[SOLVED] Pentium III CPU does not boot... \ VOGONS

[SOLVED] Pentium III CPU does not boot...

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First post, by analog_programmer

Posted on 2024-01-15, 17:51

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Recently I got one socket 370 Pentium III 800EB SL3Y2 - 256 KB cache, 133 MHz FSB, 1.65 V. It looks perfectly fine - no cracks or chips on the crystal, no bent pins.

Now I decided to give it a try, but the motherboard wouldn't start with it. I put a POST-test card in PCI slot and it's showing no post codes ("--, --") and RESET signal LED is permanently lit.

I have another one known good socket 370 Pentium III 800EB, but it is SL4MB - 256 KB cache, 133 MHz FSB, 1.7 V and when I install this one in the very same mobo it boots with no problems. Also tested one Celeron 633 - boots fine. When I put the PIII SL3Y2 nothing happens, the POST card shows nothing, but permanent RESET signal.

Is it possible that the system doesn't start with the tested processor due to lack of some microcodes in the mobo's BIOS or am I just trying to test a dead CPU?

Last edited by analog_programmer on 2024-01-29, 01:55. Edited 1 time in total.

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Reply 1 of 6, by PD2JK

Posted on 2024-01-15, 17:59

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Which mainboard?
Do you have the latest BIOS?
Do you have another FCPGA capable (VRM 8.4) board laying around?

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Reply 2 of 6, by Ryccardo

Posted on 2024-01-15, 18:02

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Shouldn't be a microcode problem, that comes comparatively much later in the boot process and in any case would be a completely artificial restriction (in other words it's in the bios, and if reset is stuck, the ROM hasn't even started being read) 😀

SL4MB is a newer version of the SLY32 according to https://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SL4MB.html, but again I doubt anything would care this early...

Reply 3 of 6, by analog_programmer

Posted on 2024-01-15, 18:06

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PD2JK wrote on 2024-01-15, 17:59:

Which mainboard?
Do you have the latest BIOS?
Do you have another FCPGA capable (VRM 8.4) board laying around?

The mobo is Polaris iVB-A (reberanded PCPartner) with latest BIOS ver. 1.10. I have another s.370 board, but't is in process of recap-ing, so right now I can not use it for tests.

Reply 4 of 6, by PD2JK

Posted on 2024-01-15, 18:12

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Dirty or black pins? Otherwise I think it's dead.

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Reply 5 of 6, by analog_programmer

Posted on 2024-01-15, 18:13

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Ryccardo wrote on 2024-01-15, 18:02:

Shouldn't be a microcode problem, that comes comparatively much later in the boot process and in any case would be a completely artificial restriction (in other words it's in the bios, and if reset is stuck, the ROM hasn't even started being read) 😀

SL4MB is a newer version of the SLY32 according to https://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SL4MB.html, but again I doubt anything would care this early...

Thanks for this info. Now I see, there will be no need to test it with other motherboards. So this PIII is dead for sure, yet not born keyholder.

This is the first time I've come across a burnt out processor of any kind.

Reply 6 of 6, by analog_programmer

Posted on 2024-01-15, 18:14

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PD2JK wrote on 2024-01-15, 18:12:

Dirty or black pins? Otherwise I think it's dead.

Nope. Looks perfectly clean and fine. So it's dead (burnt).

Thanks for your comments.

Case closed.

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