MP983

MP983

The MP983 was loosely based upon the earlier MP975 laptop and shares some plastic case pieces - but not all. The MP983 (also AMS Tech's TravelPro 2500 series) was a three spindle machine - meaning that the floppy, CD-ROM drive (Optional DVD/Floppy) plus hard drive are all inside the base of the laptop and not external as was the case with the external floppy drive in the MP975 (Only a two spindle laptop).

The MP983 has a very much improved motherboard design that allows the usage of AMD K6-2 CPU's and the lower plastic case was modified, when compared to the MP975 design, by increasing it's depth to allow installation of the dual drive floppy & CD-ROM module. Also added was a single USB 1 port (not the later USB2).

The addition of the dual drive module was a very nice feature and yes, a DVD drive is possible. To view a DVD, without missing frames, a Margi DVD-TO-GO PCMCIA card is necessary and is included with the DVD module kit. Attempting to use a software, such as PowerDVD decoder software, don't work well. - not even with a 400 MHz MP983 and so the Margi card is necessary. The Margi brand card is the most common ZV-DVD card and maybe there are others that will work, but I don't know of any other brands that do work.

Variations exist in the upper case, such as the AMS Tech TravelPro 2500 oval touch pad top design. and there's also two variations for the rectangular touch pad key styles. Some other varitions - Inteva used the standard Chicony case, but added the AMS Tech-style long "ear" hinge cover. Inteva machines also have three screws (vs. only one in all the others) holding the keyboard in place, which results in a much better tactile feel to the keyboard.

If you get a CMOS error message during boot, first thing to do is to charge the CMOS battery by plugging in the AC adapter for a few hours. Let the AC adaptor recharge the CMOS battery before you panic. The motherboard's CMOS memory is powered from a soldered in place RECHARGEABLE Li Ion battery. This is not a plug-in battery and it must be unsoldered from the motherboard if defective, good thing that they don't fail often.

Factory Installed Modem

So many people have written to me regarding problems with driver installation for the internal "56K" modem that I'm adding this caution: A phone jack on the side of a MP983 does NOT mean that there is an internal modem installed!

Note: This modem is really a 33.6K and not a 56K modem. You can use the Windows 33.6K standard modem driver to set the modem up.

To find out if a modem is installed: Remove the main battery and look at the top of the battery bay. If there's a 1.5" x 2.5" circuit board with or without a gray metal shield up there then you have the factory modem installed. If not then you have a laptop that can use the factory modem (if you can find one)

If have the modem, then you need to enter BIOS and go to the integrated peripherals page and change the UART2 setting to modem. When you next boot, windows should find the modem and ask for a driver.

Motherboard Revisions

There are several versions of the MP983 motherboard and I will be breaking down the limitations of each motherboard revision as I determine them. There are at least two different CPU core voltage variations plus one or more motherboard version with a small switch to set the proper 1.9V core voltage needed for the rare Intel 266 MHz Tillimook CPU. (Not worth searching for one, IMHO)

Notes on motherboard revision limitations:

1) MP983's or AMS Tech TravelPro's with rev. "C" motherboards maybe limited to using Intel CPU's. Since this mobo doesn't have the 1.9V core voltage needed for the 266 MHz laptop Intel CPU, all rev. "C" boards are thus limited to nothing faster than an Intel 233 mmx. (Talk about a dumb step backwards from rev "A" or rev "B")

2) The rev. "A" motherboard may not operate properly at 400 MHz and might therefore be limited to 366 MHz CPU's. but they do take AMD CPU's. (This is based upon the only rev. "A" motherboard that I've worked with - so might not hold true with all rev. "A" mobo's)

3) The motherboard revision number is found printed on the motherboard beneath the right side memory module. It's silk screened in white ink. Rev "E" or rev. "F" motherboards are the more desirable machines to own.

Also, the last revisions ("C", "D"??, "E" and "F") to the motherboard will not interchange with any of the earlier motherboards ("A" and "B") unless additional components are also changed out. The early motherboards had a different video connector arrangement for the video adaptor circuit board that plugs into the motherboard. I believe that the video chip on the early motherboards was the Neomagic 128ZV+ that uses a different driver from the later motherboards that used the Neomagic 128XD video chip. So in between motherboards won't support AMD CPU's and are limited to the Intel 233mmx CPU. Some motherboards only have 1.4 MB of video RAM and they should not be used with the 13.3" LCD's. Most MP983's can still be configured into a powerful business program laptop, but with only 2 MB(or 1.4 MB) of video RAM, its usefulness for major graphic applications is somewhat limitedThe MP983 will run Windows 2000 and Linux if the proper BIOS is used. Win 2000 seems to need the very last Chicony 1.46S BIOS. The 1.43S BIOS does not work properly with the Win 2000 OS.

MP983's that use the "D" BIOS may or may not wish to update their BIOS to the 1.43D last version if they are using Windows 2000. I have not tested a "D" motherboard MP983 for proper operations with Windows 2000.

MP983 CPU's

As shipped, most MP983's suffered from overheating because of the use of the Intel MMX CPU's or early AMD K6-2 CPU's - both types were desktop CPU's pressed into use in laptops.

Chicony never supported the newer AMD K6-2+ or K6-3+ CPU's that are true laptop designs. I've found that the only real solution to the MP983 heat related Windows lockups, melted cases and other heat related problems is to change the CPU over to this low power device. The factory solution to the overheating was to "update" the BIOS to turn on the CPU cooling fan at all times. This was done with all later BIOS revisions along with whatever other BIOS updates.

After Chicony stopped supporting the MP983, AMD developed a great laptop CPU for the Socket Seven laptop market, AMD did this just as Intel was dropping their Socket Seven line of CPU's and making an effort to force the market into using their new PII line of CPU's. The PII's were in MMC1 or MMC2 sockets and they could not be used in the MP983. I believe the MP987 was a MMC1 version of the MP983, but I've never seen one.

AMD was left as the sole supplier of newer Socket Seven CPU's and they developed k6-2/500 and 550 MHz CPU's with 100 MHz front side bus speeds and were able to keep up with the PII CPU's for some time, but the MP983 can't run with a 100 MHz front bus speed. so these CPU's are of little interest to owners of the MP983.

However, AMD also developed a new laptop Socket 7 CPU and these were the AMD K6-2+ and the AMD K6-3+ CPU's. The only difference between the two chips is the size of the on-die L2 cache -- the K6-2+ has 128K and the K6-3+ has 256K. The K6-2+ and the K6-3+ are very low power chip, with speed-stepping and other advanced features only found in laptop CPU's. The K6-2+/3+ CPU's were very modern in all respects and should not have been called K6 CPU's, in my opinion. AMD missed the boat when they didn't call them a Socket 7 Athlon. They also only sold these CPU's to OEM's and since the Socket 7 laptop market soon died just as these CPU's hit the market, very few of these CPU's exist.

There seems to be a great deal of confusion regarding the AMD K6 line of CPU's since AMD produced several different Socket 7 types of CPU over the years.

They can be broken down into:

The K6 - The old K6/233 (3.1v) desktop CPU that was a 100 watt bulb in a CPU package - heat, heat, heat! Bring out the winnies and marshmallows!

The K6-2/K6-3 - Other than a rare K6-2/380 laptop CPU, all were desktop heat machines and also not well suited to laptop usage. Later 500/550 versions are fast and may be able to be run at full 400 MHz (fastest a MP983 can run) with special multiplier setup. The K6-2/500 uses the 2x setting to run at the full 400 MHz speed. But do note that they are not low-power CPU's, but they are fast.

The K6-2+/K6-3+ - True laptop CPU's with potential of providing low-heat high speed operation to laptops. The only CPUs, that, I believe, should be used in the MP983 are the K6-2/380 or the K6-2+/K6-3+ laptop CPU's.

Note: Don't confuse the older K6-2 and K6-3 CPU's (2.2v and 2.4v core voltage) with totally reworked K6-2+ and K6-3+ CPU's. (2.0v core voltage) The only other laptop CPU that AMD produced before the "Plus" CPU's was the K6-2/380 (2.2v core voltage) and it is nearly as hard to find as the elusive "Plus" CPU's. (2.0v core voltage)

Yes, the older K6-2 & K6-3 line includes 450 MHz, 500 MHz and even 550MHz CPU's, but they are ALL desktop CPU's that produce heat in large amounts. This isn't a problem in desktops with large cooling fans. BUT the MP983 relies on a small CPU fan to push heat out of the laptop case and the fan really isn't up to the job. Yes, it's a design flaw. Learn to live with it.

I have an updated BIOS that supports the K6-2+/3+ CPUs without the need for PowerTweak in revision "E" & "F" motherboards. (This BIOS will only work in the machines that take the "S" BIOS version)

I've installed this BIOS in one of my MP983's (K6-2+/400, 128 MB RAM and 15 GB hard drive) and runs at idle (Windows desktop - screen blanked) and walked away - 5 hours later the battery was down to 18% charge. Not too bad!

My new special BIOS won't do a thing for the older CPUs so that's not a solution if you keep your old CPU. There's no magic in it, the BIOS just adds a few extra lines of instructions that tells the K6-2+/K6-3+ to turn on their speed stepping function and to begin to use their 128K/256K on-die L2 cache memories. Both CPU's are low power CPU's with or without the speed stepping. Speed stepping just adds more power savings.

Any other AMD or Intel CPU won't get told to do anything that will cause a problem, but the BIOS also won't do anything positive in regards to machine operation. These old heat beasts will continue to produce heat in the same manner as before - so don't spent your upgrade money on other old technology K6-2 or K6-3 CPU's and expect to see anything other than just more heat related problems. I'm not pushing this CPU on you, but if you can't presently use your MP983 formore than a hour without a lock up problem, change the CPU to a K6-2+ or rig an extra air flow device to cool the MP983. It's all heat related.

See Tom's Hardware Guide K6-2+ Article

Also AnandTech K6-2+ Article

Here's the benchmarked results with the Intel 233mmx and the new AMD K6-II+ CPU running at 400 MHz as reported by the Sandra test program:

CPU	ALU MIPS	Whetstone MFLOPS
Intel 233 mmx	455 *	269 *
K6-2+ @ 400 MHz	923 *	483 *
K6-2+ @ 400 MHz with PowerTweak 2.0 or modified BIOS	960 - 1004**	483 **
K6-2 333	615	380

* The Intel 233 mmx & AMD K6-2+ numbers are an average of ten runs using SiSoft's Sandra testing program. Click here for raw data. Test runs were run back-to-back to prevent sleep mode or HDD shutdown from changing results. Tests were in an AMS Tech TravelPro 2500CS with 64 MB (2x32) of memory.

** Then I installed and ran PowerTweak 2.0 and turned on the K6-2+ extra advanced features. Results are shown in the second K6-2+ scores. Several machines were tested and the results varied with each motherboard.

I have also have "rediscovered" a copy of the earlier version (Version 1.11S) Chicony BIOS that cycles the CPU fan. One MP983 user has reported that this old BIOS seems to have problems working with Windows 2000., but for Windows 98 users this one might give even longer battery life, but does not support the K6-2+/3+ CPU's. (Use PowerTweek) Don't attempt to reflash any BIOS unless you know what your are doing. A blown reflash results in a dead laptop!

When I first installed some K6-2+ CPU's in some MP983/TravelPro 2500 test machines, I found that after four hours of operation that the laptop case was cool to the touch and the exhaust air was barely above room temperature. Note: This was in a machine with the Chicony 1.43 BIOS version that didn't turn off the CPU fan.

After reflashing the BIOS to the older 1.11 version, the exit air once again hot, but that's because the fan turns on only when the CPU reaches a higher temperature vs. the fan runs at all times.

MP983 Batteries

The MP983 main battery was changed from a five terminal design to an eight terminal design for better power management. This new battery and the similar battery used in the older MP975 machine and shares the same Sanyo 10HR-4/3AU basic part number and so unless specified correctly the wrong replacement battery might very well be ordered.

The factory original batteries were available in the Li Ion or the NiMH types. Today, the original batteries are out of production and so any remaining factory batteries of either type are becoming very hard to find and are old stock and should be suspect for lifetime left in them. Li Ion batteries are lighter and won't overcharge like lower-cost Ni-MH batteries.

Also note that the Ni-MH battery voltage is rated at 12.0 Volts for 3800 mAHr's. Both the factory or Energy Plus Li Ion batteries are rated at 10.8 Volts at 4050 mAHr or higher. Many people seem to freak out when they need to buy a replacement battery and the Li Ion battery voltage is different than the NiMH battery. Yes, the voltage is different and yes, this is not a problem. Remember that the power supply inside the MP983 reduces the incoming voltage to 5 volts or less for internal usage.

We worked with Fedco Electronics (Energy Plus Batteries) and provided them with a MP983 to use as a test bed machine (back in December 2001) so that they could produce a replacement Li Ion battery for the MP983. Their version has higher capacity cells inside and more amp-hours resulting in a longer run time before recharging is necessary.

MP983 Memory

MP983 memory limit is two 256MB SDRAM modules, giving the MP983 a useful max. of 512MB. Not all brands of 256MB modules work correctly as 256MB modules in the MP983. So far the ones that I've found that do work all have 16 RAM chips (8 topside - 8 bottom side), else 128MB SDRAM PC 66/PC100 modules all seem to fuction correctly. I know the RAM limit, as reported in the user manuals, is two 64MB modules -- so please don't e-mail me and tell me that your MP983 manual tells me that I'm wrong.

EDO RAM modules (Again 144 pin) also work, but they cost so much more than SDRAM that they should be avoided. You can NOT mix memory types -- all EDO or all SDRAM only.

Besides the memory limits expressed above, one must also contend with the small space on the motherboard for memory. Memory modules should be low-profile to correctly fit. The cheaper standard height modules can be made to fit - somewhat. They will fit if you work at it, but the left module will rest against the video chip and may cause long-term heat problems. To make this module stay in place you may need to fool around with detent arms on the memory socket to get the module to lock into place. Be very careful because you will have lots of problems if you break off the detent arms on the memory socket. Also, AMS Tech TravelPro 2500 owners of the MP983 will need to trim away a small plastic that projects into the space needed to install a large memory module into the right-sidfe socket. This piece of [plastic is not necessary for any known purpuse and isn't found on the standard MP983 upper case.

If you don't want to screw around will full size memory not fitting correctly, plus all the worries about breaking your memory sockets, the need to cut the plastic case, then please just order the low-profile 128 MB modules that I sell and you won't have any such problems. The cost isn't all that much more money.

Useful MP983 hints:

If you haven't removed the CPU fan cover plate from your MP983 within the last few months then do so today and clean the fan and heat sink fins. You might be surprised just how much dirt is in there. Do this often if you have a 233mmx CPU inside.

If your MP983 up's and dies on you, try to fully close the CPU socket by removing the CPU fan cover, the CPU fan/heat sink assembly and CPU socket locking device. Then pry the socket top (along with the CPU) sideways using a screwdriver inserted into the "locked" side slot and push the socket towards the side marked "open". There should NOT be a gap on the open side. Then reassemble and pray for a POST message on then boot up.

Do not block the air flow to the CPU fan or you will melt the case and possible damage the CPU or motherboard. This is a major problem with the Intel 233mmx or early AMD CPU's.

Copy of an AMS Tech factory accessory pricing list: