revision A.
(for anyone who asked, system 1 board was a 1.01)

System 1 is up and working, it was just a bios problem

Ya have to increase the FSB from 100MHz to 133MHz. It was probably at 100MHz by default. Might have to move a jumper on the mobo to do this.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

Did you try Swapping Videocards? reading back I don't find any mention of you trying it...

if sys1 had bios problem and sys2 has bad video....
none will have a display!

so try it if you never did.

Set my jumpers to 133mhz, but system showed blank monitor again. set it to 112, and it shows 1288 ghz processor speed.
Used Ezytune3 to set that up to 117 mhz bus, and got 1356.78 ghz. Any higher than 117mhz bus, and it just freezes.

System 2: Yeah, I did try swapping cards, but with the 1800+ chip, tried again with the Duron 850, still no go.

I'm almost certain that your Mobo doesn't support FSB133, you're overclocking it to get higher than 100mhz.

I'm not the one to guide you from this point on.

about System2...

could be a defective AGP slot, try to find a PCI VGA card and update to the latest BIOS if you haven't already done it.

then, with the new BIOS try the AGP card. If you have already flashed your BIOS for the latest, and your PCI card works, then I think we might have found the problem.

If the PCI card doesn't work then it's the MOBO. take it back to the store.

ok, pci card didn't work.. guess I have to get another mobo.

oh, how hot is an Athlon chip allowed to be?
mine on system 1 is running at 49 egerees C normal settings, or 52 degrees if it is set to 117mhz bus.. is this ok?

btw, thank you very much to all you who spent your time helping me, it is very much appreciated

Shhhhh ! Don't tell an hardware store "drone" that you've been running your CPU out of spec or you'll see any kind of warrenty vaporise like an OCed Tbird without any HSF =)

Fok Speling Misstake