Please allow me to introduce myself

Hello One and All,

I’m Shadders, I’ve had a PC since the days of the 486DX2 66 (4MB RAM!) and built every PC I’ve owned myself. I work in IT and used to build PCs as part of a job I did (last build was about three years ago). However, that was corporate stuff, very little fiddling required, the odd BIOS update and that’s it. So, I know how to build a PC but I’m a noob when it comes to things like memory timings and overclocking.

Which brings me to the reason I joined this forum, I’m getting a new build next Saturday (I better had, it’s been on order for nearly two months :) ).

This was the only forum I found where folk have similar PC’s to the one I’m getting so I thought I’d better sign up and ask some questions.

Here’s the rig:

Asus P6T7 mobo
Intel i7 980x cpu
Corsair 12GB 8-8-8-24 Dominator memory
Sapphire Radion HD5970 gpu
Crucial M225 256GB SSD
2x Seagate 1TB HDD
Tagen PipeRock TG1100 1100W PSU
Pioneer BDR 12x Blu-Ray writer
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium pci sound card
Corsair H50 CPU cooler
Lian Li PC-P80B Armorsuit case
Win7 Ult 64

+ A few other odds and ends

I had a windfall, so there is no way I’m going to be able to afford a rig like this again! So you can understand that I don’t want to end up with fried equipment.

Anyway, on to the questions:

Although the mobo has a BIOS update that will make it Gulftown aware, will it POST so I can flash the BIOS?

I’m confused about the memory. From what I’ve read, the Gulftown’s memory controller runs as 1066MHz and although the mobo and the ram support XMP @1600Mhz. Will they work in this configuration or will I have to get my hands dirty and fiddle with the memory timings and voltages?

If I do have to fiddle, I’m more interested in a stable system to begin with in order to get everything installed and tested. What timings/voltages would you suggest?

My thanks to anyone taking the time to reply,

Shadders.

if you wanna save some cash get win7 pro, ult doesn't have any features over it apart from bitlocker and one or two enterprise options. I'd also recommend a auzentech forte instead of the sound blaster x-fi...

if you leave everything at auto you will have no problem with your RAM, thats what memory dividers are for, pretty much the onyl time you'd have an issue with timings and voltages is if you are tweaking.

Thanks for the quick reply Coldon.

The rig is paid for, and I'm reluctant to change it, after two months waiting I'm eager to get it. If I find the Sound Blaster disappointing I'll look into changing it later.

Good to know about the the auto RAM settings too. Do you think it will POST OK?

Thanks again,

Shadders.

Well, I get my 980x this week. I have the same problem as you do, a mainboard without the latest bios. I have the EVGA X58 SLI LE and I need to flash it before it's supports the 980x. I will let you know if it worked, I hope it does. Because I don't have a 920 or so...

Thanks for sharing R0SSI,

I don't have access to an older cpu either, somehow I don't think my current P4 is compatible :)

I hope you upgrade goes smoothly.

Best Regards,

Shadders.

your rig is fine for me (wow seem to expensive for me too haha)

Well, getting back on this one. I couldn't get into the bios. I have to RMA my mainboard, because non of my friends do have a socket 1366 processor :(