K7S5A Pro Multiplier Problem

[implexant]

Hi there,

I have friend who I built a computer for. Runs great as of now. Has a K7S5A Pro with a AMD Athlon 2800+. However, every once in a while (only happened twice) the multiplier (in the bios) will reset to 100/100 when it should stay at the 133/133 that I set it at when I built the computer. My K7S5A (non-pro) does the same thing, although just as rarely. I can fix the problem by going into the BIOS, and reset the multiplier back to 133/133. Everything works great from there on out. Of course if I left it at 100/100 Windows wouldn't boot because I installed Windows while it was set to 133/133.

The problem isn't THAT big of a deal, but I would like to figure out what is up with it. If any of you know what's up, please let me know!

TIA.

-Chris

[Peter M]

That happens whenever the board wasn't able to boot up at 133/133. It then reverts to "Fail Safe" settings, which imply 100/100, and are not really suitable to boot an operating system - they're made to bring the machine back up so the user can sort the problem.

Typically, this happens when the power supply isn't really up to the task - which happens most frequently with high speed processors.

What is that 2800+ doing in there anyway? This is a 166 MHz bus CPU!

[darrelld]

Same thing happens on my son's K7S5A with a 2000+. These boards must be crap. I've never seen this happen on any other board.

[implexant]

Originally posted by Peter M
That happens whenever the board wasn't able to boot up at 133/133. It then reverts to "Fail Safe" settings, which imply 100/100, and are not really suitable to boot an operating system - they're made to bring the machine back up so the user can sort the problem.

Typically, this happens when the power supply isn't really up to the task - which happens most frequently with high speed processors.

What is that 2800+ doing in there anyway? This is a 166 MHz bus CPU!

Well I believe it was a 2800+.... I must be wrong. Honestly I forget what speed the chip was.

So basically this problem just exsists? No real remidy?

-Chris

[DallasDon]

The board is what it is, a budget board. The bios will reset itself to default values, a failsafe measure to help prevent burning up components.

There is a huge amount of info out there for tweaking that board, if you decide the downside of frying components is minimal.

http://www.ocworkbench.com/2002/ecs/k7s5aguide/

http://pub140.ezboard.com/bk7s5amotherboardforum

[implexant]

Originally posted by darrelld
Same thing happens on my son's K7S5A with a 2000+. These boards must be crap. I've never seen this happen on any other board.

I wouldn't say their crap, just a odd problem. Can't beat the price though

-Chris

[Peter M]

With many many K7S5A, I've seen that problem just once. As I wrote above and as so many others have experienced too, it's a voltage problem during powerup. The combination of a fast processor with a crap powersupply is what triggers it.

The board is perfectly fine to detect the boot failure, revert to failsafe defaults and try again.

[implexant]

the PSU is a Allied 450W. Don't think it could be the PSU...

-Chris

[Ming]

I have had the same problems with a K7S5A ver 3.1. It generally loses its settings every few weeks to a month or so. The CPU is an XP1600, power supply is a 430 watt Enermax.

[Losin sux]

With this board the amp rating of the voltage rails are pretty important. I am under the impression you need at least 20/3.3, 30/5 volt and 15 on the 12 volt. The 3.3 and 5 rails should have a combined output of at least 180 watts. I have heard of people using part of a business card under the arm that holds down the cmos battery too in an effort to ensure it is making the necessary contact in the socket.