GA-EG41MF-US2H (rev. 1.1) and dynamic energy saver advanced

[bb193]

I'm using this motherboard on an XP Media Center PC, so I want to make sure I'm not using too much energy (it spends a lot of its time in standby) and also it stays reasonably quiet when I'm using it. I still need to be able to watch and record TV, but apart from that, perfromance isn't too much of an issue.

I thought I'd try downloading and installing Gigabyte's Dynamic Energy Saver Advanced, as their website implied the motherboard supports it - http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3280#ov

However, when I try to install it, it unpacks it etc but then says the motherboard doesn't support it and so abandons the install. Am I doing anything wrong? Do I need to sert anything in the BIOS or anywhere else for it to work?

I suppose the other questoon is, what are other people's experiences with DESA? Is it likely to help with the things I've mentioned? Does it cause any problems? Is it worth installing or not?

[Dark Mantis]

I am afraid I can't be of a lot of assistance here as I have no personal experience of this utility. You are quite correct though about your motherboard support for it according to the specs. I would have expected it to be included on the motherboard support cd if it is supposed to work with this board. If you check on page 73/74 of your manual you will see that the energy saving settings need to be enabled in the BIOS before using it, maybe this is your problem.

Before using the DES function, make sure the CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) and CPU EIST
Function items in the BIOS Setup program are set to Enabled.

[bb193]

Aaah - RTFM. Gets me every time  

Thanks for the reply - I'll try that setting and see if that helps. Mind, having said that, I've just checked the manual and by default they seem to be set to 'enabled'?

If it doesn't work, I might try Dynamic Energy Saver (http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Utility/motherboard_utility_des.exe) which seems to be an earlier and possibly more basic tool.

Thanks again for your help

[Dark Mantis]

You're welcome. Please let us know how you get on with it.

[bb193]

DES didn't work either. However, it is not the MBs fault - apparently the Pentium D processor I have is so old, it doesn't support those power saving features.

My processor definitely seem to be the weak point in my setup as it seems to be preventing me doing stuff I'd like to do. I wonder who I can convince that a new processor is a suitable Christmas present? 

[absic]

Ah the problem doesn't end with a new CPU as you will want to change your RAM, your Mobo, your GPU. Oh yes, then there's that nice new SSD, gotta try that...........

So you will need to convince someone that you really, really, really do need a new PC. If you manage to succeed with this, can you post back FULL details of how you managed it, as I'm sure there will be plenty of other members here, who will want to give it a go!! 

[Dark Mantis]

And do we have to wait until Christmas? 

[bb193]

Sorry - thick question. There is a shot at a cheap E4400 that I could use. I know it is not the best or newest processor in the world, but I'm guessing that it is better than my current D820. It is lower heat output and I think it has some thermal settings which might help with DESA.

So my thick question is - I can just swap the processors and that is it, isn't it? I won't need to go through the faff of reinstaling Windows again, will I? It will just boot up and work?

I might be tempted to do a Windows 7 upgrade while I'm there (which will probably just eat up any extra processor speed I might get) but it'd be nice to know if a processor swap is as easy as I thonk it ought to be.

[Dark Mantis]

Your motherboard will take that processor from BIOS version F3 onwards. You can check here:

http://www.giga-byte.co.uk/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3280

As far as re-installing Windows goes you may have to but at least you will have to re-activate it again as it will pick it up as a hardware change. As you say now would be a good time to have a clean start and install Windows 7. It is n't much more resource hungry than XP not like Vista and the install sequence is much easier too.

[bb193]

Cool, thanks for the answer. Sounds like it is worth a go