Question on the A8V Deluxe

[Xee]

This is my first build and I'm learning everything for the first time so bear with me.

I've been following a "Build Your Own Computer" guide from PC Gamer and so far *knock on wood* everything's been going good. I got to the last step which says before you install Windows to set your boot order and change the CPU speed to "Auto". I did the boot order but couldn't find the CPU speed in the menu so I hit the 'net. While searching I came across this site:

http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/asusA8V/bios.htm

If you look, they say that the default setting for the board is to overclock and that theirs hit 90° celcius! They also said that the voltage reading is .1v off and that if you want to set it to 1.5v you have to change it to the lowest setting, 1.425.

Do all buyers of this board have to make the changes listed in their article? They say that browsing through forums, they never came across anyone who experience the same problems. So I'm not sure.

How do I check to make sure my CPU is running at "normal" temps? What's considered a "normal" temp? Finally, how do I turn off the overclocking feature.

Oh yeah, I have a Athlon 64 3500+ with the AMD heatsink.

Thanks in advance.

 

[RampantAndroid]

I too run an A8V....never figured out what Auto means, so I just do standard or manual...I think Auto has to do with using the "Cool n Quiet"

They probably reviewed a beta version....mine never did it, and I dont know if I changed it right away.

lets see, normal...mine runs at 43 C (in a coolermaster pratorean case) which may just be warm, but I dont think so.....I know 43 isnt bad (idle that is) and 30 idle is amazing...(with a monster heatsink/fan combo...) I too am using the stock AMD fan/heatsink...

I wouldn't worry....just update the BIOS, turn off the SATA controllers you arent using, turn off the AC'97 sound if you don't need it....just browse throught the BIOS....don't hesitate to ask what things are, or to google them. thats what I always do.

 

[mechBgon]

And here's some suggestions for making it resist malware, if they didn't cover it: link. A fresh WinXP installation can be infected by worms in minutes if it has unpatched, unfirewalled vulnerabilities. If your CD has Service Pack 2 already built in, that's a start, but there's a lot more you can do.

 

[Xee]

Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
I wouldn't worry....just update the BIOS, turn off the SATA controllers you arent using, turn off the AC'97 sound if you don't need it....just browse throught the BIOS....don't hesitate to ask what things are, or to google them. thats what I always do.

Update the BIOS? Crap . . . do I need a floppy drive for that? Never got one for my computer.

 

[tallman45]

If you have Bios Ver 1007 you can wait to update it till after Windows is loaded. 1007 and above are needed for a Winchester CPU.

As long as you are loading the OS to an IDE HDD drive then yes you can get by without a floppy

 

[Xee]

Originally posted by: tallman45
If you have Bios Ver 1007 you can wait to update it till after Windows is loaded. 1007 and above are needed for a Winchester CPU.

As long as you are loading the OS to an IDE HDD drive then yes you can get by without a floppy

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll have to check and see what version I have.

 

[Xee]

Woo-hoo! My BIOS already is 1008. I was dreading having to update the BIOS. Now I don't have to!