VOGONS


First post, by Matt The Cat

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Hey there, I am trying to get the best compatible CPU for this motherboard. It is a Biostar M6TBA Ver. 1.4 with the i440BX chipset and the latest BIOS update: TBA0602B from June 2nd, 2000.

Currently it is running a Pentium III 450MHz. I don't know too much about the different architecture, but from what I found out, this is a slot 1 CPU.
There is no manual available online or much specific detail on the 1.4 version, but there are a few forum posts. Although there is several pieces of documentation for the 1.3 version.

Anyway, from reading up, I found that the CPU socket type should be Slot 1, in theory. Assuming that wasn't changed from board version 1.3.
For example, board version 1.3 documentation specifies max RAM size at 384MB, but I have maxed out my RAM at 786MB.
Additionally, I looked into Slot 1 to Socket 370 converters.

What I would really like is a CPU supporting SSE2, but I am pretty sure that is impossible with this mother board and that no socket converters exist that would allow a Pentium 4 or higher.
My current specs are:
Biostar M6TBA Ver 1.4
2 IDE hard drives (One 8GB running extended kernel Win2K, and One 60GB running Win7. But I have to manually swap connections and power)
i740 AGP GPU (unused but left in because the system wont display/work properly with it taken out)
PNY NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
3 SDR UDIMM sticks (maxed out at 786MB usable RAM)
Pentium III 450 MHz (Katmai? But this is what I want to replace)

Celeron and Pentium series CPUs seem to be the prime target for potential.

Overall, if you could help me find what the fastest natively supported slot 1(?) CPU is, that would be great. And if there are any additional steps like flipping switches on the board, because I am a real newb.
Additionally, if you could help me find what slot 1 to Socket 370 converter I would need for the best results, and what fastest CPU I could use with it is, that would be awesome.
Lastly, if any of you know of a way I could get an SSE2 supporting CPU to work (maybe a slot 1 or socket 370 CPU if that exists...)

To reiterate: I want to get the max speed CPU (without overclocking) to the best natively supported and/or what slot 1 to Socket 370 converter I need (and what is the fastest CPU I can use with it).

Reply 1 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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My biggest concern now is the voltage requirement.

I ordered an Intel Tualatin Celeron 1.4GHz(256K) 100MHz FSB 1.5v with On-chip Socket Adapter for Coppermine sockets
https://www.ebay.com/itm/281931957654
the seller lists the Biostar M6TBA as compatible with the right slotket.

Should the MSI MS6905 Master v2 Slotket with VID as low as 1.5v work with this CPU and mobo?

I am concerned about the voltage requirement because I don't know if my Biostar M6TBA Ver. 1.4 is able to work with VID on the Slotket of 1.5v.

I am pretty sure the board it self is from sometime in '99, and it has an award bios update from June 2nd 2000.

Reply 2 of 27, by PARKE

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Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-10, 22:22:
My biggest concern now is the voltage requirement. I ordered an Intel Tualatin Celeron 1.4GHz(256K) 100MHz FSB 1.5v with On-chip […]
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My biggest concern now is the voltage requirement.
I ordered an Intel Tualatin Celeron 1.4GHz(256K) 100MHz FSB 1.5v with On-chip Socket Adapter for Coppermine sockets
https://www.ebay.com/itm/281931957654
the seller lists the Biostar M6TBA as compatible with the right slotket.
Should the MSI MS6905 Master v2 Slotket with VID as low as 1.5v work with this CPU and mobo?
I am concerned about the voltage requirement because I don't know if my Biostar M6TBA Ver. 1.4 is able to work with VID on the Slotket of 1.5v.

MSI MS6905 Master has a good reputation but the version 2 was followed up by three revisions in a short time span. Over time I ran into a couple of reports on instability of version 2 so it may be hit and miss. If I had the choice I would go for version 2.1 or version 2.3 with the latest date stamps.

The attachment stamp2.jpg is no longer available

Reply 3 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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PARKE wrote on 2025-04-11, 08:13:
Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-10, 22:22:
My biggest concern now is the voltage requirement. I ordered an Intel Tualatin Celeron 1.4GHz(256K) 100MHz FSB 1.5v with On-chip […]
Show full quote

My biggest concern now is the voltage requirement.
I ordered an Intel Tualatin Celeron 1.4GHz(256K) 100MHz FSB 1.5v with On-chip Socket Adapter for Coppermine sockets
https://www.ebay.com/itm/281931957654
the seller lists the Biostar M6TBA as compatible with the right slotket.
Should the MSI MS6905 Master v2 Slotket with VID as low as 1.5v work with this CPU and mobo?
I am concerned about the voltage requirement because I don't know if my Biostar M6TBA Ver. 1.4 is able to work with VID on the Slotket of 1.5v.

MSI MS6905 Master has a good reputation but the version 2 was followed up by three revisions in a short time span. Over time I ran into a couple of reports on instability of version 2 so it may be hit and miss. If I had the choice I would go for version 2.1 or version 2.3 with the latest date stamps.

The attachment stamp2.jpg is no longer available

I don't think it would make difference since my boards regulators can't handle 1.5 volts? I don't know...

Reply 4 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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Also, I already bought a ver 2.0, but the seller seemed fishy, so it may never show up.

Reply 6 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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MikeSG wrote on 2025-04-11, 11:45:

Don't know if you've seen this... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_P … _III_processors

This lays out all P3 compatible CPUs... Tualatins have more L2 cache which is a big boost. Katmai L2 cache runs at 50% clock speed, whereas Coppermine & Tualatin run at full speed.

Thank you.
I think I have seen this, but yeah. My motherboards voltage regulator is designed for 1.8 to 2.8 volts. LX1664CD

So I may, in a while, get a Celeron Coppermine 1100/128/100/1.75v (close enough to 1.8v shouldn't be a problem)
But the 1.5 volts 1.4Ghz Tualatin might cause issue issues with my voltage regulator?

And if the MSI MS6905 Master V2 shows I'll use that, if not I'll probably go with a generic coppermine Slotket. Do you suppose it would need VID jumpers or should it do fine with a jumperless slotket?

I can't return the Tualatin because of... conditions I won't discuss here... but I won't be able to use it without a Powerleap PL-iP3/T since that has an on board voltage regulator...

Reply 7 of 27, by PARKE

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Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-11, 12:03:
I think I have seen this, but yeah. My motherboards voltage regulator is designed for 1.8 to 2.8 volts. LX1664CD So I may, in a […]
Show full quote

I think I have seen this, but yeah. My motherboards voltage regulator is designed for 1.8 to 2.8 volts. LX1664CD
So I may, in a while, get a Celeron Coppermine 1100/128/100/1.75v (close enough to 1.8v shouldn't be a problem)
But the 1.5 volts 1.4Ghz Tualatin might cause issue issues with my voltage regulator?
And if the MSI MS6905 Master V2 shows I'll use that, if not I'll probably go with a generic coppermine Slotket. Do you suppose it would need VID jumpers or should it do fine with a jumperless slotket?
I can't return the Tualatin because of... conditions I won't discuss here... but I won't be able to use it without a Powerleap PL-iP3/T since that has an on board voltage regulator...

-A Tualatin will not live long at 1.8 volts.
-You cannot use a slotket without voltage jumpers because your motherboard will not boot with a cpu with lower voltage than 1.8 volts and the slotket has to be configured to send an 1.8 volt signal so that the motherboard 'thinks' there is an 1.8 volt cpu installed.

Reply 9 of 27, by bloodem

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Matth79 wrote on 2025-04-11, 19:00:

https://youtu.be/kbM-yCnkh8M?si=4ZYyh1rbmDESgtcE I wonder if any other boards could be possible to power mod

You can do it on most boards. It’s just a matter of finding a suitable upgrade for the vcore buck controller chip.
I upgraded it on multiple boards such as the Gigabyte GA-6BXC rev 1.9 and the Amptron PII-3100, and they work great with every chip, including modded Tualatin 1.4 GHz CPUs (even though the Amptron has an older BIOS which doesn’t support the Tualatin at all).

2 x PLCC-68 / 4 x PGA132 / 5 x Skt 3 / 1 x Skt 4 / 9 x Skt 7 / 12 x SS7 / 1 x Skt 8 / 14 x Slot 1 / 6 x Slot A
5 x Skt 370 / 8 x Skt A / 2 x Skt 478 / 2 x Skt 754 / 3 x Skt 939 / 7 x LGA775 / 1 x LGA1155
Current PC: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Backup: Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Reply 10 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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bloodem wrote on 2025-04-11, 19:20:
Matth79 wrote on 2025-04-11, 19:00:

https://youtu.be/kbM-yCnkh8M?si=4ZYyh1rbmDESgtcE I wonder if any other boards could be possible to power mod

You can do it on most boards. It’s just a matter of finding a suitable upgrade for the vcore buck controller chip.
I upgraded it on multiple boards such as the Gigabyte GA-6BXC rev 1.9 and the Amptron PII-3100, and they work great with every chip, including modded Tualatin 1.4 GHz CPUs (even though the Amptron has an older BIOS which doesn’t support the Tualatin at all).

That may be beyond my abilities at the moment, but that is a great idea. I was also told my board uses faulty capacitors that are imminent for failure at any moment. But I will use it up until its end, or maybe save it by replacing the capacitors at a time which I am capable.

In the meantime I will try a Coppermine Celeron 1400/128/100/1.75v with the MSI MS6905 Master v2 if it arrives, or an alternative coppermine slotket with voltage jumpers to at least 1.8v.

It will be a while before I can see if it works because of circumstances.

Reply 11 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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I did check, no bulging or leaking capacitors yet, and I haven't had any weird graphics or performance issues/crashes.

Reply 12 of 27, by VooGonis

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Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-11, 20:33:
That may be beyond my abilities at the moment, but that is a great idea. I was also told my board uses faulty capacitors that ar […]
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bloodem wrote on 2025-04-11, 19:20:
Matth79 wrote on 2025-04-11, 19:00:

https://youtu.be/kbM-yCnkh8M?si=4ZYyh1rbmDESgtcE I wonder if any other boards could be possible to power mod

You can do it on most boards. It’s just a matter of finding a suitable upgrade for the vcore buck controller chip.
I upgraded it on multiple boards such as the Gigabyte GA-6BXC rev 1.9 and the Amptron PII-3100, and they work great with every chip, including modded Tualatin 1.4 GHz CPUs (even though the Amptron has an older BIOS which doesn’t support the Tualatin at all).

That may be beyond my abilities at the moment, but that is a great idea. I was also told my board uses faulty capacitors that are imminent for failure at any moment. But I will use it up until its end, or maybe save it by replacing the capacitors at a time which I am capable.

In the meantime I will try a Coppermine Celeron 1400/128/100/1.75v with the MSI MS6905 Master v2 if it arrives, or an alternative coppermine slotket with voltage jumpers to at least 1.8v.

It will be a while before I can see if it works because of circumstances.

Do you mean the Tualatin Celeron 1400/128/100/ 1.5 V (not 1.75 V) ? By the voltage mentioned though, I believe you meant Coppermine Celeron SL5QW 1100/128/100 (100x11.0) - 1.75v.

Reply 13 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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VooGonis wrote on 2025-04-11, 21:30:
Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-11, 20:33:
That may be beyond my abilities at the moment, but that is a great idea. I was also told my board uses faulty capacitors that ar […]
Show full quote
bloodem wrote on 2025-04-11, 19:20:

You can do it on most boards. It’s just a matter of finding a suitable upgrade for the vcore buck controller chip.
I upgraded it on multiple boards such as the Gigabyte GA-6BXC rev 1.9 and the Amptron PII-3100, and they work great with every chip, including modded Tualatin 1.4 GHz CPUs (even though the Amptron has an older BIOS which doesn’t support the Tualatin at all).

That may be beyond my abilities at the moment, but that is a great idea. I was also told my board uses faulty capacitors that are imminent for failure at any moment. But I will use it up until its end, or maybe save it by replacing the capacitors at a time which I am capable.

In the meantime I will try a Coppermine Celeron 1400/128/100/1.75v with the MSI MS6905 Master v2 if it arrives, or an alternative coppermine slotket with voltage jumpers to at least 1.8v.

It will be a while before I can see if it works because of circumstances.

Do you mean the Tualatin Celeron 1400/128/100/ 1.5 V (not 1.75 V) ? By the voltage mentioned though, I believe you meant Coppermine Celeron SL5QW 1100/128/100 (100x11.0) - 1.75v.

I meant to say the 1100, sorry about that.

Reply 14 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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SL5XU Celeron Coppermine.

Reply 16 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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PARKE wrote on 2025-04-12, 10:25:
Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-11, 12:03:

I think I have seen this, but yeah. My motherboards voltage regulator is designed for 1.8 to 2.8 volts. LX1664CD

According to the spec sheet of the LX1664 it supports the range from 1.3 volt to 3.5 volt.
https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d2200 … LX1664%2065.pdf

Weird this page and whatever chatgpt sourced (which may have been this or a similar page) says 1.8 to 2.8? I wonder what's up with that...

https://www.digikey.be/en/products/detail/mic … LX1664CD/701532

Reply 17 of 27, by Grem Five

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Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-12, 15:56:
PARKE wrote on 2025-04-12, 10:25:
Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-11, 12:03:

I think I have seen this, but yeah. My motherboards voltage regulator is designed for 1.8 to 2.8 volts. LX1664CD

According to the spec sheet of the LX1664 it supports the range from 1.3 volt to 3.5 volt.
https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d2200 … LX1664%2065.pdf

Weird this page and whatever chatgpt sourced (which may have been this or a similar page) says 1.8 to 2.8? I wonder what's up with that...

https://www.digikey.be/en/products/detail/mic … LX1664CD/701532

I would guess the link you provided is for LX1664CD which is based on LX1664 but not identical in output.

Reply 18 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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Grem Five wrote on 2025-04-12, 16:04:
Matt The Cat wrote on 2025-04-12, 15:56:
PARKE wrote on 2025-04-12, 10:25:

According to the spec sheet of the LX1664 it supports the range from 1.3 volt to 3.5 volt.
https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d2200 … LX1664%2065.pdf

Weird this page and whatever chatgpt sourced (which may have been this or a similar page) says 1.8 to 2.8? I wonder what's up with that...

https://www.digikey.be/en/products/detail/mic … LX1664CD/701532

I would guess the link you provided is for LX1664CD which is based on LX1664 but not identical in output.

And the chip on my board is LX1664CD, so it is safe to assume I can't handle a CPU of 1.5v?

Reply 19 of 27, by Matt The Cat

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Also the spec sheet you sent includes: Regulation Accuracy 1.8V≤VOUT ≤2.8V