• Notice regarding image hosts and attachments. See here.

First Build help

Associate
Joined
21 Sep 2018
Posts
153
Hey guys, I'm currently building my first PC from scratch. My case has two built-in fans but my mobo only has one "SYS_FAN1" connection which is has 4 pins. Should I connect the front or the back build-in fan to the mobo? Also, the connections only have 3 pins rather than the 4 on the mobo. (The built-in fans also have a connection to connect to the PSU).
 
What motherboard and case is it ? You want both connected as you need intake airflow and also exhaust to get rid of the hot air out the back.

You could buy a fan splitter to solve the issue. Connecting the fan directly to the psu via molex will mean it runs at full speed unless you have an 5v/7v etc adapter.
 
What motherboard and case is it ? You want both connected as you need intake airflow and also exhaust to get rid of the hot air out the back.

You could buy a fan splitter to solve the issue. Connecting the fan directly to the psu via molex will mean it runs at full speed unless you have an 5v/7v etc adapter.

Motherboard is Gigabyte B450M DS3H. Case is CiT F3. I can connect them both to the PSU, but there is only one slot on the mobo for a system fan.
 
Motherboard is Gigabyte B450M DS3H. Case is CiT F3. I can connect them both to the PSU, but there is only one slot on the mobo for a system fan.

Just had a quick look at the board layout. I would connect the rear fan to the fan header as it is located on the left side. The front one connect to the psu if it has a molex connector. It might be pretty loud though as it will more than likely run at full speed.
 
Just had a quick look at the board layout. I would connect the rear fan to the fan header as it is located on the left side. The front one connect to the psu if it has a molex connector. It might be pretty loud though as it will more than likely run at full speed.

Ok thanks. Should I also connect the back one to the PSU as well via the molex connector? (the PSU wire has multiple molex connectors)
 
Could I connect the back fan to both the fan header on the motherboard and the PSU via the molex connector? Or is this generally not recommended?

You don't need to connect to both. Only reason to use the molex is because you don't have enough fan headers. Normally you would connect all the fans to headers on the board. The molex option is just a different way of powering the fan but you don't have any control over the speed unless you have an adapter cable.

So connecting to a fan header powers the fan and gives you control over the speed (Via the bios or software). Connecting direct to the psu gives the fan power but you can't control the speed unless you use an adapter cable etc.
 
You don't need to connect to both. Only reason to use the molex is because you don't have enough fan headers. Normally you would connect all the fans to headers on the board. The molex option is just a different way of powering the fan but you don't have any control over the speed unless you have an adapter cable.

So connecting to a fan header powers the fan and gives you control over the speed (Via the bios or software). Connecting direct to the psu gives the fan power but you can't control the speed unless you use an adapter cable etc.

Brilliant, thank you. Now I have it set up, how do I set up an OS and all the software on it? On my laptop I only have Windows Vista and I can't get the USB download tool for Windows 10 using it apparently. Can I just use Linux OS for free? How do I actually get it onto the new PC?
 
Brilliant, thank you. Now I have it set up, how do I set up an OS and all the software on it? On my laptop I only have Windows Vista and I can't get the USB download tool for Windows 10 using it apparently. Can I just use Linux OS for free? How do I actually get it onto the new PC?

You can download windows 10 direct from microsoft using the media creation tool. You can use it for free until you buy a license.


https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
 
You can download windows 10 direct from microsoft using the media creation tool. You can use it for free until you buy a license.


https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

It won't let me use the media creation tool because I only have Vista on my laptop and it looks like you need to have version 7, 8.1 or 10 to be able to. This is the message I get, any suggestions?

You’ve been routed to this page because the operating system you’re using won’t support the Windows 10 media creation tool and we want to make sure that you can download Windows 10. To use the media creation tool, visit the Microsoft Software Download Windows 10 page from a Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device.
 
It won't let me use the media creation tool because I only have Vista on my laptop and it looks like you need to have version 7, 8.1 or 10 to be able to. This is the message I get, any suggestions?

You’ve been routed to this page because the operating system you’re using won’t support the Windows 10 media creation tool and we want to make sure that you can download Windows 10. To use the media creation tool, visit the Microsoft Software Download Windows 10 page from a Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device.

You should be able to download it to a usb stick ?
 
No, to download it to a USB you need to create a media creation tool but you can't create the tool without having at least Windows 7...
Use the spoof plugin for chrome to make it think you’re on ios or something, then go to same Microsoft download url and it will open a different page for iso link. I had to do the same recently as media creation tool wouldn’t work for me:(. Then burn iso to dvd, or use a program called rufus to burn to bootable usb.
 
Use the spoof plugin for chrome to make it think you’re on ios or something, then go to same Microsoft download url and it will open a different page for iso link. I had to do the same recently as media creation tool wouldn’t work for me:(. Then burn iso to dvd, or use a program called rufus to burn to bootable usb.

It still redirects me to the same page and says I need 7, 8.1 or 10. Arrgh, I thought the build would be the hardest part! :(
 
Ive managed to get Windows installed successfully. How doninknow which drivers I need to install now?

Also, in my BIOS, I see the following or memory:

Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) Disabled

System Memory Multiplier Auto 21.33

Memory Frequency (MHz) 2133MHz 2133MHz

When I change the XMP to "Profile1", the 21.33 changes to 30 and the first "2133MHz" changes to 3000MHz (the second one stays at 2133MHz).

I am using 2x4GB 3000MHz Corsair RAM. Should I stay on "Disabled" or change the XMP to Profile1? Or do something completely different?
 
Ive managed to get Windows installed successfully. How doninknow which drivers I need to install now?

Also, in my BIOS, I see the following or memory:

Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) Disabled

System Memory Multiplier Auto 21.33

Memory Frequency (MHz) 2133MHz 2133MHz

When I change the XMP to "Profile1", the 21.33 changes to 30 and the first "2133MHz" changes to 3000MHz (the second one stays at 2133MHz).

I am using 2x4GB 3000MHz Corsair RAM. Should I stay on "Disabled" or change the XMP to Profile1? Or do something completely different?


Just make sure that all Windows updates are done as that should sort the drivers out. You can open device manager to check that there are no yellow exclamation marks. Just expand all the categories to check.

Click on the start button and then select device manager.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4026149/windows-open-device-manager

If anything does need a driver you can always download it from Gigabyte website if motherboard related, or the manufacturer for the gpu.


As for the Ram you want to enable XMP and select profile 1. That should have it running at 3000MHz.
 
Just make sure that all Windows updates are done as that should sort the drivers out. You can open device manager to check that there are no yellow exclamation marks. Just expand all the categories to check.

Click on the start button and then select device manager.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4026149/windows-open-device-manager

If anything does need a driver you can always download it from Gigabyte website if motherboard related, or the manufacturer for the gpu.


As for the Ram you want to enable XMP and select profile 1. That should have it running at 3000MHz.

Will device manager alert me of necessary drivers for the motherboard and GPU as well, or just Windows related drivers?

My motherboard can only do 2933 MHz for RAM. If I do Profile1 (3000MHz) will that damage/harm/reduce performance?

Edit: my mobo and GPU came with discs. Should I use them or stick to websites as the websites are more likely to be the latest versions of each driver?
 
Last edited:
Will device manager alert me of necessary drivers for the motherboard and GPU as well, or just Windows related drivers?

My motherboard can only do 2933 MHz for RAM. If I do Profile1 (3000MHz) will that damage/harm/reduce performance?

Edit: my mobo and GPU came with discs. Should I use them or stick to websites as the websites are more likely to be the latest versions of each driver?

Anything that needs attention will have a yellow triangle next to it. Just expand all the categories in device manager and look for any.

The ram is fine at 2933MHz.

Don't use the discs as they are usually out of date. Go to the manufacturers website for up to date drivers if needed.
 
Back
Top Bottom