First time i5 2500k build!

[Corky20]

All parts have been ordered and will be arriving over Christmas. Is my first build so excited to get all the parts and start building even though it'll probably take a couple of days. Here's the list of parts:

• Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 Midi Case
• MSI Z68A-GD65-G3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard
• MSI GTX 560 Ti 1024MB DDR5 TWIN FROZR II OC Edition Graphics Card
• Intel Sandybridge i5-2500K Unlocked Core i5 Quad-Core Processor
• Corsair DDR3 XMS3 8GB Desktop Memory
• Sony 24x Internal DVDRWRAM SATA Black Lightscribe
• Crucial Solid State Drive2 64GB M4 Solid State Drive
• Enermax ETS-T40-TB CPU
• XFX Pro 850W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply

Will be using a 1TB external HDD until the prices come down. Once i get more funds will be purchasing a larger SSD too along with a Tricool fan for the side of the case.

I have a Viewsonic 21" Full HD monitor and will be using my 50" LG HDTV to stream content. Will also be purchasing a Razer Black Widow Ultimate Gaming Keyboard, Razer Deathadder Mouse, Razer Carcharias headset and Boogie Bug XL.

 

[Corky20]

The case arrived today!

 

[Corky20]

looks gd cant wait to see more pics

Cheers. I was just looking at your build, very nice case. Think I might also order the Antec CPU Liquid Cooler at some point too, looks really nice. Would like to customise it with some blue tubes!!

Will follow this with interest seeing as I'm in a similar boat (not done any building for years and there's new stuff that's caught me off guard!)

I just got another delivery just now, had a quick look inside and all the parts are starting to look a bit overwhelming i'm sure i'll get stuck plenty of times when building, will see how it goes!!

Motherboard, Power Supply and CPU cooler just arrived:

 

[Corky20]

Same PSU as me! They look awesome. Wish I'd gone fully modular now though..

Yea after seeing exactly how many wires come from the PSU I kind of wish i'd gone modular, ah well!

Got another delivery today!!

Was not expecting the GPU until after Christmas but it showed up, now only waiting on the processor which will be here tomorrow!

 

[Corky20]

Whilst i'm waiting on the processor, got the Power Suppy, optical drive and SSD installed. Took a while to figure out where the SSD went, thought there was a mount but it just goes on the bottom of the case. Also removed the bottom HDD rack as it's not needed for now.

No cables connected or tidying done yet, so many cables!!!

 

[Corky20]

You should be able to tuck away the PCI-E cables that you don't need somewhere around the edge of the case I'd think. The only problem with the braiding is that it makes some of the cables a bit difficult to twist around or bend to how you want them to be.

The other annoying thing is no single plug long SATA power cables but seeing as it's modular, I'm sure it'd be possible to get some from somewhere.

Don't worry about the snake pit of cables at the moment, you'll manage to get it nice and tidy in the end!

Just got my system up earlier after a few schoolboy errors, good luck with yours!

Cheers!! The cable tidying is definately going to be a headache, hopefully it works out OK as I go along, we'll see!!

Processor should arrive tomorrow, so is gonna be a long day!!

 

[Corky20]

Great... don't forget your anti-static precautions (ie: grounding yourself while working on any components!)

Yes will have to remember that. If it hadn't been for reading some guides here i'd probably not have known about grounding myself!

Btw, was checking out your build. Turned out really well, great job with the cable tidying... if I can get mine looking that good i'll be happy!

 

[Corky20]

In my old Antec 902 I removed the top cage for more cooling for the GPU and just had the bottom one for HDD‘s, might be something to think about

Also maybe i should upload some photos of my PC

That's actually good idea to remove the top one instead, never considered it!

Processor arrived in the post just now!

Gonna start putting it together now and see how things go!!

 

[Corky20]

Awesome - if you're anything like I am, you'll be scared ****less yet very excited at the prospect. Go go go!

Haha, yea exactly. Scared to death of screwing it all up but is exciting... is a bit like Lego for adults!!

Got the motherboard installed with the headsink and RAM. Had to add 3 new MB standoffs to the case!

Unfortunately just realised the heatsink is too big to allow a fan to be mounted on the side of the case!!

Will be ordering a new one sometime, maybe the Antec liquid cooler!

 

[Corky20]

You could check out the NH-C14 as its around the same price point. Just got it myself and its really nice

Cheers, will check it out!

Another problem, the damn 8 pin PSU cable is too short to run around the back of the case, won't reach!!!

Gonna have to order an extension cable!

 

[Corky20]

Think i'm ready to try booting up for the first time!!

Pretty nervous lol!

 

[Corky20]

Good luck!

Booted up first time, everything working!!

Need a DVI lead though. HDMI will do for now but display resolution isn't full screen. I've a side fan on the way too and really annoyed the it won't fit with the heat sink in the way... might have to buy another one and sell the current one. Also need the 8 pin extension cable!

Have still a bit of cable tidying to do but here's a picture:

 

[Corky20]

Superb!

This is the setup I want!

Cheers!

If you do go for a similar set-up I ran into a few problems...

• The 8 pin power cable not reaching the Motherboard from behind it, so need an extension cable.
• Not being able to mount a side fan at the moment with the heat sink in the way.
• Would have liked a SSD mount included in the case rather than having to put in on the bottom.

Other than that all connects up quite handy!!

 

[Corky20]

Excellent!

I found that the 8 pin lead on that PSU for my case was OK, but not long enough to make tidy via cable management.

Is there a hole in your case near the connector for it? Otherwise have you considered using a dremel to create a hole or hole(s) to make it reach OK behind the backplate?

It's such a great feeling when it works! Well done mate!

Get some Blu-Tack Glu Dots to mount your SSD in one of the normal bays if it has the removable mounting things. Otherwise think about mounting it on the backplate with them?

Cheers, definately a relief that it's working lol... very happy!!

I think I might buy one of those mounting brackets for the SSD, aren't too expensive!!

I'm working on the Overclocking at the moment. In the BIOS it shows Motherboard Temp at around 25 degrees and CPU temp at 70 degrees!

Download Real Temp though and here's what it shows...

Do I believe the BIOS or Real Temp?? Is that OK?

 

[Corky20]

i like your mobo, cpu and psu - the case, not so much

anyway, my bios always reports numbers about 10 degrees higher than what it tells me in windows, so i dont believe it

Haha, the case has been a bit of a headache to be honest!!

I've checked with SpeedFan, HWMonitor and RealTemp... they're all showing around the same so will just ignore the Bios!

 

[Corky20]

Case is on now and dropped a couple degrees:

Disappointed the side fan won't fit which I was set on... going to replace CPU cooler with one which will allow the side fan to fit!

Other than that just need the extension cable to finish the cable tidying!!

 

[Corky20]

You've found the holy grail - even temperature across all cores!

What TIM application method did you use?

Haha... i'm so tired after building the PC all day I didn't even realise that!!

I used this video which showed how to apply the Thermal Compound (skip to 17:45)

Just put the same amount on and spread it with a food bag. Didn't use the stock Thermal Compound, used this one: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=AC-000-AC

 

[Corky20]

Who would have knew 64GB SSD would disappear so quickly! lol

So... will also be ordering a new 128GB SSD tomorrow. I'll also be ordering a new heat sink that isn't as tall, so I can fit the side fan on.

The heat sink and SSD will be heading for eBay then!

EDIT: Just ordered a 128GB SSD and Noctua NH-C14!

The new heat sink will allow for the side fan!!

Will update will pictures when the heatsink arrives and is a much better cooler so will update temps!

 

[Corky20]

Ouch! Yeah I'm currently just running my SSD and an external USB2 drive.

I'm thinking that I don't want a mechanical drive now seeing as the system is so quiet (apart from the optical drive which is a bit noisy for my liking). I might just get another 256GB for apps etc and continue to use an external for documents and stuff.

Yea my optical drive runs really noisy too. I'll have to see how quickly I go through the SSD before I decide whether to get another SSD or HDD... would like to stick with SSD too but they're really expensive.

When i installed this i found it a lot easier if you removed the top fan first. Look forward to seeing this in place

Cheers, my case isn't the biggest so might have to remove the MB to install it properly... we'll see!!

 

[Corky20]

So the Noctua NH-C14 arrived today!

Just got it installed... what a difference. Can barely hear it over the stock fans, is really quiet. Plus it knocked another 5+ degrees of the temperature whilst idle and all fans on low, fantastic CPU cooler.

Temperature when Idle and fans on low

Temperature when Idle and fans on high