New to Gigabyte, new build 2500K, Z68X UD4

[ruffryder]

Hi Guys

I've been into PC's for the last 7 years or so but this is the first time I've bought a Gigabyte product but I'm a bit nervous of the number of people in this forum experiencing issues with their mobo.  Can anyone provide me with any tips with the setup of this new system to minimise possible frustration!

Components I've bought and will be able to assemble this weekend are:

Intel 2500K (looking to overclock this alright)
Titan Fenrir Evo HSF
Gigabyte Z68X UD4 mobo
8GB (2x4GB) Kingston 1600MHz RAM
1TB Samsung F3 hard drive
EVGA 550Ti SC (not very impressive I know but I don't play a lot of games and didn't want to spend much over a £100)

I didn't want to go with Asus for the mobo this time as I've been reading a lot of people having problems with there's.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

I really wouldn't worry too much about the number of people with problems as this is always the way on these forums. They are never populated by people that are happy with their boards  and where everything is working perfectly!

You shouldn't have any problem with your setup as long as you are using quality components (and that includes things like the PSU) and are careful when you do the build. Looking at your specs there the only thing i would be slightly concerned about is the memory. Have you checked to see if it is listed as compatible with the motherboard ?

[ruffryder]

Err..no I've not checked to see if the memory is compatible but can't see why it shouldn't?

PSU is an antec tp-650 which I bought earlier this year when my previous 6 year old tagan 480w blew up and kicked the bucket. The above components also replace a heavily overclocked 754 pin sempron 3400, 1gb DDR RAM, 6800gt graphics, an obscure DVD reader which packed up years ago and a Hitachi 7k250 160gb hard drive so close to losing the will to live that at one point last year it had to place it in the fridge overnight to get it to work the next day! Even now I swear its responsible for the total retardedness of the performance.

In the past I admit I didn't take gigabyte seriously so never bought a product but recently became partial after learning they beat asus to win the mobo award last year with pc pro.

Incase u need to know I will rarely test the full performance of the pc but wanted something that will stand me in good stead for a while and really I'm bit of a benchmarker with the custom pc benchmark which is not synthetic based.

[Dark Mantis]

Hopefully your build will go fine but trust me the memory isn't as straightforward as you seem to think it is. We see more problems due to incompatible RAM than any other single cause on this forum.

[ruffryder]

Oh dear, I've just checked the memory checker at Gigabyte's website and KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX not does not feature under the Kingston section although there are a couple which almost match the code!  Such as KHX1600C9D3K3/12GX and KHX1600C7D3K2/4GX

Should I be concerned to the point not starting the build and sending it back to the supplier for a refund?  I never knew before one would need to check that the memory is compatible with the mobo like this.  I thought if its DDR3 and in between the speed range of 1333MHz and 2133MHz it'll be fine.

[Dark Mantis]

I am afraid that the good old days of any memory fitted working are long gone. However don't worry unduly about your RAM not appearing on Gigabyte's list as they only test a small proportion of available memory. I would suggest going the other route and checking on the Kingston website what modules are compatible with this motherboard. By the way the numbers must be exactly the same not just close.

[ruffryder]

Hey Dark Mantis

As per your suggestion, I went on to Kingston's website and apparently the memory I've bought should be compatible.

I'm rebuilding the PC now and as per the manual have inserted the memory in slots 2 and 4 (if you were to number the slots as 1 being the closest to the the CPU and 4 the furthest).

[Dark Mantis]

That is good news anyway and let's hope that the list was correct and they work ok. By the way they have changed the numbering sequence on these new boards (don't ask me why!) and the slot furthest from the CPU is in fact now DDR3_1 and the one nearest the CPU is now DDR3_4. So you have put them in the correct slots.

[ruffryder]

I don't get it, so in which slots should I place the memory?

[Karlston]

You have them in the correct slots.

What you call slots 2 and 4 (correct under the old positioning) has under the new positioning become slots 3 and 1 respectively.

Gigabyte have just reversed the slots' order from 1 being nearest to CPU and 4 furthest from CPU to... 1 being furthest from CPU and 4 nearest to CPU. Perhaps done to put the memory physically further from the CPU for the most common usage, 1 and 2 stick users.

Hope that makes sense...

[ruffryder]

Right, latest update is that I can't get the pc to turn on! I suspect I'm not plugging in those fiddly 2 pin connectors from the case's front panel correctly. Perhaps I should follow the colour coordination instead of trying to match the wording on the connectors to the mobo.  Can't think of what else it could be?

Also I was shocked to discover the lack of IDE sockets, guess this means I can't use my old DVD rewriter no more. But I won't miss connecting the audio cable from it which would barely reach.

[F5BJR]

*
found also many others Motherboards without IDE ports ( ASUS ... )

for IDE DVD you a little solution with low cost similar to this :

http://cgi.ebay.com/IDE-SATA-100-133-HDD-CD-DVD-Converter-Adapter-Cable-/300531457681?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f9121e91

Pierre

[ruffryder]

Hi thanks for the replies guys.

I've had the PC up and running this morning.  Seems to be running nice and quietly (old 6800GT too loud) although I'm tempted to now change the two Akasa Amber case fans for Sharkoon Eagle 1000s.

Anyhow, I can see from the BIOS I have the F4 version - should I stick with this until I incur a problem during overclocking?

The processor seems to be idling at 33 degrees using Realtemp and wavering between 39-43 degrees when loaded.  I think this seems normal.  Everything is standard.  Too standard actually even the memory is still at 1333MHz when it should be 1600MHz.

Infact do overclockers with Z68X boards use the software or the BIOS to go about their overclocking?

By the way, I'm assuming like Windows XP it is recommended to have the C partition or drive dedicated to Windows 7 and the D partition/drive for your prgrams and stuff?  If so, it's been such a long time since I last formatted a PC I can't remember how to get programs to automatically install into D.  Anyone kindly remind me how to do this?

Thanks in advance.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

I would recommend flashing the BIOS to the latest F7 version that is available considering that you are planning to overclock. You will need the most stable platform you can get.

http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3849&dl=1#bios

Any overclocker that is serious about what they do will use the BIOS to OC their system. All other ways are just more like toys.

[ruffryder]

I'm finding cores 0 and 2 tend to be a couple of degrees hotter and beginning to wonder if it could be the weight of the tenrir heatsink exerting more pressure on one side when the mobo is on its side (like in a tower case). But I'm not overly concerned.

What I am struggling with however, is whether like windows xp I should install the programs on to another partition when using windows 7 so that the pc runs faster for longer. If so, I can't find for the life of me which settings to change in windows so that programs are installed in the programs folder automatically in the d partition. Do u guys know what I'm banging on about?!