Custom buidling tips.

[Gamerguy X]

Im buying my parts off newegg for a cusotm pc in just a few hours...

...I've never built a computer before, and frankly, I have little clue what I am doing. Now, I know what all the parts do, and I am sure (more than sure) I can figure it out - but are there any tips you could recomend? Any thourough online guides?

I'd appreciate that, as for specifics, I do have a few specific questions:

-I am buying grease for the CPU and heatsink. The heatsink comes with the cpu. Anywaym, i heard it is really easy to screw this step up. How much grease do I put on? Is there some sticker im supposed to use? No clue.

-After everything is plugged in, what do i do? Boot up...just put windows in? Do I have to set the master HD? No clue.

[Kingjulian22]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

gamerguy x is a n00b and cant fly a chopper :P
jk gamer jk

i have nothing else to say

[mopar_dak]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

^^ ok... ... ...

Anyway, I just built my computer like 6 months ago and it was my first build (and it came out awesome) The only experience I had was poking around in my old pc, and going to lots of message boards and reading peoples posts, and tutorials, things of that nature. It really shouldn't be too hard once you start, things just seem to fall into place.

The grease, first off you should get yourself a tube of Arctic silver +5, it's one of the best if not the best. Your cpu cooler might come with a thermal pad (looks like a square clay pad) but they don't work too good, so I would scrape that off and use the arctic silver. Basically you just carefully spread it on the the top of the cpu and contact area of the heatsink. You need to use something with a perfect flat edge like a razorblade or credit card. Don't make it too thick, just enough so you cant see the metal underneath it.

When you boot up it will probably force you to go into the bios and set the system time/date and any other settings. Leave the windows install cd in the drive and it should auto detect, if not you need to go back to the bios and set your boot device to the cd-rom.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

you really shouldn't have that much trouble with getting things up and running.

yes, applying the paste the first time can be a little worrisome, but just put it on around 1/2 to equal the width of a credit card and you should be fine.

the nagging things about "my very own build" were:

1) connecting the mobo headers (itsy bitsy bitsy pins) to the correct places on the case to make front usb, mic, front stereo, and firewire functional--i've been trying for six months (off and on) to figure out how to configure my audigy 2 zs to output five channels to my case front. I'm going to do it--it may take a soldering iron, a fre$$$h build, and a very p.o.'d wife--but I'm going to do figure it out... :)

2) deciding what (if any) temp controlled fans you want, and slapping those into thermal sensitive voltage controller headers.

3) other stuff that two fistfuls of cheap bourbon at 1:40 in the a.m. lead me to forget.

4) don't forget to route your cables at least fairly well. get ROUND cables (ebay, newegg) NOT the wide, flat ones that come with your mobo, hd, or optical drives. it will make a diff on temps.

edit: honestly, building a comp just isn't that hard anymore. last tip: make sure you screw your mobo down (gently but firmly) with all the necessary mounting hardware in all the available holes. it helps with grounding, and it helps in the event you decide to put a ceiling fan (anything that says Zalman) on your processor to help with the temps.

hmmmm, also, I'm not sure if winderz boots natively on SATA drives. you may need to have your SATA drivers installed. i recall other having a problem with this, but since SATA has become mainstream, xp may now recognize SATA drives without drivers.

your mileage may vary.

[Gamerguy X]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

Ok, that helped quite a bit. Just one thing im still a little confused on. So the CPU is like a flat box that goes into socket 939. The heat sink is a large metal thing you place over it to disperse heat. It has the same lenght and width dimensions as the CPU (but obviousely it has more depth). So the grease just goes at about the width of a credit card over every part of the cpu that touches the heatsink...?

Is this right?

Ill try some ascii

() = cpu
**** = grease
##= heatsink

This is a side view

()*##############
()*##############
()*##############
()*##############
()*##############
()*##############

So it is like that? And a final thing, is the heatsink clipped to the cpu, or is it just attatched by grease....oh ya, and thats ticker that they usualy have - what do i use to remove it, and is it usualy attatched to the cpu? And do i just need to put grease over where the thermal pad is, or over the entire cpu.

Thanks, sorry if i seem liek a dimwitt, lol, i just really wanna get this right


btw, i just pressed confirm payment on ordering my parts.

gamerguy x is a n00b and cant fly a chopper :P
jk gamer jk

i have nothing else to say

Sad thing is, i know this person....*sigh*...lol

[Heavy552 AWG]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

You are going to need a safe work area to build your computer. Maybe a nice stout wood table or workbench (Wood not metal)

DONT sit down on the carpet and build your computer. That static can and will destroy parts.

Check and recheck your work.

Go slowly.

Good luck!

The build will behave one of two ways at first boot: 1- Beeps into post then Bios and probably wants your operating system. or... 2- sit there quietly as a monument to errors undiscovered.

[Gamerguy X]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

Ok, no carpet. Doubl check everything. Gotcha.

But can someone look at my post above and answer that?

[imported_Gil]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

So it is like that? And a final thing, is the heatsink clipped to the cpu, or is it just attatched by grease

Its not attached by grease, usually clipped/screwed.

[Heavy552 AWG]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

Sometimes the CPU Cooler has to go onto a bracket that comes from UNDER the mother board.

Be nice to know what board you are using.

[I_M_Weasel0r]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

The thermal grease needs to cover the heatspreader thats intergrated to the top of your cpu (probably the silver coulored bit). If you're removing the stuck on grease off a cooler be sure to remove it all, so the base of the cooler is perfectly flat and clean. If your not sure about this step just use the standard pad thats allready on the cooler - it isnt as good but wont be that great an issue if you're not overclocking.


DO THE FOLLOWING BEFORE PLACING MOTHERBOARD IN YOUR CASE

Allign the cpu to the socket (hold cpu by edges and be earthed to a radiator) make sure it fits flat, then fit the cooler and lock it down. CHECK THAT THE COOLER IS PROPERLY SEATED FLUSH AGAINST THE CPU. Connect fan power connections. You can now add memory.

You can now add your board into your case, fit drives and add on cards. Think about routing your cables at an early stage it'll save you pulling everything out later.

As said earlier take your time, dont get stressed, dont get angry. If it doesn't work check power connections, clear the bios with the jumper and have another try.

Good luck

[imported_Gil]

Re: Custom buidling tips.

Heres a good link to look at, gives you a step by step of a system built by the guys at Corsair:

http://sysbuild.corsairmemory.com/report.aspx?id=2

Enjoy.

[Heavy552 AWG]

Re: Custom buidling tips.

Write down serial numbers before you install the part. That way if a prompt pops up asking for that number you have it.

I like to install C:/ drive first. Mark it with a pernament marker C:/ somewhere on the housing. That way I can install other drives later once everything is up and stabilized.

RAID and SCSI drives require a floppy disk up front with a driver set if you are trying to install an OS on them.

I like to write:

Cylinders, Heads and Sectors off the drive's label along with the model number so you can double check the bios and make sure it has the correct info.

One other thing, toss the ugly ribbion cables, use the new rounded cables for better airflow.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Custom buidling tipcs.

You are going to need a safe work area to build your computer. Maybe a nice stout wood table or workbench (Wood not metal)

DONT sit down on the carpet and build your computer. That static can and will destroy parts.

Oh, yeah--AVCM would have killed me for not mentioning that. Linoleum=poor man's esd mat. Also, get an ESD wrist strap, and ground the clip ($2.50 and they last forever).

Your ascii of the processor installation was accurate, but mounting the processor depends on what type (socket) your processor is. For example, i had to lift a small lever on my ASUS p4s800-mx, place the processor, pins down, over the socket, and then let it gently fall into place (FYI: "ZIF"=ZERO INSERTION FORCE; never, ever, force a processor into a socket). Then, I lowered the lever, locking the processor into place. Next I applied a thin layer of grease on the flat, exposed, top part of the processor, and then CLIPPED my factory heatsink/fan combo on top of it.

As others have said, you need to read through the directions first, and get a good idea of what you're going to be doing all the way through the installation, before you start at step one. Don't be discouraged if you have to move jumpers around on the mobo, optical drive(s), and HD(s) to get it recognized.

Oh, as a final tip, move a table onto a hard floor and temporarily set up your computer there (monitor, keyboard, mouse, and--maybe--internet should be all you need to troubleshoot the initial functionality), get everything working just the way you want it before moving it back to your desk.

If you have an old version of XP, it did not ship with USB 2.0 functionality. You have to install the service packs, so you may get a "This device can perform faster" message until you apply the service packs.

[Gamerguy X]

Re: Custom buidling tips.

Im taking a look at all your suggestions, thanks.

Write down serial numbers before you install the part. That way if a prompt pops up asking for that number you have it.

I like to install C:/ drive first. Mark it with a pernament marker C:/ somewhere on the housing. That way I can install other drives later once everything is up and stabilized.

RAID and SCSI drives require a floppy disk up front with a driver set if you are trying to install an OS on them.

I like to write:

Cylinders, Heads and Sectors off the drive's label along with the model number so you can double check the bios and make sure it has the correct info.

One other thing, toss the ugly ribbion cables, use the new rounded cables for better airflow.

Are the rounded cables included?

[Heavy552 AWG]

Re: Custom buidling tips.

Err. nope. You have to get them. But the ribbions should (Usually) are included. But dont take my word for it.