The motherboard may need a bios update to correctly support the Pentium III, do you have the model of the motherboard, its possible someone here might have the newest BIOS or know where you can get it from.

The fact it booted when you put it into the board is a good sign that it'll work with the right BIOS, the "Unknown" is also a sign its in need of a newer BIOS version.

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:11:

The motherboard may need a bios update to correctly support the Pentium III, do you have the model of the motherboard, its possible someone here might have the newest BIOS or know where you can get it from.

The fact it booted when you put it into the board is a good sign that it'll work with the right BIOS, the "Unknown" is also a sign its in need of a newer BIOS version.

Thanks for your response in theory the BIOS is The last for this Motherboard but if you know other information it's welcome. The model of this Motherboard it's FIC VB-609.

Shiver_169 wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:43:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:11:

The motherboard may need a bios update to correctly support the Pentium III, do you have the model of the motherboard, its possible someone here might have the newest BIOS or know where you can get it from.

The fact it booted when you put it into the board is a good sign that it'll work with the right BIOS, the "Unknown" is also a sign its in need of a newer BIOS version.

Thanks for your response in theory the BIOS is The last for this Motherboard but if you know other information it's welcome. The model of this Motherboard it's FIC VB-609.

Apparently it already supports Pentium III Katmai CPUs, hmm what version of the BIOS do you have ?

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:53:

Shiver_169 wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:43:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:11:

The motherboard may need a bios update to correctly support the Pentium III, do you have the model of the motherboard, its possible someone here might have the newest BIOS or know where you can get it from.

The fact it booted when you put it into the board is a good sign that it'll work with the right BIOS, the "Unknown" is also a sign its in need of a newer BIOS version.

Thanks for your response in theory the BIOS is The last for this Motherboard but if you know other information it's welcome. The model of this Motherboard it's FIC VB-609.

Apparently it already supports Pentium III Katmai CPUs, hmm what version of the BIOS do you have ?

Yes, I read the same info.

The BIOS version is HT.1.0.8.

Shiver_169 wrote on 2022-11-02, 06:07:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:53:

Shiver_169 wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:43:

Thanks for your response in theory the BIOS is The last for this Motherboard but if you know other information it's welcome. The model of this Motherboard it's FIC VB-609.

Apparently it already supports Pentium III Katmai CPUs, hmm what version of the BIOS do you have ?

Yes, I read the same info.

The BIOS version is HT.1.0.8.

Think this might be a limitation of the HP OEM bios - can't see any mention of cpu microcode support for anything beyond Deschutes (Pentium II) in the bios notes, and yes HT.01.08 is the latest version HP released.

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2022-11-03, 02:14:

Shiver_169 wrote on 2022-11-02, 06:07:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-11-02, 05:53:

Apparently it already supports Pentium III Katmai CPUs, hmm what version of the BIOS do you have ?

Yes, I read the same info.

The BIOS version is HT.1.0.8.

Think this might be a limitation of the HP OEM bios - can't see any mention of cpu microcode support for anything beyond Deschutes (Pentium II) in the bios notes, and yes HT.01.08 is the latest version HP released.

Ok this is a sad new. Will exist any form to flash the BIOS with not HP OEM version? comment this because in theory the FIC VB-609 motherboard it's compatible with the processor.

Edit: Searching more information find this pague with BIOS for the Intel Chipset but I don't know if working here the site. http://www.jetway.com.tw/evisn/download/bios/index.htm

There are tools for updating microcode live in linux https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/devel … crocode-os.html , Windows 10 can do it while booting. But Im not aware of nay DOS microcode updaters.

same problem 20 years ago https://www.wimsbios.com/forum/hard-drive-isn … -ve8-t1880.html

rasz_pl wrote on 2022-11-03, 05:43:

There are tools for updating microcode live in linux https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/devel … crocode-os.html , Windows 10 can do it while booting. But Im not aware of nay DOS microcode updaters.

same problem 20 years ago https://www.wimsbios.com/forum/hard-drive-isn … -ve8-t1880.html

Alright this is a dead end. I investigate in other forums and even updating the microcode nothing warranty the processor function.

But in this case I want the best processor with support for this Motherboard any recommendations?

Shiver_169 wrote on 2022-11-03, 11:59:

rasz_pl wrote on 2022-11-03, 05:43:

There are tools for updating microcode live in linux https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/devel … crocode-os.html , Windows 10 can do it while booting. But Im not aware of nay DOS microcode updaters.

same problem 20 years ago https://www.wimsbios.com/forum/hard-drive-isn … -ve8-t1880.html

Alright this is a dead end. I investigate in other forums and even updating the microcode nothing warranty the processor function.

But in this case I want the best processor with support for this Motherboard any recommendations?

Here's a similar thread to the one linked by @rasz_pl - https://www.wimsbios.com/forum/cpu-isn-recogn … code-t8059.html

The FIC bioses for the board kind of improves the cpu problem but break other things, so eventually they ended up modding the microcode on the HP bios for PIII support, though sadly they didn't detail the exact tools / process used.

In terms of best processor support, based on the HP bios notes it looks as if the last meaningful updates to the microcode were...

HT.1.0.6. - added PII Deschutes b1 stepping support
HT.1.0.7. - added Celeron Mendocino a0 stepping support

...so probably a PII 450MHz

You can get around the BIOS HDD size limit by using a PCI IDE adapter (ATA 66/100).

The fastest CPU your board supports is Mendocino Celeron at 550Mhz (366 overclocked to 100Mhz bus). That should be faster than PII 450 which is rare and expensive. You would need a couple of Mendocinos and slotket with jumpers for voltage. That could be the backup plan if you don't get PIII 500 working.

AlexZ wrote on 2022-11-03, 17:29:

You can get around the BIOS HDD size limit by using a PCI IDE adapter (ATA 66/100).

The fastest CPU your board supports is Mendocino Celeron at 550Mhz (366 overclocked to 100Mhz bus). That should be faster than PII 450 which is rare and expensive. You would need a couple of Mendocinos and slotket with jumpers for voltage. That could be the backup plan if you don't get PIII 500 working.

Thanks for your response and help, here in México this equipment it's trash and only a limited number of people use this for fun or collect on the marketplace Facebook discover a jewels of equipments. With this context purchase on 20 USD a PII 450 Mhz (tomorrow arrives) and a PCI ATA/133and with this this PC it's a rocket launcher for Retro Games with My ATI Radeon 9200 128 MB.

Thanks so much guys.

Shiver_169 wrote on 2022-11-04, 06:09:

it's a rocket launcher for Retro Games with My ATI Radeon 9200 128 MB.

For DOS games an Nvidia graphics card is preferred for much better compatibility than ATI.