What exact RAM are you using? Is it verified working at 100fsb on that specific motherboard?

cyclone3d wrote on 2026-04-07, 00:23:

What exact RAM are you using? Is it verified working at 100fsb on that specific motherboard?

The label is a little blurry but I think it says 128 MB 133 MHZ

But I must say that I tried it with other memories, the funny thing is that I can boot as long as I don't open the JP7.

Although after trying it after about 4 hours the boot was possible with the JP7 open, then I was able to set the frequency to 450MHZ from the BIOS, saved the changes and rebooted but then it didn't boot anymore

Yeah, says 133Mhz.

Do you have the latest BIOS for the motherboard installed?

I would also try cleaning the edge connector on the CPU and the RAM if you haven't done so already.

What power supply are you using?

cyclone3d wrote on 2026-04-07, 06:12:

Yeah, says 133Mhz. […]
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Yeah, says 133Mhz.

Do you have the latest BIOS for the motherboard installed?

I would also try cleaning the edge connector on the CPU and the RAM if you haven't done so already.

What power supply are you using?

I installed BIOS version 2BAB available at https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/soyo-sy-6vba133

I previously cleaned the USB contacts with a steel wool pad, but I'm not sure if it's suitable for cleaning the CPU and RAM connectors.

This is the label on my power supply.

What are JP8 & JP9 set at?

Grem Five wrote on 2026-04-07, 08:23:

What are JP8 & JP9 set at?

The documentation says those jumpers are for setting the FSB. I just checked and confirmed that jumper JP8 is open and JP9 is closed. This means it's configured for a 100MHz FSB. However, the BIOS won't let me set it to 4.5 x 100MHz = 450MHz; the maximum value I can achieve is 4.5 x 83MHz = 374MHz.

vico wrote on 2026-04-07, 06:36:

I installed BIOS version 2BAB available at https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/soyo-sy-6vba133 […]
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cyclone3d wrote on 2026-04-07, 06:12:

Yeah, says 133Mhz. […]
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Yeah, says 133Mhz.

Do you have the latest BIOS for the motherboard installed?

I would also try cleaning the edge connector on the CPU and the RAM if you haven't done so already.

What power supply are you using?

I installed BIOS version 2BAB available at https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/soyo-sy-6vba133

I previously cleaned the USB contacts with a steel wool pad, but I'm not sure if it's suitable for cleaning the CPU and RAM connectors.

This is the label on my power supply.

Use a pencil eraser to clean the CPU and RAM contacts.

If that doesn't help, try a newer known good PSU (not junk brand) if you have one.

cyclone3d wrote on 2026-04-07, 17:44:

Use a pencil eraser to clean the CPU and RAM contacts.
If that doesn't help, try a newer known good PSU (not junk brand) if you have one.

I tried cleaning the processor contacts with an eraser, but it made no difference.
I also tried another CPU; I connected an SL3FJ to my Soyo SY-6VBA 133 and surprisingly, I was able to set its maximum frequency from the BIOS without needing to open JP7: 5.5 x 100 MHz = 550 MHz. The problem seems to occur only with the Deschutes.

Board and or BIOS incompatibility then most likely.

However, there are a couple more tricks to try.

1. Install the CPU and then clear the BIOS/CMOS via the clear jumper on the motherboard.
Sometimes CPU detection can be wonky and timings may not be correct if you just swap the CPU in without resetting the BIOS via the jumper.

2. Try setting the multiplier to 3.5 or 4 and then the fsb to 100. If that works, then try the 4.5 multiplier.

3. Try using a multiplier of 3 and 3.5 with the fsb at 133.

cyclone3d wrote on 2026-04-07, 21:34:

Board and or BIOS incompatibility then most likely. […]
Show full quote

Board and or BIOS incompatibility then most likely.

However, there are a couple more tricks to try.

1. Install the CPU and then clear the BIOS/CMOS via the clear jumper on the motherboard.
Sometimes CPU detection can be wonky and timings may not be correct if you just swap the CPU in without resetting the BIOS via the jumper.

2. Try setting the multiplier to 3.5 or 4 and then the fsb to 100. If that works, then try the 4.5 multiplier.

3. Try using a multiplier of 3 and 3.5 with the fsb at 133.

There's no way, I think this Deschutes is defective.

getting flashbacks of Pentium 3 slot 1 700mhz compatibility issue (?)
soyo have terrible bios refusing to enforce settings if it doesnt like cpuid Re: Pentium 3 slot 1 700mhz compatibility issue (?)