PCA Forums

Here's My original post over @ A7Vtroubleshooting.com


First I'll start off with some History,

Got this board from an Internet forum (Anandtech) from a guy who got it from another guy, Person I bought it from had it running @ 133mhz FSB (Trustable) and I can't get it to run @ that. Problem is it's hard to troubleshoot or look for answers when you can't find your board.

Bios updates don't help me from HP's site, says the DMI Initialization string or something along those lines is too long, here's some detailed information on the board in terms of markings

-North Bridge (checked physically by taking off hs)
VT8363A
0108CD TAIWAN
2IA1407961
(From my knowledge and experience this is a the KT133A northbridge)

-South Bridge
VT82C686B
0108CD TAIWAN
13B705100
(Also the KT133A Southbridge which supports U/ATA 100)

-Sticker On VRM (Power Regulation module I believe that stands perpendicular to board)
1.03-D03
141050

-Serial # (I think)
MS1140172-M7A05Q-C03-00049

-Sticker On top of AGP Slot
5185-5351, Rev. 3.02-C03
Tahiti-Wula, Asus
A7V-VM

-Silkscreened between AGP and 1st PCI Slot
A7V-VM
Rev. 3.02

-Sticker on Rear
A7V-VM(TAHITI-WULA)/lll/HP
14MP019131

-On Bios bootup (Discarding irrelevant info)
PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0
FOR EVALUATION ONLY. NOT FOR RESALE.
Build Time: 04/04/01 16:52:45
Release 2.08E

-In Bios
Core Version 4.06
Bios Revision 2.08E 04/04/01

-Board Specs (By Me)
1 AGP Slot
3 PCI
Realtek 8139C Ethernet Controller
Onboard AC97 Audio
No Onboard Vid

I do have WinXP running on this board currently with a duron 650, I have tried a 1.4 gig t-bird, a 1 gig t-bird and a 1.2 gig t-bird all which don't run @ 133 but will run @ 100

I know it's a lot of information but I figured I'd be thorough, From what I've gathered I have an OEM HP board made by asus obviously, but that may be some sort of engineering sample as listed by the bios on startup, has the KT133A board, and the bios updates on the site don't work.

There is a jumper to pick 133 and 100 which I have tried to no avail, works fine @ 100 but not @ 133.

Any ideas?..
I even tried locked and unlocked processors on it.

I'm lost, help me please ! ..

Only thing I can think of to check is to make sure that the RAM speed isn't staying at 4:3 (like on the KT133, 4:3 let you run RAM at 133 with FSB at 100). If that's not the problem, then I'd be pissed that I was sold an eval-level board and wonder if I wasn't lied to about being able to run at 133.

that's a very good point about the FSB divider, hmm, anyone have any suggestions as to how I would go about checking this as I can't get the board booted @ 133..

If that is an HP, it is probably somewhat cripled in the bios. OEM doesn't give you too many options in the bios.