Problem with computer specs

[Samm3R]

Hi, I just registered here and was wondering if you could solve this problem for me. For some time now my computer has been showing these specs
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2346/untitledzd7.jpg

It might look normal but, I have an AMD athlon 3000+, 1gb of ram. I have all of my drivers up to date but i'm still having this problem. If you can figure this out it would be great, thanks.

 

[wcr3d]

Try downloading some benchmarking program like zcupid, sisoftsandra or the like and see what they report. This can be caused by a variety of things, so some researching is in order. Examples.....
Listed are the motherboard limitations
Hardware was upgraded after the OS was installed
Bios firmware needs updating
There are other reasons, hopefully this will be enough to give you some clues.

 

[Samm3R]

When I try and run cpu-z I get this error http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4462/cpuzqp6.jpg

This is what comes up with cpu z;
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/593/78281121sv9.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8372/77106292jl8.jpg
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1018/93971664am9.jpg
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/3681/89469396vz2.jpg
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/5281/64293998pw6.jpg


Those are not accurate either, what could be the problem?

Can anyone help me here?

I found out the exact cpu in my computer -(AMD Athlon XP3000+ CPU Barton Core 333FSB)

 

[GeekieNick101]

Is it a custom built PC by say you or a local pc shop or an OEM system Like Gateway, Dell, HP, ETC, if it is an OEM, can I please have the Brand Name and Model #?

 

[Samm3R]

It's a custom computer built by my uncle, I can give you all of my computer spec, the full list if you want.

 

[Samm3R]

Thanks for the help, guess I am screwed.

 

[GeekieNick101]

I am sorry, I thought it would most likely me a factory flaw if it was a OEM pc, but it this case hopefuly someone else ca help, I'm not quit sure.

 

[MetalX]

Are you sure that you do have a Athlon XP 3000+? Like have you actually taken off the heatsink and checked?

 

[GeekieNick101]

I was thinking the same thing as Metalx but since it was a custom built pc I thought Samm3r was 100% sure it was a Althlon XP 3000+ but maybe you got them mixed up? Byt yes it would be a very smart idea if you take off the heatsink and check the system could be reading it wrong. The read I asked first if it was a OEM pc was becuase it could have been a Althlon 180+ due to a factory mix up but since its custom its most liekly you got confused or for some very very strange reason the system is reading it wrong

 

[Samm3R]

I was waiting for you to ask me that lol. I'm 150% sure it is, It has shown Athlon 3000+ for the two years i've have it for, it has just recently started this. For reference, how would I take off the heatsink? If it helps, it's not just the cpu that's showing up wrong it's the ram too.

 

[Rick]

This is not a defect. This is a configuration problem.

An AMD Athlon XP 3000+ has a clock speed of 2160MHz. The default multiplier for a 3000+ is 13. Clock speed = FSB x multiplier.

So what is happening is your multiplier is 13 and your FSB is set to 100Mhz, which gives you 1300MHz total. This is wrong.

Your FSB should be set to 166MHz. 13 x 166MHz = 2158MHz (2160 for all intents and purposes). If you recieved your computer like this, you should have whoever set up your system correct this. This is a common, novice mistake (at the least a very forgetful one), and is usually easy to fix.

You can chance the FSB setting in your BIOS yourself (on most boards) without any funny things happening. If you aren't too familiar with computers though, then I'd have your system builder correct the problem or provide specific instructions.

 

[Rick]

It has shown Athlon 3000+ for the two years i've have it for, it has just recently started this. For reference, how would I take off the heatsink? If it helps, it's not just the cpu that's showing up wrong it's the ram too.

A possible reason this happened 'all of a sudden' is your CMOS has been reset. This can be caused by a bad RTC battery (Replaceable, lithium coin cell) or a hardware issue preventing your computer from POSTing (turning on fully).

If it helps, it's not just the cpu that's showing up wrong it's the ram too.

What about the RAM, exactly? Is it reporting an incorrect amount? The wrong speed? (100MHz, for example, instead of 166MHz). If it is reporting the wrong amount of memory installed, then this can force a reset of your CMOS settings which would also force your clock speed to be reduced to 1300MHz. Just a thought.

 

[Samm3R]

Oh wow thank you so very much! Yes the ram is showing as 512mb when it should be 1GB.

 

[Rick]

It sounds like you have a failed memory module. Your BIOS detected this module and has disabled it or it has quit working on its own. During this process, your BIOS also decided to reset your CMOS or at the very least, reset your memory/FSB speed to 100MHz.

If you're comfortable with the innards of your PC, turn it off and remove a a RAM module. Turn it back on and see if it boots up.

Try each module by itself and find the one that doesn't work. (I assume you probably have two 512MB modules). If both seem to work, run Memtest+ on each module by itself ( www.memtest.org ) and see if you can get one of the modules to fail the test.

Once the bad one is identified, you should arrange to have whichever one fails the test replaced. Most memory comes with a lifetime warranty these days and your memory is probably no exception.

With your good module in and your bad one out, you can crank your FSB back to 166MHz without incident.

 

[Samm3R]

I took out both 512mb sticks, cleaned everything off, and put them back in the same slot and it's showing now I just have to do that other thing for the cpu.

I have an asus a7v880, am I able to fix the cpu through that?

 

[Samm3R]

I would like to thank you guys very, very much! I went into my bios, checked the speed, clicked save and on start up it's back to reading the 3000+ ! thanks again.