first timer questions

[cross5j]

hi, im just about ready to attempt my first build and after reading through the website and the companion book i still have a few questions. I am going to install a separate audio card(sound blaster x-fi xtreme gamer), at what point should it be installed into the motherboard(GA-P55A-UD3)? (before first boot, before second boot, or after installing windows). Also, would i not download the audio drivers from my motherboards driver cd? and if im installing windows 7 64 bit home premium would i set the HPET mode to 32 or 64 bit mode when setting up the bios?
thanks a lot in advance

[zburns]

Install the card before you load the Win 7 64 bit OS. The reason being that Win 7 will provide an updated driver for the card as the OS is loaded (my experience is with Vista ); here is a link to Microsoft that applies to both Vista and Windows 7: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Update-a-driver-for-hardware-that-isnt-working-properly

Regarding HPET mode, I am pretty sure you would set this to 64 bit mode; again here are multiple links that should answer your question: http://www.techarp.com/showfreebog.aspx?lang=0&bogno=415 (HPET MODE -- good explanation); http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd424533.aspx (Not as clear as first HPET reference just above); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Precision_Event_Timer (very good explanation).

Regarding my comment that Win 7 will install the updated drivers: I am working from memory that Vista did this when I first loaded it. The Win 7 link I gave you above and the Vista link are virtually identical. It is also very logical and in Microsoft's best interest to provide 'the latest' drivers. You could always check with the manufacturer and see if there is a later version of the driver. As you go forward with using your new build, Win 7 update will continue to update drivers as they become available (assuming you allow it).

EDIT. After double checking my statements, I am not sure that Win 7 or Vista 'automatically loads drivers', rather you may be given the instruction 'to load drivers' and then it is up to you whether you use a driver from the available 'Windows files of thousands' or whether you choose to go to the manufacturer. However, whatever the process is exactly, it is very clear and Windows documentation is also very clear about the large number of drivers that have been checked by Windows and 'approved by Windows' ; the OS will definitely guide you thru this process; I remember well my surprise at how easy it was to 'get drivers' while loading Vista. Any disks you have with drivers on them will probably have 'old drivers' on them. Since you do not know how old the data on the disc is, you have to assume it may be original, first editions, etc.; how do you trust it,etc.. On the other hand, Windows makes no bones about their 'extensive library of drivers', and they mean the latest drivers. It makes sense for a component manufacturer to make sure that their latest drivers are on the Windows Driver Update List, and it makes sense that Microsoft wants the same thing - latest drivers. For existing users, Windows has 'automatic updates of drivers' as they become available; logically, such very important 'updated drivers' would also be worked into the 'loading of the original OS' when the computer is first built.