Foxconn 955X7AA, Intel LGA 775 Motherboard Review - Installation
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Installation
There's only so much to say about installation here, since it seems like everything just works. I just plugged things in, and they ran well. First, we installed the processor, an Intel Pentium D 920 Presler. Take a look at the LGA775 chipset first.
With the processor locked into the socket, this view gives a pretty good idea of the low profile of the capacitors around the CPU. They are out-of-the-way enough for lots of aftermarket coolers, though we'll be using stock cooling today.
This motherboard is more prepared for advanced components than some others. Some early adopters of Intel Pentium D 9xx chips have said they need to update the BIOS of their ASUS boards before the chip works (meaning they had to install the system using an old LGA775 CPU, update the BIOS, then install their Presler chip). This Foxconn motherboard was compatible with the newest processors and components right out of the box.
Memory installation is about what you would expect. Stick the modules in the right color slot. However, the manual lists about a dozen uncommon memory modules as being compatible, and the memory companies I looked at didn't test their modules on this Foxconn board. There's not a lot of testing and documentation n compatibility, but it wasn't a big deal. I picked up Corsair XMS2 that was not on the manual's list, and it didn't have any problems.
Speaking of memory, if you have a long video card, install the memory first. Our X1600XT is just short enough to not be a problem, but a high-end card would probably block the bottom clips from opening all the way.
With installation of hardware done, it's time for the software side of things. The motherboard comes with a lot of drivers, since there are so many devices included. The package also includes Foxconn's motherboard monitoring software (SuperUtility), Norton security software, and Word Perfect. I have to say this is a pretty nice bundle for a motherboard.
The downside on the software side is that the chipset drivers are not signed or approved by Microsoft. You get a few warnings when installing the drivers for USB, USB2, Serial ATA, and Ultra ATA.
I expected Foxconn to use stable, signed drivers. In the Dev Hardware testing, I didn't see serious difficulty with any of the drivers, but users with other configurations say the drivers interfere with their sound cards and devices. For using the ATA 133 connectors at the bottom of the board without RAID, it appears you need to find new drivers. Thankfully, if you have problems you can go driver hunting for new ones, and I did not see any flaws that caused noticeable problems, errors, or instabilities in our testbed.
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