Linux - HardwareThis forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
no manual available to me. I can't really even see any identifying #'s on it either to look it up. Maybe IDK what I'm looking for though? any way to get this info? Puppy Linux is what I am able to get running on it.
You could use lshw or dmidecode to identify the board.
Both should be available via your package manager if not installed already.
Then run with: sudo lshw or sudo dmidecode
dmidecode
# dmidecode 2.9
Legacy DMI 2.0 present.
30 structures occupying 677 bytes.
Table at 0x000F0800.
Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 18 bytes
BIOS Information
Vendor: Award Software International, Inc.
Version: 4.51 PG
Release Date: 02/11/98
Address: 0xE0000
Runtime Size: 128 kB
ROM Size: 128 kB
Characteristics:
ISA is supported
PCI is supported
PNP is supported
APM is supported
BIOS is upgradeable
BIOS shadowing is allowed
ESCD support is available
Boot from CD is supported
Selectable boot is supported
BIOS ROM is socketed
EDD is supported
5.25"/360 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
5.25"/1.2 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
3.5"/720 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
Serial services are supported (int 14h)
Printer services are supported (int 17h)
CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 8 bytes
System Information
Manufacturer:
Product Name:
Version:
Serial Number:
Handle 0x0002, DMI type 2, 8 bytes
Base Board Information
Manufacturer:
Product Name: i440LX-SMC67X
Version:
Serial Number:
Handle 0x0003, DMI type 3, 9 bytes
Chassis Information
Manufacturer:
Type: Unknown
Lock: Not Present
Version:
Serial Number:
Asset Tag:
Handle 0x0004, DMI type 5, 23 bytes
Memory Controller Information
Error Detecting Method: 8-bit Parity
Error Correcting Capabilities:
None
Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
Maximum Memory Module Size: 32 MB
Maximum Total Memory Size: 128 MB
Supported Speeds:
70 ns
60 ns
Supported Memory Types:
Standard
FPM
EDO
Burst EDO
Memory Module Voltage: 5.0 V 3.3 V
Associated Memory Slots: 4
0x0005
0x0006
0x0007
0x0008
Handle 0x0006, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
Socket Designation: A1
Bank Connections: 2 3
Current Speed: 50 ns
Type: Unknown
Installed Size: 64 MB (Single-bank Connection)
Enabled Size: 64 MB (Single-bank Connection)
Error Status: OK
Handle 0x0007, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
Socket Designation: A2
Bank Connections: 4 5
Current Speed: 50 ns
Type: Unknown
Installed Size: Not Installed
Enabled Size: Not Installed
Error Status: OK
Handle 0x0008, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
Socket Designation: A3
Bank Connections: 6 7
Current Speed: 50 ns
Type: Unknown
Installed Size: Not Installed
Enabled Size: Not Installed
Error Status: OK
Handle 0x0009, DMI type 7, 15 bytes
Cache Information
Socket Designation: Internal Cache
Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1
Operational Mode: Write Back
Location: Internal
Installed Size: 32 KB
Maximum Size: 32 KB
Supported SRAM Types:
Synchronous
Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous
Handle 0x000A, DMI type 7, 15 bytes
Cache Information
Socket Designation: External Cache
Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2
Operational Mode: Write Back
Location: External
Installed Size: 512 KB
Maximum Size: 512 KB
Supported SRAM Types:
Synchronous
Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous
Handle 0x000B, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: PRIMARY IDE
Internal Connector Type: On Board IDE
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: None
Port Type: Other
Handle 0x000C, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: SECONDARY IDE
Internal Connector Type: On Board IDE
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: None
Port Type: Other
Handle 0x000D, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: FDD
Internal Connector Type: On Board Floppy
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: None
Port Type: 8251 FIFO Compatible
Handle 0x000E, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: COM1
Internal Connector Type: 9 Pin Dual Inline (pin 10 cut)
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: DB-9 male
Port Type: Serial Port 16450 Compatible
Handle 0x000F, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: COM2
Internal Connector Type: 9 Pin Dual Inline (pin 10 cut)
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: DB-9 male
Port Type: Serial Port 16450 Compatible
Handle 0x0010, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: LPT1
Internal Connector Type: DB-25 female
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: DB-25 female
Port Type: Parallel Port ECP/EPP
Handle 0x0011, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: Keyboard
Internal Connector Type: Other
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: PS/2
Port Type: Keyboard Port
Handle 0x0012, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: PS/2 Mouse
Internal Connector Type: PS/2
External Reference Designator: Detected
External Connector Type: PS/2
Port Type: Mouse Port
Handle 0x0013, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: ISA
Type: 16-bit ISA
Current Usage: Unknown
Length: Long
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x0014, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: ISA
Type: 16-bit ISA
Current Usage: Unknown
Length: Long
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x0015, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: ISA
Type: 16-bit ISA
Current Usage: Unknown
Length: Long
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x0016, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: ISA
Type: 16-bit ISA
Current Usage: Unknown
Length: Long
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x0017, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: PCI
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 20
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x0018, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: PCI
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 19
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x0019, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: PCI
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 18
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x001A, DMI type 9, 12 bytes
System Slot Information
Designation: PCI
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 17
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x001B, DMI type 8, 9 bytes
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator:
External Connector Type: Other
Port Type: USB
Handle 0x001C, DMI type 4, 26 bytes
Processor Information
Socket Designation: Socket 7
Type: Central Processor
Family: Alpha 21064
Manufacturer: Intel
ID: 34 06 00 00 FF F9 80 00
Version: Pentium II
Voltage: 3.3 V
External Clock: 66 MHz
Max Speed: 400 MHz
Current Speed: 300 MHz
Status: Populated, Enabled
Upgrade: ZIF Socket
Handle 0x001D, DMI type 15, 20 bytes
<TRUNCATED>
Wrong DMI structures count: 30 announced, only 29 decoded.
Wrong DMI structures length: 677 bytes announced, structures occupy 679 bytes.
lshw won't work...haven't figured out puppy's package manager really yet...I really don't know what I'm looking for inside. I tried that first and couldn't see anything that helped me...
The easiest way would be to find the mobo type number (which will usually be printed somewhere on the board, but then so will a lot of other things) and manufacturer, and see if the manufacturer website offers any info: In particular, you may need a BIOS update to be able to upgrade to a more recent processor, but
Quote:
Specifically, which processors could go onto my MOBO? dmidecode gives:
Code:
Processor Information
Socket Designation: Socket 7
Type: Central Processor
Family: Alpha 21064
Manufacturer: Intel
ID: 34 06 00 00 FF F9 80 00
Version: Pentium II
Voltage: 3.3 V
External Clock: 66 MHz
Max Speed: 400 MHz
Current Speed: 300 MHz
Status: Populated, Enabled
Upgrade: ZIF Socket
There is something badly wrong here: everything else seems consistent with a perfectly ordinary socket 7 chip, but that processor is listed as a DEC alpha 21064, which IIRC isn't compatible with a socket 7 mobo, so you can't trust what you are reading. And what distro you'd find that would support it, these days, I don't know...
In any case, the value in upgrading this mobo is very limited, so, maybe, if you can get a PII on a well-known auction site very cheaply...if you are prepared to chance an auction site, maybe you can get a mobo and processor for a similarly low amount of cash.
thanks for the replies everyone..@salasi it is running puppy linux...this was given to me free along with some parts pc's so I was just trying to make it as functional as possible. It's gonna end up as my young daughter's PC with some early educational software on it. No need to really upgrade...since I installed puppy to the HDD it runs a lot faster. I also gave it 1.5 Gb of swap...Should be good enough for that usage.
Yes, but if it was really a Alpha 21064, it wouldn't be. According to distrowatch, puppy is compiled for the i386 arch and nothing else. So, it couldn't run on an Alpha, which isn't i386 compatible.
So it seems that you have what is genuinely a PII and the Alpha 21064 part is just rubbish.
Don't quote me too strong on this one, but if my memory serves correctly, socket 7 supports even k6-II chips, which means you can probably find something that will go up to 500-550 mhz, and will also support 3dnow! which might be a good thing for some tasks like media decoding as long as your distro takes advantage of that feature (i.e. is not compiled for 386 or 586).
But, if I were you, the first thing I would do is to put as much ram in that board as possible.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.
processor upgrade help?
