Any help provided would be greatly appreciated. My computer worked perfectly for a little over a year until.. One day out of no where my computer started hanging on the "CoreCell-Extreme Chip You've Needed" screen. After multiple restarts with no luck, I found out u could press tab to see where the boot was hanging up. It was stuck on "Checking NVRam..." and never got past there. My buddy suggested clearing the CMOS so I did, and I even replaced the battery. I've tried changing the slots for the Ram (I've got 2 512mb ones), with every combination I could use. No luck. So I tested the ram on a buddy's computer and it works perfect. So, my guess is that the motherboard is fried. If theres anything else I could check, let me know. But, assuming it is fried.. I need some help on finding a replacement motherboard that will be compatible with everything my current one is.. The box for the motherboard has these stats: MSI KT6V-LSR and i think 7021 is in there somewhere. FSB400, DDR400, Lan, Sata, VIA KT600 Chipset Based, 5.1 channel audio, and AGP 8X. Any help you can provide me with figuring out a cost-effective solution to replacing the motherboard with the specs listed would be great. I don't need anything fancy, just one that's compatible, and I can switch right in without problems. Thanks for your time!

Don't double post! If your system had been running fine for over a year, why would you suspect the RAM has gone bad? Contrary to what some may believe, RAM doesn't just randomly "go bad". CoreCell is a gimmick MSI puts on some of their boards. I believe it can be switched off in the BIOS by disabling "dynamic overclocking" - I suggest you do so. To clear CMOS, you have to unplug the power cord, then move the jumper from the "normal" position to "clear" position, wait a few seconds, then move it back again. You don't have to mess with the battery. http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?... And if you've never updated the BIOS on your board, I suggest you flash to version 2.0...you can do it online using "Live Update" if you're careful, but obviously you 1st have to be able to boot into Windows: http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?... One other thing, there no such thing as an "AMD Athalon XP 1100" so my guess is you're running your CPU at the wrong speed. "And that's the fishing line, because Sharkboy said so!"

AMD Athalon XP 1100 is what it displays when I turn it on, but its actually an amd athalon xp 2700+ or something, I'm not positive on the bigger number. I suspected the ram because when it boots I get the normal beep.. shortly followed by 2 quick beeps and then another. According to research I did online, 2 beeps/3 beeps/4 beeps could all be memory related issues and suggeted messing with the RAM. Could I update the bios or any settings related utilities at all with my current problem? I've tried pressing multiple F- Keys, delete, everything and got nothing. It stops at "Checking NVRam.." so i'm not even sure if it would boot the floppy. I've never updated the bios. And once before, I did clear the cmos using the jumper since i've had this problem. I can give it another shot. Any ideas with where to find an older motherboard that would match those specs? I need one that can offer AGP8x for my video card. I can't really afford to upgrade to pci express, which would also in turn probably make me upgrade my cpu to fit the board.

Did you always have 2 512mb modules, or did you add a second one later? Are they identical (have the same module ID string), or different? If you added one later, one or the other ram module may be incompatible with the mboard chipset, or incompatible with it only when both modules are installed, and you may get ram errors. "So I tested the ram on a buddy's computer and it works perfect." The ram modules working in the other mboard proves they work fine in the other mboard and are compatible with that chipset, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are compatible with your mboard, unless the chipset is the same. "AMD Athalon XP 1100 is what it displays when I turn it on, but its actually an amd athalon xp 2700+ or something, I'm not positive on the bigger number. " That's supposed to be Athlon, Dutcharend. Some bioses default to running the ram or the fsb or both at a slower speed, and in order to get the cpu to run at it's actual specs you have to manually bump up a setting or two in the bios, but of course the ram must support the speed you set the fsb and cpu to. There is an XP 2700+, and an XP 2600+, etc. The bios usually gets the multiplier right in any case because it is usually "locked" by default according to info the bios obtains from the reading from certain pins on the cpu. In some bioses you can bypass the "locked" multiplier and choose a custom one but the default is it's "locked"; in others you can't bypass that. Look in your bios Setup and tell us what the multiplier is - we may be able to then tell what your cpu likely really is. ......

When clearing CMOS, you have to unplug the power cord 1st. As I suspected, your CPU is running at the wrong speed...how long has it been recognized as 1100MHz? Most likely your multiplier is 11x & the CPU frequency has dropped to 100MHz. If you think your CPU is a "2700+ or something", it's probably a 2500+ which is supposed to run at 1.83GHz (11 x 166MHz). The only other Athlon XP's that have an 11x multi are the 1700+ or 3200+. You might also have a 2600+ Sempron...it would be recognized as an Athlon if the BIOS is outdated. "I suspected the ram because when it boots I get the normal beep.. shortly followed by 2 quick beeps and then another" Your board uses an AMI BIOS. 1 beep followed by 2 short beeps means a problem with the video card, not the RAM. Like I said, working RAM generally does NOT go bad. Are you leaving anything out of your "story"? did you move the case or poke around inside...anything that make have knocked the video card loose? Make sure the card is fully seated in it's slot. http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcode... "And that's the fishing line, because Sharkboy said so!"

MSI KT6V-LSR http://www.msicomputer.com/product/... "...7021 is in there somewhere." MSI mboards usually have two model numbers. In this case MSI KT6V-LSR is MS-7021, PCB version 100 (mboard version; Ver. 1 is printed on the mboard, beside MS-7021) Sometimes only MS-xxxx Ver. x is printed on the mboard. In this case, it has both KT6V and MS-7021 Ver 1. (L - networking chipset, S - SATA, R - RAID capability) Sometimes there is more than one PCB version of a MS-xxxx model, corresonding to different other model numbers depending on the PCB version, but in this case, there is only one PCB version. VIA® KT600 Chipset - Supports FSB @200/266/333/400MHz - Supports DDR400/333/266/200 SDRAM One AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) slot - Support AGP 3.0 Downloads and other info http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?... CPU support, for bios version A7021VMS.190 Your bios version may not be that new. The bios version is usually displayed on the first screen as you boot. http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?... There is one newer bios version that supports a few more cpus. You could have an Athlon 1100 (runs at 1100 mhz), but it's not an XP one. ....... Open up your case and examine the mboard to see if you have bad capacitors, and/or other findable signs of mboard damage . This was the original bad capacitor problem - has some example pictures. History of why the exploding capacitors and which mboard makers were affected: http://members.datafast.net.au/~dft... What to look for, mboard symptoms, example pictures: http://www.badcaps.net/pages.php?vid=5 Home page that site - what the problem is caused by - he says there are STILL bad capacitors on more recent mboards. http://www.badcaps.net/ Pictures of blown capacitors, other components, power supplies, Athlon cpu's, etc.: http://www.halfdone.com/Personal/Jo... ....... "....a cost-effective solution to replacing the motherboard...." If you become sure the mboard is actually no good, see this, at the Epox Store, on the Epox USA web site: http://www.epoxstore.com/Default.asp $37 VIA KT880+8237 Chipset http://www.epoxstore.com/Product_De... Your cpu will work for sure, your ram SHOULD work, since this has a Via chipset. Ram that works in another mboard , or any ram you buy or have lying around, may not work properly, or sometimes, not at all - even if it physically fits and is the right overall type (e.g. SDram, DDR, DDR2, etc.; PCxxxx, xxx mhz) for your mboard. In the worst cases of incompatibilty your mboard WILL NOT BOOT with it installed, and the mboard may not even beep - the ram has to be compatible with the mboard and it's chipset. See response 5 in this for some info about ram compatibilty, and some places where you can find out what will work in your mboard for sure: http://www.computing.net/hardware/w... Correction to that: Mushkin www.mushkin.com If you have brand name ram, it is relatively easy to look up whether it will be compatible with this mboard. Go to the ram brand name's web site and look up the ram compatible with this mboard. ..... Don't be concerned about the 90 day warranty - Epox mboards are excellent quality. If it doesn't malfuncion within 90 days it probably never will. I have two older models from 1999, I'm still using them, and they work fine. I ordered an AD580XR from this site last November for a friend and it's working fine. As I recall, if you're in the US, shipping is under $30, via UPS. If you're interested, you can also order a spare bios chip already flashed with the latest bios update for only $10. As I recall you are asked if you want to order one when you order the mboard. If your model number is NOT on the list, the chip is probably still available - you can cancel the order, and I can supply an email address that will get a response for sure, and you can email her and arrange for the chip to be shipped with the mboard. OR - this toll free number works fine, USA or Canada, and you can contact them right away: 909-869-0639 (Epox USA - in California) If you don't find all the downloads and other info on the Epox USA site, they're on the Epox Taiwan (Global) site. http://www.epox.com.tw NOTE that that site can be slow to load. ..... If you're in Canada (as I am) the ordering also supports shipping to there (leave the dash out of your postal code - the order will accept it but UPS won't), but be forewarned that was formerly known as Canada Customs will hold your order for several days once it crosses the border and UPS (that's your only choice to Canada) will want more money when they deliver the package to you for the fee what was formerly known as Canada Customs charges, GST, and extra UPS fees - the shipping ends up costing you about $50.

wow lots of info. I'll try to respond to it all. The two ram sticks are exactly the same, bought at the same time, installed same time, and both have functioned for over a year. The processor has never had any problems, and yes I have boosted up the multiplier in bios for it to run at the right speed, but its always said AMD Athlon Xp 1100 when I boot. I have never overclocked it, ever. I cannot access anything at all to do anything with bios or anything else. Nothing was done with the computer, no messing around with the insides. The video card shouldnt be bad, and I have tried a replacement video card as well. So i really doubt its video card related. Thanks for the info on replacement. Do you think that ordering a replacement bios chip with current bios would really do anything for me? Since i can't access the bios at all? (i've tried repeatedly pressing 'del' and all the 'f-' keys) thanks guys, any more info would be greatly appreciated.