Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: First time build... Any tips?

  1. #1
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Streatham, London
    Posts
    29
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • bravenovice's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5B Deluxe/Wi-Fi AP
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
      • Memory:
      • 2Gb Corsair DDR2 XMS2
      • Storage:
      • Seagate 320Gb 7200.10
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Radeon X1950 Pro 256Mb w/Zalman
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic S12 430W
      • Case:
      • Antec P180B
      • Monitor(s):
      • 17" Hansol 710P (still savin' up 4 a new one)

    First time build... Any tips?

    Hi guys. I'm building for the first time and here's what I've got:

    Case: Antec P180, Black
    PSU: Seasonic S12, 430W
    MoBo: Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi
    CPU: Intel C2D E6400
    HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, 320Gb
    RAM: Corsair 2Gb DDR2 XMS2 Twin2X
    Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon X1950Pro, 256Mb w/Zalman

    I've also got a SATA DVDRW (Sony), and a Compro VideoMate TV card to put in.

    So it's: anti-static band, check; arctic silver paste, check; only a vague idea of what I'm doing, check...

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Sheffield
    Posts
    248
    Thanks
    49
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts
    • Martin87's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5K Deluxe/WiFi AP
      • CPU:
      • Core 2 Duo - E6850
      • Memory:
      • 4GB PC6400 - Crucial Ballistix Tracer
      • Storage:
      • 2 X WD 250GB, 1 x Samsung 400GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • BFG 8600GT
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX520
      • Case:
      • Lian-Li PC -60
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung Sync Master 710V
    Take your time is not a race, and make sure you got everything you could want at hand before you start e.g. screwdrivers

    What bits you struggling with?

  3. #3
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish
    Don't forget to put the motherboard riser screws in first.

    Don't forget to press out the case's temporary I/O shield before putting the motherboard in.

    Case LED/power switch cables are a pain in the bum and no two manufacturers can agree on a system.

    Yes, RAM does need that much force to clip in.

  4. #4
    Editable... jimbouk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Bristol
    Posts
    3,069
    Thanks
    319
    Thanked
    278 times in 226 posts
    • jimbouk's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asrock B450M-HDV R4.0
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 5 3600
      • Memory:
      • Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4 3200 MHz C16
      • Storage:
      • Sabrent Rocket Q 1TB NVMe PCIe M.2 2280
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic Core Gold GC-650
      • Case:
      • Lian-Li PC-V1100 ATX
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • AOC CU34G2/BK 34" Widescreen
      • Internet:
      • EE FTC
    Spend some time running cables neatly, and don't worry about taking something out and reinstalling it if it gets in the way.

    Any have the motherboard manual to hand, as kalniel says the connectors always seem to be different.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    231
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    10 times in 9 posts
    • d032sh's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5b-e
      • CPU:
      • E4300 @ 3GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4GB OCZ Platinum
      • Storage:
      • ~4TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 8800GTS 640MB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620
      • Case:
      • Akasa Eclipse 62
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7
    From doing my first build a few months ago I did the following idiotic mistakes.

    1) I put way too much thermal paste on the cpu and had to redo it later.

    2) Initially I positioned the fan so it was blowing in the wrong direction. Have a look at your case and make sure you know which way you want the fan blowing. It's pretty obvious really but if you have the board on a desk somewhere then make sure you check!

    3) I left the case fans till last and it was a bit of a struggle to get them in properly with everything else in, of course this depends on your case but it won't do any harm to make sure they're in place before you put everything else in.

    4) Think about which slots you put the cards in, I got mine 'up and running' with a minimal amount of cards first and then found out my sound card didn't fit in the only remaining PCI slot as there was a capacitor in the way... oops.

  6. #6
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Streatham, London
    Posts
    29
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • bravenovice's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5B Deluxe/Wi-Fi AP
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
      • Memory:
      • 2Gb Corsair DDR2 XMS2
      • Storage:
      • Seagate 320Gb 7200.10
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Radeon X1950 Pro 256Mb w/Zalman
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic S12 430W
      • Case:
      • Antec P180B
      • Monitor(s):
      • 17" Hansol 710P (still savin' up 4 a new one)
    Martin87 - Trust me, I aint rushin'. It's taken me more than 4 months to buy all these bits as it is! Plus I got the whole kit similar to the one by belkin, with the anti-static band plus a whole host of other stuff: screwdrivers, allen keys, soldering iron...
    I'm not struggling with anything in particular, yet. Everything is still in its boxes, actually. Just looking for a heads up before I start.

    Kalniel & Jimbouk - Thanks. I'll be making a note of those tips...

    D032sh - I did the too-much-thermal-paste thing myself on my old computer - nearly used the whole tube of arctic silver...
    All the fans are already installed on the Antec P180 case, I think, but I think the blowing direction is adjustable, so I'll bear what you said in mind.
    I'm also thinking about cutting open the anti-static sleeves, resting the MoBo on that, and then putting all the cards in one time. That a good idea?

  7. #7
    www.dougmcdonald.co.uk
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Bath
    Posts
    523
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    20 times in 20 posts
    • DougMcDonald's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5B Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • Inter Core 2 Duo E6600
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 2GB - Geil Black Dragon PC6400
      • Storage:
      • 2 x 400GB Samsung Spinpoints (Running in Matrix array) 100GB @ RAID0 + 300GB @ RAID1
      • Graphics card(s):
      • BFG nVidia 8800GTS 320MB OC2
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX520W modular
      • Case:
      • Lian-Li PC7 II Plus
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 17" Flat Thingy
      • Internet:
      • Crappy BT 1MB Unreliable wank :s
    Case LED/power switch cables are a pain in the bum and no two manufacturers can agree on a system.
    Fortunately my P5B came with a nice little block which matches the P5B power/led config and has it all nicely labelled. So providing your case has labeled connections, that should be nice and simple.

  8. #8
    Senior Member RECOiL™'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Hertfordshire
    Posts
    583
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    • RECOiL™'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5B Deluxe WiFi AP
      • CPU:
      • E6600
      • Memory:
      • 2GB Kingston HyperX
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 7800GTX nVidia
      • PSU:
      • 700watt Modular
      • Case:
      • Akasa Eclipse 62
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dual Dell 1901FP (19")
      • Internet:
      • 20mbit NTL
    Yeah, just be careful and think things through. Its pretty straight forward, is pc building.
    Last edited by RECOiL™; 12-06-2007 at 01:09 PM.

  9. #9
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish
    Quote Originally Posted by bravenovice View Post
    I'm also thinking about cutting open the anti-static sleeves, resting the MoBo on that, and then putting all the cards in one time. That a good idea?
    Does that case have a removable motherboard tray? If not then you have to install the cards only after you've put the motherboard in.

  10. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    76
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    Similar to my spec

    - If you can make sure you download the latest Bios from Assus site onto a port.USB drive

    - Don't think you are using RAID so no need to worry about putting drivers onto a floppy

    - Get latest drivers ready for GPU (don't use the cd,) INTEL, TV Card, Virus software and anything you may need onto USB

    - Suggest you use an alternative soundcard to the onboard one. If not visit ASUS site and download onto USB
    - Plenty of space to work

    - Look over the components as you unpack before installing any - do they 'look' ok - no dings, dents or bits snapped off. Make sure you keep packaging with each components boxes - very important if things go wrong.

    - Have a youghurt pot (low one) to collect screws, risers, and other bits as you come across them

    - One bit at a time: mobo, cpu, heatsink, ram

    - Check that the mobo, ram, psu, cpu(& heatsink & fan) work 'before' fixing it to the case. Put the mobo with all the bits in it on the bag it came in and put this on a case side panel. Attatch the power button line from the case (easy to do with the ASUS configurator.) Run some power through it - see if it switches on and beeps. Disconnect wires

    - Move onto case: remove any drive bays you wont need. Sort out case wiring from front panel. Change rear I/O panel. Affix any DVD player drive inserts and install. Insert any standoffs. Install hard drive

    - Insert the psu into the case

    - Insert the mobo - carefully. Use washers as you affix the holding screws

    - Insert the graphics card (and attatch to monitor) and switch on again - does it work?

    - Attatch the hard drives & any IDE interfaces if you have them (don't forget the keyboard) - switch on and test.

    - Install any other PCI

    - Provide power to the case fans

    - Switch on (keyboard in, mouse in, and monitor only to start)

    - Double check user guide on bios flashing via USB

    - Insert USB stick and flash the board

    - Fresh install of O/S

    - Install in this order INTEL, GPU drivers, Sound, depending on your method of internet connection you may need to now install them. Virus software.

    - Make sure windows firewall is on (depends on internet connection router or not) and visit Windows update before doing anything else

    - follow this http://www.tweakguides.com/System.html

    - then once that's all working and if you want to have a play follow Clunks guide to overclocking - it's very thorough 'but' follow it to the letter.

    Bit by bit assembly is much better so you can make sure that if something doesn't work you don't have to go through the pain of taking it all apart

    Keep all your boxes and packaging for at least 2 months...

    And most of all have fun!! Come back if you have any questions...
    Last edited by gha128; 12-06-2007 at 01:48 PM.

  11. #11
    Senior Member Colossous's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    The mountains of Wales
    Posts
    679
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked
    13 times in 12 posts
    • Colossous's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Ud4 Z68
      • CPU:
      • 2500k
      • Memory:
      • 2x4gb Corsair Vengence Black 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • Corsair 90gb sata3 ssd + Western Dig black sata 3 1tb Storage
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte Soc Gtx570
      • PSU:
      • Nzxt Hale 850 watt
      • Case:
      • Custom Lian Li V1000
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 27"
    And dont go crazy with cable ties and tidying untill you're sure its all working or you'll and up undoing your work !!
    Hark the children of the Resolution !!

    http://trust.hexus.net/user_profile.php?user=7798

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 25
    Last Post: 09-05-2005, 11:40 PM
  2. Best time too build a system
    By Merlin4458 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 04-05-2005, 03:39 AM
  3. help with mage build?
    By Skaramush in forum PC
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 19-03-2005, 02:03 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •