Hi. I just put a new computer together. It's got an ECS 760GX-M SIS mobo, and a Sempron 64 2800 cpu. I get to the AWARD screen and it detects the cpu as an athlon, but unknown model, and detects the ram, but then it goes through detecting the ide drives, and then does nothing. I've read that you have to flash the BIOS in order for this mobo to read the sempron 64 cpu, but I'm not too sure how excatly to do that. I checked the ECS webisite, and it's near useless. I got the BIOS update from it though, and put it on a floppy and put it in the comp, but nothing happened. Also, I can't get into the BIOS when I start it up. I press f8 and del and everything, but it won't go to BIOS. I tried putting in the windows xp cd too, but it won't let me boot from that either. Can anyone help? Thanks.

I'm confused. There is a Sempron 64? From what I know, Sempron is a replacement for discontinued Athlon XP, but in a real essence, It is an AThlon XP Next in line is the Athlon 64, totally different from AThlon XP and Sempron. There are 2 flavors of Sempron 2800, one is socket A, pin compatible with XP, another is socket 754, compatible with Athlon 64. Your MOBO says it's pin 754, but the CPU is still a sempron, not an Athlon 64. Just for your info: Athlon XP2800 runs at 2083MHZ 166FSB Sempron2800 Socket A runs at 2000MHZ 166FSB Sempron2800 Socket 754 runs at 1600MHZ 200FSB Athlon64 2800 runs at 1800Mhz, 200 FSB 2800 is the lowest rating of Athlon 64. He may look like a fool, act like a fool, talk like a fool. Don't get decieved, He really is a fool.

Yes, there is a Sempron 64 ---> http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819104245 and I"m pretty sure this mobo supports it ---> http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?MenuID=21&LanID=9&DetailID=504&DetailName=CPU%20Support

i dont know about the bios update. One thing to help trouble shooting is to disconnect the drive leads from the mobo entirely. This rules out any problem with the drives and leads causing this problem , or proves it is the drives. Try starting the computer with no drive leads connected to mobo and see if you can enter BIOS/Setup then.

Your situation scares me. You need to upgrade the BIOS for proper CPU recognition. But it is unstable as is, which could result in an attempt to upgrade the BIOS going wrong, and being worse off than you are now. You need to set it to boot from the floppy to upgrade the BIOS. If you cannot access the CMOS settings screen, you cannot change the boot order. If you are using a USB keyboard, try using a PS/2 keyboard instead.

I am using a PS/2 keyboard. I know this is working, because when I press Ctrl-Alt-Del, the computer restarts. Well, I'll try some things. Thanks guys. If you think of anything else, let me know.

cliffpage, you were right about the drive. I unplugged it, and now I can get into the BIOS. But now, after it detects the drives (just the cd drive now) it says CMOS checksum error - defaults loaded. I'm not sure what that means. Also, what should I do next? Does this mean I have a bad hd? Further, I'm not sure how exactly to perform a BIOS flash. Help please :-D