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Thread: Processor running at half speed.

  1. #1
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    Processor running at half speed.

    I having a issue with a processor that i just bought... its only running at half speed and the bios won't let me change it, but winxp pro say that its 2.4 but also say its a 1.2...

    Attached is the screenshot of the System Info and a copy of the cpu data from CPU-Z program
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  2. #2
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    Look on the processor for a SPEC Code so that you can look it up at Intel ...

    examples:
    http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27438

    With the spec, you can also double check your mother board maker to see if that specific chip is supported.

    If you don't find the answer with those two, please post back your motherboard manufacturer and version(s) so the pair (mb & cpu) can be looked at for issue.

    I would suspect an older PC and maybe a bios update for the bios to handle the processor better, if at all. Other thoughts would be SpeedStep issues (try turning off / disabling in bios) which again would point back to the bios.

    Although.. taking a second look at your CPUZ info .. it appears you're running an HP Vectra VL420 ....

    and this may be the processor you have:
    http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id...QP,SL6S9,SL6SR

    one of those spec codes to the right on that page (or at the end of the URL) If not one of those, then that maybe the problem.

    *If* after disabling the speedstep it shows only 2.4 ... then the 1.2/2.4 reading would be normal ... showing you the range of speeds it could run. The idea being if your just browsing through email and web, you don't need 2.4 GHz speed (and conversely the heat and energy it uses) .... but when you go to do more serious work or try to play a game, the processor shifts into higher speeds.. etc..

    note the processor specs above mention *Enhanced* Speedstep where this processor doesn't have the "Enhanced" version it has the oringinal speedstep techology.
    Last edited by TG2; January 14th, 2011 at 11:24 PM. Reason: additional content

  3. #3
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    OK, I would date this machine as being in or around 2001/2 technology. It supports SDRAM PC133 memory.

    This was early days for the Intel P4, and performance rigs used RAMBUS RDRAM, which I can remember costing £1,000 (GBP) for 1GB !!!!!

    HP brought out this range of office desktops to use the much cheaper SDRAM.

    Basically, I don't think that the CPU is supported by the MoBo/BIOS, and the system is reverting to "failsafe" settings.

    You say that the BIOS won't let you alter the settings , so I suppose that the multiplier is fixed?

    So, I think that you have supported data BUS speeds of 100 and 133MHz, and a fixed multiplier of 12x (generally, machines that support PC133 RAM will also support PC100)

    100 x 12 = 1.2GHz
    133 x 12 = 1.596GHz

    I know that model of HP was available with a P4 1.6GHz processor, which would be supported. The P4 2.4GHz is probably looking for DDRAM memory:

    266 x 9 = 2.394GHz

    So I very much doubt if a BIOS update will help, unless it supported a multiplier of 18x.

    I have an AMD Athlon XP1900+ of around the same era. The BIOS has two global settings that are basically for reliability or performance. If I select performance I get 1.596GHz, and if I select reliability I get 1.2GHz. The processor's actual clock speed is supposed to be 1.6GHz.

    In this case Windows XP Pro SP3 shows it as an Athlon XP 1.2GHz, with no range. I believe that Windows gets its information from the BIOS, which in my case would be correct, as the BIOS is set to run at 1.2GHz.

    In your case, I suspect that the BIOS is telling Windows that it has a 2.4GHz processor that it can only run at 1.2GHz............although I must admit that is the first time I have seen a Windows screen like that.

    You might like to check the HP site to see if there is a BIOS revision that supports faster processors, but please be very careful!

    Good Luck


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    Smile

    Just an update...

    http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/...hreadId=994080

    found that on a goog search ... its from 2006 ... at first I was thinking you're Ken (LOL) but then saw the year and said wait, Jan 21st is the future and 2006 is the past..

    Seriously though..
    Goog search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...rlz=1I7SUNA_en

    notice the first result (not the ad) is for a Tech Reference.. though for the French business unit (its in english) it confirms that the dips mentioned are "reserved" with 5 thru 10 for bios clear and emergency (crisis) recovery and bios flash protection.

    without knowing the details on the CPU ... spec code printed on the chip itself, it becomes the only thing that would be of question. The system was designed to give a 400MHz FSB and the only processor I could find by the hunt & peck method looks like it would work all else being "ok".

    Also on the support page for the system at HP, its hard to say if you have a newer bios or there is one.. HP lists the version they have as JA.01.04 -- 7 May 2002 while the CPUZ gives your bios as JA.01.07US and 7/19/2001 ...

    IF you're going to try the other bios .. see if the utility allows you to take a backup of your current bios ... so that you can revert to it if needed.

    Part of the confusion is in not knowing which VL420 you have.. the one that comes up immediately is the MidTower ... though the same board was listed for all three, that's not always the case... and reading here...
    http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...5&mode=4&idx=0

    suggests that each change of bios included additional options for support of higher processors or corrections to the support

    ie:
    .04
    • Includes microcode update for Intel Pentium 4 "Willamette E0" processors


    .02
    • Includes final microcode update for Intel Pentium 4 "Northwood B0" processors (most processors from 2GHz and higher).


    Suffice it to say.. there's a good deal of info out there.. YMMV ... just don't forget to post back to let us know what you get.


    (Your Milage May Vary)

  5. #5
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    Part of the confusion is in not knowing which VL420 you have..
    Yes, that is a problem that is compounded by OEM office desktop suppliers tending to stick with the same model name & number even though the actual hardware varied over time.

    Hopefully there is an HP sticker on it with more precise details?

    IF you're going to try the other bios .. see if the utility allows you to take a backup of your current bios ... so that you can revert to it if needed.
    Absolutely! you must have a backup before you proceed, and do check that the machine will boot into it first!

    Also, did the new processor come with a heatsink and fan? if not, then please make sure that what you have is suitably rated for that processor.

    And check that your PSU is adequate.

    Remember that your processor is currently running 100% underclocked, so the fact that it works OK right now doesn't mean very much.



    At this stage I would try the suggestion in TG2's first link above, and set the dip switches/jumpers in positions 1-4 to "on"
    Last edited by nihil; January 16th, 2011 at 11:31 AM.

  6. #6
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    k got the chip out and it is intel 01, pentium 4, 2.40ghz/512/800, sl&wf malay, l317a953, m320a668, 0469.

    I have the current bios installed as well JA.01.07US.

    The model number is
    VECTRA VL420 DT
    Prod: A8386T#ABA
    S/N: US22105234

  7. #7
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    Sorry, but you have the wrong 2.4Ghz processor..

    Quote Originally Posted by donny_ted_420 View Post
    k got the chip out and it is intel 01, pentium 4, 2.40ghz/512/800, sl&wf malay, l317a953, m320a668, 0469.
    I think you might have an incorrect digit there.

    The "SL & WF" There is a P4 2.4 cpu that is spec SL6WF ... and that processor would match the rest of your numbers ... 2.4 GHz ... 512 cache, 800 ...

    The first part ... easy to recognize 2.4GHz ... that's the CPU running frequency. The second part of the number 512 ... is the amount of "L2" Cache memory .. the third part of the number 800 ... means 800MHz Front Side Bus (FSB)

    Your system board is not capable of generating an 800MHz FSB, its only able to do 400MHz.

    You need 2.4/xxx/400 I put XXX because they make 1024 (1 meg) cache P4's, they also make 512k and 256k cache models too.

    Wiki isn't always right ... but in this case it gives you a better look across the P4 line
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...icroprocessors

    and if you follow one of the SL numbers in the first "Northwood" section (like SL65R .. and not the second northwood, thats the Pentium 4 HT section)... you'll get to Intel's ARK page
    http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?spec=SL65R
    and again on the right side you'll see there's a bunch of processors that are similar in specs...

    and here is the ARK page for all the P4 400MHz FSB processors (note you can't use the ones that have "YES" in the Embedded column, they are soldered processors, not 478's)
    http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollecti...x?series=28378

    See if the reseller you purchased the processor from is willing to take the CPU back in trade for one of the correct model (400MHz FSB) ... if not, you'll probably want to list it on Ebay or some such, and then will need to order the correct model CPU for your system board (400MHz Front Side Bus)
    Last edited by TG2; January 16th, 2011 at 07:52 PM. Reason: minor correction

  8. #8
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    Hmmm,

    As I suspected your CPU is looking for a quad-pumped 200MHz FSB MoBo with DDR400 (PC3200) double data rate memory (if you want maximum performance).

    Unfortunately, your MoBo does not support either.

    It appears that your machine originally shipped with a P4 1.8GHz CPU.

    Good luck.

    BTW

    You must get a 400MHz FSB processor as there are 533's around that won't work properly either.

  9. #9
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    thanks for the help guys.. yeah TG it was a 6... I didn't wipe the thermal grease off good enough, but yeah i bought it on amazon only paid 10 bucks for it so no loss there... Thanks again everyone...

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by donny_ted_420 View Post
    thanks for the help guys.. yeah TG it was a 6... I didn't wipe the thermal grease off good enough, but yeah i bought it on amazon only paid 10 bucks for it so no loss there... Thanks again everyone...
    10! wow... been a while ... I'm in the AMD camp personally ... and usually on low budget so when the time comes that I can upgrade its usually too late to get good prices ... like Nihil was saying.. PC3200

    ... when I finally wanted to get some, it was 100 bucks for a gig, and at that time PC2 memory was only 30 bucks a gig.. ahhh the upgrade bug...

    I see there are a few Celeron 2.4/128k/400's for 3.95 at amazon.. LOL costs more to ship at that price..

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