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Help me work out what CPU I have

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First post, by Almoststew1990

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I've got an MSI MS6217 (MSI KT4V) Socket A motherboard. The POST is reporting this as an Athlon 1500+ and I swear it was a 1700+ and I don't think the 1500 exists, according to the motherboard CPU support page?!

I would just check the CPU itself but the cooler is not coming off. It's got a proper Socket A "3 latches" one and it is incredibly stiff, and as I am selling the board / CPU / RAM combo I don't want to break it. So I am trying to be a detective to work out what the CPU actually is without taking the cooler off.

If i adjust the multi or FSB, it will just adjust the name of the CPU (this must have been great for dodgy people selling overclocked systems as stock clocked more expensive systems...)

Is there any way to work out what the CPU actually is without getting the cooler off?

Ryzen 3700X | 16GB 3600MHz RAM | AMD 6800XT | 2Tb NVME SSD | Windows 10
AMD DX2-80 | 16MB RAM | STB LIghtspeed 128 | AWE32 CT3910
I have a vacancy for a main Windows 98 PC

Reply 2 of 5, by derSammler

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You can't tell the difference between an Athlon 1500+ and an Athlon 1700+ by software, since they are identical in hardware. As you noticed yourself:

If i adjust the multi or FSB, it will just adjust the name of the CPU

You need to remove the heatsink.

Reply 3 of 5, by Almoststew1990

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I got the heatsink off as it became more... flexible after removing the fan and fan mount. It's a 2100+

Ryzen 3700X | 16GB 3600MHz RAM | AMD 6800XT | 2Tb NVME SSD | Windows 10
AMD DX2-80 | 16MB RAM | STB LIghtspeed 128 | AWE32 CT3910
I have a vacancy for a main Windows 98 PC

Reply 5 of 5, by Matth79

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The 2100+ is a 13x multiplier over 133 (DDR266) FSB (real clock speed 1733)
1500+ is 10x multiplier, real clock speed 1333 - so if the FSB is mis set to 100, 13x 100 is a real clock of 1300.... close enough to be miscounted as a 1500+

Some boards set the FSB in BIOS, others in links, some let you choose either - and link setting means you get the right speed even after clear CMOS

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