ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R2.0, AMD 8350, GTX 650 build - my success notes

[bmullan]

I just built a new pc to replace my 4 year old one.

1. AMD 8350
2. Corsair Obsidian d550 ATX case (great ventilision/modularization
3. Corsair AX750 Gold Series Power Modular Supply
4. 16GB ram GSkill Ripsaw
5. ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 motherboard
6. GTX 650 graphics (384 gpu but no sli - I don't do games but this is a great card for $90)

I installed Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit and it just screams on this CPU & motherboard !

For just Ubuntu the only real config I did was to install the NVIDIA drivers instead of Nouveau for the GTX 650. And that required me doing a bunch of extra work (I'd probably NOT recommend you downloading directly from NVIDIA's website for this GTX 650 card unless you really know what you're doing.

Last nite I had 15 simultaneous video conversions (avi to mpeg4) going using the Handbrake app and the AMD 8350 wasn't breaking a sweat as I was still able to watch a netflix video & browse the web at same time. Those video conversions finished in about 20 minutes. On my old Quad core AMD 940 that would have taken well over an hour at least.

Of all the parts of this build I really have to say the Corsair D550 case impressed me the most. It wasn't the most expensive part of the build but geez Corsair "really" did some great engineering on that Case. 2 front intake fans, 1 rear, both sides just push a button to remove, front face can open either direction to access DVD or other drives, modular no-tool drive mounts w/vibration damper snapon connectors and 3 more fan openings (2 top and one side) if you need them.

Now... I am posting this for those that create Dual Boot Ubuntu/Windows 7 systems.

The following may solve some huge problems you may run into & may just keep you from causing yourself alot of pain.

I had an existing Windows 7 Ultimate HD.

After putting this system together and installing all of my old drives (3 SATA HDs) I put in my 4th SATA HD - Win7.

I booted and when I got the menu I selected to boot Win7.

Win7 BSOD'd during bootup ???

I had to scratch my head why it was BSOD crashing on boot.

Then it dawned on me... DUHH Homer...

That was a pre-existing Win7 ultimate HD and the OS had NONE of the drivers that came on the DvD with the ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R.0 motherboard.

PROBLEM #1 - with Windows 7

I couldn't boot into Windows 7 to add the ASUS drivers (it would BSOD).

Only recourse was to totally reinstall Windows 7 Ultimate !

PROBLEM #2

For some reason the Windows 7 ultimate Install refused to install on the new "extra" SATA HD ????

It kept displaying an error:

"Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition."

FOUND CAUSE:

I already had 3 - 2 TB SATA3 HD's in the new computer one of which was my working Ubuntu 12.10 x64 system.

Then the Solution dawned on me what was happening with Windows 7.

THE CAUSE:

Windows 7 cannot install on a system with multiple existing HDs with one of which already being a BOOTABLE OS.

I don't know where i originally read that but its either if the existing system has 2 or 3 drives installed that a NEW drive will fail any attempt by Windows 7 to install onto it.

THE SOLUTION:

I opened my Corsair D550 rear side door and disconnected ALL of the existing SATA cables from my existing HDs.

I rebooted w/the Windows 7 Ultimate CD in and ... AWESOME .... Windows 7 Ultimate installed without any problems on the new extra SATA HD.

Once Win7 was done...

I rebooted into Windows 7 then inserted the ASUS CD to install all of the Windows Drivers for the ASUS Sabertooth 99FX R2.0 motherboard (you have to do this because your network interface, USBs etc won't work until those drivers are added to Windows.

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE FOR THOSE USING UBUNTU WHEN YOU FIRST CREATE DUAL BOOT WITH WINDOWS

If you install Windows AFTER you already have a working linux (or Ubuntu in my case)...

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DISCONNECT ALL THOSE EXISTING SATA HDs BEFORE INSTALLING WINDOWS

WHY... because if the Linux HDs were connected when you install Windows 7 the Windows Bootloader would overwrite the Linux GRUB bootloader and you'd just have made yourself alot of extra work to recover GRUB so you could boot back into Ubuntu.

After Windows is installed....

Shutdown your PC, reconnect all the SATA HD DATA cables, then Reboot again.

If Linux/Ubuntu was the 1st drive originally you will boot into Ubuntu.

Open a Terminal window and execute the command to update the grub bootloader --- which will then see your new Windows 7 HD and add it to the Boot Selection Menu you get when your Ubuntu System boots up.

command:

$ sudo update-grub​

when that command is done reboot your system again:

$ sudo shutdown -r now​

When it boots this time you will see you have the menu option to choose to boot either Ubuntu -or- Windows 7.. woot wooot. !

I got the AMD 8350 because I do a lot of virtualization and having the extra cores means I can run more virtual machines simultaneously when doing "work" related stuff.

Hope this helps others both those building a new PC & interested in the AMD 8350 or the ASUS Sabertooth or the GTX 650 card.

But also especially because I tried to explain the weirdness of Windows 7 (and its error msg) IF you ever try to install Win7 on a new "extra HD" in your system.

Now you will know how to fix that weirdness of the Win7 Install error and get it all done successfully and end up with a great dual boot Ubuntu & Win7 system on a really terrrific CPU/Mobo combo !!!

 

[Sleepingforest]

Good job on the successful install! I just wanted to comment a little on your build: yes the case is very good, but I'm taken aback by your motherboard and PSU choice. There are perfectly adequate alternatives that would save you around $150, which could have gone towards the video card (you could have reached a 7850 or even a 660ti with wiser budgeting).

On the other hand, you did finish it without frying any parts and managed a dual-boot, so good on you!

 

[bmullan]

Well as I'd mentioned in the post I don't do games so having a top end graphics card was not on my list to must haves.

I got that power supply for 2 reasons... one I got it in a great sale $128, two I'm going to be installing/using some telemetry cards that suck power and wanted to make sure I had plenty and that the PSU was reliable.

thanks tho' I had fun building it as my 16 yr old Son wanted to learn so I had him do alot of the assembly and it was a great dad/son thing for us too.

Good job on the successful install! I just wanted to comment a little on your build: yes the case is very good, but I'm taken aback by your motherboard and PSU choice. There are perfectly adequate alternatives that would save you around $150, which could have gone towards the video card (you could have reached a 7850 or even a 660ti with wiser budgeting).

On the other hand, you did finish it without frying any parts and managed a dual-boot, so good on you!

 

[Sleepingforest]

That explains it to an extent. Well, I'm glad it was a good experience for you and your son! I don't get those very often... but I digress. What are the telemetry cards for, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[mfenn]

If the telemetry cards don't have bit honking fans on them and require external power, they're not drawing more than ~30W each. $128 is a lot of money to spend on a power supply for a system that will only draw ~250W maxed out. You could have done better.

Same deal on the motherboard. $180 is too much to spend on a board if you don't plan to SLI (hell, it is too much to spend if you do plan to SLI). This Biostar is still a little more than I would want to pay at $130, but it is closer.

 

[zeteckat]

Sleepingforest,

Could you please tell us what board and processor you would have chosen to save that $150? I just don't see that kind of savings possibly while still getting quality products. Please pm me or post here. Thanks!

 

[DSF]

Sleepingforest,

Could you please tell us what board and processor you would have chosen to save that $150? I just don't see that kind of savings possibly while still getting quality products. Please pm me or post here. Thanks!

Note that he said motherboard and PSU, not motherboard and CPU. He was talking about saving money on the power supply more than the processor.

At any rate, if you have questions related to building your own computer it's probably worthwhile to start your own thread.

 

[mfenn]

Note that he said motherboard and PSU, not motherboard and CPU. He was talking about saving money on the power supply more than the processor.

I dunno, there is a lot of room south of $180 for 990 FX boards.

At any rate, if you have questions related to building your own computer it's probably worthwhile to start your own thread.

Agree.