Hints/Tips on build process.....

Rafkoo

Rafkoo

Rafkoo

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Joined
17 May 2011
Posts
91
Gents

I’m going to be doing my first build in 8 years this afternoon….. wish me luck!
This is the kit I will be assembling:

Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor
Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard
Coolermaster Elite 330 Case With Coolermaster eXtreme Power 500W PSU
Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 32MB Cache
HITACHI COOLSPIN HDS5C3020ALA632 2TB Internal 3.5 SATA Hard Drive -
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
Sony Optiarc AD-5260S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black)
Microsoft Windows 7

Also:

1) I have an optical drive and 2x HDD. Should the HDDs be plugged into in SATA 0 (OS drive) and SATA 1 sockets on the mobo and the optical drive in SATA 2?

2) When Installing windows - how many partitions should I create – a separate OS partition + swap partition as well? Any other recommendations for the partitions – or how you guys do you partitions (data, madia, docs etc…)

3) First time I’ll be playing with Windows 7 as well – any tips on settings/preferences after first install?

Any other things I should consider or look out for that would be useful?

Cheers
Raf :)
 
Cheers for the input gents - much appreciated.

Doing the PSU cables now - have a 20+4 main cable which is the norm I take it.

I have a 24 pin socket on the mobo - and the 20pin has slotted in there ok. :)

Now - does the 4pin plug (that is cable-tied to the 20pin plug) then go into the ATX_12V socket..... or into the spare 4pins next to the main 20?

I seem to have another 2 plugs that are the same as the 4pin config. so I have 3 4pin plugs in total - (one tied with the 20pin plug) and 2 others tied together. The 4pin tied to the 20pin plug has 24 (or 2.4) stamped on it. The other 2 - one is blank and one has "P2" stamped on it.....

It's a coolermaster extreme 500W PSU

Cheers!
Raf
 
OK, thanks, the first bit is clear - 20+4 = 24.

However, I only have a further 4pin socket on the motherboard labled 12v_ATX (as you say - for the CPU. No 8pin sockets and no reference to them in the mobo manual..... (?)
 
Hmmm... am I right in thinking that I shouldn't connect the 4 next to the 20 - as in the manual it says that these 4 extra sockets (part of the 24 socket) are there only if you have 2x12 pin ATX.

That 4pin one (part of the 20) doens't want to go in there anyway - it has a couple of "burrs" at the top which prevent it sliding in next to the 20 pin plug....
 
Nice one - thank you (everyone!)! 24pin in now (together fits perfectly).

I'll plug one of the 4 pin in to the 12v_ATX and I think we're nearly there!

Quick other questions - the F/Audio pins from the front of the case - I have 2 one labled HD Audio and the other AC '97. Mobo says it can take either.....? Any preference - I'm guessing HD Audio so that the front panel can have that also....?
 
Yeh, thanks guys - thought as much, just the manual is confusing (or confusing me).

Right - all connected up.... gonna have a break before I fire her up.....

Any last minute tips before I push on....!?
 
Few pics I took on the phone.....

It started like this..... (I'd put the CPU and cooler and ram on the mobo the other day)


photo1.jpg




And now we're here:

photo4.jpg




photo2.jpg




photo3.jpg


Cheers everyone for the help!
 
Cheers!, I try to keep it as tidy as possible... ;)

No GPU needed as I'll use the Z68 and 2500K capability for the IGPU - at least for now.
 
So.... Installed win 7 on a 200GB partition... All good... But now how do I get windows to see the other 2TB drive and the remainder of the 1Tb drive.... They're showing in device manager.... But not under computer...? Sorry for the noob question....

Haven't yet messed about with the bios.
 
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