Is this possible with 1800 Duron processor

[LeedsFan]

I have a KT7A-Raid motherboard with is currently running an 800 MHz Duron (100 FSB).  I'm looking to upgrade the processor just to make Windows run faster if nothing else. I can get hold of a Duron 1800 (133 FSB) very cheap, but here's the rub.....

My motherboard officially only supports up to 1400 MHz processors (I can't go any faster in the BIOS) but it will support 133 FSB processors.  Is it possible to run this 1800 as a 1400... sort of underclocking it?

I know it sounds daft to underclock like this, but if 1400 is the fastest my MB will go then so be it. I'll be quite happy with 1400 MHz for my Mame Cab.

[_Iz-]

I have a KT7A-Raid motherboard with is currently running an 800 MHz Duron (100 FSB).  I'm looking to upgrade the processor just to make Windows run faster if nothing else. I can get hold of a Duron 1800 (133 FSB) very cheap, but here's the rub.....

My motherboard officially only supports up to 1400 MHz processors (I can't go any faster in the BIOS) but it will support 133 FSB processors.  Is it possible to run this 1800 as a 1400... sort of underclocking it?

I know it sounds daft to underclock like this, but if 1400 is the fastest my MB will go then so be it. I'll be quite happy with 1400 MHz for my Mame Cab.

How do you know it only supports up to 1400? Is the max multiplier in the bios 14x so you took that x 100 FSB and got 1400? If the max multiplier in the bios is 14 and the board will support 133 FSB then 14 x 133 = 1862. Duron 1800 should be fine.

[LeedsFan]

In my BIOS I can set the processor speed in a list. The maximum speed in this list is "1400 (133)"

However, there is also a "User Defined" option in this list where you can select the multiplier and FSB etc. When I set this to "User Defined" the highest multiplier available is "12" but there is also a "12 plus".... and I'm not sure what "12 plus" means.

12 x 133 FSB = 1596 MHz.    I suppose I can only try the thing out. If it doesn't work then it doesn't work..... c'est la vie!

I'll do some benchmarkings on the 800 first to see what improvements there are overall (if it works).  I suppose this is all a bit overkill for a Mame only cab system.....    ...... but I do find it interesting and it would be a real bargain for the 1800 if it works.

[_Iz-]

I'm confident it will work - use "user defined" and the 12+ option should give you multipliers over 12...

BTW, I don't think it's overkill - but then again I have a 2500+ in my cab...

[LeedsFan]

Nope.... I've tried it and the computer wouldn't even boot. So scrap that idea then      Oh well.... bollocks.

[_Iz-]

Nope.... I've tried it and the computer wouldn't even boot. So scrap that idea then      Oh well.... bollocks.

did you check the motherboard manufacturer's website for a bios update?

[LeedsFan]

Nope.... I've tried it and the computer wouldn't even boot. So scrap that idea then      Oh well.... bollocks.

did you check the motherboard manufacturer's website for a bios update?

I did yes.... but their website states that my MB will take processors up to Duron 950 (100 FSB) and Athlon 1400 (133 FSB) maximum.  For a Duron I can't go above 950 MHz for some reason. I'm not that technically minded I'm afraid.

However.... I have just managed to overclock my 800 Duron to just over 1.0 GHz!!  I got the settings from an overclockers site and set them in "User Defined" option in the BIOS. Things have improved quite a bit.

Under the standard 800 Duron I was strugglieg to get 40 FPS in Galaga 88.... usually around the 30 to 35 mark in game. But now I'm usually over the 40 mark (typical 45 to 55) but still not quite hitting full FPS.

[dabone]

The Duron up to 950 MHZ and the Durons after that are complety different chips, with very different voltage requirments. AMD doing this kinda thing annoys the pee outta me, I've ordered the same Cpu over a 2 month period and gotten up to 3 different versions. (Same trade name, different cores)



Later,
dabone

[paigeoliver]

Nope.... I've tried it and the computer wouldn't even boot. So scrap that idea then      Oh well.... bollocks.

did you check the motherboard manufacturer's website for a bios update?

I did yes.... but their website states that my MB will take processors up to Duron 950 (100 FSB) and Athlon 1400 (133 FSB) maximum.  For a Duron I can't go above 950 MHz for some reason. I'm not that technically minded I'm afraid.

However.... I have just managed to overclock my 800 Duron to just over 1.0 GHz!!  I got the settings from an overclockers site and set them in "User Defined" option in the BIOS. Things have improved quite a bit.

Under the standard 800 Duron I was strugglieg to get 40 FPS in Galaga 88.... usually around the 30 to 35 mark in game. But now I'm usually over the 40 mark (typical 45 to 55) but still not quite hitting full FPS.

That driver got all crappy and slow for some reason, try older versions of mame. I know I had it running full speed on a 350 mhz computer at one point.