nF4 Infinity SLI Build Begins - Step by step

[RockECU]

Alright guys.. Here's the plan I'm going to use, based off of ed jacobsen's post with a few differences.

 

1 - Get familiarized with how to assemble a PC generally, including:

http://www.mysuperpc.com/build/pc_parts_list.shtml

http://www.buildyourowncomputer.net/learntobuild.html

and many of the threads throughout this board - most importantly ed jacobsen's thread which can be found here... http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6615

... or any other site I may come across.

 

2 - Place motherboard on insulated surface (on wood table and pad shipped with motherboard)

 

3 - Inspect and prepare motherboard, adjust jumpers as necessary.

 

4 - Before installing CPU and heatsink I will be detaching the DFI fan from above the nVidia SLI chip and remove the old TIM from the chip and replace with arctic silver5.

This is outlined by Angry here ----> http://www.angrygames.com/chipset_clean-1.htm

 

5 - I will then Install CPU, clean the CPU as outlined by Angry here --> http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20832 (Post #1) then place some AS5 on the CPU, then install the heatsink.

 

6 - Install 1 stick RAM in DIMM slot 2 I know I'm going against madian's advice here, but it seems as if a lot of people use the 2nd slot right off the bat, if the 2nd slot does not allow a boot, I will move to 1st per madian's advice.

 

7 - Install video card in top (closest to CPU) PCI-E slot.

 

8 - Connect keyboard, monitor (I don't think connecting the mouse is necessary).

 

9- Connect power supply to motherboard – be sure to make all four connections.

This is outlined in ed jacobsen's post #95 of his thread - http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/sho...76&postcount=95

 

10 - First boot – use EZ Touch Power Switch on motherboard to turn power on. To enter BIOS, press DEL before the fourth diagnostic LED turns off. Load Optimized Defaults/save and exit.

 

11a - Connect floppy. Clear CMOS for minute or two??????????????

11b - Clear CMOS for minute or two?????????????

 

12 - 2nd boot - Flash bios to 8/31/2005 edition which can be found here -

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21972

 

13a - (3rd boot). Reboot and load optimized defaults/save and exit.

13b - Disconnect power supply.

 

14 - Install mobo and I/O shield in case.

 

15a - Connect case and CPU fans to motherboard.

15b - Connect front panel connectors and case fans to motherboard.

 

16 - Install power supply (can be done before Step 14 if you prefer).

 

(Note - Steps 14 through 16 can be performed in any order you prefer, I'd just prefer to have as much space as possible before installing the PSU into the case.)

 

17 - Connect power supply to motherboard – be sure to make all four connections.

 

18 - Connect monitor.

 

19 - Connect keyboard and mouse.

 

20 - Fourth boot. Run Memtest86 v3.2 (bootable CD downloaded from http://www.memtest86.com/) on RAM stick #1.

20a - After memtest is complete on stick #1 for 3 hours and if successful, swap out RAM sticks.

20b - Run memtest on stick #2 for 3 hours and if successful, install both sticks.

 

21. Install hard and optical drives.

 

22 - Fifth BOOT - Press DEL to enter BIOS

22a - Enter optimal BIOS settings ?????

 

23 - Install OS (I will be using Windows XP Professional Slipstreamed SP2). During install of Win XP, drives will be partitioned and then formatted to be able to use them and then Install of OS continues. Directions on creating a bootable slipstreamed Win XP http://www.helpwithwindows.com/Wind...sp2-bootcd.html and http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/...am-Guide_1.html ...among others anyway..

 

24 - Install MB drivers from DFI supplied CD (Note: some drivers cause problems for some users; do not install Nvidia IDE drivers or Nvidia Firewall / Nforce Network Access Manager programs; do not install Ntune from the DFI disc).

 

25 - Install video drivers from DFI supplied CD and/or CD supplied with video card.

 

26 - Install monitor drivers from CD supplied with monitor. (if necessary, won't be for me since I'm using an older CRT monitor and XP will recognize it for me).

 

27 - Test all USB/sound/mic connections on case and MB.

 

28 - Test speed and stability overnight with PRIME 95.

 

29 - If all ends up OK from step 27, then enable cool n quiet. Disable when I begin overclocking. This can be enabled in your power mgmt settings in BIOS.

 

30 - Hook up peripherals.

 

31 - Load other software

 

32 - Install virus protection. AVG freeware http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/ ???????????????????/

 

33 - Before connecting to internet, set-up your internet connection, if you need help read http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1743653,00.asp

 

34 - onnect to internet through LAN.

 

Some questions that I have..

#11 - Is clearing the CMOS necessary before flashing the BIOS?

#22a - what would be the optimal BIOS settings for an Infinity board?

#32 - is AVG freeware virus protetion really that good? Because I already have Norton, but they'll charge you yearly for their definitions and such. WHat do you guys think?

 

Well,. there it is.. Let me know what you think. Sorry for the long post, just want to get this right being that its my first build ever. Thanks in advance.

[RockECU]

Angry - will Acetone with denatonium benzoate work for cleaning the nvidia cpu/fan/sink?? That's the closest thing I could find to pure acetone.

 

Thanks.

[RockECU]

Anybody know about the question to #23a?? Also, should I go ahead and flash to the new bios immediately or do it after my first boot?

[RockECU]

As I've ventured into the building process I've come to find out that there are only 3 power connections on the MB, (this is unlike a lot of the other DFI nF4 MBs).

 

Anyway, in addition to step # 4 and #5, I also removed the old TIM from the video card chip and put AS5 on there as well. (Even though I did this after step 12, it should probably be done after step #4 or 5.

 

I also connected the floppy (#11a) before step 9.

 

Some notes - The new 8/31/05 bios does not give you time to see which version it is at the boot-up screen.. This is fine with me, because I know that the flash was successful.

 

When performing step #10, I just connected the front case connectors to the MB so I could easily power up the MB as there is no EZ Touch Power switch.

 

During step #10 I loaded the optimized defaults in the BIOS, and while in the BIOS also set the HALT-ON to everything except key/floppy so the new bios could be flashed from my floppy drive.

 

I will be adding some pictures after I resize them so they are allowable to post in the thread.

[RockECU]

Also learned that if you're going to do a tutorial - It's going to take a while to compress these images with adobe...

 

Also, I forgot to use the credit card technique when cleaning the video card chip of the old TIM. I used the acetone to remove it all. It ended up booting up fine though, so hopefully all the starts well will end well (or whatever that saying is).

 

A note on the old TIM on the video card - this . sucked. It was more like glue than anything. Looked like elmers on the darn thing.

[badarthur]

A Question on 20b I understand your using ram slot #2 the oring slot to test with but after testing is done and it says (install boath sticks) are you still using the oring slots#2&4 or do you use the yellowe slot's #1&3

[Falc]

Strange I was wondering the same ....mine only seems to run properly in slots 1 & 2 but it seems like everyone is running 2 and 4

 

I would be interested in what the answer is as well

[l3lackh0le]

doesn't really matter whether you use 2&4 or 1&3 as long as they work. The orange ones tend to work better than the yellow for most pple.

 

if you use 1&2 that's using 2 dimms in SINGLE channel not dual. you must use the same color slots to run memory in dual channel.

[&#124TDR-Px&#124TiTaN]

The link for #9 is broken, has that been moved?

[lowboy]

What is that you need.:confused: http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showpost.p...04&postcount=49

[Angry_Games]

he needs the actual link:

 

9- Connect power supply to motherboard – be sure to make all four connections.

This is outlined in ed jacobsen's post #95 of his thread - http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/sho...76&postcount=95

[&#124TDR-Px&#124TiTaN]

That is correct