Just today as I was checking some things on my system, I noticed that the CPU speed was reporting 1252mhz. This is not the normal speed for a 2800+ and I cant figure out what went wrong. I checked the Bios and it is also showing 1252mhz at 100mhz FSB. The problem is it wont let me change the FSB in the bios which I think would fix the problem. I also opened up the case and checked the jumper switch, but that is set fine. I have had this computer for about 4 months and this is the first time I have noticed this. I keep an eye on it and before the CPU speed stayed at around 2.1-2.3mhz.

updating ur bios might cure it!

My friend told me that.....Im not exactly sure how to go about doing that though? Where do I get the bios update?

Tell us what motherboard you have.

Tt Lanfire
nf7-s v2.0
XP-m 2500@211x11
SP 97
512mb pc3200
Jou Jye 550w psu
FX5600
WDCaviar 60gb
Seagate Barracuda 80gb

;~}

I have the FIC AU-31 Motherboard. I looked on FIC's site and I couldnt even find that motherboard in there updates section! I really want to know what would cause this to happen so suddenly. I dont think I did anything that would cause it.

I couldn't find that model listed either. There is an AT31 or an AU11 listed. If the BIOS previously supported the chip then it still should. Don't go flashing the BIOS just yet.
There are usually selections in the BIOS that will allow changing the FSB and other settings. If your MB is capable of running a 2800 you have to be able to set the FSB higher than 100. You need to read the manual for that MB.

http://www.e4allinc.info/dir1/motherboards/socketa/au31_downloads.htm

here is the link to go ahead and update your bios. ya'll just do not know how to look for items, it took me under a minute to find it, but download them and install, and tell us what happens

I have never done a Bios flash before and im kinda of worried about doing it. This is a new computer and I dont want to screw it up. Are there any precautions I should take before doing this. You would think that there would be something simpler behind this. What would have caused it to just jump down to 100mhz FSB? There was one thing that I did in the Bios and that was I increased the Ram supplied to the onboard video from 64 to 128. I wouldnt think that this would cause this to happen....and I have changed it back, but it didnt help.

Ok, I reset the CMOS....and it still didnt fix it. The CPU/FSB speed still reads 1252/100 mhz. The "bios update" link that was provided really isnt an update because my Bios version is newer then the one at that link. I dont really know what to do from here. Maybe I didnt reset it properly? I followed the manual....and when I got into the bios I had to change the date and time to what they should be...so It seemed to have reset, but nothing else changed. It also looks like the jumper for the FSB speed is set properly...so I dont think thats a problem.

I have done a few in my time, but there is really nothing to worry about ok. As for something simpilar, it could just have been the manufacture fault's. If you checked your jumper settings on the motherboard and they were good, and you checked your mulitplier in bios and that was good, it prob. is the compnay's fault.

Its possible....but that doesnt explain why it would just clock down to 1252mhz out of the blue. It was running at full speed (around 2200mhz) the last time I checked around a week ago.

If it is something hardware or manufacturer related, it doesnt really help me any because the 3month warranty has expired.

You say you checked it about a week ago. How did you check it then? From within the BIOS? The settings are there, sometimes they are a little hard to find. When you checked it last time you may have accidentally reset to default, which is probably 100FSB. You need to look carefully at each BIOS selection. Tried to download a manual for that board but its not available. I am sure you are overlooking the settings. look for something like custom or expert. You don't want default.

No, there are no other settings. It even says in the manual that this board was designed for very simple use and therefore it doesnt include any type of overclocking features and it wont let the end user change the CPU Speed or FSB. This is really making me mad. I dont know what else to do.

Hockeydude,

You would assume that by now motherboard/bios creators would be able to produce a bios that recognized the frecking speed of the processor attached the motherboard, no!? It's so incrediably annoying that a good portion of the time (I say this because I know some smart-a** is going to say "well my bios recognized my processor speed/type without any problems") the bios fouls up the processor speed.

... The only salvation in such cases where the speed isn't configured right in the bios is a setting option in the bios that will allow you to change the memory frequency and FSB speed. HOWEVER, to be brutally honest, you seem to have of purchased the [almost] SINGLE LEAST CONFIGURABLE motherboard-bios available to home users. And in your case, there is no way to override the automatic settings that the BIOS assigns your processor.

I would say, unless you buy another motherboard - you're screwed.

I'm really sorry to say this.

From an incrediably reputable source on your motherboard-bios:

"The Hardware Monitor section of the BIOS is also very simplistic, just showing the CPU temperature, CPU fan speed, and the system fan speed. The AU31 is probably the most simple BIOS around, and does not let you adjust many settings that have become givens in the enthusiast community, like memory timings for example."

Thanks.

TiM

Timothy Beer
UC Davis Medical Center

It still makes no sense that the settings would change like they did. If this were an older AMD processor I would suspect an overclocked processor that reverted back. It seems to me that the MB is running at 100FSB instead of 166FSB. Maybe there is a jumper for 100FSB like many other boards have. If the machine runs OK I would try flashing the BIOS, even if it is to the same version. Seems to be corrupted somehow.

But the bios "update" is an older version. I agree with the last person....things like this dont just happen. Im starting to think though that it just isnt reporting properly. I have not seen any evidence of the system running slower then normal.

Ok, I just used CPUID and it reports that my memory speed is also 133mhz slower then it should be. Now im starting to wonder if maybe my system is being underpowered. It only has a 250Watt power supply. Would this cause a reduction in speed??

Dude,

What are you talking about? If this is the correct board, it has plenty of settings in the BIOS. You apparently either didn't read or understand your manual. My guess is you changed some other settings when you were poking around & locked yourself out from the FSB settings:

"To tweak memory, front side bus, and multiplier settings, you must first switch the System Performance and Memory Timings options to Expert, as the Optimal setting will not let you tweak individual settings."

Here are some screen shots:

http://www.vr-zone.com/reviews/FIC/AU11/page3.htm

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

Thanks for your help....but where did you come up with the AUll?? I have said a few times above that I have the AU31 and the bios looks nothing like the one at that link.

I emailed FIC about a week ago and still have not heard anything. I have pretty much given up, because I dont think It is fixable. Anyone else have any suggestions?

I had the exact same problem. First, make sure you download the motherboard update. The Au31 board is in my emachines t3025 and the emachines web site has a motherboard update for it.

Also, in the bios, make sure that you select the option "load optimized bios defaults" or something like that. The trick is that even if you reset the bios, you must explicitly tell it to load the "optimized defaults" - it will not do it on its own!

Also, double check that a jumper that says 100/166 is set to 166 on the motherboard. Just look for it, you'll see it.

I think this bios problem is caused when somebody tries to change the memory allocated to the AGP onboard video for 64mb to 128mb without first updating them motherboard drivers. After that, it is fine to set the onboard video to 128mb! Bonus!

Hope this helps.

Hey, I will try loading the optimized defaults. I think I did that though and it didnt seem to work. About the update....where did you find it. The one I saw on there site seemed to be older then the one I have.

I dont know what the heck happend, but the other day my computer started beeping and when I checked motherboard monitor for problems, the CPU speed had set itself back to normal. All the other reporting programs also report the CPU at 2088Mhz. So all is well.