Help with Mobo Selection

killswitch83 · Post by **killswitch83** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:12 pm

Well whenever I install new hardware like that I do a fresh install of Windows, just because it doesn't take major changes too well (found this out from experience when I failed to reinstall after installing a new board and processor in my parent's machine, and I started getting BSOD's; hardware was fine, the kernel got corrupted; formatted and reinstalled, everything was fine after that). If your scanning for adware and viruses comes up null and void you might want to back up whatever files you need to keep and go for a fresh install. Ask just about anybody in here who does this often, and they'll tell ya.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:12 pm

Hold your horses Killswitch! --> reinstall? not yet...

Check if DMA is enabled on your drive.... goto device manager, check IDE/ATAPI controllers, make sure the IDE channel which you use for your C:\ drive has DMA enabled....

You can try run "bootvis" -> it's a microsoft tool (google search)

Is the system slow when xp is loaded? -> run hdtach (google) -> It quick&easy to check hdd speeds

Have you updated the chipset drivers? --> It could also be a jumpper issue (master/slave) -> did you add any new HDD's etc.?
ms$ realease updates for a reason... update ALL system drivers...

killswitch83 · Post by **killswitch83** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:43 pm

Holy bejeebus man, I wasn't taught these commands, didn't even know they existed (except sysedit, msconfig, ipconfig, etc, etc); you spurt it like it's second nature, lol. Ok, I shut up now

TX_Renegade · Post by **TX_Renegade** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:14 pm

Ok, I'm still working on making sure all drivers and updates are in place. I am having an issue that is causing me grief.

I have a compaq USB keyboard. 90% of the time when I restart the system, the keyboard isn't recognized and I can't type in my password. I have found two work arounds but both are time consuming:
1. Log into my wife's profile and hope the system finds the USB
2. Keep rebooting until it's recognized. (Sometimes if I go into the BIOs and immediately exit and save, it will find the USB keyboard.)
The keyboard is Enabled in the Bios and all of the drivers have been updated.

Any ideas?

killswitch83 · Post by **killswitch83** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:34 pm

is the keyboard PS/2 (small, round plug) or is it USB? You may want to make sure you installed all the drivers for the mobo and your peripherals (mobo drivers are important because, unlike OEM computers that already have all the drivers necessary compressed on the disk, you need to install each driver yourself with a personal build). It should be to the point where you can have access to all your drivers in any mode, admin or not. If you did the fresh install of Windows already, then go ahead and use the driver disk and make sure all the drivers are installed. However, if it appears they are, you may need to go to each device in device manager and click update driver, and manually do it from whatever file it installed to, or from CD, depending on if they compressed the drivers on the CD or not. But try the actual installation first and see if it works. It's bedtime over here at 1:30 in the morning, so I'll see you tomorrow (well, technically today, but you get my point, lol). Later

TX_Renegade · Post by **TX_Renegade** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:46 am

Well the puter is up and running at a nice speed. I wanna say thanks to everyone for their help. Now to try out a few games!

killswitch83 · Post by **killswitch83** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:08 am

Good to hear you got everything going man!

Katipo · Post by **Katipo** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:10 pm

Don't want to start another thread, and it doesn't look like anyone's using this one, so I'll recycle this one.

NEWBIE ALERT!

I've got an obsolete, but excellent box, in a Lian-Li PC-62USB.

On the outside it advertises, 'Pentium 4', which I'm aware probably determines port configurations in the back of the box, but I was wondering what Via/AMD based boards would be suitable for it.
Standard ATX factor, but it'll carry a big board as it was originally designed for dual CPU configs.

I've looked at things like this...

http://au.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l ... odelmenu=1

...but I'd prefer AMD.

The box has room for about eight drives, so a server definitely isn't out of the question, and I'd turn my present small box into a firewall, but a new stand alone box could be good also.

TIA for any info.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:41 pm

Welcome to LR Katipo!

The Lian-Li PC-62USB looks like a nice case!

What's your budget?

Katipo · Post by **Katipo** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:57 pm

Hi, kenc51.

Just for the bare board and CPU(s), I could maybe stretch to $1200.00 Australian = $ U.S.880.00 = 750.00 euro.

Looking at reliable workstation/server use.
I've got the software, - Debian/DragonflyBSD.

I've already got an NMB 460W PSU sitting in the box, which should supply enough juice for most uses.

killswitch83 · Post by **killswitch83** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:32 pm

I think you could do a bit with that kind of dough....do you specifically need this unit to be a server? actually I guess the better question is how do you plan to use it? gaming monster, everyday computer, or a server? After reading extensively about the AMD X2 line I've become quite fond of it, which is a dual-core processor (you can do a lot more with this one, and it provides some measure of "future-proofing" your PC. If you're gaming, I would go with the X2 3800+, and yes there are a few games out there that uses both cores (Serious Sam 2, Quake 4, and a couple others). Right now, I've been seeing the processor at around $329 US, so it may put a dent in your budget. Of course, there's a cheaper one that's only single core, but is definitely no slouch, and overall a great processor: the Athlon 64 3700+, San Diego core. It costs around $233 plus shipping at newegg, but depending on where you live (which I assume you live overseas?) it can be high. there's a start, so if you give me an idea of what you want the computer for, I can help you a little more.

Katipo · Post by **Katipo** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:43 am

I'm fairly open, but I don't have the time to play around with overclocking, or serious gaming. The closest I come to that is a game of chess on the net to clear my head.

A new box would be nice, but I'm running a small business, so a server would probably be a better move for the future.
I could keep the box I've got.

I've got a couple of old 486 boxes that I could use as a standalone firewall and an email server with port forwarding, so planning is fairly flexible.

A new box is the heart vote, but the head says server.

killswitch83 · Post by **killswitch83** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:52 am

well, then I would say the single core 3700+ San Diego would be a good solution for you. Yeah, it would be nice to have the nicest items, but considering this is mainly general purpose, high-performance components aren't exactly necessary. However, I would go with reputable brands for your components, like Asus or DFI for your mobo; Corsair, Crucial, and Kingston for your memory needs; Antec has a nice performance full-server tower that would work well for your needs, and I would go with them for your power supply as well, the True Power II is a nice one, something in the 450-550 range to future-proof your rig. Go with a decent cooler or if you don't overclock at all, stock would work fine, but I still recommend a good aftermarket cooler just to make the system rock-solid and low-temp. The good thing is that socket 939 will still be a good solution on into 2007, when M2 is expected to be commonplace. There are several review articles on components on this site, you may find them helpful. This can be considered a mainly enthusiast-based site, but I also like to help those who are more on the general end of the computing spectrum (those in the IT field, the common user, etc). Hope some of this helped. If you need an idea of prices on any components, let me know and I'll help you out there.

Katipo · Post by **Katipo** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:14 am

Thanks for that.

I think the same way.

If it wasn't for the market influence of gaming, for example, we wouldn't have the advances we have in graphics, CPU cycles, RAM, etc., but people get tied up so much in their little cliques, anything else becomes unfashionable.

Hopefully what I'm building now will see me right till fully optical, non-silicon based boards arrive.
You watch.
With things like nanotech really beginning to happen, it won't be long in coming.

Katipo · Post by **Katipo** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:53 am

So, the A8V Deluxe looks O.K., then.

http://www.asus.com/products3.aspx?l1=3 ... 0K8T800Pro

http://linux-tested.com/results/asus_a8v_deluxe.html

killswitch83 · Post by **killswitch83** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:12 pm

honestly, if it were me, just to future-proof your system, I would go with a board that has PCI-Express and the NForce4 chipset. I'm not real fond of the VIA chipsets, once again due to the fact that their newer stuff is pretty well "vanilla" and not future-proof. The NF4, on the other hand, offers a whole lot of support, everything from PCI x16 graphics to SATA II, and it is pretty well future-proof. Plus, according to Newegg, that board is $88 US, which is not worth the price when you can get the DFI NForce4 Ultra Infinity for $7.55 US more, and it does have PCI Express x16, SATA, and the NForce4 Ultra chipset. DFI has been famous for their rock-solid motherboards and excellent support through their forum DFI Street. Trust me, it's a much better buy. Plus you gotta understand that AGP is being phased out, so the availability of cards is decreasing, when PCI-E x16 cards are prevalent and down in price as well. Just something I believe you should know, that's all

Katipo · Post by **Katipo** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 4:47 am

I appreciate what you're saying, but I've had experiences with Nvidia chipsets before, and there's just too much fiddling with them as far as opensource OS's are concerned.
If you've just got the one OS, a bit of fiddling is fun, but if you like to play with a few with removable racks, it gets to be a royal pain.
With the VIA and AMD combo there's never a problem across the board (so to speak).
You can run Debian (which I do), Gnu-Darwin and DragonflyBSD without any incompatibility hassles coming up.

And it comes into its own where cheaper, older hardware is concerned.
We have our resources...

http://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/t ... hp/3526631

What you need is excessive for me.
On this box, for example, I've got an old Riva TNT2 graphics card.
It's 3D capable, just, but for my 2D CAD programme, for the basic business floorplans I draw up for local government approval, it's all I need.

If I suddenly hit them with 3D walk-throughs, they'd arrest me for witchcraft.

Things like USB2 I can use.

For a small, home-based business server, how much do I need?

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:28 am

Katipo, That board is fine, Asus site says it supports X2 dual cire cpu's too... You may not need dual core now, but at least you can updgrade later ;)

Since you run GNU

Get a 3000+ AMD CPu to go with that board, if you ever need more performance you can overclcok...with plenty of headroom with that cpu!
I see your point with Nvidia, they aren't the most stable and most supported chipsets, even with M$ running.... The nFoorce4 "active armor" (in-built firewall etc.) has never worked for me, If I enable it, I can be sure I'll get a blue screen soon...

The A8V Deluxe supports AGP, and the VIA K8T800Pro chipset is the BEST for AGP performance! As you know ATI drivers arn't the best, so go with Nvidia. Debian mayby easy to intsall ATI's drivers (apt-get install ***), but you will get alot better performance from Nvidia in OpenGL than an equivalent ATI card....
If your looking for something to overclock, then I's stay away from Asus, they are not the best @ AMD boards, @ least while AGP was king...If its for a stable workstation...then you can't go wrong with Asus...

If you went dual core, all you need to do is complie or install a kernel with SMP support! as you know, Linux / Darwin Rocks when it comes to supporting Cpu's et....

Your budget is way more than you need! But that board with a 3*00+ cpu will "serve" you well.....

You should run Smoothwall on one of your 486's...Simple to setup/config and since boots off a CD, all the files are Read-Only, so it very secure!

Katipo · Post by **Katipo** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:07 am

kenc51 wrote:Katipo, That board is fine, Asus site says it supports X2 dual cire cpu's too... You may not need dual core now, but at least you can updgrade later ;)

Looking at the server function, so I'd probably go with that straight away.
In time, I could be looking at four boxes, including a till, my box, one for stocktaking out the back, and one for the staff, working off it.

Since you run GNU 8) Get a 3000+ AMD CPu to go with that board, if you ever need more performance you can overclcok...with plenty of headroom with that cpu!
I see your point with Nvidia, they aren't the most stable and most supported chipsets, even with M$ running.... The nFoorce4 "active armor" (in-built firewall etc.) has never worked for me, If I enable it, I can be sure I'll get a blue screen soon...

I've never known a packaged firewall that does.
I'm somewhat suspicious of them.
You've even got to look closely at routers these days.
As far as I'm concerned, even WMP is a music playing trojan.

The A8V Deluxe supports AGP, and the VIA K8T800Pro chipset is the BEST for AGP performance! As you know ATI drivers arn't the best, so go with Nvidia. Debian mayby easy to intsall ATI's drivers (apt-get install ***), but you will get alot better performance from Nvidia in OpenGL than an equivalent ATI card....

Yep, ATI have only just come to the driver party recently, and they've still got a little way to go.

If your looking for something to overclock, then I's stay away from Asus, they are not the best @ AMD boards, @ least while AGP was king...If its for a stable workstation...then you can't go wrong with Asus...

That's what I'm looking at.

If you went dual core, all you need to do is complie or install a kernel with SMP support! as you know, Linux / Darwin Rocks when it comes to supporting Cpu's et....

Debian puts out both 64bit and smp now.

Your budget is way more than you need! But that board with a 3*00+ cpu will "serve" you well.....

You should run Smoothwall on one of your 486's...Simple to setup/config and since boots off a CD, all the files are Read-Only, so it very secure!

Isn't it a beautiful thing?
Exactly what I've been looking at.
But I'd run it from its own drive, with Bastille to supply the hardening factor.
Not an easy combination to beat.

Thanks to all!