Athlon 2400/Barton 2500

[un om bun]

First off, let me tell you that I know little about hardware issues. So please have mercy if my question is a bit too easy for you. And also I'm not english, so I won't be able to tell you exact "stuff":

I would like to know what's the difference between these two processors, and maybe if you could tell me something like the Barton is x% faster.
I'm asking you this because the Barton which I already own isn't recognized by my computer(I mean it is but it only runs at 1466 Mhz), so an expert gave me three options:
1 - either I change my mainboard (and I throw more money out, which I don't have at the moment)
2 - I update my BIOS (God only knows how, or even if it's safe)
3 - I get an Athlon 2400+ and all my troubles are gone...

Well I'd prefer the BIOS option, and if you tell me that I don't risk anything with it... :dork:

 

[dawdler]

Updating the bios is very likely to fix it. If its an earlier mobo it might not detect the 2500+ correctly. What mobo do you have? The way to update bios vary from make to make. Mine has an automatic update, press a key at startup, insert a disc, reboot. Its nothing I would advise doing every day (it CAN go wrong after all), but if you got problems, you do it. Its fairly safe.

Also make sure the settings it at. You need memory running at 166mhz at least I think (the CPU is running 166x11 or something). Go into the bios and see if you can spot these settings. If your mobo cant handle an FSB of 166, you cant run the Bartorn on it at full speed...

Edit: Incidently, 1466mhz if awfully close to 133x11... Wrong FSB set, or you mobo cant handle it.

 

[un om bun]

The guy tells me that the easiest way is to update my BIOS. So I'm glad to see that you have the same opinion. I'll go this way then.
Yesterday I changed the frequency from 133 to 166, but I got some kind of error at startup... so anyway, thanks for your reply.

 

[vgard]

What memory are you running?
Could be why you got problems with the fsb setting at 166..

 

[un om bun]

My memory is at 133. But it can go to 200...

Yesterday I changed the CPU's voltage to 166 and "through a miracle" my computer started running at 1826Mhz. But still it said "unknown processor type". So I played around a bit and clearly every program that I tried ran faster. Thing is, when I restarted my computer just to see what happens, evidently something went wrong and I found myself to be the proud owner of a 907 Mhz, 256 ram machine. Usually I have 512 ddram.
After a few restarts and tinkering in BIOS with my zero experience in computing, I managed somehow to set thing the way they were before: 1466 Mhz (unknown processor type), 512 ddram.

Now I'll have to find out exactly what mainboard I have and in case I do I'll let you know.

*I hope there is someone reading this besides me*

 

[un om bun]

So my quest has brought me to this wondeful place:

http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/l7vta.html

The problem is that I'm not sure which update I should download. (this is my mainboard: http://www.pcwcomputer.ca/product_detail.asp?part=MB-ECS-L7VTA)

 

[dawdler]

The last version 1.7f would be the logical choice, though the description dont make sense. The one you need in particular seems to be 1.7c (it notes 2600+ and 2700+, but no 2500+ support. Most likely its in there though).

 

[un om bun]

Well I downloaded 1.7c and later today I'll see if I can destroy my system with it ;(

 

[dawdler]

Just be sure to do it right
Print out the installation instructions and do it by the book, hehe.

 

[NYHoustonman]

If you do everything right, nothing should go wrong (assuming the power doesn't go out while you're doing it ). Hell, My A7V333 allows me to flash right in Windows (some say it's not safe, but it seems fine to me). Try and get the newest BIOS listed, though.


You're motherboard definetly SHOULD support that processor. If upgrading your BIOS doesn't help, just do it manually, as you seem to have already tried. Raise the Front Side Bus speed to 166mhz, and make sure your memory is still set to run at its default speed (266 mhz, it should be... 133 mhz double data rate). What I'm guessing is that the ratio of FSB:mem speed wasn't set right when you upped the FSB earlier, and that may be why it didn't function correctly.

 

[un om bun]

The BIOS update worked.
Thanks for everyone.