Also, doublt check your multipler. I installed a 2600 xp chip into a MB and it said it was only a 2100. Then I found out the clock freq it's susposed to be, then divided that by the bus of the chip to get the multiplier (ie 2000/333=6).

Sure sounds like a BIOS, not a IRQ problem. Time to dig out the MB manual and see. Besides the Multiper FSB are you sure you got fast enough rated memory? Many MB's today support a variety of RAM and just dropping in a faster CPU ain't going to get you where you want to go.

Check out the AMD website - but you should note that AMD chips the name 2400 means nothing, i think this chip is around 1.8ghz - but i dont have a lot of amd experience.

Read the mobo manual and have a good look around the amd website, i am sure your the not first customer of theres to have these issues and it will be well documented there.

The AMD name is what it is compariable to in MHZ (ie compared to Intel Pentiums). The actuatul mhz is lower. The AMD site lists this stuff, but it's hard to find. You will have an easier time finding the exact mhz of your chip by looking on the reciept or by just looking up your chip on pricewatch. Most sellers list the actual mhz speed.

All chips is a series, example Pentium 4c are sold relative to how fast a clock speed they can sustain. So for example you'll pay much more for a chip capable of running 3.1 Ghz then the chip that gets just a 2.4 Ghz rating. Inside they are exactly the same. It just wasn't stable at the higher frequency, thus it gets 'marked down' and sold at a much cheaper price. In other words they don't make a 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 chip and so on. They simply make a XXX chip and then test them. Something like grading eggs.

You can tell how fast your CPU is running by downloading and installing CPU-Z which reports that and other things or just take a look in Device Manager.

I love this forum. you guys and gals if there are some ; ) are very helpful..
Ok so heres the deal.. i have a A7N266-vm Asus board,..It is supposed to be able to handle a CPU up to 2400xp..

I had a 2000xp CPU still do if interested : ) anyhow.. realized after some time it really runs at 1647 Mhz.. So i upgraed to the 2400xp knowing as advertised that it is a 2 gig processor.. I installed it and thought all was well.. but i recently noticed when booting that it was running at 1764 Mhz or in that range.. When i go into bios it will not allow me to highlight CPU speed or Bus speed to change them.. the handbook to the Motherboard says i must do this outside the Bios..

"The range cannot be set in bios but only changes according to BSEL jumper settings... " building your own system is easy but we need an expert to fine tune them..

I am unaware of what the BSEL jumper is or located .. anyone???

I asked about IRQ's cause I have read that these should be optimized .. Im aware that this is a seperate issue but i still wanted to find out if anyone knows how to set these up properly ..

OT.. Just bought me a new Panasonic DVC 80 . It is great!!!! So far Im still learning all its features.. seems good and sturdy .. And high quality.. Im kind of a novice and have used a PD 150 once for a wedding so i guess thats the best to compare to i was pleased when i recieved it.. very comperable in my opinion.. I like the 3.5" LCD..Anyways.. thanks for the replies.. but Im still stuck : )

I hope you got better eyesight than I do at the moment.

The jumper (in case you don't know what a jumper is) is a tiny little piece of plastic usually black about the size of the lead in a pencil. Yep, they are that small. It could also be a little dip switch, but those have kind of died out. You very carefully (easy to break or bend) pull it up, try a toothpick to get under a edge, then look for what pins its suppose to be moved to according to your motherboard manual. Since most motherboards are made in the Far East, the manuals frequently leave at lot to be desired in good English. If you look carefully on the mother board you should see the jumpers labeled.

I think we should all thank Billyboy for all his help.. His passion is video and editing.. He tirelessly < did i spell that right?? anyways he devotes alot of time to helping people who are learning vegas.. he is sure to reply to a legitmate question with profesional advice on the forum.. He has also made a website with many tutorials and tips.. Thanks Billy Boy for your help : )

On a side not scotty, i don't know if you will see a big difference in rendering times between the xp2000 and xp2400. The bus speeds are the same (266) and the actual mhz speed isn't that much different. But, the name of the chip (xp2400) is the speed it is compared to with intel chips. I'd take your xp2000 but I just got an xp1800, and probely won't see much of a difference. :( i'll wait until tax return time, then i can max out my mb! :) well, if the wife says it's ok.........