Max CPU for old chipset (i430HX) and dual processor?

[nomad[32]]

What is the fastest cpu i can have in a motherboard with the i430hx chipset. It has got a Cyrix P166+ @ 133MHz at the moment. I would like to upgrade this to the fastest possible.

Also, the i430hx is **apparently** a dual cpu board. The motherboard I have looks a lot like this one.

http://www.spacewalker.com/german/faq/553.htm

I think it needs an adapter to go in that slot above the CPU socket. Anyone got any more info on this.........

Cheers

[Volodkovich]

yea, it looks like u needa adapter for that socket...n e way here are the specs

Chipset
Intel 430HX PCIset
CPU-Support without Voltage Regulator Module:
Intel Pentium P54C (75 ... 200 MHz),
AMD K5 (PR75 ... PR166),
Cyrix/IBM 6x86 (P90+ ... P120+)
CPU-Support with additional Voltage Regulator Module:
Cyrix/IBM 6x86/6x86L (P150+ ... P166+)
Intel Pentium P55C MMX (166 MHz, since LOT-Nr. 0124: 233 MHz),
AMD K6 (PR2-166 ... PR2-233)


so it looks like a 233mhz K6 or a 233mhz pentium mmx - just a quick look up in google - easy to find man....

[Humantuckshop]

With the Socket7 (Socket 321) you should be able to use any of these: Pentium 75 - 233+ with MMX or Overdrive and any AMD K5 or K6 or even the Cyrix MI/II.


But the fastest processor you could get would be the AMD K6-2 400MHz (66x6).


From memory the CPU core voltage with the 430HX varies from 1.8 volts to 3.2 volts, so you should be sweet.

[mird-OC]

the HX is a dual capable chipset, in much the same way as the BX is dual capable. most HX mobos are single CPU, and basically if it only has one socket then it's a single cpu mobo.

the slot under the the CPU socket is for a voltage regulation module - yes, that's an external voltage regulator - this is back in the day when dual-plane voltage CPUs were introduced... at the time they were announced mobo makes started including VRM slots on mobos and the idea was that you got a VRM when you bought your nice new CPU. the other thing was that in the early days they used linear voltage regulators that got quite hot and often wore out, thus the reason for swappable VRMs. any mobo with a VRM slot is showing really showing it's age.

the slot above the CPU socket is a CELP socket takes a module for expanding the onboard cache.

the max speed on such particular boards is usually 233MHz (66x4) with limited support for K6s and the like. although a lot of HX mobos have undocumented bus speeds of 75MHz and 83MHz (not officially supported), which opens up the possibilities a bit.

[nomad[32]]

So it looks like a Pentium 233MHz MMX would be the fastest one Would a K6-2 400 work at all, beacuse I'm not sure what multipliers are supported......... how can i check what FSB and multipliers it can use?

Would it be worth trying to find a CELP module, would there be a decent speed difference?

Which is fastest? Cyrix (PR233), AMD K6 (PR@-233), or Intel Pentium 233MMX?

Would a pentium pro be better?

Cheers

[mird-OC]

if you can find out the model number, do a google for:

<model_number> undocumented

or

<model_number> 83MHz

there may also be some undocumented multiplier settings so just see what you can dig up. if you're having trouble finding the model number just check the BIOS numbers (WIMS BIOS Page (http://www.wimsbios.com) will have all the info you need). post the BIOS number here if you're not having much luck.

if the upper multiplier is 4x, and you can run a 83MHz bus speed then you could theoretically run a 333MHz CPU, but a Intel P233 MMX CPU is prolly the best bet.

the P233MMX are great CPUs... the Cyrix/IBM and AMD "PR" equivalents don't really keep up, especially if you run a P233MMX on an 83MHz bus. but they are now almost like gold fetching up to $80 a pop. it'd be easier to find a P166MMX (make sure it's an MMX) which should OC to 233 (or higher) easy as. i think scuttle has some P166MMX chips for $30 or something.

since your board has a CELP slot, you can safely say it's probably got 256K of L2. basically, you need 256K of L2 for every 64MB you're using. if you try running 128MB of RAM with only 256K of L2 then only the first 64MB will be cacheable, resulting in a big performance hit. so if you're planning on using more than 64MB, get some more cache... i think scuttle has some of these also.

personally, i'd recommend hocking off the board on trademe and sourcing a slightly newer one... shouldn't end up costing anything if you're smart :)

[Wibber]

cache module = :P not worth money..
PPro spanks PMMX @ 32 bit, think of it as a P2 without MMX

[Humantuckshop]

Pentium Pro's are for Socket 8 (Socket 387) boards only, Nomad's board is a Socket 7.

[Wibber]

oh right! I thought he had another board lying round or something.., I didn't even think he might not realise they don't fit... they look real cool tho

[nomad[32]]

Hehe, yeah, it's socket 7 :) Sorry, i hardly know anything about this old hardware :)

I saw on trade me Intel P200MMX going for $50+ hmmmmm, I'll have a think :)

It's got 32MB ram at the moment (simm). I'm gonna put a bit more in... depends how much I can find.

Basically, this comp is going to be a server for an office with about 4 to 5 people in it. It will be performing the following tasks with debian linux.

1. Dial on demand server
2. Apache web server
3. Samba file sharing
4. DNS server
5. DHCP server

Maybe a little more in the future, possibly a mail server as well. Current specs are:

Cyrix P166+ @ 133MHz
Motherboard (socket 7, 4xisa, 4xpci, 4xsimm)
2GB Hard Drive
NIC
Modem

Would it be worth upgrading this at all or would the current specs be able to handle it. I'll be putting another 32MB ram in.

Comments... thoughts.....:)

Cheers

[fatsanchez]

Originally posted by nomad[32]
Hehe, yeah, it's socket 7 :) Sorry, i hardly know anything about this old hardware :)

I saw on trade me Intel P200MMX going for $50+ hmmmmm, I'll have a think :)

It's got 32MB ram at the moment (simm). I'm gonna put a bit more in... depends how much I can find.

Basically, this comp is going to be a server for an office with about 4 to 5 people in it. It will be performing the following tasks with debian linux.

1. Dial on demand server
2. Apache web server
3. Samba file sharing
4. DNS server
5. DHCP server

Maybe a little more in the future, possibly a mail server as well. Current specs are:

Cyrix P166+ @ 133MHz
Motherboard (socket 7, 4xisa, 4xpci, 4xsimm)
2GB Hard Drive
NIC
Modem

Would it be worth upgrading this at all or would the current specs be able to handle it. I'll be putting another 32MB ram in.

Comments... thoughts.....:)

Cheers

a 486-66 would prolly do that fine, 32mb will be enough as well, the servers hardly going to be thrashed all day :)

[Wibber]

get a faster hdd.....that 2gb will drive you mad.. file sharing pffft, as long as you don't mind wating all day.. you could get a small ATA hdd and a PCI controller for arround $100 and a 10/100 nic and a pentium cpu.. cyrix sux.. the're hot, slow, and die often ( usally cos the fan dies and then they burn up)