So i got up at 9, and began my wait for mr purolator, he came around noon, i started putting the PC together and swapping things from the old pc to the new one.

Guys that i bought it from put the mobo in case, along with cpu, and ram and tested it all then shipped it. So when it got here i had to put the aftermarket heatsink on which i've never done, but seemed to go ok.

Got everything together after about 1.5h went to boot and i get a black screen. CRAP. i'm not getting the bios, no post, screen has power...everything has power, but nothing is loading. Checked the video card and cables, it's seated and tight.

Finally after reading the manual, i notice the mobo is only 4x/8x compatible...maybe it doesn't support my old 32mb video card which is maybe 2x at most. So on that possibility off to get a new video card. $300, an arm, kidney and liver later...i have some ATI Radeon 9800Pro - apparenlty it's good. Toss it in...try and connect the power cable as they say to and i get some words on the screen although they just tell me the video card power cord isn't connected.

Take everything apart again undo the ziptie's reconnect the power cable a diff way. Same prob, undo it all and try it two other ways to no avail. Finally i connect it like they say to...which is a pain in the ass and to me appears the same, but it works this time. Only now the pc keeps restarting when i boot. ARG.

So finally iget the bios setup right, and boot win xp....and it's up and running YAY. I don't install an antivirus or firewall fast enough...400+ infected files later, i can't remove some. No worries, it took me 80m to install windows before, takes maybe 25m or less to format the 80gb hd and install xp now - so i format again.

Now i'm just installing stuff, it's a lot quicker here. CPU seems to run at 33/34 idle and 35 under minimal load (antivirus and some other applications plus random installing)

I've now removed all virus infected files from both drives, and onto the windows update!!!


What are ideal CPU temps?

Your card will likely work, but at most your system would be unstable from it.

ROFL, sounds like a first time. Good job getting set up.

Un-overclocked CPU should be no higher than 39/40.

hmmm with all my downloading and running various antivirus/spyware programs....it seems to have level'd off at 38 at the cpu die. Seems like that might be kinda high even with mr thermaltake.


as for that video card...unless there was some jumper setting or something on the board to change....it just wasn't gonna work.

[ July 08, 2004, 12:28 AM: Message edited by: Hardcore Rock Superstar ]

Yeah, that 8x AGP slot is going to run at .8 volts, while the 2x requires 1.5 or 2v I think. So yeah, no workie on that one.

I wouldn't worry much about the temp. I had Cyrix CPU's back in the day running in the high 60's. :D

If you use a router it should protect you from those worms. First thing you do after format/install Windows is all your Windows Critical Updates.

CPU temps are highly dependant on case design: how much flow is in there and how well it moves air.

My case sucks, but my overclocked 2100+ (now 2700+) runs at 35°C with the stock AMD heatsink, fan at 2/3 speed and CPU @ 100% all the time (SETI).

Above 40°C would be not acceptable with an 'aftermarket' cooler, especially if it's above that with the side of the case off.

Didja get stuff off NCIX? Pure curiosity, I love those guys.

yeah, off NCIX, amd 2500+ with a thermaltake silent boost on it.....all inside a antec sonata (just stock rear fan). Temps here run between 39-46 depending on load - average about 42

thats a little warm for not being overclocked. mine used to run at 45 with the case open, but with some boat ducting over the cpu fans they dropped 6 degrees. It's all about the cold air getting into the heatsinks. and thats overclocked by 50%. with the dual cpus the case would get really hot fast and just circulate the hot air.

the best way to install xp is to throw antivirus and firewall software on a cd, and unplug the lan cable untill they're both installed. It can pick up a virus during the install screen

[ July 12, 2004, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: cavity ]