Newbie Build - Can you Help ?

[sleepyhead]

Building a PC is relatively easy, just so happens you have seemingly got a faulty motherboard. Don't let that put you off from building more.

Did you explain to SCAN the exact scenario of how the system was setup for the fan on the CPU not to spin when plugged into the CPU Fan Header? Also, did you take note of the serial numbers of the parts you routed back?

Oh and when you do build, I've learnt over the years...build a PC slowly and outside the case; once you know all the core components work (mobo, ram, cpu, gfx), build it in the case.

If you could, I'd like to see some pictures too...

[PaulBrum]

Sleepyhead - yes I did explain to them exactly what thwe fault was, and what I'd done to try and rectify it - the guy I spoke to seemed fairly knowlegable.

I also photographed the offending parts and serial numbers following your earlier advice. !!!

I will post up some progress photos when I get chance - hopefully soon.

Paul

[PaulBrum]

Well - Scan have confirmed my faulty Motherboard

.....at least it wasn't something I was doing !! - Processor and CPU fan have tested fine

Waiting for them to contact me and deliver a replacement (and my original processor and fan!!) - Looks like I'm going to need some thermal paste

Will let you know when it arrives.....prepare for more questions

Paul

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Well - Scan have confirmed my faulty Motherboard

.....at least it wasn't something I was doing !! - Processor and CPU fan have tested fine

Waiting for them to contact me and deliver a replacement (and my original processor and fan!!) - Looks like I'm going to need some thermal paste

Will let you know when it arrives.....prepare for more questions

Paul

Sorry to hear about your problems!! At least you see why it was good to buy your bits off Scan.

If you want a thermal compound that is easy to apply Zalman Thermal grease is applied using a small brush:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...source=froogle

Arctic Cooling MX2 is meant to be a better thermal compound but the Zalman grease is the easiest to apply and this means you will use less. I tried using Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste which has had very good reviews but is much harder to apply. There was not much difference to be honest even after two weeks!! However I will probably try to re-apply it at some point.
This just proves to me that the Zalman grease was the best compromise!!

[Pob255]

Yep another vote for the zalman stuff here I went from Arctic Cooling MX1 which was a right bugger to apply because it's so thick to the zalman stuff for it's ease of use.

If you do get the zalman, then remember to shake it very thoroughly as it does seperate in the bottle.
I'd also sugest only painting it on the cpu and not both the cpu and cooler.

[PaulBrum]

OK - we are officially up and running - replacement Mobo arrived today, set up in about 15 mins, switch on and............... its all working

I've run a few diagnostic tests using the ultimate boot cd and all appears fine

I'm in the process of installing Vista Home Premium 64 bit and am going to partition the drive as follows:

Ptn 1 12Gb for the windows swap file (see page 1 of this post)
Ptn 2 - 250 Gb for windows and program files
Ptn 3 - 334 Gb for storage

A couple of questions:

1. I have a 640gb hard drive, but the vista load up screen shows it as being 596.2 - where is the rest? - EDIT - I've sussed this out as per an earlier post - 640 gig drive formatted = around 596 gig storage
2. Anyone talk me through how to actually create the partitons ?

Help, as always, appreciated

Paul

[Ciber]

Glad to hear it's all working. The windows install should take you through partitioning your hard drives I think.

[amjedm]

OK - we are officially up and running - replacement Mobo arrived today...

Good to hear it's working

Did you pop down to City Link?

[PaulBrum]

I've got to the where do you want to install windows screen and clicked new (to add partitions) and its asked for size in Mb - do i just insert 12,000 mb <enter> 250,000 mb <enter> and 334,000mb <enter> - will this create my 3 partitions

Sorry to sound like such a numptie, but dont want to get this wrong and be meesing about later resizing partitions

Paul

EDIT - ignore - I've sorted this

[PaulBrum]

Good to hear it's working

Did you pop down to City Link?

Yes, they are open till 8pm - and thanks for the thermal paste - came in very handy

[PaulBrum]

Well - its been an interesting morning

Got the system up and running last night, loaded Vista 64 Home premium.....but the system was VERY unstable, kept freezing, restarting, BSOD, could only load in safe mode etc etc.

Did a bit of research, and came up with this :

http://www.rebelshavenforum.com/sis-...5;t=000365;p=2

Cutting a long (and tortuous) story short, I increased the Core VID to 1.35V which gives a CPU Vcore now of 1.328v.

to my delight, this has made the system stable (not one crash since I altered this).

The worrying thing is, I have absolutely no idea what I've done

Are the settings I have changed correct - how can I tell if they are optimal - I've loaded the overclocking software that came with the Mobo and can easliy change it now should the settings need altering !!!

Seems really strange that these settings would need altering - I wonder is a BIOS update would have automatically changed the settings?

Advice appreciated.

Paul