My ABIT IC7 System Setup - Recommendations

[thatsright]

Will be setting up my new system soon. But I?d like anyone?s suggestions on the order of install, and then about the software Install.

Will be buying ABIT IC7 and P4C 2.4Ghz 512 X 2 of PC3500 Kingston HyperX and Radeon 9500 Pro and WinXP Pro.

1. Is there anyway I can Flash the MB Bios to Rev 1.1 without the O/S installed? I?m guessing maybe with just the Video card in default 2D mode and floppy drive and ram and CPU hooked up. Is this possible? I?m just assuming things would run a lot more smoothly with the latest BIOS rev, and without having to Install the O/S 1st.

2. Once I install All Hardware in case, are there any specific Intel or ABIT extra drivers I should be aware off

3. Is the Intel Application Accelerator ONLY for SATA-Raid setups, of which I don?t have; or IDE drives?

4. I plan on Overclocking my P4c 2.4Ghz as high as I can take it stably with the supplied retail Intel HSF combo and some Arctic Silver 3 grease. Should I try to Overclock after XP Pro is up and running, or wait until I install all of my Applications?

5. For O?Cing, should I ?take off? the Intel Thermal Pad that is on the HSF that comes with the retail CPU, or does this do more damage than its worth and/or void the warranty?

6. Should I Install XP SP1 After or Before I Install all of my applications?


Any one who has put together a system with the ABIT IC7 and a P4c and has tried to Overclock I?d definitely like to hear your tips, comments suggestions, things to avoid, thing to know; etc., etc??

And anyone else, if you can think of something or help me out, I?d greatly appreciate it.

Thanks a lot guys.



P.S. Yeah I know this post might not be in the right forum, but it kinda overlaps a few forums so I thought it would be fine here.

 

[butch84]

well, you will definately want to take off that thermal interface material from the heatsink. if you dont have any thermal grease itll get the job done, but artic silver will be much better. as for the other questions, i would be interested as well -> im thinking of springing for the IC7 sometime soon

butch

 

[vailr]

1. Yes. Make a bootable floppy and include the latest 1.3 bios (released today 5/23).
2. WinXP SP1 adds USB 2.0 drivers. Put drivers for raid controller on a floppy. Needed during WinXP install (only if using raid).
3. Use the Intel Application Accelerator for any HD configuration.
4. Makes no difference. The Intel stock fan may be noisy; consider replacing with a Zalman, Alpha, Thermalright, etc. HSF.
5. Don't use BOTH grease AND thermal pad. Either use one or the other.
6. Update every WinXP component first: SP1, DX9, WMP9, Windows Update updates, etc.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: vailr
1. Yes. Make a bootable floppy and include the latest 1.3 bios (released today 5/23).
2. WinXP SP1 adds USB 2.0 drivers. Put drivers for raid controller on a floppy. Needed during WinXP install (only if using raid).
3. Use the Intel Application Accelerator for any HD configuration.
4. Makes no difference. The Intel stock fan may be noisy; consider replacing with a Zalman, Alpha, Thermalright, etc. HSF.
5. Don't use BOTH grease AND thermal pad. Either use one or the other.
6. Update every WinXP component first: SP1, DX9, WMP9, Windows Update updates, etc.

Thanks Valir: Just a few follow up questions

I thought that the IAA patch was just for those running Serial RAID setups? But if I do need to install this, would I do so before, or during WIN XP Pro Install?

Would you say that AS3 would be better on the Intel HSF combo without the Thermal Pad, or just The thermal pad and no grease?

What about Downloading all of the updates for all WinXP componets-SP1, DX9, WMP9, Windows Update updates, etc- and then when this is done, install the Norton/Roxio Go Back 3. I'm thinking maybe I could use this as a 'Save Point' for a Final 'Done,' up to date, XP Pro install. Then I would try to do my Overclocking. Or should I just install XP and then try to Overclock without a 'Restore point'?

If you could help me out with the above, ALL the Better.

Thanks again.

 

[WarCon]

The latest IAA program/driver (3.0 I think) is only for SATA Raid. I would guess you can use 2.3 on your install though if you so choose, but its not necessary.

Only one thermal compound. Either pad or AS3, never both. And AS3 will outperform the pad, but not significantly because of the huge surface area of the heatspreader. I personally recommend a better heatsink though, if your planning on a quiet significant overclock. You void your warranty by overclocking anyway, so just buy oem (if you get a better deal than retail) and invest the savings into a better heatsink.

And yes do the updates before the Go Back 3. Or use a ghost type backup to CD in case your overclock scrambles your boot strap and you need to format.

 

[thatsright]

Only one thermal compound. Either pad or AS3, never both. And AS3 will outperform the pad, but not significantly because of the huge surface area of the heatspreader. I personally recommend a better heatsink though, if your planning on a quiet significant overclock. You void your warranty by overclocking anyway, so just buy oem (if you get a better deal than retail) and invest the savings into a better heatsink.

Well I'm not too sure by what you would consider 'Significant' there WARCON? I've read a lot of reviews that state they were able to get up to 3.2 Ghs with just the Intel HSF combo from the Retail box, and the Thermal Pad. What I'm planning on doing, is to remove the Pad, and then use AS3 grease, and the Intel HSF combo. I'd like to go for at least 3Ghz with stability, and 3.2Ghz is the goal.

I'm not sure if anyone could comment on getting over 3.2Ghz for a overclocked 2.4c? I might try, but I'm only counting on 3.0-3.2Ghz Overclocked. Is that being too greedy?

Also, if I do run into problems whil O'Cing, with instability n' such; how would I know if its due to poor CPU cooling, or if the RAM is unstable?

Anyone?

 

[WarCon]

I have had poor results overclocking with the retail heatsink myself (even with AS3). As far as getting 3.2 (267mhz fsb), will depend alot on your memory and some on the northbridge cooling (which the IC7 seems to have a real decent cooler on). So if you get a cool running processor that goes the distance on default or near default vcore then yeah you might make it. When you start to pump up the vcore the temps will rise quickly and thats when a better heatsink really comes in handy.

I recommend AS3 for this level of overclock, but I also recommend a better heatsink.

Edit: There is a thread in Overclocking where the person is running a 3.4gig overclock, but its with an Alpha heatsink. So 3.2gig with retail is probable, but don't you really want 3.4gig? ....

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: WarCon
I have had poor results overclocking with the retail heatsink myself (even with AS3). As far as getting 3.2 (267mhz fsb), will depend alot on your memory and some on the northbridge cooling (which the IC7 seems to have a real decent cooler on). So if you get a cool running processor that goes the distance on default or near default vcore then yeah you might make it. When you start to pump up the vcore the temps will rise quickly and thats when a better heatsink really comes in handy.

I recommend AS3 for this level of overclock, but I also recommend a better heatsink.

Edit: There is a thread in Overclocking where the person is running a 3.4gig overclock, but its with an Alpha heatsink. So 3.2gig with retail is probable, but don't you really want 3.4gig? ....

Well the thing is, I think that I'd be happy with a 'Measly' 3Ghz Overclock, and Psyched if I can get it up to 3.2Ghz with Rock Solid Stability. 3.4Gig Is tempting, but I'd not too sure from the reviews I've read that with the Intel HSF combo that would be doable. And from what I hear, getting up to 3.2Ghz with my Kingston HyperX PC3500 is probable.

BOTOH, my room here is super Insulated, and its warmer by about 10 degrees F during any season; so maybe I would buy a Alpha Heatsink or the like, if I can't get stablity at 3.2Ghz.

How much Is that Alpha?