Hardware pr0n...w00t!

[Virtualbody1234]

...Just for you VB, here are the naked RAM modules and the CPU...

...

[zapjb]

Man clocker those latest pictures on page 2 are way cool!

[clocker]

Small update...
My brother's PC (which is actually the "old" Sprocket) is built...in fact, that's how I'm posting right now.

I did install the new Gigabyte board into my case and it POSTed first time up.
All the RAM is recognized and the Winchester is correctly identified (I've read that some boards require a BIOS flash to do this).

The stock fan on the XFX video card is just plain obnoxious...absurdly loud.
I was hoping to hold off until I decided about watercooling, but this noise is unbearable, so I'm off to the store to pick an upgrade.
Not sure which one to get...prolly the Zalman, but we'll see.

Laterz....

[Virtualbody1234]

What BIOS revision is it? If it's the F2 revision then you should be fine.

Funny thing is that your 3500+ Winchester isn't on the supported CPU list: http://www.giga-byte.com/Motherboard...%20Ultra-9.htm

[bigdawgfoxx]

Mannn that ram looks awesome lol...

[Spicker]

omfg that HS is like a big horny mofo cooler

and that video card is sexiiiiiii

[MagusDraco]

-stares at the fan- That's a big fan. -stares at it some more- Damn that old 1ghz t-bird coulda used something like that. Poor guy..umm...didn't get any of that heatsink goup on him ever..I don't believe.

[ApacNTS]

that heatsink if fucking huge, damn damn dman, i stared at it 3 times in disbelief. with all that ram you could do w/e you want and then some. how nice is must be.

[S!X]

OMG clocker the ram and vid card are so sexy.

[clocker]

Well, all of the hardware would be far sexier if I could get Windows to install on it.
I'm baffled ( and tired, which isn't helping).

Trying to install the x64Beta XP (which I've been running for the past few months on the old setup, so I don't believe that's the problem...).
All goes well, Windows can see the HDD(s) and will format and load installation files.
I can F8 to agree to the EULA.
When it gets to the reboot screen for the install to continue....it just starts all over again.
No, I am not hitting "any key to boot from CD".

Like an idiot, I have repeated the process maybe 10 times now, but no joy.

My only idea is to find nVidia 64bit SATA drivers and F6 them in, although we have NEVER had to do this on any of our 32 bit installs ( I've sold 7 of these Gigabyte boards in the past few weeks and the trick is NOT to F6 SATA drivers...somehow the board presents the HDDs to Windows without drivers).
Maybe the Beta 64 is different.

Poop.

I did install the Zalman VGA cooler on the vid card and it is very nice (i.e. silent), but I'm not sure it is seated properly.
The sink seems awfully loose ( I've noticed this with the 7-series CPU sinks also) and I might try to shim the hold down bracket to increase the clamping pressure, but that will have to wait till I can get the system up and running.

Double poop.

One ray of light....BIOS reports my CPU temp as 22-24C so far.
Admittedly, I haven't been able to do anything, so the chip is essentially idling, but even so, this is considerably lower than my previous Clawhammer 754 chip ever ran.
I know that the Winchesters run a lower vCore (1.4v I believe), so that, combined with this HSF, should give pretty respectable temps.
I'm still pondering watercooling again ( in fact, I have a bid in on a DangerDen block for the vid card, but the guy is jerking me around so I prolly will have to buy it new), but I'm waiting to see the new Antec P-180 case first.

Anyway, I don't even know why I'm wasting my time thinking of this...getting the OS loaded should be my only priority right now.

Off to see the Wizard...