Clean, Tidy, Safe. A System Builders List.

[richieuk]

Hi Guys,

I'm starting buying stuff for my build now, and first of all I want to assemble a list of things I'll need before I start. Essentially, things that people tend to overlook. I will update my list upon peoples suggestions. Also, if prices or links are available, that'd be great

Shopping List//

Gloves -Where would I get these from?-
Anti Static Wristband (Purchased £2 Delivered)
Canned Air -From Computer Fayre/Shop-
Toolkit (Purchased) -Recieving 2 computer toolkits from trial magazine subscriptions including tweezers, magnetic screwdriver, socket set, pliers-
Velcro cable ties. (Purchased 79p for 25) -From Home Bargains-
LED torch. (Purchased £4 Delivered)
Rubber and Cardboard Washers -From Computer Fayre/Shop-
Flexible Telescopic Magnet. -From Computer Fayre/Shop-
Lint Free Cloth (Purchased £1 with Brush below in LCD Cleaning kit) -From Home Bargains-
Anti Static Brush (Purchased) -From Home Bargains-
Isopropyl Alcohol -From Chemist-

Help would be appreciated

[PeterStoba]

I've only ever used a static wristband when i was a noob, now i just touch a radiator or the case itself.

Gloves would be good, with a case like mine espcially!

Canned air i've never used, supposed to be easy and good though

Cable ties and toolkits are a must! you seem pretty much set

[richieuk]

Also btw, any cheapish aesthetic extras I can get Like snazzy/purdy cables I can use I'm also painting the inside (steel) parts of the 300 black. So any textras for that other than paint / emerycloth would be great

[Hicks12]

The stuff you got on the list is all i can think of except a anti static mat(or something along those lines) possibly just use rubber/polystirene(cant spell) block to make sure you dont damage hardware, and try not to have it on thge carpet(never had na issue but its not recommend).

[tiggerai]

Tweezers. Especially if you're a sausage fingered man. Screws in places you don't want screws are bloody annoying. And they always find the damnest smallest place in your case to hide.

[Clunk]

Velcro cable ties.

LED torch.

Magnet on bendy stick thing.

Spiderman outfit.

[ydrol]

Tweezers. Especially if you're a sausage fingered man. Screws in places you don't want screws are bloody annoying. And they always find the damnest smallest place in your case to hide.

What I do is dismantle any crappy old hard drives I have, and take out the magnet. Then I use that to magentize my trusty screwdrivers. However I'm careful to keep the magnet well away from my work area!

Another thing which is probably obvious, but I used masking tape to hold some rubber washers in place under the HD cage,
so they wouldn't move whilst I replaced it, before putting the screws back in.

[tiggerai]

Spiderman outfit.

I prefer the nurse tbh... but whatever floats your boat.

[richieuk]

Spiderman outfit.

Will Captain America do? I'll have that coming the same time as my PC, read for a few fancy dress parties I got lined up in Leeds and Wolvo

Will totally build the whole thing now dressed as Captain America with pictures lol

[richieuk]

Also, back on topic, where can I get these things from for cheap? I mean REALLY cheap if possible, including postage

Links would be amazing

Regards

[Emirzan]

Whoa! I think my list when I did my last build was tweezers and a screwdriver. That said I'm going to suggest an addition.

One thing that messed me up in a previous build was not having anything on hand to clean pcbs and attached microchips. I ended up having to reseat a heatsink but realised I had nothing suitable to clean away the mess left from the first attempt. If your doing anything similar (and even if you're not it's handy to have around for future use) I'd recommend having a lint free cloth and some kind of cleaning fluid on hand, I use pure isopropyl alcohol.

As for buying things like that I've always tended to go to an actual electronics store (as opposed to an internet site), don't really know where to find them online for reasonable costs.

[longshanks]

Where is the best / cheapest place to get a PC tool kit?

[richieuk]

If they have any left from this Computer Shopper Subscription its pretty good. You can also get another one for the same offer on PC Pro like I did

[Emirzan]

Can you cancel the offer after the first three issues and still receive the tool kit? I'm not a fan of computer shopper so I don't want the mag at all!

[richieuk]

Yeah lol, you need to check they have it still as its limited to a certain number of offers. But I'm doing the same aswell I enjoy the mag immensely but I cant really afford a subscription

[Emirzan]

How did you check? Phone call? That's what I'll do methinks. I could use a few new tools, just hope they're of a decent quality. Anything that's being given away tends to be a bit cheap and nasty. But at 1 pound it's worth a punt!