Just picked up a Barton 3000+ for my daily use desktop and the computer will not even make it to windows desktop without throwing up.

If I downclock the chip from 166 bus speed to 133 mhz bus it works perfect! The CPU has been swapped out with a known good Barton from my V5-6000 rackmount machine and is tested good.

The problem is without a doubt related to the MSI machine not the CPU but I'm baffled as to what it is. The BIOS is the correct revision, either CPU runs fine at reduced bus (The ram bus runs seperate and has always been at 333 mhz and the ram is DDR 400) The power supply is an Antec truepower 380 watt unit and the CPU core voltage is rock solid at 1.65 volts even when the CPU is loaded at 100% utilizing Toast test program.

Any other Ultra-2 owners run into this issue?

Gary

Hmm. i wonder if it could be one of those overclocked cpu's that is just a 133(266) part, me and my brother got 2 bad remarked cpu's once like that. somewhere there is a web site where you can check what comes up at boot i guess just to make sure you got what you paid for.

also i know as smart as you are you have already done this but bios upgrade?

nothing else would seem to make sense.,  

The bios is the last and correct revision and the CPU tests fine on my V5-6000 box.

Same problem when I use the CPU from V5-6000 machine.

What was the previous config you used in that System ?

I've stumbled a couple of times over Hardware (Motherboard/RAM combinations) that strangely worked with slower CPUs but failed when being challenged to run 100.0% up to its specs.

In most cases, it was the RAM (could have been board, but RAM is easier to swap to achieve compatibility).

A run with Prime95 from a Linux bootdisc should reveal such problems quite fast (that's how I tested and found the problems).

wrote on 18.12.07 at 10:49:40:

What was the previous config you used in that System ?

The system as it has been running for years is a 2000+ CPU with a gig of DDR400 ram, dual seagates in RAID mirror running Windows 2000. All I'm doing is installing the new CPU (which I'm using right now at FSB 133 bus) and setting the FSB to 166. The ram remains at 333 (166 x 2) as it always has.

Doing a Google search last night I found reference to one site that claims there is a flaw in the motherboard chipset. The poster claimed that when the bus speed was set to 166 the AGP and PCI slots become badly overclocked which could explain what is going on.

AHA MSI mainboard = SH!T...need I say more? ::)

However, some info on:

the specific mainboard model
memory manufacturer
GFX card manufacturer (not just GPU type - i.e. is it from Sapphire,etc...)

...might be useful.

Also, does the mainboard let you set the AGP / PCI clock speeds manually - if so then set these by hand along with the 166Mhz FSB speed... ;)

try looking at the caps...maybe there is electrolyte flowing out or the are rounded at the top...often had this with boards of that age!

wrote on 18.12.07 at 13:47:49:

AHA MSI mainboard = SH!T...need I say more? ::)

Since this Motherboard (and MSI 6600GT video card) have been the Rock of Gibraltar since day one I would have to politely disagree.

MSI KT3 Ultra2-R (MS-6380E)

Infineon PC3200 (DDR400)

MSI 6600GT AGP


Quote:

Also, does the mainboard let you set the AGP / PCI clock speeds manually - if so then set these by hand along with the 166Mhz FSB speed... ;)

I'll be finding out shortly but wish to find a utility to report what the current speeds are.

I think I got the shaft (an early chipset board)

Even though the owners manual states the board has a KT333 chipset, the only FSB support listed is for 200 & 266 mhz.

DDR333 support is there, but not stable 333 mhz operation for CPU's it seems. Best FSB I could hit was 140 mhz using the auto overclocking function in Fuzzy Logic 4 utility.

So the BIOS supports Bartons, but only at 266 mhz bus!

Pity, I'll have to Ebay for a 2600+ or chuck the whole system. Anyone want to buy a Barton 3000+?

hmm. i used to run my 266a chipset at 333 np, but i havent tried my luck with a kt chipset.

gary i have a dragon ultra platnum i could send you, its getting dusty here, its new never used. ive been wanting to get hold of you on the other stuff anyways, just been busy to find it.

Ah, indeed the KT333 only supports DDR333 RAM, but not FSB166...

There were a couple of KT333a Boards that have been validated for FSB166 support, but success was board dependent. I've been lucky with a Shuttle AK35-GT2 and ASUS A7V-333.

Be aware that all Bartons (that I know of) are FSB166 CPU's.
The FSB266 Athlon2600+ (Thoroughbred) existed only in form of a few OEM systems and never hit the retail market stand-alone.

You'll have to settle with an AthlonXP 2400+, otherwise a new Board will likely be the cheapest solution.

wrote on 19.12.07 at 11:36:40:

Be aware that all Bartons (that I know of) are FSB166 CPU's.

I am, it's listed on the MSI website as a supported 166mhz CPU!  ???


Quote:

You'll have to settle with an AthlonXP 2400+, otherwise a new Board will likely be the cheapest solution.

Nah, there are plenty of 2600+ on Ebay for very reasonable prices.

Hm, checked the Page myself now, quite odd...

Board should support almost every FSB333 AthlonXP then (first non-KT333a I ever saw to do that, unless they simply missed the 'a' in the Specifications).

Sorry bout that @Gary - I've just never had a stable MSI board... ::)

But I guess milage may vary. ;)

2600+ (2133 mhz) picked up.

Works great!