Mesh Matrix XP 1800PLUS
ovember 2001

Alteration by Mesh in 2003
A7A-266- Motherboard
A7N8X NFORCE2 Main Board

Mesh advised that this new board would support the current XP1800+ up to XP3200+, but required memory change

Installed an XP2400+ processor and upgraded to P2700 memory from P2100, but all I got was a blank screen

Obviously made a hash of it, could anyone offer advise please
Yours Sincerely

Colin Wade

Did you grease the processor?

Did you check bios settings?

Does the motherboard need jumpers changed?

Hi Leesmithg

Thanks for the response - I'm a geek on these things and definately need help

1. Processor was greased
2. As the screen was blank I could not get into any of the settings pages
3. How would I know which ones to change?

Cheers

Hi there, I've been messing with these Socket A CPU's for ages. (Can't fault them!)

It seems, (judging by a quick look-up on the net) that the Athlon 2400+ only uses an FSB of 266mhz. And the PC2700 memory you are trying to use is designed to run at 333mhz. Usually memory is backward compatible (you can run 333mhz memory at a speed of 266mhz) but from experience of DDR memory, most sticks of memory have a very picky mind of their own and will only decide to start working when they feel like it.

First thing i'd try is the memory. Stick your old memory back in, and see if it fires up. If it starts to work with your old PC2100 memory, i'd say your new PC2700 memory is unhappy in the motherboard or has kicked the bucket completely. If this works, post a message and say it works.

If it still doesnt boot, try your old processor back in it, to make sure the motherboard hasnt gone down when you started swapping things. In theory, you've got your original equipment back in, so it SHOULD boot up happily. If it doesn't, your motherboard has thrown a wobbler. Could be dead or you might've flicked a switch or two by accident. If you get this conclusion, post a message and let us know.

If, however your PC boots up happy as normal, then it could be a number of problems. Let us know how you get on, and we'll go from there.

Steve.

Hi Steve,

On booting up the screen was just blank, so I changed the processor back to the XP1800+

The system booted up no problem, runs satisfactorily, and is showing the memory increase from 512K to 1GB

In the boot up sequence it is showing

Memory frequency @ 133MHZ - dual channel mode

Best Regards

Roadrocket

Hi, If all the memory sticks seem ok using your old CPU - i'd say your new CPU has most likely kicked the bucket at some point. You may have been sold a dodgy CPU or fried it during installation.

CPU's are very easy to fry unintentionally when handling. If you're freshly charged with static, and touch any of the pins on the processor it'll stop working. It's always wise to hold onto the bare metal of your case of your PC with the mains lead plugged in when handling components to discharge the static from your body. (Sorry for teaching you to suck eggs if you already knew about static - quite a few people dont understand)

I'd head back to the person who i bought it off and demand a refund for selling me a knackered CPU. I bought an XP2000+ once, and when i took it back to the shop and explained it was blown, the guy apologised and gave me a 2400+ as a replacement. It's definately your best bet.

The only other thing i could suggest is trying the CPU in another Socket A machine to see if it boots up, (but i'm guessing 99.9% that it probably wont, though).

Best of luck either way - let me know how it goes.

Steve.