Hello everyone, I’ve been reading posts on this board for a while now, and I’ve been impressed with the helpfulness and knowledge of the replies. I’ve learned a lot from other people’s questions. I’m very glad I stumbled across this forum in my parts research earlier this year.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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But, of course, I still have a question of my own. J<o:p></o:p>
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Below are my system specs:<o:p></o:p>
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GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard (will be using onboard sound, not a discrete card)<o:p></o:p>
VGA Sapphire Radeon HD4850 512MB video card<o:p></o:p>
Intel Q8200 processor (with stock heat sink)<o:p></o:p>
8 gig (4x2GB) Mushkin model 996580 DDR2 800 (PC2 6200) ram (timing 4-4-4-12, Voltage 2.0V - 2.1V)<o:p></o:p>
2 Samsung 22x DVD burners (model SH-S223F)<o:p></o:p>
2 Western Digital 640GB hard drives (model WD6401AALS) – no raid<o:p></o:p>
Corsair 750 watt PSU (750TX)<o:p></o:p>
Cooler Master 690 case<o:p></o:p>
Windows Vista 64bit (not yet installed as of this post)<o:p></o:p>
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I don't intend to overclock, I just want to get it running. I've got all the hardware installed, but wanted to know: Is there anything I need to do/know before I power it up for the first time?<o:p></o:p>
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Should I just leave the bios alone and wait for a problem, or do I need to flash to a new one straight away?<o:p></o:p>
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I asked about RAM before I made my purchases and was given some advice and also some bios adjustments in this post here, http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/ga-ep45-ud3p-mushkin-ram-question-28656/ After re-reading it, I see that I should remove some of the RAM before going into the bios. Ah well, I got carried away just getting the stuff all installed inside the case.<o:p></o:p>
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Should I change the settings given for the RAM and just leave everything else alone to start with? Then come back here if I have a specific problem? Or are there other things I should change straight away, just to get it working properly? Or should I just have the bios “load optimized defaults,” then make the adjustments to the RAM settings and leave everything else alone?<o:p></o:p>
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Again, I don’t want to overclock, and I know I don’t have the best processor for attempting it anyway, I just want it to all run and all play nicely together at stock speeds.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
I guess I’m just afraid that, well, something will screw up and I won’t know where to start. Or worse, that it’ll screw up and I won’t really know about it because it’s so different that my previous PCs that I won’t recognize the problem. For instance, could I tell if it’s just running a bit slowly, when I only have older, slower, computers to compare against?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Oh, and if this is something I have to figure out for myself, or it’s already been answered, please just point me the right direction. I have tried to read through the stickies, and search for answers, but either I don’t know what to look for or it’s one of those things that “everybody knows.” I'm sorry if I'm wasting people's time, I just don't know what to look for.
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Thank you for any advice, help, or tips anyone may have.
Linda
<o:p> </o:p>
But, of course, I still have a question of my own. J<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Below are my system specs:<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard (will be using onboard sound, not a discrete card)<o:p></o:p>
VGA Sapphire Radeon HD4850 512MB video card<o:p></o:p>
Intel Q8200 processor (with stock heat sink)<o:p></o:p>
8 gig (4x2GB) Mushkin model 996580 DDR2 800 (PC2 6200) ram (timing 4-4-4-12, Voltage 2.0V - 2.1V)<o:p></o:p>
2 Samsung 22x DVD burners (model SH-S223F)<o:p></o:p>
2 Western Digital 640GB hard drives (model WD6401AALS) – no raid<o:p></o:p>
Corsair 750 watt PSU (750TX)<o:p></o:p>
Cooler Master 690 case<o:p></o:p>
Windows Vista 64bit (not yet installed as of this post)<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
I don't intend to overclock, I just want to get it running. I've got all the hardware installed, but wanted to know: Is there anything I need to do/know before I power it up for the first time?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Should I just leave the bios alone and wait for a problem, or do I need to flash to a new one straight away?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
I asked about RAM before I made my purchases and was given some advice and also some bios adjustments in this post here, http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/ga-ep45-ud3p-mushkin-ram-question-28656/ After re-reading it, I see that I should remove some of the RAM before going into the bios. Ah well, I got carried away just getting the stuff all installed inside the case.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Should I change the settings given for the RAM and just leave everything else alone to start with? Then come back here if I have a specific problem? Or are there other things I should change straight away, just to get it working properly? Or should I just have the bios “load optimized defaults,” then make the adjustments to the RAM settings and leave everything else alone?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Again, I don’t want to overclock, and I know I don’t have the best processor for attempting it anyway, I just want it to all run and all play nicely together at stock speeds.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
I guess I’m just afraid that, well, something will screw up and I won’t know where to start. Or worse, that it’ll screw up and I won’t really know about it because it’s so different that my previous PCs that I won’t recognize the problem. For instance, could I tell if it’s just running a bit slowly, when I only have older, slower, computers to compare against?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Oh, and if this is something I have to figure out for myself, or it’s already been answered, please just point me the right direction. I have tried to read through the stickies, and search for answers, but either I don’t know what to look for or it’s one of those things that “everybody knows.” I'm sorry if I'm wasting people's time, I just don't know what to look for.
<o:p> </o:p>
Thank you for any advice, help, or tips anyone may have.
Linda
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