Help w/1st build - BIOS settings should be?

[JonReremy]

Hi all-

Any advice on how/where to get a walk through on what my BIOS settings should be for my comp (specs below)? I am clueless as to what should be changed and what should remain the same in the BIOS settings. This is intimidating stuff. I just finished building the comp, now am too nervous to turn it on for the first time because the BIOS stuff seems over my head.

I have the Digidesign 003/Pro Tools LE set up. For now, this comp will be for music recording only. Video will be further down the line someday (year or two).

I don't have any plans to have this comp hooked up to the internet, but would probably need to do that for updates for the different recording software. Any ideas on how to do this safely without bogging down my comp with an anti-virus/anti-spyware program?

I only have one monitor hooked up and the only hard drive I have present is the first one (640gb) as the other two have yet to arrive. I would like to get this comp fired up ASAP so any responses or anything of note would be VERY welcome and much appreciated.


CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.0 GHz 12M L2 Cache 1333MHz FSB

HARD DRIVES
#1 Western Digital WD6401AALS Caviar Black 640GB SATA II 7200 RPM 32MB Hard Drive (used for Windows XP and other recording software programs)

#2 Western Digital WD1001FALS Caviar Black 1TB SATA 7200 RPM 32MB Buffer Hard Drive (used for recording songs/music to)

#3 Western Digital WD1001FALS Caviar Black 1TB SATA 7200 RPM 32MB Buffer Hard Drive (used for samples and either backup or "image" of XP (did I say that correctly?)

MOTHERBOARD
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P

KEYBOARD/MOUSE
Logitech Deluxe 250 Desktop (pc2)

MEMORY
CORSAIR DOMINATOR TWIN2X4096-8500C5D 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066)

VIDEO CARD
ATI FirePro V3700 Graphics Card - 100-505551 256 mb

CHASSIS
Cooler Master Centurion 534 Chassis - RC-534-KKN2-GP

OPTICAL DRIVE
Samsung SH-S223L 22x Half-Height SATA DVD Writer w/ LightScribe

MONITORS
(2) Asus VH202T-P 20" WideScreen LCD Monitor

OPERATING SYSTEM
Windows XP Home SP3

POWER SUPPLY
Cooler Master Silent Pro M700 Series Modular 700W

[cwsand]

Read the first page of the I7 thread - there are some links there with articles on overclocking that will help you understand the BIOS, even if you aren't overclocking. I would think the default settings in BIOS would work fine, but you could probably increase the performance by adjusting memory/cpu settings - just follow what the articles say so you don't fry the MB! I was in the same place you are about a month ago when I built my I7, so I know how it can be a bit overwhelming at first!

[Keybeeetsss]

Hey CW that is sorta good advice with the exception he doesn't have an i7

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by Keybeeetsss

Hey CW that is sorta good advice with the exception he doesn't have an i7

Well, that could be a problem eh?? Sorry, I'm on cold medicine!!

[Keybeeetsss]

Originally Posted by cwsand

Well, that could be a problem eh?? Sorry, I'm on cold medicine!!

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