P4P800-VM - pre install advice please

[Ian]

I've just ordered an Asus P4P800-VM Motherboard.

Not having owned an Asus motherboard before I felt it a good idea to
seek advice on things I may need to have solutions for before I start
the install.

I am planning to install a P4 1.8a (400) CPU.

I also ordered some Crucial PC3200 memory (2*512)

The boot drive could be an IDE 40Gb WD or a Sata version of the same. I
think I might prefer the IDE version on this one machine, but it's not a
big deal either way. I envisage adding a number of larger IDE drives
once the system is bedded down, so SATA could make sense as a boot drive.

It will have a DVD drive added, but for playback only.

I can make an Asus 52x cdrom available, for the install.

Finally I want to use my old Asus V8420 Deluxe for AGP slot graphics.

I have an un opened OEM Windows XP pro which claims to include service
pack 2.

Are there any things I need to check, find out or download before I get
started?

Any warnings with this combination?

It's intended that this will be an HTPC/JukeBox/web radio/web
browseing/e-mail machine mostly, but I'd also like to see how a flight
sim (micro flight) runs on it too, out of morbid curiosity. I'm not sure
exactly what other features I expect out of it yet, but I'd be keen to
experiment some to see what it can offer in general. I have another
machine where the flight sim normally runs, but I'm just curious to see
what happens with that bit.

I'm keen to get it running cool and quiet more than aiming for huge
performance (which, obviously, it's a bit old spec for)

What would you advise?

 

[Paul]

I've just ordered an Asus P4P800-VM Motherboard.

Not having owned an Asus motherboard before I felt it a good idea to
seek advice on things I may need to have solutions for before I start
the install.

I am planning to install a P4 1.8a (400) CPU.

I also ordered some Crucial PC3200 memory (2*512)

The boot drive could be an IDE 40Gb WD or a Sata version of the same. I
think I might prefer the IDE version on this one machine, but it's not a
big deal either way. I envisage adding a number of larger IDE drives
once the system is bedded down, so SATA could make sense as a boot drive.

It will have a DVD drive added, but for playback only.

I can make an Asus 52x cdrom available, for the install.

Finally I want to use my old Asus V8420 Deluxe for AGP slot graphics.

I have an un opened OEM Windows XP pro which claims to include service
pack 2.

Are there any things I need to check, find out or download before I get
started?

Any warnings with this combination?

It's intended that this will be an HTPC/JukeBox/web radio/web
browseing/e-mail machine mostly, but I'd also like to see how a flight
sim (micro flight) runs on it too, out of morbid curiosity. I'm not sure
exactly what other features I expect out of it yet, but I'd be keen to
experiment some to see what it can offer in general. I have another
machine where the flight sim normally runs, but I'm just curious to see
what happens with that bit.

I'm keen to get it running cool and quiet more than aiming for huge
performance (which, obviously, it's a bit old spec for)

What would you advise?

SL63X 1.80 GHz 0F24 Bus Speed 400 MHz Thermal 49.6W Stepping B0
L2 Cache 512 KB Tech 0.13 micron

That looks like a good choice. It is hard to find a lower power
solution. This would be one way, and maybe with a few more 855GM
motherboards out there, this might become a viable option:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2342&p=8

Your PC3200 RAM will run at PC2100 rates, which will keep them
cool. You can still run them in dual channel configuration.

The motherboard CD should have a copy of the Intel INFINST
chipset drivers. You install those after installing Windows,
and the main thing to be gained, is you get the AGP GART
driver. If using the built-in graphics, there should be
video drivers for the 865 extreme graphics on the mobo CD.
If using your video card instead, you would install the
drivers that came with the video card (Nvidia Detonators),
and not bother with the video driver for the 865. You'll
need some version of DirectX, and I would expect SP2 to have
something fairly recent on it.

Your video card (TI4200) will likely blow away the Intel
"Extreme Graphics", so I wouldn't even bother with the Intel
stuff. If you want to save power though, the built-in graphics
probably only consume 2-3W more than normal, so if you want
to save every last watt in the interest of keeping heat down,
then that would be an incentive to leave the TI4200 out of the
PC.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Minh Tran-Le]

I've just ordered an Asus P4P800-VM Motherboard.
...
I'm keen to get it running cool and quiet more than aiming for huge
performance (which, obviously, it's a bit old spec for)

If you really wanted to keep it quiet you can use one of the utilities
like "speedfan" that let you monitor/control your CPU fan. The other fan
output does not seems to be controllable. This motherboard does not
have the Q-Fan built into the bios.

 

[Ian]

HTH,
Paul

Thanks, yes it really did help, as well as pointing out a few good bits
I had not thought of, you confirmed some other bits that I was sort of
hoping would turn out that way, but had no "certain" idea about!

It's always nice to hear it from another! ;O)

 

[Ian]

If you really wanted to keep it quiet

Well yes to a point, but it's going to e the source of asome noise
itself, so it's not quite "a mission", if you see what I mean!

you can use one of the utilities
like "speedfan" that let you monitor/control your CPU fan.

Thanks for the tip.

The other fan
output does not seems to be controllable. This motherboard does not
have the Q-Fan built into the bios.

I've maybe already got it partly covered, I also finally caved in and
ordered a Zalman just after posting! ;O)

I'll think over what to do about case fans once the new case has arrived
and I can get a proper look at it. Regular aftermarket "bay bus" types
look a bit prominent for this application, I suspect I'll need something
a bit more restrained in appearance.