need help, laptop not starting up

[Tannie]

Hello,
I am new on this forum but the way the professionals have answered some questions I hope to get some help too.

I own a Sony VAIO (PCG FR-720) laptop. It has an AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ microprocessor. The motherboard is based on the VIA Apollo KT 266A chipset and has 256MB DDR ram.

The problem first started with a spoilt CPU fan (it stopped working properly & made lot's of sound). I tried to get it repaired but the 3months I tried no repair shop in my city was able to get it repaired. The laptop would power on then though. Maybe I shouldn't have used it then. One day suddenly in the middle of the WinXP boot screen the laptop died down. It doesn't power up. Not just that the battery recharge indicator also doesn't light up. I suspect that my processor has burnt out.

Can anybody tell me what could be wrong?
Also how is it possible for me to check that the processor is fine or not (note that the laptop doesn't power on)?

[Chiefish]

I would say that the cpu is fried, no airflow= death to cpu.

[Tannie]

Well then will a replacement CPU work?
Where can I buy the processor?

Is it possible for me to buy a better processor? Since my cpu was a Socket A processor what would be the best bet to buy a better one? My motherboard details are in my first post for anyone that requires it.

[thierry_la_fronde]

You will have to fix the fan issue before safely installing a new cpu.
Note that a fan failure may deteriorate other components than the cpu .

Before buying the best cpu , buy a cheap old socket A Athlon just to check the health of the system.

some tips
KN266A supports mobile Athlon XP with 266 FSB (2 X 133)
some of these cpu can go up to 3000+

However, several limiting factors have to be considered:
1. the capacity of your system to dissipate heat .
you may say 100% that your motherboard can support at least the same power (watt) as the factory installed cpu dissipates.
Write down the current cpu identification (all the codes on the cpu, particularly the OPN: see OPN on the cpu-world website)
and then check on cpu-world the max power (watt) of this cpu
2. the bios, which shall determine the max FSB multiplier
this is difficult to know beforehand
sometimes entering into the bios settings.. sometimes never shown before testing

Try on the Vaio support website to identify Vaio sister models, with the same chipset ... sometimes you can guess up to which cpu you may go.

Maybe some Vaio users may report their experience ?

Good luck,

Thierry

[Tannie]

Thank you all for your replies.

I am trying to get hold of a cheap replacement for the exact make & model of my CPU.
1. The chip number is AXMD2200FJQ4C and it's a Barton based processor core.
2. I am not sure if the BIOS would allow changing the FSB speed. Anyways it is a Phoenix BIOS but altered specifically for the laptop model specified.

[thierry_la_fronde]

Tannie,

Have a look at your cpu characteristics (AXMD2200FJQ4C) here:

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K7/AMD-Mobile%20Athlon%20XP-M%202200%2B%20-%20AXMD2200FJQ4C.html

This is a 35W TDP
Therefore you can go safely to another 35W TDB cpu
In this category, you don't have so many choices, if you want to go to a higher cpu speed:
AXMD2400FJQ4C
that is 2400+
the multiplier would have to go up to 13.5 instead of your current 12.5 max.
less than 50$ on ebay

Mobile Athlon XP (hence, Barton) are multiplier unlocked so that laptop motherboards automatically adjust the multiplier through the PowerNow function. However the motherboard has to support the max multiplier of the cpu.

Your motherboard probably supports this step, however, it's sometimes a throw of dice. Not sure if +100Mhz is really worth the risk.
I had a problem with mine , performing a +3.5 multiplier step, but I have to say it was an Acer laptop which did not offer much flexibity. I tend to think that it is due to the cheap design behind.

If I were you, I would first try to find on eBay a very cheap mobile Athlon XP 35W TDP
see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_XP_microprocessors#Athlon_XP-M_.22Barton.22_.28Mainstream.2C_45-53_W_TDP.2C_Socket_A.29
Just to check if your motherboard is still Ok

Best,

Thierry