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Larry Scroggs <[log in to unmask]>
Sun, 20 Jan 2002 10:07:55 -0700
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Hello to all
I recently bought a CPU upgrade device from PowerLeap (PL-iP3/T) (www.powerleap.com) to upgrade my Slot 1 Gateway Pentium II 400 up to a Celeron™ (Tualatin) processor with 256K L2 cache running at 1.2 GHz on a 100 MHz bus. I have upgraded the motherboard's (Tabor MP440BX) BIOS to Gateway's latest version (4M4PB0X1.15A.0033.P21) but cannot get the device to POST.

 When I install the adapter and start the machine it powers up, the LED on the adapter device lights up indicating it is receiving power, the HD light lights up for several seconds indicating activity, but the machine never POSTs. PowerLeap suggested that I may not be pressing the adapter fully into the MB but I have made sure that it is fully seated. The adapter has an auto sensing unit which sets the FSB speed and voltage for the type of CPU chip. This can be overridden with manual settings which I have also tried with no success. 

A search of the newsgroups tells me that several others with my MB and CPU have successfully upgraded with the adapter so I know it is possible. It is very frustrating not being able to get my system to work with this device but I'm not sure what the problem could be. After further research, I have seen some references to a lack of adequate power from the power supply. Is this possibly the culprit? This machine (Gateway E4200) was purchased in August 1999 with Windows 98SE and with a Pentium II 400, 96MB RAM, DVD, ZIP, and CD drives, as well as the standard floppy and 13.6GB HD. It came with a network card and a 56K modem. The video was an 8MB ATI AGP Rage 8MB card and the sound from a Creative SoundBlaster Audio PCI 128D. The power supply is 200 watts. 

I changed to Windows Me and have disconnected the ZIP drive but now have the original 13.6GB 5600RPM HD and a 60GB 7200RPM HD. I swapped the CD drive for a CD-RW and still have the DVD drive. I pulled the original video card and installed a Hercules 3D Prophet 4500 w/64MB of memory. I raised the RAM up to 384MB. The original soundcard, modem, and network cards remain in place. I realize that the present load on the power supply is greater than the original but the machine runs well with no problems. Is the addition of the adapter and its Celeron 1.2 GHz chip the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back"?

Any advice would be appreciated as I am not presently in a position to buy a new machine and look on this adapter as a way to triple my CPU speed for $169. If I need a more powerful power supply can I just swap my Gateway unit out for another one that will fit in the same place without modification?

Thanks for any advice.

Larry Scroggs
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