is my CPU locked?

[windass]

My hardware setup is as follows:
AMD Athlon XP2000+
Soltek SL-75FRN2-RL (REV D1.2L)
Kingston HyperX 256mb RAM (PC3200 I think)
S3 Virge video (this will be out the window once my 9500 Pro arrives)
standard power supply

I've set up four computers for other people with the exact same processor and motherboard listed above with PC2700 HyperX RAM and I had no problem to OC all four to an Athlon XP2600+ by setting the FSB to 166 with a x12.5 CPU ratio, easy as plug it in and go.
My problem is that I can't OC at all, I actually had BIOS Rev D1.4L on my MB but downgraded thinking the new bios might lock out the ability to OC, but still no luck. If I try to OC as described above my computer simply won't boot up. Is my current video the problem or is there a way to tell if my proc. is locked? How do I unlock it if it's locked?

[DPA]

given that your 2000+ is a palomino core, then yes, it is locked.

however if you got a thoroughbred b core, then no it is not locked. the way to tell is to look at the processor core itself. if the core [square in the middle] is actually very square [i.e. equal side lengths] then it is a palomino.

if the core is very rectangular, almost half as wide as it is long, then you have a thoroughbred core, but that could be an A or a B revision. only way to tell from there is the numbers printed on the cpu itself.

You can Overclock a palomino, but only via the FSB, you cannot change the multiplier.

i just changed a 1700+ palomino into a 2100+ just by ramping my FSB.

[windass]

I'm almost positive its a rectangular chip, revision B, I can't check it right now but I'll look to be sure. Do you know of a way to unlock the palomino core if that's what it is?
I've tried leaving the CPU ratio alone and playing with the FSB, it is able to go up to 200MHz, however that will only work if the CPU ratio is set to "default", at which point the processor is detected as "AMD Athlon 1250MHz". If I set the CPU ratio to x12.5 and the FSB at 133 the proc. reads as an XP2000+, from there if I try to bump up the FSB it won't boot up. I'm at a loss for why it won't work.

[Xtreeme]

Sure sounds like a palo. If tbred the fsb with set multi should have given ya somthing. Even my 2200+ tbred A (BAD oclocker) could hit 1.9gig. You only try 5 fsb increase right? And no go? If so then Im almost sure its not a tbred as they have some headroom but palo dont really.

[windass]

With a lot of tweaking I was able set the CPU ratio up to x11 and move the FSB up a little bit, but it was not at all stable above FSB of 133. I think the highest FSB I could set and still boot (sometimes) was 152mhz. That gave me an 1833mhz proc. speed but that is not actually an AMD proc. speed and as I mentioned before, it was very unstable.

[nukes]

I'd check the RAM. If you haven't been able to increase it at all, it could be the RAM or some other factor. You say you think its PC3200, is it possblie that its only 2100 or something? I know it sounds silly, but I'm just eliminating possibilities.

[windass]

I haven't tried any other RAM chip. I could do that. I'm about 99.9% sure its PC3200, but I'll check it out. Could it also perhaps be the power supply? Its just a standard power supply, I think 250W, maybe 300W, I'll have to check it when I get the chance. I know that some people said at least 400W should be used.

Thanks for the help

[Xtreeme]

1.8gig~ is a 2200+. Sounds like you get 2100+ stable though. Well if it is a palo (not saying either way). Then its typical limit.