GA-K8NS Pro - help needed for 1st Athlon64 build

[Harry]

Hi - I'd be grateful for some help with the build of my 1st Athlon64
(Socket 754) PC using a Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro motherboard. The CPU
will be an AMD Athlon64 (Newcastle) 3000+, the RAM will be Crucial
DDR400 PC3200 and the Graphics card an HIS AIW 9800Pro.

I remember having to set a clock multiplier on my last build (GA-7N400
Pro2), but don't see where a multiplier can be set in manual for the
GA-K8NS-Pro.

If I leave the CPU Vcore at the default 1.550v and the CPU Overclock
setting at 200, will my CPU run at the correct speed or do I need to
set anything else? I'm assuming that the multiplier (if there is any)
would need to be set to 10 for a 3000+, 11 for a 3200+ and 12 for a
3400+, but don't see anywhere to set it..

I probably won't overclock, but if I do, do I just have to increase
the CPU Overclock setting in the BIOS? What effect will that have on
the motherboard Bus speed and on my RAM or my Graphics card?

Sorry to have to ask such basic questions, but I've let myself get
completely out of touch with these things.

Any help appreciated.

 

[John Doe]

Hi - I'd be grateful for some help with the build of my 1st Athlon64
(Socket 754) PC using a Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro motherboard.

....

Be sure to install the CPU drivers.
[playing]

 

[pertheusual]

On the majority of motherboards now, there is no physical
configuration, mainly automatic bois configuration. It should work
fine without any changes to the bios. As for overclocking, it just
depends on the functions provided in BIOS. I am unfamiliar with
Gigabyte board BIOS, so I don't know.

 

[Fitz]

The multiplier on the AMD64 754 pin is locked- no adjustment. Overclocking
is accomplished through the FSB. It will increase the clock speed of the HT
link, which can become unstable if you over do it. I'm not familiar with
your BIOS...my GA-K8NNAP has a "Performance" setting in the BIOS which
results in a mild overclock from 200MHz to 208MHz. Memory speed is then
detected at 416MHz and the HT link is 1248 MHz (1st generation board,
doesn't take full advantage of the HT capability).

Fitz

 

[Andy]

Hi - I'd be grateful for some help with the build of my 1st Athlon64
(Socket 754) PC using a Gigabyte GA-K8NS Pro motherboard. The CPU
will be an AMD Athlon64 (Newcastle) 3000+, the RAM will be Crucial
DDR400 PC3200 and the Graphics card an HIS AIW 9800Pro.

I remember having to set a clock multiplier on my last build (GA-7N400
Pro2), but don't see where a multiplier can be set in manual for the
GA-K8NS-Pro.

If I leave the CPU Vcore at the default 1.550v and the CPU Overclock
setting at 200, will my CPU run at the correct speed or do I need to
set anything else? I'm assuming that the multiplier (if there is any)
would need to be set to 10 for a 3000+, 11 for a 3200+ and 12 for a
3400+, but don't see anywhere to set it..

The BIOS sets everything up correctly.

I probably won't overclock, but if I do, do I just have to increase
the CPU Overclock setting in the BIOS? What effect will that have on
the motherboard Bus speed and on my RAM or my Graphics card?

I believe the chipset allows the PCI and AGP clocks to be locked.

 

[johns]

No settings. That system will smoke anything else out
there as it is. A little caution in mounting the ram. The
ram sockets on that mobo seem too small for the ram.
Actually, the sockets are a little bit flexible, and you
may feel like you are stressing them to seat the ram.
So far, I have not broken one while putting in the ram.
Oh yes !!!!!!!!!! One thing for sure. Make darn sure
you remove the heat compound on the bottom of the
fan ... wipe it off ... and use fresh heat sink compound.
If you do that, your '64 will idle at 38 degrees C. If
you don't renew that stuff, there is a very good chance
your CPU will idle in the '50s, plus after a time, the
compound will glue the fan to the CPU, and you will
not be able to remove it from the mobo if you need to.
That stuff tends to dry out when stored on the bottom
of a fan. It should be replaced. Also, don't overtighten
the screws that mount the mobo to the standoffs. Rule
of thumb is 2-finger ( one thumb, one finger ) tight.
Multilayer mobos don't like tight screws, and people
who don't do this for a living can make that mistake.

johns

 

[Harry]

Thanks for the replies. I guess if the CPU is locked that makes things
pretty straightforward.

John Doe - don't worry! I've got the CPU drivers. I just can't decide
whether to install the official drivers or the latest beta versions.

 

[Harry]

Thanks to all who replied - even John Doe.
Built the PC yesterday and it's running perfectly without a hitch.
Haven't bothered overclocking yet because it's fast enough as it is.

PS to John Doe.

The CPU drivers made all the difference - getting awesome benchmark
scores now. The latest betas are the ones to go for!