Can i expect lots of problems with first build using Asrock z68 exteme4 gen3 and 3770k??

[Kristov]

I'm a total noob and recently decided to have a go at building for first time!! However I'm beggining to think i may have bitten off more than I can chew with my first build . I recently picked up an asrock ext4 gen3 and a i7 3770k for a reasonable price. After spending hours reading through countless posts on the forums I'm now expecting major problems. For starters my mb has bios P.100-15B (i've read pc wont post) so I've ordered new chip with updated bios. I had then planned to install windows 8 on ocz vertex3 sata3 ssd. I ve since read that I can expect probs with both the operating system & the drive?? Can anyone offer any practical advice and point out any pitfalls in wait. Any help greatly appreciated.

[parsec]

Re: Can i expect lots of problems with first build using Asrock z68 exteme4 gen3 and 3770k??

Your Sandy Bridge chipset (Z68) board will work with Ivy Bridge CPUs, as long as you meet the requirements to do so. The i7-3770K CPU must have BIOS 2.10 or greater, according to the CPU compatibility list. If your new BIOS chip does not have that version, you can download it from your boards download page and update it with the Instant Flash utility in the BIOS.

Your board's download page also lists the driver updates you'll need to support your IB CPU. The disk that comes with the board won't have those versions, so just download them for installation.

This page provides download links to those drivers and ASRock utilities, in the version 2.10 BIOS listing: ASRock > Z68 Extreme4 Gen3

All you really need for Windows 8 is the Intel ME software, and the newer version of the ASR AXTU utility. You board will POST and boot without IME installed, but it must be installed after Windows is installed.

I don't know what issues exist installing Windows 8 in general, depending on what version you have. What version do you have, an upgrade or full version? Any issues are really just caused by not doing things correctly.

The Vertex 3 had firmware issues in the past, but those are solved for the most part if not completely. Any idea what firmware version is on that SSD? Did you just buy it or is it older?

[Kristov]

Re: Can i expect lots of problems with first build using Asrock z68 exteme4 gen3 and 3770k??

Thanks for your assistance! Will the latest bios v 2.03 include the earlier updates or is it advisable to update to version 2.10 first? The vertex is a brand new drive so i'm assuming the firmware should be ok? I was planning on windows7 and then updating to windows8' are there any advantages/disadvantages in doing it this way?
Your advice really is appreciated thanks again