System built - now what? a8n-sli deluxe

[googlerandy]

I finally got my system all put together and have installed WIN XP PRO
+ SP2. Everything in device manager is lookin' good!

Now what?

Just wondering what people have been updating after the OS is
installed.

Here's what I have:

Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
Athlon 64 3500+ Processor Socket 939 Retail
eVGA e-GeForce 6800 Ultra PCI Express 256MB
Corsair TWINX1024-3200LLPT 1GB DDR400 XMS3200
2 x Raptor 36.7GB SATA (RAID 0)
1 x Caviar 200GB SATA
Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Enermax Noisetaker 600W PS
MGE Quantum case

I did update the vid driver from the eVga site. I think the latest ver
was 7.1.8.4

Any suggestions as to what I should update? Everything was installed
right out of the box. Haven't fiddled around with BIOS updates or
anything like that.

Thank you.

 

[Christian PRIEUR]

googlerandy,

That looks nice ! Congratulations !
I don't know what you have to do next, but may I ask you a service ? :
I have a similar config and I have one only problem (until now...): my third
sata drive never stops spinning, although the power options ask for a drive
suspend after 3 mn; I want the system to be as quiet as possible...
Could you check if your Caviar stops under the same condition (you can hear
it stopping, and when it starts over, triggered by windows explorer for
example, there is a delay for the drive to be at speed).
What I get:
If my JBOD Sata Hitachi is connected on the Nvidia ctlr, it will stop after
the 3 mn, but it will not start again, it will just hang the whole system !
(boot necessary).
If it is connected on the Silicon, it will not even stop spinning.

Your help would be very very much appreciated............
I did not get help from http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=383746
.......
Merci.

 

[googlerandy]

Christian...

I gave it a shot...

I set "power options" to turn off HD's after 3 minutes. Then I checked
the time and kneeled next to the drives to give'em a listen...

3 minutes later...I couldn't really hear a difference...

The thing is, I have 5 case fans running so it's pretty hard to hear
anything else.

....but, no, there wasn't any locking...and I do have them set up on the
NVIDIA ctlr.

If it helps:

I set my 2 raptors on the NVIDIA side (the black connectors - SATA 1 &
2). I'm striping those two HD's (RAID 0). I did that through the NVIDIA
ultility (F10 I think...while you boot up).

Then I installed WINXP...

Btw, I followed 99% of the suggestions from this post:

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/38623/?o=0

Only after XP was installed and everything was running smoothly, did I
install the CAVIAR (SATA 3)...and I did so from XP using DISK
MANAGEMENT...

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful...

Lemme know if I can help any other way...

 

[Christian PRIEUR]

Christian...

I gave it a shot...

that's so nice !

I set "power options" to turn off HD's after 3 minutes. Then I checked
the time and kneeled next to the drives to give'em a listen...

3 minutes later...I couldn't really hear a difference...

The thing is, I have 5 case fans running so it's pretty hard to hear
anything else.

is there a delay when you try to access your third disk ?

...but, no, there wasn't any locking...and I do have them set up on the
NVIDIA ctlr.

If it helps:

I set my 2 raptors on the NVIDIA side (the black connectors - SATA 1 &
2). I'm striping those two HD's (RAID 0). I did that through the NVIDIA
ultility (F10 I think...while you boot up).

Then I installed WINXP...

Btw, I followed 99% of the suggestions from this post:

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/38623/?o=0

Yes, I know this thread, but it is too difficult to follow.

Only after XP was installed and everything was running smoothly, did I
install the CAVIAR (SATA 3)...and I did so from XP using DISK
MANAGEMENT...

I did not do that, I installed my 3rd disk on the Silicon ctlr (raid 5) , as
JBOD, w/o pb...
Maybe Disk Management is a good way...

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful...

Lemme know if I can help any other way...

Andy (?),
Thank you so much, it helps me anyway; I would love lowering the noise...
and this disk is only for backup, not so much used !
Again, thanks !

 

[googlerandy]

Update:

The good news is I've replicated the problem...

The bad news is that both of us now need help

I never really use the power shut-down option so I can live without it,
but if you do find am answer out there I'd be interested in knowing
also...When I get everything dialed in a little better I'll search as
well...

In my case, I enabled the 3 min thing and noticed that my screen saver
wasn't coming on....Then I had a closer look and found out that the
comp had locked up.

Sorry...

 

[Christian PRIEUR]

Andy,
I'm glad I am no more alone... but I do not want to spoil your opinion of
this good motherboard !
Thank you for going deeper in the test.
I already sent the info to ASUS, but I do not expect any answer...
If I get anything new, I will tell you.

(To me, the problem is not related to a power shut-down option, but to the
noise generated by 3 hard disks; if one can silenced, that's already better
!)
Regards.