livendive 8 #1 November 11, 2009 OK, I've never attended a LAN party, or a Renaissance Faire, or a Star Trek convention, but as of tomorrow I should have all the parts to put together my first home-built computer. After combo discounts and rebates, it cost me $863. Any of you gaming/computer geeks want to reassure me that I did good? Or tell me the best place to find step-by-step instructions for assembly so I don't forget anything? Thermaltake Element S VK60001N2Z Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible ... - Retail GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM I'm pretty stoked about the prospect, but also a little nervous. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #2 November 11, 2009 I built my own computer 5 years ago, and it's still running so I assume I did good. This summer I opted for a HP computer all set up, just plug up and play. It was a pain in the ass putting the old one together."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 3 #3 November 11, 2009 Start with the big things, put the power supply and motherboard in first, those are the first to go in, or it gets to be a PITA. (it might help to put the processor and memory on the board first) Make sure that when you put the motherboard on the chassis, you remove any of the extra stand offs (if they are brass ones) Ive seen quite a few motherboards fried because of that reason. Most of the connections go one way, and one way only... dont force the memory, there is a notch in the bottom that must line up with the notch in the connector... trust me, they dont work the other way, even if you manage to ram that thing in. Sata and power are pretty self explanitory. PCI and AGP cards all are pretty easy to plug in, it shouldnt take more than a few pounds of pressure to get it in, if it does, stop, reseat the connection and try again. Make sure your connections are tight and try it out. One tricky part, MAKE SURE YOU RTFM, the power button, power led, hdd led and reset buttons are sometimes tricky to figure out, DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. Power it up and try to install windows, Vista and 7 take for fucking ever to install... dont freak out if it takes a while to do something, just leave it be. If you want more help, pm me and Ill send you my phone number."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #4 November 11, 2009 The CPU should come with some sort of thermal compound, right? Some sites seem to be suggesting an anti-static bracelet and/or pad when playing with the CPU...is that necessary? Thanks! Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #5 November 11, 2009 I can't help you at all with the assembly but i can direct you to Phreezone and Kris, they are always geeking out over doing this exact thing. Oh, and i heard it helps if you have on your teva's and black socks while doing the assembly Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 3 #6 November 11, 2009 Most of the time the heatsync comes with the thermal compound already on it. Technically, yes, you're suppossed to have the ESD bracelet on, but I havnt used one in a decade. What we usually do is touch the chassis before doing anything, just keep skin on chassis contact while you're doing everything in the box. You get used to it. Also using the anti-cling drier sheets with your laundry helps control the static."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #7 November 11, 2009 Static strap. Yes. There is thermal grease with the proc/heatsink, but it sucks. I recommend arctic silver. Never burned up on me yet. Every Tower I have owned I have built from scratch. I think I am due for a new one, as I have not had a working tower for a while. Have fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #8 November 11, 2009 Quote Oh, and i heard it helps if you have on your teva's and black socks while doing the assembly I figured that was obvious and had already planned on it. Every little bit helps! Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #9 November 11, 2009 QuoteStatic strap. Yes. There is thermal grease with the proc/heatsink, but it sucks. I recommend arctic silver. Never burned up on me yet. Every Tower I have owned I have built from scratch. I think I am due for a new one, as I have not had a working tower for a while. Have fun! Presumably arctic silver and a static strap should be available at a local Radio Shack? Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 24 #10 November 11, 2009 Quote Quote Oh, and i heard it helps if you have on your teva's and black socks while doing the assembly I figured that was obvious and had already planned on it. Every little bit helps! Blues, Dave Dont forget the rest of the proper geek attire.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #11 November 11, 2009 Quote Quote Quote Oh, and i heard it helps if you have on your teva's and black socks while doing the assembly I figured that was obvious and had already planned on it. Every little bit helps! Blues, Dave Dont forget the rest of the proper geek attire. Actually, Muttley bought me this one a couple years ago. Bonus points for it being a little tight. Many other funny tshirts here. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #12 November 11, 2009 Quote Quote Quote Oh, and i heard it helps if you have on your teva's and black socks while doing the assembly I figured that was obvious and had already planned on it. Every little bit helps! Blues, Dave Dont forget the rest of the proper geek attire. You trying to get that guy Hurt?? Dave, DO NOT wear that shirt while trying to build a computer!! The power of a 3wolf moon shirt over women (especially Redheads) has been well documented. You WILL get jumped while trying to assemble the mobo and let me tell you... That arctic Paste makes for lousy Lube. Be safe, Just stick with Tevas and Socks and you will be safe during the assembly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MakeItHappen 15 #13 November 11, 2009 http://www.mysuperpc.com/ I had to buy Artic Silver separately. Download latest drivers for everything first and have them available on a thumb drive and CD, just in case one doesn't work at first. I also installed components one at a time. Troubleshooting is much easier. ie get the system to boot, then add the CD/DVD. Get that to work then install OS on HD. Get that to work then add cards one at a time. Be careful about CMOS updates because you can fry the MB if you do it wrong. If you are making a multi-boot system, you always have to start with the oldest and work up to the newest OS. If you are making *nix plus Windoze - go read the web sites on that. Lots of info on setting up the partitions correctly. Knoppix is a good trouble shooting/ recovery CD that will work no matter what OS combo you have. Document all CMOS settings as you change them. See crucial.com for memory. They've always had the lowest prices when I was adding memory. .. Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #14 November 11, 2009 And one more piece of advice... Know what the anti-static strap is for. http://www.xkcd.com/649/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 3 #15 November 11, 2009 QuoteQuoteStatic strap. Yes. There is thermal grease with the proc/heatsink, but it sucks. I recommend arctic silver. Never burned up on me yet. Every Tower I have owned I have built from scratch. I think I am due for a new one, as I have not had a working tower for a while. Have fun! Presumably arctic silver and a static strap should be available at a local Radio Shack? Blues, Dave http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=artic%20silver&origkw=artic%20silver&sr=1 Make sure you scrape all the compound off the heatsync with something thats not going to scratch it up, make sure you apply enough compound to cover the contact area of the processor. Good point about downloading all the drivers and putting them on a drive, however, you have everything new, should come with the drivers that WILL work with that hardware, not MAY work. Static strap is kind of like an RSL, some people swear by them, some have them but dont use them, some just dont have them. Oddly enough, it seems that its the newbies who get and use them, I have NEVER seen a tech with more than a few years in actually use one. They may have it, but dont use it. If you're feeling bored, get a 1M Ohm resistor, some wire and an alligator clip and make your own."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #16 November 11, 2009 Quote Document all CMOS settings as you change them. This is the part that unnerves me the most. I started playing with computers in the late 70's and used to be able to comfortably navigate system settings. Nowadays though, let's just say that I'm hoping I don't break anything while awkwardly trying to learn and simultaneously tweak the BIOS and CMOS set-up. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 3 #17 November 11, 2009 Thats where the RTFM comes in handy. Most motherboards ship with the BIOS reset jumper in the clear position, you have to put it in the normal position before you can use it."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #18 November 11, 2009 Man I don't know jack shit about software and have build 3 computers already, its not that bad. I didn't look at your components, but read up on the MOBO and see what ram they like. They usually specify a certain type, and its not a bad idea to use it. Read your MOBO manual as well, about how to hook it up to the power supply. You gotta put some plugs onto a mess of pins, this was the hardest part of the build for me, and it is easy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #19 November 11, 2009 Thanks Its simple to build one. I've got a few systems around here not even in cases, it just takes stacking things creatively on a desk and then you've got a computer. If you are running 64 bit winds don't half ass it and only put 2 gigs ram in it, put at least 4 and more like 6+ gigs in there to actually take advantage of the 64 bit core. Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #20 November 11, 2009 Quote Thanks Its simple to build one. I've got a few systems around here not even in cases, it just takes stacking things creatively on a desk and then you've got a computer. If you are running 64 bit winds don't half ass it and only put 2 gigs ram in it, put at least 4 and more like 6+ gigs in there to actually take advantage of the 64 bit core. In the OP I listed 4 gigs of DDR3 1333 (latency=7). I figure that should be a nice step up from the 2 gigs of DDR2 I'm currently running. Are you giving me an excuse to double that? [/angelic][/sly] Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #21 November 11, 2009 I'm looking at building a 64bit system and starting it at 8 gigs ram and probally running 16 gigs in it after a bit. I'm also looking at running multiple Terrabyte drives in it too since I have flled these 500 gig drives up already.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #22 November 12, 2009 QuoteI'm looking at building a 64bit system and starting it at 8 gigs ram and probally running 16 gigs in it after a bit. I'm also looking at running multiple Terrabyte drives in it too since I have flled these 500 gig drives up already. I was looking at one with a TB Raid 0 SSD array........ /DROOL/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonRose 0 #23 November 12, 2009 Out of curiosity Are you building a comp for a fun project or are you trying to save $$$. You can buy something already put together and upgrade to suit your needs for around the same price and save yourself the headache. If your doing it just to geek out then NERD PRIDE my brother!! Rosie Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #24 November 12, 2009 Quote I'm also looking at running multiple Terrabyte drives in it too since I have flled these 500 gig drives up already. Daaamn... that's a lot of video."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,390 #25 November 12, 2009 Quote [parts list deleted] You just built that machine to cruise the Internet and pick up chicks, didn't you?"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
