Mai first build problem

[Fardor]

before I go to bed I want to make this post. I just finished (for now) putting together my first custom rig.

Using IP35-E and E4500 if that helps any.

problem: I press power button, system seems to turn on, and then goes quiet after a few seconds. Then a few seconds after going quiet, it starts up again. then it proceeds to the ABIT screen and shows settings like CPU speed and stuff, which seemed to be correct (only glanced at it).

the only reason this is worrying me is that i think it must not be right. maybe it's a common thing. i don't know what the problem is.

also....

after showing the settings, the screen (is it the BIOS?) told me to insert my OS disk (or said something that meant that)
i tried putting my vista 64 bit system builder's disk in my DVD burner drive and it said it failed. my drive opens and closes but didn't seem to start to spin the disk. maybe i didn't put the wires in right?

also, i want to say that the freaking CPU cooler that came with the E4500 sucks major ass. let's just say it caused me to be very agitated for a time and that i'm not completely sure even now if it's really secure.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

regarding the DVD drive, did u connect the SATA/IDE cable correctly? did u give it power? does your bios detect your dvd drive?

and yes, the stock intel cooler sucks. AMD makes a pretty great stock cooler that cools very well and has 4 heatpipes (similar to arctic cooling freezer 7 pro)

sorry, not sure about the turning on and off, maybe its the PSU? if you're 100% its a working PSU, try to unplug it, press the power button 2 times, then replug it and try again.

 

[Roguestar]

Sounds like the DVD drive is borked or not properly installed, but FYI the cold-boot powercycle thing you mentioned is fairly common. I get it on my PC if I disconnect the PSU from the mains instead of just powering off at the power button. Is the DVD drive SATA or IDE?

Edit: Damn, I open all the tabs and then when I reply to each thread LOUISSSSS has beaten me .

 

[Fardor]

i connected the burner with a cable that came with the mobo that is wide and thin with a lot of strands (lol, short on time while i make this post)

i'll try the psu thing, thanks guys

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Here's a couple of things to check

1. Make sure the IDE cable is connected properly and the DVD jumpers are set correctly. IDE cables (the wide thin ones) have two connections one marked "Master" and one marked "Slave", the DVD drive has a set of jumpers on the back with a diagram that shows the position the jumper should be in for "Master", "Slave", or "Cable select". The setting on the DVD has to match the connector on the IDE cable. If the DVD is the only device on the cable set the jumper to "Master" and make sure you connect it to the connection on the cable marked "Master"

2. Make sure the "boot device order" in bios is set to Floppy/DVD/HDD , or DVD/HDD. In order to boot from the DVD and load windows the DVD has to appear in the boot order before the hard drive.

3. And as was stated above, check in bios to make sure the DVD is properly recognized at boot up

 

[Fardor]

the cable wasn't plugged in completely, now i'm installing windows.

tried to fix the turning on -> off -> on thing but couldn't.

another question about the DVD burner: it has audio plugs on the back, do i need to plug those in?

 

[Fardor]

would a power supply that was just a tad too weak be the cause for the turn off and back on thing?

i'm guessing no since it only happens at startup. when it restarted for the windows install it didn't do it.

it's a cheapo 500W.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

No, it's not the power supply. The cold start double boot thing is common with most all P965 and P35 boards, don't worry about it, My P5B-E has done it since day one and I've gotten to where I don't even notice it.

And no you don't need the sound cable, the ribbon cable carries the sound also

 

[Fardor]

omg, this thing is super fast!

now I know what I've been missing out on, using my Inspiron 9300 for almost 3 years. 1.6ghz celeron ftl!

when i was putting on the intel CPU cooler, I was getting pretty frustrated (and I don't get frustrated very easily), but now that it's working, i feel so happy!

how are these vista ratings?
proc: 5.1
RAM: 4.8
Graphics: 5.9
gaming graphics: 5.9
primary hard disk: 5.6

is it weird that the RAM is only 4.8 when i have 2x2GB DDR2 800?

 

[Fardor]

ok, new problem. found out that my RAM settings (I think) are off.

CPU-Z says that my DRAM Frequency is at 408.0 MHz (should be at 800, if it's DDR2-800, right?). FSBRAM is 1:2. I set the CPURAM to 1:4 in the BIOS a minute ago which made it 816 but apparently it didn't change. Maybe it's a problem that it's over 800?

Under "SPD" tab:
Max Bandwidth: PC2-6400 (400 MHz)

Timings Table:
Frequency: 333 MHz, 400 MHz
CAS# Latency: 4.0, 5.0
RAS# to CAS#: 5, 6
RAS# Precharge: 5,6
tRAS: 15, 18
tRC: 20, 24
Command Rate (greyed out)
Voltage: 1.8V, 1.8V (even though I just set it manually to 2.0V in BIOS - starting to get confuzled)

what can I do to feex it?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

It's correct the DDR speed is 2x the DRAM frequency, so you ram is actually overclocked to DDR816. I think the reason your only getting 4.8 on the ram is because so many people these days are running highspeed DDR2-1000 or higher and overclocking, and even DDR3 is starting to catch on. DDR2-800 used to be considered highspeed ram, but it's really becoming the base standard now.

Of all the Vista scores ram is the least important in my opinion. You could overclock the CPU and/or ram if you want to bring those scores up. But definately not necessary you've got a rockin box there.