Soyo KT400 Dragon ULTRA and AMD 2500+

[danmaday]

My KT400 will not POST with a configuration of a GFORCE 5200 (AGP 8x), Kingston PC3200 memory, a AMD 2500+, and an ANTEC "True" 430w power supply.

I thought I had a bad mobo but I put my current 1900+, and my current AGP 4x, and a stick of spare, no-name PC2700 memory on the KT400 and it worked fine.

I think the processor is bad but how do I tell?

I feel sorry for the small mail order firm I bought the mobo and processor from because originally I bought a Gigabyte mobo and could get that to POST either. Never thought it could be the processor. So I exchanged the Gigabyte for the Soyo. Now I am about to say "Hey I think the 2500+ is also bad so send me a new one under the retail box warranty". They are going to think I am nuts.

I spent about six hours playing with the KT400 today. I took it out of the case to see if I had a short. Out of the case it booted twice. The Soyo did not recognize the 2500 correctly. I was told I had an unknowm CPU running at 1100 mhz. I found this message on their web site and they said to update the BIOS. I downloaded everything, but could get past the POST again. In the POST it checks IDE-1 and then goes nuts. Never even turns on the floppy. Cannot turn it over other than flipping the power switch on the power supply. All the fans run. Never get a beep.

In desperation I put in the 1900+ as I said above and flashed the BIOS. It flashed ok and when I re-booted (still running with the 1900+) it gave me the right BIOS level. Thought maybe this would be the magic bullet to solve the POST problem. Put back the 2500+ and still no POST.

I know the memory is good because I bought the exact model recommended by SOYO. The two times it did boot it found the memory and di the correct countdown. I know the video card is good because I tried it in my 1900+.

So I am left with two possibilities: 1) the KT400 can't handle a 2500+ (333 FSB) - I find that hard to believe; or 2) the 2500+ is defective.

On the CMOS I must have cleared it about 100 times today!

Maybe I am missing something obvious. There are no switches on the mobo. I have two additional case fans. The two times it did boot the temperature was 49c which is a lot cooler than my 1900+.

I have been doing this upgrade off and on for about two months. If I was working for me at work I would fire me as incompetent.

As usual any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dan

[Scott Tiger]

Well the KT400 chipset was designed to work with 333FSB so that's not your problem. Just from experience I had the the same problem with the same symptons as you're experiencing right now with a 1 month old Celeron Processor. Replacing the proc with another one fixed all my problems (after I replaced everything else however...)

[Christian-Comp]

I have to say this. Mobo's come out all the time that have the capabilities for "future" upgrades. This means the technology is available for whatever is coming, but it has to have the means to control it. On your KT400, the problem was similar to my Soltek (I think). I had a Soltek mobo that was capable of 333mhz fsb, but it could not do it until a suitable BIOS upgrade was available to run the processor. Although the mobo was built to specification, it needed newer instruction on how to handle the new technology - a "bridge" so to speak. Try upgrading your BIOS to the latest one, then you can worry about a bad processor. This does not work for everyone, but then again, what do you have to lose?

[danmaday]

To Scott Tiger

Yeah, I replaced everything else first also. It's funny that the proc is the last thing anyone ever questions. Must be that Intel PR.

[Christian-Comp]

Check the previous post, I posted right before you did.

[danmaday]

To Christian Comp

I felt the same way you did. When I had the 1900+ on the mobo I did upgrade the BIOS. When I rebooted with the 1900+ still on the mobo the first screen that comes on showed the new BIOS version. Unfortunately no difference.

[Strawbs]

I'm not sure about the KT400 ...is there a jumper on the mobo to switch the FSB speed from like 100\133 to 166\200? it's just that I haven't seen it mentioned and the nForce2 Asus (yes! different board, etc!) has such a jumper.

[Christian-Comp]

My only thoughts now would be to check with the website of the mobo's manufacturer and see if you can find anything there, second, go to google and search your specific problem, and if those two don't work, try seeing if you can find someone who is using the same proc and see if a switch results in anything.

[Imperion1]

Just checked the boards manual online, it only supports 200 and 266fsb. And memory up to PC2700.

[Imperion1]

Might try this.

With the 1900+ still in the mobo, go into bios and set the fsb to 166 and multiplier to 10. Save the settings and exit bios. Before system boots, shut it down with the power switch. Swap out the cpu's. Now see if the system works.

Cpu frequency: Manual
Frequency 1Mhz Stepping: 166Mhz
CPU/Pci Divider: Try setting this at 3 (as close to 33Mhz as you can)
CPU ratio: 10
Dram clock: Set for 133, for now. If system boots and runs fine, then try setting for 166.
Set the CPU voltage to 1.75v