Intel advanced/zp dead L2 cache? \ VOGONS

Intel advanced/zp dead L2 cache?

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First post, by Tyrhus

Posted on 2024-08-16, 11:28

Tyrhus Offline

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Rank: Newbie
Posts: 40
Joined: 2022-10-15, 11:58

In a previous post I revived a non posting Intel MB.

Now I have another problem, the L2 cache isn't detected in bios nor by utilities such as cachechck or speedsys.

I use 32mb of Edo ram.

Inside the bios external cache is written as n/a and the cache page only allows me to enable the internal cpu cache.

I tried tweak bios but I can only alter l2 timmings.

Edit:
Altering L2 trimmings and tweaks in tweak bios result in different memory scores in cache check, from 61mb/s main memory to 73mb/s

Could it be that it's working but not detected?

Also the cache chips seems cold to the touch.

What should I investigate?

Running benchmarks I get 50fps in doom and 24 in quake

Reply 1 of 4, by Riikcakirds

Posted on 2024-08-16, 15:51

Riikcakirds Offline

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Posts: 298
Joined: 2020-11-02, 18:18

I would check you have the exact MR-BIOS for the board.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtPso … yPGXZOp8ZeyuFf8 This lists 8 bioses for Intel Zappa and with newer versions up to 3.46
Even though the bios is soldered on these boards it is safe to flash them with the boot block jumpers in protected mode (never in recovery mode).
I flashed about 10 different versions of Mr-bioses on an Intel/Advanced Endeavor board doing this until I found the best one with everything working.
Of course make a backup of you current working mr-bios so you can use boot block recovery mode if a bios flash doesn't work.

Reply 2 of 4, by Tyrhus

Posted on 2024-08-16, 16:53

Tyrhus Offline

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Rank: Newbie
Posts: 40
Joined: 2022-10-15, 11:58

Riikcakirds wrote on 2024-08-16, 15:51:
I would check you have the exact MR-BIOS for the board. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtPso … yPGXZOp8ZeyuFf8 This li […]
Show full quote

I would check you have the exact MR-BIOS for the board.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtPso … yPGXZOp8ZeyuFf8 This lists 8 bioses for Intel Zappa and with newer versions up to 3.46
Even though the bios is soldered on these boards it is safe to flash them with the boot block jumpers in protected mode (never in recovery mode).
I flashed about 10 different versions of Mr-bioses on an Intel/Advanced Endeavor board doing this until I found the best one with everything working.
Of course make a backup of you current working mr-bios so you can use boot block recovery mode if a bios flash doesn't work.

Hello and thanks for taking time to help me.

I tried mr bios 3.46 a,nd 3.28 and it doesnt change my cache situation.
I think i tried all mr bios available for my MB.
The weird thing is why intel/vobis/gateway flash result in a mb not posting?

Reply 3 of 4, by Riikcakirds

Posted on 2024-08-16, 21:19

Riikcakirds Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 298
Joined: 2020-11-02, 18:18

Tyrhus wrote on 2024-08-16, 16:53:
Hello and thanks for taking time to help me. […]
Show full quote

Riikcakirds wrote on 2024-08-16, 15:51:
I would check you have the exact MR-BIOS for the board. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtPso … yPGXZOp8ZeyuFf8 This li […]
Show full quote

I would check you have the exact MR-BIOS for the board.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtPso … yPGXZOp8ZeyuFf8 This lists 8 bioses for Intel Zappa and with newer versions up to 3.46
Even though the bios is soldered on these boards it is safe to flash them with the boot block jumpers in protected mode (never in recovery mode).
I flashed about 10 different versions of Mr-bioses on an Intel/Advanced Endeavor board doing this until I found the best one with everything working.
Of course make a backup of you current working mr-bios so you can use boot block recovery mode if a bios flash doesn't work.

Hello and thanks for taking time to help me.

I tried mr bios 3.46 a,nd 3.28 and it doesnt change my cache situation.
I think i tried all mr bios available for my MB.
The weird thing is why intel/vobis/gateway flash result in a mb not posting?

Not sure of Intel/Vobis but some gateway versions of the Zappa came with only Pipeline Bust cache soldered on board. That bios may have problems on Zappa boards with standard non-pbc cache.

Reply 4 of 4, by Tyrhus

Posted on 2024-08-17, 04:17

Tyrhus Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 40
Joined: 2022-10-15, 11:58

Riikcakirds wrote on 2024-08-16, 21:19:

Tyrhus wrote on 2024-08-16, 16:53:
Hello and thanks for taking time to help me. […]
Show full quote

Riikcakirds wrote on 2024-08-16, 15:51:
I would check you have the exact MR-BIOS for the board. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtPso … yPGXZOp8ZeyuFf8 This li […]
Show full quote

I would check you have the exact MR-BIOS for the board.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtPso … yPGXZOp8ZeyuFf8 This lists 8 bioses for Intel Zappa and with newer versions up to 3.46
Even though the bios is soldered on these boards it is safe to flash them with the boot block jumpers in protected mode (never in recovery mode).
I flashed about 10 different versions of Mr-bioses on an Intel/Advanced Endeavor board doing this until I found the best one with everything working.
Of course make a backup of you current working mr-bios so you can use boot block recovery mode if a bios flash doesn't work.

Hello and thanks for taking time to help me.

I tried mr bios 3.46 a,nd 3.28 and it doesnt change my cache situation.
I think i tried all mr bios available for my MB.
The weird thing is why intel/vobis/gateway flash result in a mb not posting?

Not sure of Intel/Vobis but some gateway versions of the Zappa came with only Pipeline Bust cache soldered on board. That bios may have problems on Zappa boards with standard non-pbc cache.

Oh?

Well my board look like it has SRAM soldered, is there also PB?

I also found the exact same MB with the same serial number on eBay and it has an Intel v 1.0.0.2bs0 bios. If I install it using the recovery switch, I get a black screen and no post. If I try to install it with a bootable disk without the recovery, the intel utility complains my board doesn't support flashing while Mr bios utility can install the same without nay problem.

I want to try uniflash, but I m a bit scared to flash the bios and the boot lock. Os it the way to do it?

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