Hi everyone, can anyone help me? I recently changed my younger brother's processor from an Intel 200mhz chip to a 450mhz AMD K6-2 one (the computer's pretty old but it should do nicely for him - he's only 8!). The 'system information' utility in Windows recognises the new processor but BIOS doesn't. Due to this, there are two things i've been trying (and failing) to find out. 1) Is it true that i need to download a BIOS update to 'flash' the BIOS, in order to make the computer run at the desired 450mhz? And 2) Where on earth do i find this to download?! Any help you can give would be hugely appreciated, both by me and my brother! Thankyou!

On an older socket 7 board, the CPU speed is usually configured thru jumpers on the board...or possibly a DIP switch. Have a look at the board to see if there are any jumper settings printed on it. Also, look for a model number...if you can find that, you should be able to download the manual from the manufacturer's website. Another thing to watch for is the voltage setting. The 200 probably ran at 2.8v, but the K6-2 runs at 2.2v (maybe 2.4v)...if you can't lower the voltage to 2.2v, you run the risk of frying the CPU from overvolting. Also, the 450 is designed to run at 100mhz FSB. Depending on your motherboard, you may only be able to run at 66FSB, possibly 75mhz. A trick with the K6-2 is that it "sees" the 2x mutiplier as 6x...so even if only have a 66mhz FSB, you can run at 400mhz by setting the multiplier to 2x (6 x 66mhz = 400). However, if you have the optional 75mhz FSB setting, you can hit 450mhz by using the 2x trick (6 x 75mhz = 450).

Jam, thanks for this - you clearly are in the know about this kind of matter! Unfortunately I am no expert and am also away from the computer until Saturday so can't look at the mobo again just yet. If you have time could you answer these questions as simply as possible? (simple answers for a simple person i suppose!) 1) Is the voltage something i would change from inside BIOS? 2) You mention setting the multiplier to 2x (6*66mhz = 400). Is this again something inside BIOS and if so, whereabouts? 3) Regarding the jumper settings...jumpers are the four switches on the motherboard are they not? If so, how do i actually go about setting them to the correct position? 4) Someone told me i should take the CMOS battery out and leave it for half an hour then switch on again, as this would update my settings in BIOS. Would you say this was a fools or experts suggestion?! Once again, thankyou for your answers - hopefully the information you give will allow even a novice like me to correct the problem!

Archibald, Need to know the motherboard make and model number so we can look for a manual or other setting info. At this point... 1. That is a definite maybe 2. More likely a dip switch or jumper on the motherboard. 3. Usually by following directions in the manual or hoping for silkscreen settings on the board itself. 4. That will only reset the motherboard to default settings. Good if ya screw up. Skip

Thanks...I did all my learning on socket 7 systems & I'm pretty familiar with them, & most of the tricks. Without knowing what motherboard you have, I can only give generic answers...I'll try to tackle your list: 1. BIOS settings for Vcore (CPU voltage), FSB (Front Side Bus) & multipliers (ratio) came along late in the life of the socket 7 board. Before BIOS settings became the "standard", settings where configured on the board itself. The most common way was thru use of "jumpers"...but some boards used a DIP switch. Jumpers are labelled (JP1, JP2, JP3, etc)...here's a crude look at one...lol! 1 o o 2 JP4 3 o o 4 5 o o 6 The "o's" represent pins sticking up from the board...each pin is numbered. If you look in the manual for JP4, there would be a table with the various settings...for instance, 1-2/on, 3-4/off, 5-6/on, would give you 2.8v...where "on" would mean a "jumper cap" would be placed across those two pins..."off" would mean no jumper cap is needed. A DIP (Dual In-line Package) switch is just a small box with several switches on it. Once again, the switches are labelled (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) & a table in the manual will tell you how to configure them. For instance, 1/on, 2/off, 3/off, 4/on, etc 2. The "2x as 6x trick" is something that's built into the CPU. As explained above, this 2x multiplier setting (also know as "CPU ratio") will probably be set via jumpers or a DIP switch. Sometimes the multipliers are listed as 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, etc...& sometimes they're listed as a fraction 3/2, 2/1, 5/2, etc...just do the math...3/2=1.5, 2/1=2.0, etc 3. I think this was explained in answer 1 4. If you're not familiar with BIOS settings, pulling the CMOS battery (also know as "clearing CMOS" or "resetting the BIOS") will reset all the BIOS settings to their default values. So if any of the BIOS settings were previously "tweaked", you'll lose these settings when you pull the battery. If all you plan on doing is changing the CPU, you may not have to mess with the BIOS settings at all. I'd leave them be for the time being...if anything, get into the BIOS & record the settings before doing anything, at least that way, you'll know what to reset them to if you have problems after a reset... The best thing to do would be to find the motherboard make/model & then see if you can download the manual...all the settings will be explained & a good manual will have pics, diagrams, charts. Bios settings will also be explained. Hope this helps :)

Guys, thanks so much for this help. More appreciated than you know! I'll print this page out as a reference for when i see the computer again on Saturday! A million 'thankyou's' for your help.