First boot!

[bm]

I seem to have fitted everything together ok - it starts up!

At the load-up screen I get this:

Asus A7N8X-X ACPI BIOS Rev 1006

Main processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 2800+
Memory testing: 524288 OK

Memory frequency is at 166Mhz, Single channel mode
Primary master: ST380011A 3.06
Primary slave: None
Secondary master: ATAPI COMBO52XMAX Ver 1.00
Secondary slave: None

Secondary IDE channel no 80 conductor cable installed

Warning!! CPU may have changed

Is everything ok there? I took the cable for the DVD/CD-RW IDE channel off an old P2 dell we have, must need a new "80 conductor" one. It looked the same to me!

What frequency should the RAM be at? 400Mhz?

[Dan]

Check the labels on your DIMMs for label, or the box they came in. Should show the freq. there.
Dan

[Delta_]

If it is DDR400, it will say 200MHz for your RAM, which you double because it is DDR.  In this case it is 333MHz RAM, or DDR333.  If you know it is DDR400, go into your bios and change it to that.  

Also that cable you used from an older computer may be ATA66 cable, which will not work with newer ATA100/133 drives.  Also make sure the Second drive from the secondary part is set as slave.  

If it will reach use the cable from the ATAPI COMBO52XMAX Ver 1.00.  It should have a second connector on it.

[bm]

I have two drives - 1x 80Gb Seagate Barracuda set as Master on the Primary channel and 1x DVD/CD-RW Combo which I have set as Master on the secondary channel (using the wrong cable). If I replace the cable is that setup fine?

I have another question about the heat side of things - what temperature should the processor be running at when in Bios? Currently the temperature monitor shows 48-50 with the sides off and up to 53 with the sides on. That sounds too much to me. There doesn't seem to be that much heat around the place though.

If it is DDR400, it will say 200MHz for your RAM, which you double because it is DDR.  In this case it is 333MHz RAM, or DDR333.  If you know it is DDR400, go into your bios and change it to that.  

It should be DDR400. But the FSB on the processor is 333Mhz I think. Won't the RAM be timed to the same as the FSB so that it's in sinc - or is that irrelevant?

Where it says

Warning!! CPU may have changed

Is that anything to worry about?

[congo]

Hi Birdman,

The CPU is configuring correctly as a 2800+ on a 166 mhz front side bus speed.

Here is the trick with AMD systems: Run the RAM at the same speed as the FSB and CPU, even if you have 400mhz ram, leave it at 333mhz (166mhz), it will result in a faster system.

Also note the RAM is running in single channel mode as predicted, that will change to dual channel if you add another identical ram module.

Your hard drive is on the primary IDE channel as master. That's correct. It also correctly has an 80 wire cable on it or you would see a warning as you see on IDE channel 2.

The Combo drive is correctly configured as the Secondary IDE Master drive. It doesn't require an 80 pin cable because CDROMS don't use that high an ATA specification. So, disregard the warning unless you add a hard disk to the secondary IDE channel.

Another hard disk can be added as a slave on IDE channel 1 to take advantage of the 80 pin cable  already there.

Good Job!

[bm]

Thanks Congo, I think I'll replace the cable anyway so I don't get the message - I think some nice round ones would be good!

I'm glad everything seems to be alright - I suppose I'm ready to start the installation!

I don't know what i'd do without your help!

[bm]

I went into the Bios again - this time I noticed the CPU FSB was set to 100Mhz. I set this to 166 and restarted - it seems to be fine. Did I do the right thing?

It stopped at

Warning!! CPU may have changed

before I did that, now it no longer says that and begins to look for a boot device - I'm not sure why it changed? I'll take it that is a good thing.....

Any idea's about the temperature?

[Delta_]

Yes run the RAM in-sync with the FSB, so run it at 166.  Is everything working now?

[congo]

I missed the temperature question , I must have posted about the same time as you.

It does seem a little high, considering it's basically idling. But don't worry just yet. I've found that once you run an intense application for a while, the temperature will rise dramatically for a few moments, then the heatsink compound "beds in" and the temp then drops just as dramatically.

It's a good idea to monitor the temperature when you use your first intense program, (like fs2004) to watch what happens. If it goes over 65 degrees and stays there, you have a problem.

After the first real CPU workout, the temp shouldn't ever go over 60* and should be between 45 and 55 degrees during heavy usage. (well, that's my experience)

[congo]

1 more thing.

It sounds like you are not too familiar with bios configuration settings.

The subject is a bit much to go into here, and typically the mainboard manuals are not really all that helpful, I'm not sure why this is, the manual never seems to explain deeply enough what the options actually do. (maybe they think we are all experts to be there in the first place  ::)  )

But go in there and sus it all out thoroughly, even if you don't save anything, just to become familiar with it. If you see something you don't understand, try to find out.

[bm]

I've got my new cable - the round ones were about

[Fozzer]

I
I have another question about the heat side of things - what temperature should the processor be running at when in Bios? Currently the temperature monitor shows 48-50 with the sides off and up to 53 with the sides on. That sounds too much to me. There doesn't seem to be that much heat around the place though.

My AMD 2600+ averages a temperature of 57*C, (135*F).
It is fitted with a large "Arctic Cooler" copper heat sink and variable speed fan, (highly necessary... ;)...)...!
AMD processors have always run "hot", and I don't have any problems with mine running at those temperatures... 8)...!

Cheers all!

Paul... warming hands over processor... 8)...!

P.S. It's normally advisable to keep the covers in place on the case, to maintain a proper cooling airflow circuit over the components inside... ;)...!

P.P.S.  Have a look at this...."aida32".
An excellent little program to give you the details on the whole of your computer, highly recommended...trust me... ;D...!
Download it at this site...>>>

http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/prog ... ram_id=175

[bm]

Yes Aida_32 is a great little program - I've been using it for a while now and recomended it once myself on this very forum A must have!

Im not so sure about the temperatures! In the Bios it remains around 45-55, but in Asus-Probe it says its 30 degrees? Which am I to believe!

Thanks,
Birdman.

[congo]

There are 2 CPU temps to consider, the ABS-II and the CPU external temp, I reckon asus probe is giving you the external while the higher temp in aida32 is the ABS-II temp.

The ABS-II temp is the more sensitive and the one to consider, it comes from a thermal-diode whatcha-ma-callit-thingy built into the new cpu's. (I think)

[bm]

I've managed to get Aida32 over to her computer now - I must get a USB key thingy! It shows two temperatures, one for the thermal diode thing like you said and one for the external  temperature. The internal one is about 10 degrees more (40 degrees) which seems fine.

I've decided to sell my sister on Ebay and install FS