Pharaohz

I finally received my mobo and it looks to be in great shape. There are some new options with this board that I havent use before and just want some input on em. I will also be reading up on em as we chat.

GIGABYTE C.I.A. (CPU Intelligent Accelerator) Technology
GIGABYTE C.I.A (CPU Intelligent Accelerator) is designed to detect CPU loading during software program’s executing, and automatically adjust CPU computing power to maximize system performance. During loading high CPU resources consumption tasks, such as video and audio encoding programs or thrilling 3D games, the CPU requires more CPU computing power; when C.I.A is enabled, it will detect the current CPU loading and automatically accelerate the CPU computing performance, thus allow programs to execute faster and smoother. On the other hand, when the programs are terminated, the CPU will return back to its initial status.

Im going to guess there is an option in the bios to turn this off if it sucks. Anyone have any info on it?
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AGP 8X with AGP Pro interface for work-station graphics.

I have a BFG 7800GS OC im going to be using. There is a lil plastic flap in the frost of the socket. Whats the deal with this Pro thing? The card has a 4pin connector on it. Do I use that one or the one on the board or both?

Ok just did some reading up on the power connector. If I am reading this right, the plug on the board is an outlet not an inlet. So instead of plugging into the psu I can plug into the board then into the video card with like a 3 inch long cable. Id guess it would be better to draw straight from the psu. Less likely for issues Id think. Any input?
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This mobo has a dual bios. I havent yet read up on anything so Im not sure how well this works. Any input? Like if i mess up the main again, how does the back up work?

Pic of board below.

Attached Images

Mobo.JPG (74.2 KB, 9 views)

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

linderman

yes you use both the 4 pin power on the motherboard and put the power plug into the video card that motherboard only has a 20 pin atx power plug therefore half of the video cards power comes from that agp plug on the board the remaining power comes from the video card plug

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linderman

dual bios is a beautiful thing .... the stand-by or back-up bios cant be accidentally written to / but in the event you mess up your primary bios you can restore from the back-up bios and try the new flash again ............... the procedure is all outlined in the manual


the CIA function is OK it wont bother you / it wont disappoint you will gaming

cuts down on system heat nicely though when you are not active on the computer or doing a task which doesnt take much muscle (like a defrag)

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If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

Pharaohz

Oh I should of stated its not the 4pin like ATX 12V plug but a molex(that right?) plug. I have it circled on the pic.

Also this will be my first use of a SATA drive. I am only going to run one. Do I need to go into the bios to change anything? Is RAID for 2 or more drives or do I have to mess with that also? Or do I just plug in the SATA and away I go? I will have an IDE hard drive installed also but Im guessing master the SATA and slave the IDE? Or should I cable select em? :)

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

Pharaohz

Whats the IR _CIR connection for?

And im guessing the SUR-CEN (surround center) for surround sound as it is next to the SPDIF (digital sound) and both are things I dont need to bother myself with because Im using a Audigy Platinum PCI card?

OH and Info Link? Says for external devices to provide extra function.... lol could they be more vage?

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

Pharaohz

So do I enable wide range protection now or just if and when I need to load from the back up bios? My lord there is a freaking ton of options in this bios... just reading about em. I think I am going to love dual bios! :)

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

linderman

YES that 4 pin plug is a Molex plug >>>>> give it power


as to your Sata question ...... sata drives dont have jumpers for master and slave they are alone on each sata channel so they dont need the master slave


in your shoes I would connect the sata drive to the sata 0 port dont connect the IDE drive until after you have your OS loaded onto the sata drive


YES raid is for two or more drives to be linked together >>>>> you dont need that, dont connect anything to the sata raid ports


to install your OS you will need to enter the bios and set the sata controller to "IDE" mode because your operating system wont have the needed sata controller drivers for your motherboard during the time of the OS install .......... unless you want to add them to your windows CD by slipstreaming them in ??????

its easier to just set your sata controller to IDE mode until the OS is installed / then load the chipset drivers from your motherboard CD ..... its at this time the drivers for your onbaord sata controller will be installed and utilized by the windows registry ........ after that step has been performed you can re-enter the bios and set the sata controller back to "enhanced" or ACHI mode; which ever your motherboard calls it ???? to achieve regular improved sata drive operation

as for those sound connectors ......... you wont need to mess with them if you are using a sound card

__________________



If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

linderman

BTW you will want to enter the bios and "disable" the onboard Raid controller (jmicron controller is a popular one gigabyte uses)

if you dont disable the raid controller ...... every time you boot you will see a message that says the bios cant find any drives and wont load or something similar >>>>> it wont stop you from continueing/ but its an annoying little nag message

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If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

linderman

I would leave that one at the "default" setting ........ in other words dont change it

__________________



If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

Pharaohz

Thanks a million Linderman. Ill be doing some more reading before I start the installs but Im going to start the hardware now. :) FUN FUN FUN

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

Pharaohz

Say... should I bench test it first? Or wait until I encounter a problem? I have never in all my installs needed to. Things have always just gone together without issue. But this time I am using used stuff...

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

Pharaohz

UPDATE:

Put the cpu, heatsink/fan and ram in so far for hardware. It was getting late so I decided to do some reading up and getting drivers/manual onto a jump drive.

The heatsink, a Asus Neptune P4 AH7 CPU Fan (pic added) fits so perfect onto a cpu bracket with a under plate. I mean wow! Im inpressed with the heat sink and holding bracket. Its a 4 way simple HS. Fan looks kinda small but listed at 5700rpm Will have to watch it.

Anyways I have all my board drivers, video, Everest, SP2 and the manual (so of it printed out on paper) read to go for tomorrow. Have a list of the bios settings I want before and after OS install (thanks Linderman). XP cd waiting to do its duty... I think Im ready. hehe Ill have two other working computers to trouble shoot from. Yep, other then a shower and a shave im go. :)

Attached Images

FAN-478_LG.gif (62.1 KB, 2 views)

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

linderman

well now .......... a pilot that wears a parachute


FWIW I bench test every system I assemble .......... it saves sooooooo much trouble shooting time !

__________________



If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.

Pharaohz

I started late but Im off to a good start. I had a single continous beep at first post attempt. Turned out to be an extra LED case connection. Removed it and it posted great. Got into the bios and changed up some stuff. I turned off raid and sata. But when I tried to install windows it didnt read the sata drive so I had to turn it back on. I looked for anything that would let me make the sata ide but no luck.

Windows is installing system files right now so it must be set up right. All the hardware installed so far seems to be working great! WOOT :) Thank the good Lord for that. After windows gets done, im heading to bed. Will install drivers and other hardware then.

Thanks a TON Linderman :)

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"

Pharaohz

Howdy :) Typing this from my new system. Everything has gone very smooth. All these used components work like a champ! Loading windows before took the better part of 90 seconds. Now... about 15 :) Im loving the SATA drive. I was worried about the temps on these Prescott P4s, but wow!!!!!! This new heatsink and fan are keeping it WAY cool. I havent pushed it yet but from downloading and surfing its staying at a very chilly 26-28c. Yep thats not a typo :) Im so impressed with the HS/F. Still have a couple of things to install but I am way happy so far. Thanks again Linderman for the information.

__________________
I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father,
Except through me. John 14:6
Wrench: "When they make an SLI that's not buggy we'll let you know"
OMG: "Noooooppeeee! we build pc's.. we don't manufacture mobo's"