HP Pavilion PC a6142n Fastest CPU

[NonSequitur777]

@CraigInAlex,

That sounds like a wonderful deal to me.

Yea, I also rejoice -so to speak, for occasionally partaking of remarkable eBay deals!

So, am I to understand that the item has been ordered and is on its way?

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

@CraigInAlex,

And I quote: ". . .i have no clue as i am simply a picker and try to share the treasures".

Looks like it is still for sale, you probably don't want to wait too long...  This motherboard + processor + RAM sticks appear to be in very good condition -for example, from what I can see, the capacitors aren't bulging or leaking, etc.

[EDIT:] Since this is DDR2 RAM, the RAM is either 4 x 2GB or 4 x 1GB RAM (either 8 x 250MB or 8 x 125MB memory chips per RAM stick).

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[CraigInAlex]

I have not ordered yet because I'm waiting for him to commit to either an anti-static bag or wrapping multiple times with aluminum foil.  I gave him about 4000 characters of advice on caring for sensitive electronics and computer parts.  I told him he should use them on all of his motherboards and sensitive electronics, even those that are stated as: "Not working.  For parts only."  No reply, so I told him more about why and that I insist.  That it would only take 5 extra minutes of his time.  I'm waiting for a reply.

His listing says: "Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended," even though he says he did not test it.  I told him the only way to insure that it arrives in the stated working condition is to protect it in the ways mentioned.  We'll see if he commits or not, but he won't sell it if he doesn't.  I will not pay shipping twice to get $25 back.  $30 for that is not worth it.  And the CPU and RAM may be good even if the board isn't.  I told him I really wanted to buy it, but it must be protected.

I saw the listing long before I decided to contact him because he said it is not tested and indicated that he's a novice.  I doubt it will be sold before he commits, but he would not agree to pay for return shipping for a DOA product, which could be DOA from the way he ships it.  If I buy it, I'll deal with how much RAM is in it.  I have 2x 1GB in mine now, so if that doesn't add in well, I'll order 4 of what I want.  Considering it has a 6000+, the installed RAM may be considerably high.  He has a full 5 Star standing from 3 reviews and I told him, Let's keep it that way.  He's in Illinois, so it wouldn't take long to get here...  if I buy it.

[CraigInAlex]

He still did not reply, so I went ahead and bought it.  It should be here on May 9.  I was going to send another message telling him this →, but decided not to.  If I receive the motherboard DOA because he would not protect it, I will report him to eBay at the highest level I can.  I will copy our entire conversation to show them how I tried to get him to protect it, and then demand the purchase price, sales tax and shipping refunded.  If eBay cannot or will not do that, I will take it up with my bank and show them how hard I tried to get him to protect it and try to have them refund my total purchase amount because 1) He would not protect it and 2) Because the listing says, and I quote: "Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended."  So according to that, it should have been in perfect working order, had it been protected.  I should still be able to do that even if he decides to protect in some fashion, whether it should have been effective or not, because of how the listing was posted, "is fully operational and functions as intended."  More later.  Thanks again.

[CraigInAlex]

The motherboard came in a day or two ago and I thought it was DOA and I've been working with it all this time.  I got all the issues fixed and it boots to WinXP Pro 32 bit now, but it has BIOS V5.36, 11/19/2008 installed while V5.27, 8/4/2008 is the last one on the HP Downloads page.  I downloaded V5.27 before, but would have to install Vista to use it.

The motherboard will accept all four 1GB RAM sticks with the 4400+ installed and it boots, but slot 2 has to be removed with the 6000+ installed.  Do you think I could go backwards and install BIOS V5.27 if I install Vista?  The RAM that came with it is hynix (4 GB, 4x 1GB), but my Samsung RAM makes no difference.

Also, I realized that this motherboard does not have a Serial Port, DOH!, so I'll buy a PCIe X1 card that supports WinXP.  Win95 and Win98 will not boot, I guess because it has a SATA HDD.  If the ProbeScope O-Scope software will not install in WinXP, I'll put an IDE HDD in there.

BIOS V5.36 is one that was hacked or tweaked or something like that and I saw a post where someone was told by HP, I think, that V5.29 sp44500-exe was stable and had been working for him, but I also saw where hacked  versions like this caused the RAM issue I'm having.  I think some said the damage done was not reversible, but my 4400+ accepted all 4 sticks before, but that may be normal, just an issue with the 6000+?  Do you know anything about these things and if going backward to  V5.27 is possible and might make all 4 RAM slots work with the 6000+, if it can be installed that way?

I also don't know which BIOS version is required to get a 6000+ working.  Lots of questions I'm hoping you can help me with.

BTW, my motherboard diagnostics program, Micro 2000 Micro-Scope V16, says the 6000+ speed is 3000MHz, and Benchmarks the CPU at 1720MHz, NPU at 2833MHz.  Looks like the Intel page was wrong and you were right.

[NonSequitur777]

@CraigInAlex,

Unfortunately, the questions you asked me are beyond my expertise. 

It may not be possible to go back to an earlier BIOS image/version.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[CraigInAlex]

I'll do more research to see if anyone has been successful at it and which BIOS is needed for a 6000+.  I really don't brick this motherboard!  Thanks

I was going to try 4x 4GB RAM while buying RAM, but I saw it said that 2GB sticks are the best this board will do.  I'll see about going backward to BIOS V5.27 before buying a PCIe Serial card.  There has been a lot of work done with this board.  I'll let you know what works and what doesn't.

[CraigInAlex]

I found a lot of YT videos saying that installing an older BIOS was OK and as easy as installing an upgrade, but that there are motherboards that won't allow it.  You'll get an error message if it's not allowed.  I figured I could replace the CMOS chip with the one from the motherboard, if need be, even if it had to be unsoldered.  So I installed Vista in an unformatted patrician after WinXP for a dual boot, ran the BIOS V5.27 setup and it installed without issue.  I rebooted to BIOS and the 6000+ and all 4 RAM sticks showed installed.

Everything was fine in Vista, too, so I installed Win10 Pro x64 after deleting and leaving unformatted the Vista partition with Disk Management.  The 6000+ is recognized by Win10 and works with all 4 RAM slots showing This Computer (right click) > Properties > About, even though some of it is shared with the onboard GPU, and 4.00GB installed with 3.94GB Total Physical Memory in System Information, I guess due to the GPU share.  Everything in Win10 is working perfectly.

Next, I booted to my Micro 2000 Micro-Scope CD and did an extended testing of its RAM Tests: Pattern Tests, pSuedo-Random Tests, Xor'ed Tests, Short Bit Tests, Short Grid Tests, Full Bit Tests and Full Grid Tests.  It took hours, but everything passed.  Then I did the Cache Memory Test, and some others of its tests and everything is good.

So now we know that this motherboard will accept and install an older BIOS without issue and that BIOS V5.27 allows an AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ with 4 sticks of 1GB RAM.  I'll order 4x 2GB (8GB) and a PCIe X1 Serial Card for WinXP Pro x86.  I'll let you know how all of that goes.

Do you think there's a chance that 4x 4GB (16GB) might work?  I know you commented on 4x 2GB, but at worst, do you think installing long enough to test 4x 4GB would damage anything?  It may not be Whitelisted in the BIOS if the motherboard components could accept them otherwise.  I know it's common for some prefab PCs and Laptops manufacturers to do things like that.  This could be what the experimental/hacked BIOSes were about; adding things to the Whitelist.  Just asking.

[NonSequitur777]

@CraigInAlex,

Glad to hear things are working out!

It is unlikely 4x4GB RAM will work, but you can try. It will either work or it will not work, but you won't damage anything.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[CraigInAlex]

Hello again.  I ordered a StarTech 1-port PCI Express RS232 Serial Adapter Card, model PEX1S553LP, from Amazon today.  I called StarTech to be sure I got a real serial chip card, not a software card, and that it has Drivers for WinXP.  They wanted $71.99 for it, so I found it on Amazon for $36.99.  I should have it on Saturday the 14th.  It's a PCIe X1 card.

I found 4x2GB on eBay for $13.67 and 4X4GB for $34.85 from the same seller, both Kingston.  I asked about anti-static bags and shipping packaging and asked this: "I am trying the 16GB 4x 4GB DDR2 to see if it will work in an HP motherboard that has a Spec that says 2GB cards are the largest. I have the latest BIOS that might allow them, but I have to try them to see. If they don't work in this PC, may I return them? And if they do work, may I return the 8GB 4x 2GB DDR2 RAM? Also, will the 4x2GB work in an AMD PC, since the 4x4GB states that?"

Depending on what comes back, I will order both or another 4x2GB if he says something else is needed for an AMD CPU.  Just keeping you updated.  It took me a while to get to this because of other things.

Oh yeah, I tried installing the Probe-Scope O-Scope software in WinXP and Win10 today.  I have both installed for a Dual Boot.  WinXP took it, but Win10 would not.  Since WinXP took it, I ordered the Serial card.  More to come...