First Time Builder with Setup Questions

[bink472]

Hello All,

I'm building the following:

I have:
Antec Sonata w/380w PSU
P4 2.8c Retail (comes with heatsink and fan)
P4P800 Deluxe mobo (have no clue where all the front connectors from the case goes)
2 x 512mb CORSAIR MEMORY XMS PC-3200C2PT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128mb (had to budget somewhere)
Audigy 2 OEM
1 WD1200 SE 120mb 7200 rpm 8mb cache (yes, I know...probably should have gone SATA)
Liteon 48x24x48x16 CD/DVD/RW LTC-4816H
Samsung Floppy Drive

I'm a gamer and want the machine running fast as possible without having to do any hardware modifications. I'm just curious as to what/how I should have my BIOS set for optimum performance. I've read that Asus what able to duplicate PAT somehow and was wondering if this was worth finding and turning on. Was wondering how to set the BIOS for my memory and any other things I might be missing. I still have yet to put all the parts together and hope to do that either today or tomorrow. But I wanted to get a head start by posting here and receiving thoughts into what changes I should make to the BIOS, etc. Like I said, this is my first computer to ever build. My old computer is a Dell XPS-T500, so this should be a small jump in power and speed.

Thanks for you help in advance!

Scott

 

[asadovsky]

I just built a computer pretty similar to yours. Those are some nice parts, and your system should run really well.

For your BIOS settings...
To turn on PAT, you have to enable "MAM." However, I have found that this actually lowers my memory benchmarks, so I am leaving it off for now.

As for RAM timings. That is very good RAM. I would make your settings the following:
2 - CAS latency
3 - RAS precharge
3 - RAS to CAS delay
6 - the fourth thing
8 - the fifth thing (burst rate I think?)

One other thing you should do is put those RAM DIMMs in slots 2 and 4 (the black ones) on your motherboard (not 1 and 3). Apparently on the P4P800 Deluxe, slots 2 & 4 can run at slightly lower latencies because of their positions relative to the northbridge.

Also, make sure hyper threading is enabled in the BIOS before you install winXP. This should be on by default.

Post again if you have more questions.

 

[bink472]

Thanks for the info, I assume I'll just be able to get into the BIOS before it wants to install XP. Interesting that the RAM should go in the black instead of the blue, thanks for that tip. I will leave the PAT off since you found no notable increase and double-check to ensure Hyper Threading is enabled.

Is there a particular BIOS version I should be on? I assume making the RAM timing changes will be easy to find, although I can't find where to do that in the manual.

I'm going to be installing XP Pro on a 120gb drive. Do you recommend partioniting and placing the OS on the smaller partition or should I not partition and just install?

Thanks!

 

[bink472]

Also, would you recommend putting the Processor and memory on the board before trying to put it into the case or after?

 

[asadovsky]

Yes, you can get into the BIOS before installing XP. When you turn on the computer, just hold down the "delete" key (not backspace). You should upgrade to the latest BIOS version when you get the chance. You can download it from Asus's web site, along with a Windows utility that lets you install it through Windows, without booting off a disk.

To change the RAM timings, you have to go to the chipset configuration. I am at work now so I can't look at the names of the settings, but if I remember correctly, you have to change the top option from "auto" to "manual," and then you can change the timings.

I wouldn't recommend messing with partitions on your hard drive. Just install XP on the main partition. Even if you want to use partitions, its probably a good idea to install the simplest way first so that you can make sure everything is working right.

 

[bink472]

All sounds good, thanks for the partition recommendation. One more thing, for now , it that's okay. With just the one HD and CD/DVD for now, would you just put the HD on the Primary Master and teh CD/DVD on the Secondary Master or would you go with a different configuration.

Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

 

[HoMeZ]

hey blink how much did that all cost you?

 

[calvink]

Originally posted by: bink472
All sounds good, thanks for the partition recommendation. One more thing, for now , it that's okay. With just the one HD and CD/DVD for now, would you just put the HD on the Primary Master and teh CD/DVD on the Secondary Master or would you go with a different configuration.

Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

Yeah, that sound right. Just don't connect the HD and CD-ROM drive on the same cable.

 

[bink472]

I came in just under $1500 sans monitor.

 

[HoMeZ]

sans monitor? huh? i don't understand

 

[bink472]

sorry, without monitor.

 

[bink472]

Question:

When connecting the front panel USB to the motherboard, do you use the USB-56 or USB-78 pins? (Antec Sonata to Asus P4P800).

Thanks.

 

[HoMeZ]

Originally posted by: bink472
sorry, without monitor.

oOo wow that's expensive

 

[capricorn]

Originally posted by: bink472
Question:

When connecting the front panel USB to the motherboard, do you use the USB-56 or USB-78 pins? (Antec Sonata to Asus P4P800).

Thanks.

I used the 5/6 pins, but I doubt it matters which you use. Matters more that you get them hooked up right.

-cap