ECS K7S5A CPU limitations?

scourge · January 21st, 2004, 12:17 AM

Currently have an ECS K7S5A (not pro) with a Duron 950. Planning to upgrade to an XP2400+ which I know the mobo can handle as indicated by the last BIOS update. Question is wether or not my mobo can handle a Barton core chip? Worth my time? I know the mobo won't do 333 FSB (without doing more mods than I'm willing to), but I'm considering the Barton because I may want to upgrade to a newer mobo 8-12 months from now and don't want to be held back by an "old" 266 FSB XP2400+ chip. Thoughts?

btw - what's a Thorton core?

Thanks!

jerrygarcia · January 21st, 2004, 12:47 AM

Unfortunately, cpu and mobo upgrades go hand in hand when upgrading. The answer is no. You can't go up to a Barton core cpu.

Is it possible to upgrade the mobo first, then the cpu?

I'm sure whatever mobo you upgrade to will handle your Duron and you won't be handcuffed to a certain speed cpu if you chose a 400fsb mobo.

John Prophet · January 21st, 2004, 01:03 AM

Thorton

evidently the Thorton is a Throoughbred with half the cache disabled...evidently it is the "replacement" for Durons....or I think that article said it is or was sold under the Duron name..at least temporarily. (sorry I didnt really read the article)

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I see em listed on pricewatch as Athlon XP's...just with 256 l2 cache as opposed to the 512 of the Thoroughbred (so if you buy an Athlon Xp..make sure you are getting 512 as opposed to 256)

Peter M · January 21st, 2004, 11:35 AM

Thorton is Barton with half as much cache, still called Athlon.

Thoroughbred with most of its cache disabled becomes Applebred, Duron brand.
K7S5A pro runs everything up to 2400+, FSB266 (133 MHz DDR). So, no Bartons for you, unless you want to venture into "mobile" Athlon XP or Athlon MP. There are FSB266 Bartons there, up to 2800+ speed rating. (Not sure whether the K7S5A BIOS runs those, though.)

fraim · January 22nd, 2004, 04:26 PM

Powers up ...silence...shutsdown. Not sure what rev the board is but does have the XP sticker. The Athlon CPU is new and this is the only mobo I have available to test with. Ram is generic PC2100 266 DDR. What to try first? Sorry for the newbie question but I only do this every couple of years.

Gait_Keeper · January 22nd, 2004, 05:07 PM

I've asked an similar question and researched it too, never did get a rock solid answer from anywhere, but this is what I got;

V1.x needs a bios flash to go to 2400+
V.x needs no bios flash to go to 2400+ (highly debated)

50/50 that v1.x goes up to 2400+
50/50v1.x goes to 2000+, maybe 2100+

I have an 1800+ in my K7S5A v1.0 PCB, no problems about 20 months now, stock HSF and the pad, 133 double pumped to 266

not much of an answer but the facts no the less

woodbutcher · January 22nd, 2004, 05:10 PM

First off, as has been said the ECS K7S5A will run the 2400 without a hitch. I have been running version 1 of this board since it's intro back in October of 2001 and have had zero problems with it. I've run a 900 duron, XP 1700, 2100 and for the last year a 2400 in it. Great board IMO.
You can get a bit more out of it with cheapomans BIOS.
I currently have the 2400 (2Ghz) running at a FSB of 142.7 , resulting at a total clock of 2142 MHz. Not a great speed increase but not bad for a board that is not suppose to OC at all.

fraim, welcome to TIMO.
You might want to start your own thread on your problem so it can receive the attention of it's own thread.

WB

Peter M · January 23rd, 2004, 04:34 AM

I have put 2400+ on v1.x boards no problem. Even v3.x boards may need BIOS updates - remember this board has been around for way more than two years now. v5.x, aka the "pro" flavor, appeared late enough to always have 2400+ support in its BIOS.

fraim, you do have the CPU fan mounted, and connected to the CPU fan header?