Hey, I finally got a new CPU (AMD Athlon64 3200+), and am awaiting the motherboard, which should be here tommorow (ASRock 939Dual-SATA2). BTW, thanks alot DDP for reccomending http://www.pcvonline.com which is where I ordered them from. (Really good prices) So, I really don't know anything about CPU's... I am wondering, I am good to install, or do I need some kind of cooling paste I am hearing about? It mentions something in the AMD manual about "Thermal Interface Material". Can someone just explain everything I would need to install this CPU onto the motherboard, that would be great. Thanks!
if the cpu came with a heatsink than there is a thermal pad attached to it or a small tube of heatsink compound. you are welcome about pc village.
Oh, alright. So theres no need to buy anything then? I've got the heatsink. Is the cooling paste that you can buy just for extra cooling?
the paste is only used if don't have the thermal pad on the heatsink bottom. what is on the heatsink bottom now??
that is your themal pad so don't take the plastic off til ready to install both the cpu & heatsink on the motherboard.
Ok, well I've recieved the motherboard today, and went to install it... probably wont attempt that again. It may just be a slight problem with the IDE cables in the wrong place, or something alot worse, but when I power up the machine, the CPU fan spins, but nothing really happens. The monitor shows just the "Out of Timing" thing, then goes black. I also had to buy a Kingston 512Mb PC3200 400MHz RAM stick. I am just wondering, I hope I installed the CPU right.. Any ideas to what I should do/try? Edit: I was also thinking maybe its something to do with my video card? ( The motherboard does not have a port on it where I can plug the monitor in at all, so I HAVE to use my video card ) And a question, would I of needed to reformat my HDD? Thanks
disconnect all cables to drives. remove all cards & ram except videcard & 1 stick of ram. reseat those 2. reseat motherboard power connector(s). make certain cmos jumper is in default(normal) position
Hmm, I have tried that but still no luck. About the CMOS, I haven't touched anything like that yet, am I supposed to remove that cap on it or something? And, I have no floppy or CD-ROM's hooked up, is that alright, or is one needed. Im starting to get a little worried I maybe fried my CPU? Edit: Ok, it's working now... I didnt have the ATX 4 pin plugged in =P. Now I just gotta get it setup in the BIOS i geuss, becuase it keeps showing a blue screen, saying something like This mahine has detected an error, and Windows needs to shut down to prevent damage. Please check for any newly installed devices, and scan for viruses ( I know I have none ) Also, make sure your HDD is not corrupt, and so on.. Nothing is wrong with my HDD, but do I need to reformat becuase I just installed a new CPU and motherboard? Or is it fine. Argh... Im stuck on this now. Edit2: Ok... finally it's working =). I just did a clean reformat, everything is fine, and really fast. Thanks again ddp!
I fell foul of forgetting the 4-pin connector as well. Still at least you can't do any harm if you don't plug it in!
that is why i put the (s) on connectors as not all p4 type boards use both connectors or that people forget to put it on!
Actually I'm a lowly Socket A462 man for the moment. I'm debating whether or not to go AM2. Depends how much the extra DDR2 memory costs, and what motherboards I can get. I've no idea where all this money is going to come from!
Well obviously lol, but the more you scale back, the more you'll want to upgrade later, tough decision.
