Got my new kit, now how to put it together?

[starbuck]

Just had the following delivered from scan:
E6600
Scythe Ninja Plus
HIS HD 2900XT
Enermax Galaxy 850w
2x500gb Samsung spinpoint SATA's to run in raid 0
+ some arctic silver and cleaner(should I need it)

This will go with the P5B deluxe and 2gb of corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 5400 ram I already have(plus vista).

Will be keeping my 320gb diamondmax sata for extra storage and my 2 optical drives as well as my X-FI music card.
The other 2 IDE HDD drives I will be using to build a media server at a later date.

Now, I have built pc's before(this will be my 8th+ build). Thing is, I haven't done a major rebuild for about 2-3 years and always used AMD processors(and never run raid before)

I know the basics won't have changed that much but want any tips on things to look out for, best way to fit something etc.

[dave87]

I've just built a similar design machine for a mate, and the best advice I can give you, is to either mount the cooler last (after power supply and drives etc, or first, before you put the motherboard into the case. That way you wont tear your hands to shreds like I did.

Otherwise its pretty much the same, things only fit where they are meant to, and its still pretty much idiot proof

[Whiternoise]

I always mount the CPU, Cooler and RAM onto the motherboard and then put that all in to the case (on it's side) and then i add the rest of the hardware. That way as dave87 says, no cutting! And Intel chips are pretty much the same as AMD (i think they had the idea of using heatspreaders while AMD still had dies in the middle); As usual - if it don't go in easily, don't force it

Afaik, unless you have a RAID card, you just put the hard drives in as normal and you can set it up using a utility app.

[CrazyMonkey]

Ok here are my steps (not everything but)
Install optical drives + mount the hardrives (if possible)
Install the PSU straight after this will save alot of time and as your powersupply is the ESP series its worth it... (If you dont your a fool...)
Install the CPU Heatsink onto the motherboard outside of the case (more room easier to do etc)
You can add the ram later or wack it on there whilst you do the heatsink, although once ive got it all in im still fumbling around in the case and i dont want to smash a stick of ram and crack it


Basically Good Luck, dont force anything.. The CPU fits in snuggly with no real force's needed...
Just use your common sense and DONT RUSH... then you should be fine like i was

[roorooroo]

PSU first...hard drives next...on bench add processor, thermal paste, cpu cooler, plug fan into mobo header, install memory.
Install mobo in case..plug fans into mobo headers..install pci, pci-e, isa cards etc...plug power into mobo, plus molex's, sata, ide cables into hard drives, floppy etc.
I agree, never rush!

[Pob255]

I'd say depends on case size.
On a standard ATX midi tower case some times it can be a bit of jigsaw puzzle putting in bits.

Check your board in the case, make sure putting drives in bays are not going to block off any connectors on the board (On my ASRock board I currently have only 2 bays I can put hard drives in as putting them in the others blocks off the IDE socket which is useful when I'm still useing IDE hard drives )

Fit CPU and HS&F to the mother board out of the case (I prefur to fit the memory after the mother board) thoes 775 HS&F can be tricky to attach (not sure about the scythe) then fit the mother board into the case.
then fit the other bits in the order of what's blocking what.
Actually you probably want to fit the PSU before the board as that scythe is massive and'll probably get in the way of tring to fit the PSU after.

For PSU connectors, the motherboard first, then the drives workig from the top down.

If you're useing a floppy drive and have some double sided tape you should consider sticking the floppy ribbion cable to the tray under the motherboard (make sure it's flat and not lifting up to touch the board when put in over it)

[colinbell]

Don't forget about the case connectors (power, LEDs, etc). Sooner you do these the better once the motherboard is in. They are probably the most fiddly thing, individual connectors, etc. Just be thankful you don't still have to worry about links...

[roorooroo]

Don't forget about the case connectors (power, LEDs, etc). Sooner you do these the better once the motherboard is in. They are probably the most fiddly thing, individual connectors, etc. Just be thankful you don't still have to worry about links...

lol yes forgot about those..they are bloomin fiddly things..takes ages sometimes too.