MSI MS-6323

[Ivoch]

(Read below for some explanations about what I've already tried. Links to the BIOS file and mainboard manual are at the bottom)

Motherboard Make/Model: MSI MS-6323 (OEM board from Fujitsu-Siemens)

Bios Version You Want Modding: v1.5 (latest version for my board - v3.2 is for Revision 2.1 so it might not work well enough)

Link To Official Bios Download: http://support.ts.fujitsu.com/Download/S...56CA6B27B5


Hello, I've got an old Socket370 board from ebay, but apparently it's an OEM board used by some Fujitsu-Siemens PCs, so the overclocking options are disabled. I tried all programs I could find, that can change the FSB from within windows, but none of them worked - most of them didn't even support the needed PLL (Cypress W211BH).

So the only way to change my CPU frequency is to enable the hidden option in BIOS. I only found out about modbin today, and fiddling with it is a lot more fun than fiddling with SoftFSB or CPUFSB or CPUCool or SetFSB or whatever your software FSB changer of choice is . Of course, it would be even more fun if I could actually get those damned hidden settings to work

The menu (Frequency/Voltage Control) is already enabled, but inside are only two options - Spread Specturm and the one that turns the clocks of unused PCI slots off (forgot what it's called). So I loaded the bios file in modbin and found out that there is a third, hidden option in that menu and it's exactly the one that changes the FSB. So I enabled it, flashed the new BIOS and voilla - the option was there and I could change the FSB. The only problem is that none of the settings work, except "Default" - the board simply doesn't boot and I have to reset the CMOS.

So is there another setting I have to modify with modbin? Or is there some way to disable the changing of the FSB by hardware (maybe via omitting some needed components or adding ones that lock the settings)? If so, any idea how it's done? If I know what to look for, and if it's not some IC with 50+ pins or some obscure element you can't buy anywhere, I should be able to solder or remove the necessary parts.

BTW, I'm not trying to (and don't want to) overclock my CPU. Rather, I want to downclock it - it's a P3/800 with 133MHz FSB - I just want two options - to run it at normal speed, and at half speed - 66MHz FSB for 400MHz CPU speed.

Here are the links I've found so far:

MS6323 v1.5 BIOS from Fujitsu-Siemens

MS6323 Manual from Fujitsu-Siemens

W211BH PLL datasheet


If the Fujitsu links don't work, go here and enter 6323 in the full text search box at the top right.

[1234s282]

Im sorry , but if unlocking the option int eh bios doesnt work , certain hardware features may have been removed from the board itself. The switch in the bios would obviously correspond with a controller somewhere on the board to change the FSB speed. Seeing as the option was disabled , its possible that the controller chip was completely removed from the motherboard by Fujitsu

Sorry
Admin

[Ivoch]

Hmm, but the PLL chip is still there and around it there aren't really any significant components missing. In fact, there are only two chips missing on the whole board and both are at the bottom left, next to the two PCI slots. One is apparently the creative audio chip and the other is next to it, a smaller one with 16 pins in a DIP/SOIC package. But now that I've looked at the manual again, I found this:

The Jumper Switch SW1 can be used to set the CPU Host
Bus Frequency Clock.
If CPU Clock = 66MHz
Core/Bus ratio = 3.5
then CPU core speed = Host Clock x Core/Bus ratio
= 66MHz x 3.5
= 233MHz

The switch SW1 is just below the CPU and of course is missing . What's worse is that there is no labeling on the board and the above text is the only place where the manual mentions it. The switch appears to have been a 4-bit DIP switch... The disabled FSB setting in BIOS has 9 different options - 66, 75, 83, 95, 100, 124, 129, 133, 138 MHz - if we assume the switch could only select the ones between 66 and 133, that means 3 of the 4 contacts were used for that and the 4th was used to change between switch and BIOS selection of the FSB. Since usually the first or last contact is used for that, I only really have two choices, so I guess I'll just try both and see what happens


[EDIT] Hmm, I've just read the manual for the 6198 mainboard, which uses the same chipset, almost the same layout (and the SW1 switch is in the same place) and is a normal MSI mainboard, not an OEM one. According to it, the SW1 switch is used to change the multiplier - there are 11 different settings listed, from 3 to 8 in 0.5 steps.. so I guess that won't be of any use either.

Bah, I can't find a non-OEM S370 µATX board on ebay to save my life! Apparently 99.9% of all µATX boards were OEM ones at the time

[1234s282]

Whats your current hardware setup?

Memory
CPU
Hard Drive (IDE OR SATA)

I could probably find you a new microatx board if you wanted. Tell me your price bracket and il take a look.

Regards
Admin

[Ivoch]

Well, this is for my win98 PC which I only really use to play old games with. I got this board for less than 10 bucks including shipping and that's how much I'd be willing to pay. So unless you are in Germany, I don't think it will work out. But thanks for the offer anyway


Why the need for fiddling with the CPU on such an unimportant PC? You see, there are some Windows games, which behave funky or outright run too fast on newer machines, so I want a CPU that's equivalent to a Pentium 2 at say 400MHz. On the other hand, some of the last games that don't work under Win7 x64 (probably made around 2000 or so) might need a bit faster CPU to run smoothly. And since the CPUs of the time were already (mostly) locked, I figured the best way to get the best of both worlds would be to get a Pentium 3 @800MHz and run it at either 400 or 800, depending on the game.

My room is rather small and cramped, so the best place to put this PC is a bit cramped too and I got a µATX case to fit just fine there. Hence my need for a µATX board.

I have a gazillion full-ATX boards that support Coppermines and have quite fine downclocking options, but judging by the eBay auctions, just about all µATX boards of the time were OEM ones.

My only requirements are an AGP slot, 3x PCI ones (or two with either an AMR slot or an empty space between them and the AGP slot), support for Coppermines with 133MHz FSB and the ability to switch between 66 and 133MHz FSB.

[1234s282]

Id just buy this!@

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/INTEL-D-2-66GHZ-C...439c1ef9b7

2.66ghz Celeron D with Motherboard! = $25

Admin

[TheWiz]

LOL, I agree, for Christmas.

TheWiz

[Ivoch]

Heh, I already have an E8400 with 4GB RAM and a 8800GT - what use would I have for a crappy netburst celeron, even if given for free