CPU 'upgrade' to P3...

[Martin]

Changed cpu to PIII from PII. Now the PC boots/works extremely slow.

Booting, the motherboard finds the new hardware. I jumped over BIOS settings, left settings unchanged.

Can anyone tell me if I ought to change settings or what?

First timer...

[Marcin]

Can you specify motherboard model ?

I had similar problems. I resolved it by BIOS configuration but in second situation cache L2 was defect so I didn't resolve.

[Martin]

Motherboard is a Packard Bell MediaBlaster.

Regarding BIOS configuration; what should be observed?

Just nice to 'upgrade' my old workhorse for fun.

[Marcin]

[tike]

hi
was the old p2 a 66 mhz bus cpu ?
p3 is a 100 mhz bus cpu. (the newer ones 133...)
e.g. you had a p2-300 (multiplier = 4,5 (x 66))
now a p3-450 (multiplier 4,5 but with 66 mhz bus still 300 mhz)
is there a jumper for 66/100 MHz CPU Bus speed ?

t...

[Marcin]

I understand PIII work slower than PII ?

[Martin]

Bus speed is 100. The PIII works extremely slow, boot time is 10 minutes.
No trouble with the PII.

Booting, cpu 500 MHz is found. I checked BIOS, had 38 deg.C with the PIII. System properties (control panel) gives 501 MHz.
I put my old fan on the heatsink, it did not improve performance.

The heatsink itself does not seem to have a full contact with the cpu;
only a 1cm*1cm square is in contact, with a 1mm thick glue.
I assume there should be no distance between heatsink and cpu,
and the contact surface shouold be all possible. Is 38 deg.C much?
I have been reading the methods how to remove the heatsink... I do not
wish to break the fastening 'clips'.

[Marcin]

This temp is optimal. Please try to do what I wrote.

[Martin]

Another strange thing was that BIOS options for cpu multiplying was only between 300 to 450, not reaching 500. I suppose these are the options for the 'old' PII cpu (meaning a BIOS update is necessary?).

[Marcin]

Yes, bios update can help.

[Martin]

Thanks, Marcin.

I do find the way to load fail/safe bios defaults, but have no experience in configuring HDDs and boot option; and what is meant with this.
Same goes for updating BIOS...

[Marcin]

By the way Martin and Marcin is the same name

Update bios in this dell can be fast. It does metter how quick you find info about your PC (if original Dell) or mainboard.
On http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/ forum you can post help with wanted file.

Propably there you will find info how exactly load BIOS ROM file Good luck in searching.

[Martin]

Ok, thanks again Marcin. Will try and give feedback.

[user]

go to the bios settings and change the Mhz to 500. this should help the speed of thee computer.

[user]

p.s use PCI 133 128MB as it will not read 256MB..thanx