Now What.....

[Teamsreth]

It's amazing really. I have spent the last few months looking at components, convincing the other half and waiting with baited breath for the parts to arrive.

Now they have arrived, and......Bugger, now I actually need to put them together. The wife has been told, by me, that it's really easy, and providing nothing is DOA, trouble free. Unfortunately, it seems its very easy to be confident when you don't actually have to do anything.

I now have on the table :

Cooler master 690
Corsair HX450
i5 750
MSI P55-GD65
GSkill 4GB 7-8-7-7
ATI 4670 (To be upgraded)
Various Optical Drives
Win 7 Home Premium

I also have several blank HDDs, but they are all 160GB random ones. Haven't check on the specs properly. But they are probably the same sort of spec as standard in a prebuilt system. (I.E rubbish)

Now for the first question. Would I notice the difference between using one of those drives as the OS drive, and say, an F3 500GB.

Secondly, anyone have a 5850 for sale for approx £8.50? No? Oh well. As the 4670 is from my old/current machine, it will need to go back, and besides, its possibly a bit under-powered. I have looked around at variour reviews, and the 5850 seems to be the best bet, although a little bit pricey.
Looking for any other suggestions, really.

I also will be getting a decent cooler soon, but want to make sure I have the smallest amount of stuff to break with my hamfisted ineptitude. There seems to be a lack of decent, reasonbly priced coolers. Waiting for the version 2 of the titan fenrir with the 1156 bracket.

Erm, sorry, I seem to have rambled on for quite a while. Might be to delay the build...... Bit nervous now.

Any advise for a first timer?

Cheers

[Phage]

Advice from another first time builder....
Don't force it.
If it feels wrong it probably is.
Don't panic. Have a cup of tea, think about it.
It's easier than it looks.

Have fun, we're here if you need anything.

[Domestic_Ginger]

Read the instructions until you're confident especially on the CPU as that can be the most stressful bit.

Everything only goes in one way round!

[TAKTAK]

Remove mobo from box, place in box, lift CPU bracket, remove pin protector

Remove CPU from box, insert in cpu socket the correct way around (2 dimples offset on the edges)

Lower CPU bracket, replace lever

Apply thermal paste (may be applied to cooler already), mount cooler, plug in fan to CPU fan header

Press both tabs on the DIMM slot, insert memory module (rinse and repeat)

Insert Mobo into case, (ensuring that you have installed the IO shield)

Screw the mobo down

Insert PSU

Plug in 4pin CPU power connecton

Plug in 24pin CPU power connection

Mount HDD/ODD/Other front goodies

Connect sata/molex power cables from PSU to them

Connect sata/ide cables between mobo and components

Connect front USB to the appropriate headers (near the OC Genie button for the GD65)

Connect power/reset switch

Connect power/hdd LED

Connect case fans to system fan headers/molex

Insert PCI cards

Plug in additional power to GFX card if not bus powered

Plug into mains

Press the button

Watch it explode


Everything is keyed so that you can't install it the wrong way around or in the wrong place, (remember to keep grounding yourself).

If you can handle a screwdriver without stabbing yourself in the eye, you can build a computer...

(how long till someone chirps up that i have missed something? )

[sadbuttrue]

Now for the first question. Would I notice the difference between using one of those drives as the OS drive, and say, an F3 500GB.

Your old drives would be in the region of 40-60mb/s. Any of the main modern HDs have speeds of 100-130mb/s. It'll be worth the small cost of a 500GB drive to save the hassle of reinstalling Windows at a later date.

[Teamsreth]

Press the button

Watch it explode


If you can handle a screwdriver without stabbing yourself in the eye, you can build a computer...

Exactly what worries me.

[Pob255]

Pritty much as TAXTAX said, if you're using the stock cooler then thermal paste is already on there so that makes it slightly eaiser.

Some points to pick up on.
As TAKTAK said mount the cpu cooler outside of the case, instructions will normally say put the motherboard in first, don't.
Putting a cooler on inside the case can be tricky as you're far more limited for space, plus a cooler actually make a great handle for lowering the motherboard in.

On the cm 690, have you got tow additional fans for the top?
I ask because space at the top can get a bit tight when you put fans up there.
Fit the fans before the motherboard if you're using top fans.
Also if the 4pin/8pin can be a bit tricky some times, esp if you have a large cooler and top fans. (I just double checked the eps connector on my gd65, it's not right at the edge so should be fine. )

You've got quick connectors so HDD led and power switch and such are simplier to do.

Don't be afraid to unplug all your wires and re-route them to get it neat

For low cost but good graphics cards
ati 4850 or nvidia gts250 £70-80
ati 4870 £90-100

[Vimeous]

You'll be fine.

Little things I've learn over the years:

• Before fully securing your motherboard to the case test-fit your GPU to ensure the whole shebang lines up to the case correctly. If you plan to use the lower sockets test fit top and bottom to confirm the alignment. More important on cheaper cases where quality control may not be perfect.
• The motherboard power connectors are not connected correctly until the retaining clips are properly in place.
• 4-pin Molex connectors are evil - when removing them they may seem to require alot of force - instead wiggle carefully and make sure there's nothing sharp nearby. When they come out they like to draw blood from knuckles.
• SATA connectors without additional retaining clips don't like to be messed about. If your boot device is missing in the BIOS check the SATA data cables first - you've probably stared at them too hard and they've popped off at the motherboard.
• Mount the front devices before you do any cabling unless your planned cable routing prevents it. Once you start adding cables it can get very messy. At least CM 690 avoids the age old issue of internally mounted HDD's fighting power/IDE and SATA cables.
• Think about HDD cooling. Don't put all your HDDs next to each other unless unavoidable and make sure there's at least some airflow. Data is the most important thing in a PC - you'll understand that if you've ever lost any - so treat the data storage with care.
• DO NOT connect your USB headers to the motherboard incorrectly. All modern cases should have proper plugs to prevent this.

MOST IMPORTANT

Do not reattached the side of the case for the first boot-up. If to you do there's a 9/10 chance there'll be a problem and you'll be opening it again!


Other than that it's fun and rewarding.
If I had the cash I'd build a new machine every week

Enjoy!

[Pob255]

4-pin Molex connectors are evil - when removing them they may seem to require alot of force - instead wiggle carefully and make sure there's nothing sharp nearby. When they come out they like to draw blood from knuckles.

You've not used the pinch release type yet?
They make life much eaiser (well good ones do)

[Teamsreth]

Well, just spent the last 2 hours putting it all together. Very nerve wracking.

Put it together outside of the case, and the cpu temp hit 32 and stabilised. Seemed okay to me. Now all in the case - except for the optical drive, and the HDD which will be here tomorrow. Temps hit 33c in the BIOS after 10mins and a nice cup of tea.

Oh, and I now have a great bug slice on one of my fingers, fromt he soddng back panel plate. I had already got the Mobo screwed in, and realised it was misssing. Tried to fit it without removing the board. Big mistake.

Once the HDD comes, I will attempt to tidy up the cabling.

Cheers for all the tips, didn't seem too hard.

Last question for a while tho, my monitor is 1680x1050, would the 4890 be worth the extra over a 4870? Or would it be better for a 4870 now, and then a 58** when funds allow? (First Baby due in 7 days.)

[arthurleung]

Well, just spent the last 2 hours putting it all together. Very nerve wracking.

Put it together outside of the case, and the cpu temp hit 32 and stabilised. Seemed okay to me. Now all in the case - except for the optical drive, and the HDD which will be here tomorrow. Temps hit 33c in the BIOS after 10mins and a nice cup of tea.

Oh, and I now have a great bug slice on one of my fingers, fromt he soddng back panel plate. I had already got the Mobo screwed in, and realised it was misssing. Tried to fit it without removing the board. Big mistake.

Once the HDD comes, I will attempt to tidy up the cabling.

Cheers for all the tips, didn't seem too hard.

Last question for a while tho, my monitor is 1680x1050, would the 4890 be worth the extra over a 4870? Or would it be better for a 4870 now, and then a 58** when funds allow? (First Baby due in 7 days.)

If you're only using 1680x1050 a HD4830 should be sufficient, and just overclock the hell out of it if it doesn't.

I timed myself once building a Q6600/HD4850 rig and it took me 32 minutes from opening the boxes to BIOS. My naked X4 620 built only take me 5 minutes from unboxing to BIOS just because it is not in a case It is extremely tidy because everything is integrated and cool enough not needing any fan.

[Pob255]

Insert Mobo into case, (ensuring that you have installed the IO shield)

Although at least you've now paid the blood sacrifice to the dark gods of pc building.

The dark gods they demand BLOOD!

[format]

It's true, it can't really be your own build unless you've put your own blood into it.

[kalniel]

Everything is keyed so that you can't install it the wrong way around or in the wrong place,

HAHAHAHAH! You reckon?

(my first build failed to boot because I'd inverted the supposedly keyed floppy connector, I've seen problems with other builds purely because they got the case power button connectors the wrong way around etc. - these aren't keyed, and just rely on tiny +/- symbols etc. and completely non-standardised notation.)

[peterb]

HAHAHAHAH! You reckon?

(my first build failed to boot because I'd inverted the supposedly keyed floppy connector, I've seen problems with other builds purely because they got the case power button connectors the wrong way around etc. - these aren't keyed, and just rely on tiny +/- symbols etc. and completely non-standardised notation.)

Indeed (and I've mentioned this before) and I have seen a floppy connected installed but displaced one pin to the right - the cheap PSU then melted all the connecting wires! (the better replacement didn't - moral - don't skimp on the PSU - and double check the connections!)

[Random_guy]

HAHAHAHAH! You reckon?

(my first build failed to boot because I'd inverted the supposedly keyed floppy connector, I've seen problems with other builds purely because they got the case power button connectors the wrong way around etc. - these aren't keyed, and just rely on tiny +/- symbols etc. and completely non-standardised notation.)

Yep, just finished building an xmas present system for my family in a CoolerMaster Elite 330. The front panel connectors in that case for the most part don't have +/- symbols on them, only a letter G (which appears to have nothing to do with +/-, since both of the single pin Power + and Power - connectors had it on them) and a small triangle (which neither of the single pin Power connectors had!), so I was left with guessing and hoping for the best! Fortunately the computer booted fine and went to bios, but I haven't checked all of them for functionality yet (reset button etc).