How To Build Your Own Pentium III Computer
Setup the CMOS
Last updated: 4/14/99

  Boot-up the Computer.  You will probably see a CMOS checksum error.  Ignore it.  Enter the CMOS Setup by pressing the Delete key when prompted.

  Select LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS and Enter.

  Reset the CPU settings in the CPU SOFT MENU:  CPU Operating Speed to 350 (100).  Reboot.

  Enter the Standard CMOS set-up and set the correct date and time and Esc to the Main Menu.

I also change the settings for drives not installed to "none" and leave the others set to "Auto." 

  Enter the PNP/PCI set-up and change PNP OS Installed to YES and Esc to the Main Menu.

I also Change Resources Controlled By to Manual and set IRQs 5 and 10 to Legacy ISA.  This avoids many sound card problems.  Then I go into INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS and disable Serial Port 2.  Hopefully the PnP MODEM will grab IRQ 3 and avoid some possible older software problems.

You may want to go into the BIOS FEATURES SETUP and disable Big Brother's "Processor Number Feature."  I could care less about it.  It'll take more than a number on a processor to stop...

  Esc to the Main Menu and choose SAVE & EXIT the CMOS Setup.  The remaining CMOS default values are ok for this computer.

The next article in this series will cover installing Windows and the remaining expansion boards.

Although, I have been building computers for many years, I'm sure I could learn a few more things.  Furthermore, I intend to work-over all three of these Build Your Own Computer check-off sheets as I build more computers. 

Larry

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