Advice on Motherboard and CPU Support

[EwOkiE]

Biostar MCP6P M2+ v6.1 with AMD Athlon II X3 440 CPU : BIOSTAR :: MCP6P M2+ :: Specification
2 GB Memory
450W Fan

Operating System will be on 160Gb IDE Maxtor Drive and 2nd Drive on SATA (320Gb)
using onboard Graphics.

Windows 7 32 Bit to be installed.

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Now thats the specs and what I want out the way....
Just a few questions, if anyone can answer please...

1.Has anyone had any issues installing this System onto the above board?

2.Which Bios Should I download between these 2 (assuming the newest but not sure)
BIOSTAR :: MCP6P M2+ :: BIOS

3.Will 2GB and my 450W Fan be enough to handle all this?

4.Should Bios settings be set as defualt or should I configure any for good system performance (dont want to overclock)

....Win 7 32 or 64 Bit.. whats better for this sytem?

Thanks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If you mean you have a 450 watt power supply, that's plenty unless you have a very powerful graphics card. I'm assuming it is a reliable brand and in good shape.

In your situation, I would go with 32 bit Windows.

Leave BIOS settings at default until you get it up and running well. After that, maybe make some changes and maybe not.

2 GB of RAM is OK. You might or might not notice the difference if you added more, depending on what you do with the PC.

I would definitely NOT download a new BIOS unless you have a specific problem with the existing BIOS. Flashing a BIOS is serious business and not to be done without a good reason. What is your good reason?

I don't know anything about that motherboard.

 

[TVeblen]

I agree with everything that ignatzatsonic says except one thing:

Do go into your BIOS and set the Storage Configuration > Configure SATA As > to AHCI just before you install W7. Doing so afterward is a chore.


EDIT: Completely missed the IDE drive. Never mind the AHCI! Sorry.


Also in BIOS, check you boot order: You will want the CD/DVD to boot before the HDD if the default is different.

Other than that, don't play with BIOS settings unless you know what you are doing and why.

Updating the BIOS is only really necessary if the new version supports a new processor that you want to install or corrects a BIOS issue that is causing you problems, IMHO.

 

[society misfit]

There is a BIOS update for that board (dated 2009-09-03) to support that CPU so yes, I would recommend updating the BIOS if the board is not already at that version.

I would also recommend putting the OS on the SATA drive. And with only 2GB of RAM, stick to the 32bit version of Win 7.

Good luck!

 

[EwOkiE]

Thanks for the info guys its appreciated.

The Sata drive is full of info that i need and too large to back up (250 Gb)
So need to stick to the IDE for OS just now.

Reason I am asking about bios update is that according to the site there is 2 and was assuming the newest would be the better one.
So your saying that I would be best to stick with this bios : 2009-09-03

Dont know what bios is in the machine as the PC isnt built yet.
So board is sitting with the battery out of the board just now.

 

[society misfit]

No need to keep the battery out.

According to Biostar this is an AM2+ board. It will support the CPU you mentioned but not without a BIOS update. So if the board is not already at a supporting BIOS, you may have troubles trying to get it to boot with your AM3 CPU. I would think that the board needs to be running with a AM2+ CPU first before the BIOS can be upgraded to support AM3 CPU’s. Sorry I can’t give any more advice, I’ve never upgraded a socket AM2+ board to a socket AM3 CPU. Perhaps someone else on SevenForums can elaborate.

If you can get the board to boot with your CPU, check to make sure the BIOS is at least at the version I pointed out.

Are you purchasing this brand new? If so I would highly recommend looking for an AM3 board instead. If it’s used, has the board already been running with that CPU? Cause if it has then we can assume that the BIOS has already been updated.

Good luck and post your findings, I’d be curious to know how this works.

 

[EwOkiE]

Just had a word with the person that gave me the board, it ran an AMD 5600 CPU.
He gave me the CPU about 5 mins ago ...was going to boot this cpu on the board first to see what bios is in it but one of the pins is missing (far corner) when he pulled it out the board, he was going to use this cpu for his other machine...

Will the chip work for a few mins so that I can check the bios?.. asking first if not will just try my own one.

 

[society misfit]

sorry, couldn't tell you if the motherboard will boot or not without the supporting BIOS for a AM3 CPU. Just give it a try, at this point of time you've got nothing to loose

 

[EwOkiE]

Quick update, earlier this morning (before going to work)
I quickly set up the pc with the old cpu I was given (damaged pin one)... fired it up.. it worked to my amazement.
Set it up for the flash 2009-09-03 and shutdown PC...

Now when I get home it should be good to go ...

----
... So the old chip had a missing pin at the far corner, how does it still work :huh:

 

[EwOkiE]

*UPDATE* ..just in and cracked on assembling the board with the newer chip all programs installed..

Job Done!..no probs