Build day... help please :-)

[tensim]

Hi Guys,

Building up my PC today, all is going OK so far (I think...)

CPU and cooler are installed on the motherboard (the cooling fins on the Xigmatek have nicely sliced up my fingers/hand, damn they're dangerous!). Used MX2 paste, though wasn't sure how much to go with (probably erred on the side of using too much I think, though didn't notice any real overflow once the cooler was pinned down...)

I've installed all components into my case and I think I've connected the power leads up correctly... I do have two little leads left over which I'm wondering where they go:

1) first is labeled as the RPM controller from the Be Quiet PSU, where does this go? Can't find anything in the manual...
2) second is an unlabeled lead from the front of the Cosmos S... It's a 3-pin connector with blue/yellow/black wires (thin ones). Can't find anything in the Cosmos manual as to what this is or where it goes... any thoughts?

Also, I don't have anything plugged into the SYSFAN1 port on my motherboard, do one of the above go there or does something else?

Now... what should I do before I actually plug this thing in and switch it on? Feeling a bit nervous about this bit, if I've connected something incorrectly, what could happen? sparks? short? blown component?

All thoughts and advice invited

BTW, how do I post photo's to this thread?

cheers

[ezri]

Hi Guys,

Building up my PC today, all is going OK so far (I think...) :)

Good to hear!

1) first is labeled as the RPM controller from the Be Quiet PSU, where does this go? Can't find anything in the manual...

This connector should be a 3 or 4 pin typical fan header. You can plug this into a fan header and it'll allow you to control the RPM of the fan inside the PSU. You don't need to plug it in, it's only there if you want to manual control the fan speed.

2) second is an unlabeled lead from the front of the Cosmos S... It's a 3-pin connector with blue/yellow/black wires (thin ones). Can't find anything in the Cosmos manual as to what this is or where it goes... any thoughts?

I cannot be sure, but I'd most likely say it's to power a light on the front of the case - quite possibly something like the glowing inside of the power button. You'd need someone else to confirm this however as I'm not sure.

Also, I don't have anything plugged into the SYSFAN1 port on my motherboard, do one of the above go there or does something else?

You don't need to plug anything into that assuming you are running on a passive Northbridge heatsink, it's something that would probably be used for that however you can plug case fans into it - it'll just act like another fan header.

Now... what should I do before I actually plug this thing in and switch it on? Feeling a bit nervous about this bit, if I've connected something incorrectly, what could happen? sparks? short? blown component?

Most likely it won't POST or turn on - nothing drastic, you're computer won't explode :) Just double and triple check over it to make sure everything plugged in the way it should be. Critical ones are the 4 or 8 pin ATX 12v lead which goes in next to the CPU slot (should be coloured yellow/black), and obviously the 20 or 24 pin giant motherboard connector. Make sure the CPU fan is also plugged in where it should be. Also make sure you have the right connectors into your graphics card. Other than that I'd say the other only one is the jumpers on the motherboard which you attach cables too from the case itself, such as power on/reset/hdd-led and so forth. I wouldn't worry though - either it'll turn on and work or it won't, it will not explode in a flaming fireball or damage anything :)

BTW, how do I post photo's to this thread?

Use something like Tinypic.com and upload there then just type [img*]url_in_here[/img*] without the * and place your URL in the middle of the tags (just make sure the images aren't massive).

[tensim]

Thanks Ezri, appreciate you taking the time to give such a detailed and well laid out reply

I'll plug the RPM lead into a spare fan header... just need to figure out what this blue/yellow/black lead is, why can't they just put some instructions in the manual I wonder

Good to hear things won't explode I think everything is connected OK, there's only one way to find out isn't there; plug it in and switch it on Hopefully all goes to plan and I get through to the setup screen!

[TAKTAK]

take a piccy of that blue yellow black lead, or trace it back to it's origin in the case.

and ezri, it's nice to see a new user getting stuck in and helping people

[tensim]

Hi TakTak,

Just pulled the case apart a bit to find out where that pesky blue/yellow/black wire goes to...

It ends up at the on switch (which is a fancy touch-sensitive number on the Cosmos S). There's also a black/red cable that goes to the same point, this is labeled as PWR SW (I've hooked this up to the PWR plug on the motherboard...) So I'm thinking Ezri is right, this is the lead for the red LED that lights up when the PC is on... now where would I plug this in I wonder?

cheers

[wzix]

Does your motherboard not come with a little adapter thing, I think mine was called a Q-connecter from what I remember, it plugged into the motherboard and allowed for easier connection of things like the power switch and LEDS etc

[Mark C.]

Hey Tensim, I just wanted to say good luck mate, it sounds like your doing great..and the guys here realy know there stuff...so I've no doubt you'll soon be up and running

[Lanky123]

It ends up at the on switch (which is a fancy touch-sensitive number on the Cosmos S). There's also a black/red cable that goes to the same point, this is labeled as PWR SW (I've hooked this up to the PWR plug on the motherboard...) So I'm thinking Ezri is right, this is the lead for the red LED that lights up when the PC is on... now where would I plug this in I wonder?

There should be a manual with your motherboard showing the layout of the pins for the front panel connectors. The cable might have something like PWR LED written on it? If not I'm pretty sure the motherboard will have something to that effect written on in little letters next to the relevant pins.

[tensim]

Figured it out There's a block that plugs into the PSU's ATXPWR1 lead, then into the motherboard... this block has an additional little wire running of it that powers the LED...

Just bit the bullet and hit the power button... Disconnected all drives for now just to see if it works :-)

Success!

I am through to the Abit BIOS screen, hurrah

Now I've plugged the HD and DVD in, into the BIOS setup fine

Now... what do I do next???

[ezri]

Yay! Well done

Now it's a case of installing Windows I guess? Shove your Windows CD in the DVD tray, restart the machine and the Windows install should kick in and guide you through the setup process

[staffsMike]

yep just get installing

You can go to the health check bit though and get a rough estimate on your temps, make sure you arent cooking anything.

[tensim]

As a matter of interest... My mate reckons I should setup a dual boot, install Windows XP first and then Vista 64 after... what do you guys reckon?

Also, don't I need to adjust the RAM voltage settings or something at this point?

Should I keep an eye on temperatures as well before doing anything further? I've gone into the uGuru and it's reporting:

CPU 15C
System 28C
Phase1 46C
Phase2 47C
Phase3 47C
Phase4 47C
Phase5 46C

What are the 'Phase_' readouts from?

cheers

[tensim]

Hmmm... just restarted it again, now I'm getting a buzzer alarm and the onboard LCD shows an error 'FF' that apparently means 'Boot Attempt (INT 19h)'... what does this mean?

The Xigmatek fan stops spinning as well whilst this alarm is going off...

cheers

[ezri]

Does it sound like a two-tone high/low constant sound and the computer still works fine even though it's making this noise? if not what kind of sound is it and is it repeating constantly?

The CPU fan also might actually not be spinning because it doesn't spin. A lot of coolers running via PWM (temperature regulated fan speeds) won't actually use the fan if the temperature of the CPU is cold enough.

Also my motherboard is Abit, when it's working properly and I'm in Windows it's always showing "FF" so I guess that's normal.

[TAKTAK]

that is trying to boot the OS

and because you don't have one installed it's flipping out and swearing at you .

change the boot priority in the BIOS so that it boots from the cd drive first (i wouldn't have thought the fan should stop though )

HERE you go

[sleepyhead]

Would you mind posting all the parts that you have in your build?

If its an IP35 pro, according to here Code FF is nothing to worry about.

I suspect there is a BIOS setting about Fan Failure and auto shutdown if that occurs. This maybe because the Ximagtek fan spins so slowly, the RPM isn;t registered. Just a theory mind you.