Build order

[Nem2k]

ok I havent built a computer in a long long time and I want to be efficient at this.

in what order should i install the components? do i mount the motherboard in the case first? psu in the case? cpu and heatsink before optical drives? ram before hard drives?

what build order makes the most sense?

the things which have me concerned are...

- tuniq tower 120, its a big ol thing. will it prohibit access to certain parts of the case (antec p180) if i install it too early on?

- psu. the p180 has a bottom mounted psu and im not sure if that would affect anything

- p180. because of its dual chamber design, is there a more efficient order to installing the hard and optical drives?

 

[rpstewart]

Fit everything to the mobo outside the case - CPU, heatsink & RAM. The heatsink probably will require access from the back of the board.

Put the mobo in the case along with the PSU and wire that lot all up including case USB ports etc

Add a graphics card. You now have enough to do a quick check that it boots OK.

Now add the optical drive and the boot HDD(s).

I'd install the OS at this point, that way you know exactly which HDD it's all on and you don't run into problems with drive letters - for example if I have the USB cable to my Dell 2405 plugged in when I install windows it picks up the card readers as c: through f: and installs windows on g:

Power off and add in any extra disks, sound cards and other gubbins.

Boot and add drivers etc.