New PC build w/Powerup edition

Question

Hello,
I'm a newbie here. I have been lurking and reading for about two weeks about this board, etc. I am going to build a new PC this weekend and I have a few questions for you guys. I have always used ASUS boards, but this time I will go with MSI powerup edition, for several reasons.
The PC I am about to build is in my sig below. Hopefully, I am in the right forum and can make everything clear for you. I am going to install Vista Ultimate on it. Most of what iI have seen on here so far about bios issues etc. have dealt with WinXP, so I'm not sure about a few things.
I would like to minimize any boot/hardware problems from the jump if I can.
The WD Raptor is SATA1 w/NCQ. Should I load the Intel ACHI/Raid drivers at install to enable NCQ or just go with IDE enhanced/SATA instead? I don't know if NCQ is really needed or not. I had a pc with all scsi drives with ncq in the past, but don't really know if ncq helped or not in a home use pc. Not to mention that I just simply want this board and bios to recognize the two drives I will be installing.
I d/l'ed the latest bios from MSI (7.3) and put it on a floppy. Should I flash it before installing Vista, or just install Vista and load LiveUpdate and do it from there? Or, load Vista and then use the floppy? ASUS Update used to work fine, I don't know how MSI LiveUpdate works. Just asking.
My gut tells me to just build it, install the OS and see what happens, but if I am heading into an abyss, I'd like to know ahead of time, if I can. If anyone has any advice, I would sure appreciate it. Eventually, I would like to set up using Raid 5,  do some moderate to heavy OC'ing, and upgrading the video card and go to something else which includes Cross Fire. But for now I just want what I have to work.
Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Mike,
Excuse this length post - I was immediately caught up as your situation was similar to me at the outset.  Normally a few lines is better I know.  Apologies to the moderators for being so full of hot air on this issue.
What version of the MB do u have???  2. or 2.1 or 2.2 (It is on the board next to the GRAKA slot)
MY COMPARABLE FUN TO DATE:
I started my build 7 about weeks ago - on a Friday evening with as I learned, rather large naivete. 
I got relatively lucky as I have apparently just had two issues - non compliant memory (possibly just the same as your twins (you need to tell us what version of the Corsair 800 memory this is - CL5 or CL4?? ) and Raid issues with Bios 7.2. 
At the outset, I had Corsair's PC6400C4D (Dominator CL4 version of the twins) .  Fortunately, aside from this board's pandemic 'no warm reboot', these two issues seem to have gotten resolved for my situation.  I RMA'd my corsair Dominator twins too early I suspect.  They likely required higher voltages (despite what Corsair told me) than I used at the outset not having done my homework on this MB and this forum.  I am using Crucial 800 CL4 (4-4-4-12) twin 1GB stix now - and they work fine at the Cell ratio setting of 1:5 with BIOS VDIMM set at 2.2.
At the outset, mine did not post with two stix.  I got lucky and one of the two twins worked as a single stik solution but the 2nd one did not.  Today, however, I would tell u that this was likely a too low VDIMM issue in the BIOS setup for this MB and it is unlikely that the Corsair memory was bad.
HELP with YOUR SITUATION:
1) PSU Connectors:  
1a) Main power and CPU power connectors: I noticed u mentioned the 24 pin.  Does that mean u connected the 20 to the 24 slot and in addition the 4 (square connector (not the rectangular 4 MOLEX like a HD or floppy power)) - as two separate connections or did your PSU only come with a 24.  I ask because my understanding was that the 4 square PSU connector needs to go to the 8slot power connector (the one with a plastic cap covering 4 of the 8 on my v2.1 MB) on the MB.
1b) Video PCI power connector: I put a molex (4pin rectangular like for the HD or floppy) into the power slot right next to the Video Card (GRAKA) slot.  I understood that that was needed whether or not your GRAKA needs it or not.   But I might not be right on that as I have alwways had a pretty low key GRAKA.
2) FAN - does the CPU fan start and stay on or does everything shut down ?  I ask becasue when I get a failed warm reboot, the CPU fan stays on although nothing else happens and it does not reboot or try to - just sits there with the PSU and CPU fans humming along.
3) Video connector - I agree with Vaniireq that u should first try with a VGA source.  But I suspect that is not the real problem area.
4) Memory - use just one stik in the green 1 or 2 slot until this kid start to get cryin' - then u can worry about installing the OS and finally come back and add the 2nd 800 stik.  Try both of them though as the one you had in the 2nd slot could have been 'freaked out' in the other slot.
I checked with Corsair before I RMAd their twin kit and they told me that additional voltage for the 800 stix was not needed.  Crucial, however, said theirs needed the VDIMM at 2.2 from the get go.  My machine will not post with the ratio at 1:1.5 and the stock voltage of 1.8 so i have to reset the CMOS and then go in and redo all the BIOS settings every time there is a major glitch in starting up (like yesterday) although it is as we speak - right now running fine.
5) Cooling:  Once u get you kid screamin a bit - we can revisit that issue.  I agree with all that say the CPU stock cooling is inadequate - as just standing still I am at 40 to 42 C - and that seems rather high I think.
FINAL NOTES:  I started this build 6 weeks ago as a decadonal birthday present for a nice upgrade to SOA stuff.  Top components and the Tom's Hardware recommendation.  HorsePucky!!!!  This MB does NOT deserve a PLATINUM label froim MSI IMHO(at least not yet).  Unlike some, if I had to do it again - I seriously doubt if it would. However, aside from the non reboot issues, once I get it to run, it is like a rock.  I have not invested any more than the inordinate amount of time on this Forum to look to the ASUS or ABIT forums to see if there are similar issues with their Intel 975 implementations. 
From all I have read on this board on this MSI forum - this MB was not ready for 800 memory - and the evidence of this is the frequent bios upgrades (about 1x every 2nd week for the unofficial updates even though we are now up to official release 7.3 - I am sticking with 7.1) that have still not resolved the 800 memory issues related to it not rebooting without a cold start.  With security upgrades, we can scarcely go more than a few days without the need for a reboot - so while not a deal breaker, this ruddy no restart issue is worrisome.  If it is not fixed in the next month - I will RMA the board no question - and get an updated version or switch back to ABIT or ASUS which I have used for years - never with this amount of hassle or tweakiness required.
THIS FORUM - if it were not for the help here - I would not still have this board in the house!!!  The feedback here is indeed extraordinary and it is a great credit to the persons moderating and contributing.  MSI should be aware that without this support - their 975X board could likely have been a "TotalRecall" issue for many.
BEST OF LUCK and keep letting us know how we can help. 
Once u get it posted - I know you will have some BIOS setup issues.
(I am in Europe so the timezones may not fit for direct feedback - but private message me if u have any questions u might prefer to ask if they seem to go beyond the fringes of reality.  You can also SKYPE several of us which is truly much more effective for troubleshooting when you have a 2nd screen attached to that 2nd computer) 
For the moment though, we are all awaiting your next trials - aint this just a fun thing to do on weekends???