Author Topic: Questions about memory configs... (Read 562 times)

Dowding · « **on:** January 21, 2001, 06:45:00 AM »

I've gotten most of the parts for my new computer together (KT7A-RAID, 1.2 GHz Athlon, IBM Deskstar 46 Gig HD, Prophet II Pro, SB Live! Player), and I'm going to buy the memory.

I've decided on Crucial CAS2 (no ECC and non-parity), but I'm not sure whether to buy 256 Mb in one DIMM or buy 2x128 Mb. I've read somewhere that splitting it up makes the system run faster - is this true?

Also, I need to get hold of an anti-static wrist strap. I've found one at my local electonics whole-saler, but what do you attach to i.e. where do I find a suitable Earth?

Thanks.

214thCavalier · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2001, 09:09:00 AM »

The earth is easy plug your power supply into the wall socket but leave the socket switched off, your earth wire will still be active and just attach your wrist strap to the casing.
Actually i should add check your local wiring regs etc just in case you manage to fry yourself

As for the memory i bought Crucial 2 x 128mb and using it in the same board Abit KT7-Raid, i believe you are correct its better to buy in 2 sticks and anyway its cheaper to buy 2x128mb than it is to get 1x256mb.
I am running an 850mhz Tbird at 1100 mhz and as mine is currently the fastest Tbird listed in the up to 1100mhz cpu category using the default test suite in 3DMark 2000 i think i can safely say you are making a very wise choice in your equipment.
Btw i have every option in the Bios maxed out and its very stable.
Before i swapped to crucial memory about 2 months ago i could not run the memory timings maxed out now its no problem even at Cas2.
http://gamershq.madonion.com/compare.shtml?1230389

Dowding · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2001, 09:52:00 AM »

Thx mate.

So the computer case is earthed if the wall socket is switched off? Is that true even if the motherboard is not attached to the power supply? Frying myself is something I want to avoid, if at all possible.

Thanks for the info on the memory/KT7. I've ordered 2x128Mb Crucial CAS2 DIMMs today.

I'm just hoping it all goes together without too many hitches - it's the first computer I've ever built and I've already heard about problems with the compatibility between SB Live! and the KT7.

Crossed fingers.

bowser · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2001, 11:08:00 AM »

I notice you're in England, so I'm not sure about your house wiring...but in North America, there is a third prong on the AC plug. This is connected to earth ground via your wall socket. Inside your PC you will see a wire running from the power switch attached to the PC's metal case. This wire is from the third prong.
So as long as your PC is plugged in and the AC ground wire is attached to your PC's metal case, you can ground yourself to the metal case.
The comment earlier about turning off the power means basically your PC is plugged in, so make sure the power switch on the PC is turned off. You don't want to work on the PC with it's power on.

bowser

PakRat · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2001, 11:19:00 AM »

Be careful with the ground/earth connection.

The KT7 is an ATX MB and those have live voltage present on the connector even when off (but plugged in). It's for wake on lan, wake on ring, soft on, etc. You risk damaging any cards that plug into any sockets that have power applied if you connect the power supply and plug it in to the board.

You do not want the power supply plugged in to your power outlet when you are plugging things in and out of the motherboard if the power supply is connected to the motherboard.

What 214th Cav is saying is you can connect the ground strap to the case if the power supply is installed. The caution is do not plug the power supply connector into the motherboard or you risk frying things as you install cards.

Real grounding straps have a 1 megohm resistor in series with the operator (you). This prevents it from being the strap 'o death if you get across line voltage somehow.

He is also correct in advising you to check local regs about wiring. I connect my ground strap to electrical ground at the power outlet where I am working. I do this either by connecting to grounded cases or to the ground terminal of the outlet itself.

BUT NEVER EVER use a regular wire to ground yourself. Always use an approved grounding strap with integral resistor to prevent lethal currents from flowing in the event you do get across the mains.

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Rape, pillage, then burn...

PakRat · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2001, 11:23:00 AM »

Regarding SB Live and KT7 - I've got a KT7 (non-RAID) and an SB 512 (similar but not as powerful as the Live). No problems at all. Works great!

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Rape, pillage, then burn...

Dowding · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2001, 01:21:00 PM »

Thanks guys. Much appreciated

.

I assume if the PSU is installed in the case, and it is plugged into the wall (wall switch off) then the case is earthed. Does that mean the PSU casing is earthed, and since that is touching the computer case, the comp. case is also earthed?

I guess when I come to fit the motherboard, I won't attach the power supply to it until I've finished installing cards. I've read its best to boot up the mobo without memory to check the bios and CPU/system temps.

Geez, I hope I don't mess this up - could be a bit expensive.

214thCavalier · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2001, 02:35:00 PM »

Ok in the UK just plug your power lead into the wall but with the wall switch OFF.
This will leave your earth lead connected but the LIVE and NEG are isolated completely, it will matter not if your PSU is switched on or not as there will be no power even reaching it. From here you just build it all up with your wrist strap earthed to the case as soon as your mboard is in the case put the power leads from the PSU into it. This will protect everything as long as you keep the wall power off until ready to strike it up.

Dowding i also use a SBLive card dont worry about it, but this site will help you enormously if you come across any problems,
http://go.to/kt7faq

It is best to avoid certain slots and if you get SBLive problems they list some things that will cure it.
Follow there suggested installation routine and you should have no problems.

Err boot up without memory ?????
Dont be silly

Put them in and run it.

I would also recommend the Globalwin FOP38 cpu cooler, its the best there is for the Tbirds, its how shall i put it "noisier" than others

Most other cpu fans push about 26 cubic feet per minute at approx 4000 rpm. The Fop38 spins at 7000rpm and pushes 37 cubic feet per minute and sounds like an industrial computer room in full swing

If you like a quiet computer dont buy it but if you wanna push that mother for all its worth then get one now.
Also get some Arctic Silver cpu Thermal paste (the best there is) to transfer the heat from CPU to heatsink better. Last time i looked its about £10 for a "small" tube and is about 80% to 82% pure micronized silver by weight. Which is about the best heat transfer compound anybody this side of a millionaire can afford.
This link coming up is a very good place to purchase top notch equipment from in the UK, they supply guaranteed modified overclocking CPU's and all the accessories you could want. The aforementioned Arctic silver and Fop 38 amongst them.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/

Used them many times and no complaints here, best service to date ordered an item at 2pm Monday and it arrived through my post 8am on Tuesday.

[This message has been edited by 214thCavalier (edited 01-21-2001).]

PakRat · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2001, 03:46:00 PM »

The mounting locations for the motherboard will ground it to the case if you use the bolt-in hex standoffs and not the plastic kind. The first card you stab in (i.e. video) will ground it otherwise.

If the power supply is bolted in, then the whole assembly will be grounded if you plug in the power supply to the wall but don't connect the ATX power cables from power supply to motherboard.

All this ground stuff is just to protect the components (which are static sensitive). Best thing to do is to clear one location to do the assembly, best if not on carpet, and then not move around a whole lot while you do it. Constantly ground yourself either with a strap or by touching the case and also ground the bag for the motherboard and CPU before you open either. This brings them safely to the same potential as the case they are about to go in. Leave anything in its bag until you are ready to install it.

It's really not that hard to do but avoid shuffling feet or even moving them when you are installing parts. No woolen sweaters or anything that generates static. If you are throwing sparks, it is probably not a good day to do the assembly. You can turn up the heat or if you are over carpet, wet it a little by spraying Windex, water, or something.

Not trying to sound too anal about all this stuff. The problem is that with components nowadays, you don't even feel sparks that are strong enough to kill an IC when the thing is all laid out with the guts apart. Especially the CPU pins. Also, the top of the AMD CPU is the actual silicon of the chip so touching that can be especially damaging if you aren't grounded.

Since you are still waiting to assemble this computer, be sure to check the AMD website regarding how to mount the heatsink. That silicon exposed on the top is fragile and you need to mount the sink properly to avoid damage. Also, you don't want to touch it or the heat sink phase change thermal compound with fingers before assembly or you compromise the thermal conductivity of the assembly.

It is actually easy and after all of this you will probably be more than careful enough to do it safely. And you'll have a kick butt system soon.

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Rape, pillage, then burn...

PakRat · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2001, 03:50:00 PM »

Oh, Dowding, regarding the case being earthed if plugged in but wall switch off...

I assume you are talking about a switched outlet? At least in the States, a switched outlet only gets the hot wire switched. Ground and neutral are always still connected back to the panel. So if your wiring is the same as over here then you are correct. There wouldn't be power to the supply so it would not be putting the sense voltages to the motherboard but you would still be grounded.

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Rape, pillage, then burn...

Dowding · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2001, 12:07:00 PM »

Thanks again guys for clearing that up.

That webpage you gave me, Cav, is great. I guess it will be very useful.

BTW, I've alrady bought the GlobalWin FOP-32, because the FOP-38 is not on AMD's recommended heatsinks for the Athlon. I think it has something to do with the weight. I've also got some Arctic Silver thermal compound, which should help the cooling aspect. And my case is the Antec SX-830 (which has 2x80mm fans).

214thCavalier · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2001, 01:50:00 PM »

Dowding you can buy the Fan only from that overclockers UK link i posted that converts your Fop32 into the Fop38.

Author Topic: Questions about memory configs... (Read 562 times)

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