ECS K7S5A PRO/PSU question

[fibes]

Hello.
I just purchased an ECS K7S5A PRO from Newegg($36.00 can't beat it). I have heard numerous accounts of people stating that "You need a QUALITY PSU to run this board". So, I wanted to be well prepared. In addition, purchased an ALLIED ATX400P4 (400Watt) PSU(AMD recommended PSU). I will also be recycling a GF4 MX440 64mb 8X card along with 256mb PC100, 256PC133 ram, 2 H.D.'s (one 4gb and one 20gb) and I will be adding 2-80m.m. (intake and exhaust) and 1-92 m.m. (blow hole on top). I have not purcahsed the processor as of yet, but I think it will be an XP 1900.

Hopefully, this should be enough power for the ECS. I figure the TCO from the power supply should well exceed 220 watts. Please let me know what else I need, or what other precations I need to take, before I build my rig. This is only my 2nd computer I have ever built, and I need all the expert advise I can get.

Much appreciated.--Thanks...

 

[mechBgon]

Well, I'm going to pimp my photos of how to install the heatsink the right direction and how not to Here's a good tip I picked up from Buz2B to go with that: put something on the surface of the motherboard so that you don't damage your motherboard if your screwdriver slips while you're clipping down your heatsink. Some cardboard or an old credit card would work well.

The power supply should get the job done ok.

You should ditch the PC100 memory, because the AthlonXP will need at least PC133 in order to perform like it's supposed to. Alternately, you could set the memory to all run at PC100 speed (the speed of your slower stick) while the CPU runs on a faster 133MHz bus, but this does Bad Things to the performance on the K7S5A because it's not synchronous anymore. I have a K7S5A and if I run my 100MHz-based Duron with the memory running at PC133, the performance is actually lower than if I run the memory sync'ed to the CPU at 100MHz. Synchronous is good.

Beyond that, remember to install the AGP driver for the motherboard and have fun

 

[mechBgon]

Ooops, fixed the second link

 

[fibes]

Thanks for the input, mechBgon

 

[Peter]

And you should cut down on the fans. That's WAY overkill. With the exhaust fan in the PSU, plus an intake fan in the front bottom, you should be well served.

 

[dnuggett]

That PS will do just fine.

I have heard numerous accounts of people stating that "You need a QUALITY PSU to run this board".

You should use a quality PSU on any board.

 

[Buz2b]

I would echo the advice on the RAM that mechBgon gave; ditch the PC100. Sell it, add a few bucks and get one more PC133 stick. Not worth the hassle. Also, make sure you take your time and do the build in stages. Do not try to slap everything in the case on the first attempt or it could be the first of MANY attempts, as you troubleshoot what went wrong. Start with just the bare minimum to confirm that you can boot to the BIOS. After that you can add additional drives, fans, etc a little at a time.
Also, as mechBgon mentioned I like to cut either a strip of cardboard or plastic, just big enough to fit under the end of the CPU socket that is exactly where your screwdriver will "hit" if it slips during the Heatsink installation. This has saved me from damaging a MB more than once.