MotherBoard CPU Support.

I have an ECS K7S5A Pro MotherBoard with an Athlon XP 1700+ CPU.

I was given an Athlon XP 2400+ CPU and I am trying to determine if the Board will support this.

Following is a link to the Board Stats:- http://www.ecs.com.tw/products/pd_spec.asp?product_id=269

From there one can get to the CPU Support listing, which does not list the PRO Model but this is the information for the K7S5A.

Model Name - K7S5A
PCB Ver. - 1.X/3.1A
Since BIOS - 02/08/09
133MHz - 2100+
133MHz (0.13µ) - 2600+

While I have the attention of someone who obviously knows considerably more about this subject than I do, and I have never failed to find someone who fits this description on this BBS, I would like to know also if I could damage a MotherBoard by installing a CPU that is not supported, or will it merely not operate as efficiently. Also, what is meant by (0.13µ) ???

Many Thanks.

 

Even before I started looking around, I would have bet the rent that the 2400+ would work fine in that machine.

Searching newsgroup posts shows innumerable people using the 2400+ with the K7S5A and a few with the Pro.

Here is an upgrade for that board that includes the 2400+:
http://www.nanosys1.com/upg-k7s5a.html

Scroll through the processors that come with this board:
http://www.cpusolutions.com/mb/ecs_k7s5apro.php

Using an unsupported processor when the one above and the one below are supported is hardly enough of a risk to be fun .
The processor speed being misidentified is likely to be the only "problem" and that can usually be overcome by BIOS settings.

I expect an updated BIOS will support the 2400+ (as Cheepoman's "modded" BIOS update for that board already does).

You were given a very nice chip that I'm sure will work fine for you. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=CP2-XP2400TBC

My only advice is to watch the temperature of that chip. The cooling assembly that you are using may be slightly short of spec. The smaller the architecture (see about 13-micron below), the more important heat dissipation becomes. I'm thinking better safe than sorry. Here's an example:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=S457-1015

Without getting too technical, the "13µ" (13 micron) refers to the resolution of the process used to create the processor chips. The smaller the number, the more is packed into a smaller space.

The AMD 2100+ (and earlier) was based on the "Palomino" core and processors made after some time around March of last year used the 13-micron "Thoroughbred" core, like your 2400+.

Be very nice to your benefactor.

 

Thank you for the very well written, and informative, reply.

It is very much appreciated.