Faster processors draw more current, and it's likely that the fast new processor that appears to work fine is pulling more current than the motherboard was designed to provide. Never install an unsupported processor in the hopes that it may work. Otherwise, you'll find yourself in a "can't get there from here" situation, because the system won't boot with the new processor. If you are upgrading to a faster processor (on a motherboard that supports it!) that requires a later BIOS version than you currently have installed, update the BIOS before you install the new processor. But if the board revision level is too low to support a particular processor, the only option is to use a different processor that is supported by the board revision level you have. If an early BIOS version is the only bar to upgrading a processor, you can simply update the BIOS to a later version. Figure 4-13 shows the label area of an Intel D865GLC motherboard, with an AA number of C28906-403įigure 4-14: Part of an Intel CPU compatibility page Intel instead refers to its revision levels as AA numbers (Altered Assembly numbers). Most motherboard makers call their revisions by that name. The revision number of a motherboard is ordinarily silk-screened on the board or printed on a paper label that is stuck to the board somewhere near the silkscreened model number or serial number. A later revision of that board, with the identical model number, may use VRMs that are rated for processors up to 3.8 GHz. For example, an earlier revision of a motherboard may use voltage regulator modules (VRMs) that are rated to provide enough current only for processors that run at 2.8 GHz or slower. Sometimes you have to pop the cover and actually examine the motherboard to get the information you need, because motherboard makers make slipstream revisions to their products without changing the model number. Figure 4-12: Everest identifies the chipset as an NVIDIA nForce2Īlas, it's not always possible to take the easy way out.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |