Mid 1St Build...some concerns...Help?

[Skeet]

Hi peeps.

Have a few concerns. Everything seems to be going together OK, apart from the ASUS thermal grease kinda dries out and doesn't spread easily.

Just wondering about Fan connections and power connections.

Have Silent Square Pro, which comes with a fan controller for the 3.5 inch bay. Now, obviously, I have to wire the CPU fan (in the cooler) through this...so..no CPU fan will be connected to the MOBO.

Will the MOBO mind?

With the power terminals...I am assuming it's fine to just poke any spare cables from the PSU, discreetly into the top of the case?

Any obvious, easily forgotten things you might want to point out?

Have OEM Vista 32 to install (hopefully)...any pointers?


I'm such a noob and I feel terrible about it!

[Funkstar]

depending on the mobo, it may complain about the CPU fan not working, but you can tun that off in the BIOS.

No problem with tucking spare cables away. Tie-wraps/cable ties are your friend

[Skeet]

Also...my case, doesn't appear to have a SPKR connection, for Beeps etc...is that likely or have I lost it?

[Funkstar]

Entirely possible the case doens't have one. Have you checked the manual (if there is one)?

[Skeet]

Its a Thermaltake Tsunami, manual doesnt mention it.

Right..so I think all is well..onna cheeck MOBO manual and switch on...

Wish me luck...I may be in a bad mood, when I return

[Skeet]

Could do with some advice regarding CPU fan.

Using Square Pro.
On Boot, POST displays CPU fAN Error and want me to hit F1 to proceed...dont want to have to do this every time, but would like to use the fan controller as supplied with the Cooler.

Cant find anything in manual/BIOS to change it...shall I just ignore the fan controler and plug cooler straight into MOBO?

Oh...Didnt go bang by the way...installing Vista!

[Funkstar]

Oh...Didnt go bang by the way...installing Vista!

Great news!

Sorry, can't help with the fan problem. But what motherboard is it? I'm sure someone will know what to do with it.

[Skeet]

It's an ASUS P5k...just P5K not Deluxe or Wi Fi etc...

[Funkstar]

now that is a pain in the ass. I was going to download the manual and have a look, but none of the P5K motherboards are on the Asus website.

Annoying.

[Skeet]

Think I have sussed it...set it to ignore in BIOS and it has stopped doing it.

Just installing DVD that came with MOBO so I can get online etc.

Question: When I upgraded the RAM in my old PC, I was told to change the "swap file" what windows calls the Paging file.

Has to be 1.5 times your installed RAM.

Should I do that on my new one in Vista? When i looked, it showed a lower amount that recommended...

Also going to make use of "Easy Transfer" to move files across etc...dont have teh double ended USB cable, so will do via my router...unless anyone can think of a reason why I shouldnt?

[Pob255]

I'm not sure about the swap file on vista.
On windows xp the best thing to do is to manually set it, with both min and max numbers the same, 2048mb (aka 2gb) was the best number setting for most cases.

[Skeet]

Should I need to address anything in the BIOS right away, with FSB and memory speeds etc or...what...?!

Have set time and date etc...

[DratUK]

Should I need to address anything in the BIOS right away, with FSB and memory speeds etc or...what...?!

Have set time and date etc...

There is a thread by the venerable Clunk on the P5K, ignore the fact that he has the deluxe, it is the bios settings that you need and they are more or less the same ,no matter what grade the mobo is.

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=110267

You dont have to change the memory timings as the bios will be set via spd, however to get the best out of the board it is a ggod idea to twaek the settings to suit the rest of your components.

For your memory you need to refer to Corsair or look on the side of the memry chip and it will tell you. On my Corasir 6400 C4 it is 4 4 4 12 TRaS is set for 42.

Clunks thread will also run through how to overclock your system safely for when you wish t do so.

[Colossous]

Should I need to address anything in the BIOS right away, with FSB and memory speeds etc or...what...?!

Have set time and date etc...

You can set the time/date as part of the vista install !

[Funkstar]

Question: When I upgraded the RAM in my old PC, I was told to change the "swap file" what windows calls the Paging file.

Has to be 1.5 times your installed RAM.

Should I do that on my new one in Vista?

Leave Vista to manage its RAM and page ile itself. Vista has much better memory management than any previous version of Windows.

[Skeet]

There is a thread by the venerable Clunk on the P5K, ignore the fact that he has the deluxe, it is the bios settings that you need and they are more or less the same ,no matter what grade the mobo is.

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=110267

You dont have to change the memory timings as the bios will be set via spd, however to get the best out of the board it is a ggod idea to twaek the settings to suit the rest of your components.

For your memory you need to refer to Corsair or look on the side of the memry chip and it will tell you. On my Corasir 6400 C4 it is 4 4 4 12 TRaS is set for 42.

Clunks thread will also run through how to overclock your system safely for when you wish t do so.

I shall have a look...its CorsairTWINX XMS2 PC6400 800MHz 5-5-5-12 I believe...not sure what teh recommended Voltage is.

Overclocking sounds like a giggle...seeing as I am not at home with my folks, and no longer have the room to fiddle with cars...PC is a reasonable replacement

I wonder if Piping Nitrous Oxide onto my CPU would have as much of an effect, as it did to my engines?