Help with older ASUS mobo?

Question

ASUS A7M266
socket A
AMD 761 chipset
DDR ram

I'd like to use this board to build a system with but can't find out it's cpu limit. I know it's AMD but not sure if it can take XP, or Barton or others. I've tried emailing both vendors who give more questions than answers. I know this board is OLD, so I'm not looking to buy a newer one. I just think that with a more powerful processor and ram, it still has some life left. What do you think? I would love it if someone (other than an outsourced tech) could provide an answer this simple problem first before telling me to ditch it or use it for something other than what it was intended for. May be able to provide more detail.

tHanKs cSJ5

thnx cffdrnkr and DragosMD for the very useful links, I am still exploring them for an answer similar to Karz. The prolbem (heh) is I can't find anyone or company that tests or lists legacy systems within a 5 yr. life span. The cpu brands Karz lists answers my question, but have they gone thru testing (by anyone)? Link?

Answer 1

You can try to find out here:

http://www2.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/1,,30_182_869_4348%5E7923,00.html?1184286141
http://www2.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/1,,30_182_869_1039%5e7929,00.html?1183140787
http://www2.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/1,,30_182_869_1073%5e7932,00.html?1184377617

Just select the processor you want to use and Asus as vendor!

Yet, the best page for information about this motherboard processor support is found on the manufacturer's website:

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=A7M266

You'll see there what processors are supported and from which revision/BIOS version onwards. You can even download BIOS updates to recognise more up to date processors (if your board is an older version...)
According to that page, the fastest supported processor is the "Athlon XP 2100+ (fsb 266MHz)(Model 6)(Palomino), with BIOS 1007".

Answer 2

The limitation of that board is its 266mhz fsb. Fast 266fsb chips in socket A format are:
Athlon XP 2400+ 2.0Ghz (Thorton)
Athlon XP 2600+ 2.13 Ghz (Thoroughbred)
Athlon MP 2800+ 2.13Ghz (barton)

These may be hard to find nowadays.

Answer 3

Here's the specs on that motherboard.

http://www.active-hardware.com/english/reviews/mainboard/a7m266.htm

Looks like a good mobo.

Have some fun, I think you will have a good system.

Good luck