Its build day! Finally. First time builder. i5 2500k, OC but quiet Fractal build.

[David_VI]

First time builder advice and questions!. i5 2500k, Fractal build.

I'm a newbie to scratch building, only ever upgrading individual components so this is exciting and scary.

ITS HERE anyway.

i5 2500k
Gigabyte P67A UD4 b3
Coolermaster silent pro 850w modular
Ripsaw 2x4Gb ddr3
Antec Kuhler
Fractal Define XL
Samsung DVDRW drive

Plus from previous PC
GTX460 OC edition
3 SATA HDD's
(pos) 8800 gtx for physx
=====

Heres my old PC (messy) during harvesting of GTX and other parts.

Heres the table with some space made for build..

Oh and knock knock (DPD man, use the doorbell, luckly I was watching via window ) Here it all is!

Err think i'm going to need a bit more room!!!!!

Thus begins the thread...
I'll be consulting this forum, using the build guide thread as my main advice.

Thanks to OCUK members who have helped me choose the parts for this build, I would dedicate my virgin building to you all but you know who you are.. thanks guys! Now bring on the other help now it comes to building it!

 

[David_VI]

Oh and my worst fears.. Case arrives broken, the whole front of the case is hanging off, plastic broken!

What now.. Phone OCUK I guess!




Whata bummer. Only day I was available to take delivery of it really and waited since Thurs last week.. doh'

 

[David_VI]

Ah that's bad luck David!

Incredibly. Sent an RMA via webnote, now waiting.. Anyone know how long this takes?
I've practically wasted £22quid on before midday delivery as i'm not free any other times and now its useless..

 

[David_VI]

Yeah, I could cry but I have a hint of hope.. Still awaiting reply to my RMA request... damn why can't it just be done over the phone! Waiting is the worst thing.

 

[David_VI]

Another broken Fractal case, keeps putting me off buying one.

Seen this mentioned a good few times now about their packaging not being good enough.

Did it come with any polystyrene supports around the case?

Two, one each end, but they are cardboard shells with bits of polystyrene where the case sits in them. If that makes sense.

The overall box before opening had some deep scuffs on it, so I suppose that could be connected with the damage, if it were knocked or kicked..

 

[David_VI]

How annoying, takes all the excitement away.

Does everything else look ok?

Haven't opened the other box yet, the case was a bit of a buzz kill. But I decided to open it shortly just incase anything else is noticebly damaged also.. Howeever the other box which is obviously an OCUK one looks packaged well compared to the Fractal's.

David

 

[David_VI]

thats a bitch! when that happens! What makes it worse that its a bank hoilday weekend again so u r looking at next wed for a replacement!.

Just noticed you live in colchester, Me too. if you need a help in the biuld just let me know or if i can help out on what has happen just let me know.

I better not have to wait till next wednesday, oh man.
This is my first OCUK order so don't know how the RMA works..

Cheers for the offer, but right now the help I need is a magic Fractal replacement case! I should be okay with the build but if it goes badly wrong..

 

[David_VI]

Amazing support at OCUK means I could get a new case by today, by paying for it and have the broken one collected, then refunded!

Case arrived, this ones FINE, horrah. Already been 'building' for 1hr 30 and all i've done is move around some fans, install the optical drive and PSU and remove one of the HDD cages so I can draw more air in through the front..

My one noticable issue with the case so far is the included fan controller which can fit into a vertical slot on the back, however the knob doesn't stick out of the back of the case and seems very impractical to turn with your fingers as they won't fit! Maybe its not intended to go into that slot, but it was the idea I got by looking at pics and reviews..

As its havok here i'll have to add the photos later

 

[David_VI]

I have the Fractal Design R3 and the knob sticks out the back as you'd expect it to, it just takes a card slot.

The XL comes with an extra slot that I assumed was ideal for the fan controller (see two first pics on this page http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/11/19/fractal-design-define-xl-review/1), however I guess it wasn't made for that unless i've installed it wrong!

 

[David_VI]

Thread needs more pics!

Okay. As i'm having a rest and i'm stumped at a few things..

Start!

Optical drive installed, plus 15 minutes of fan fiddling.

Mmm fans done!

I'm now stumped about if the PSU having its fan down drawing cool air from floor is a good idea.. considering i'm putting my HDDs in the lower chamber and I have moved a Fractal fan to the lower fan space to draw air across the HDDS. Seems okay as i've removed the divider and theres a small vent above the PSU..

See here!

I'm new to this so questions everywhere!

 

[David_VI]

Very nice, and yes, keep that PSU fan side down assumimg that case has some kind of "feet" on it so it can actually draw air from under it. If it doesn't then maybe it would be best the other way round.

Nice choice of PSU by the way

Thankyou and yes it has feet plus a vent!

I've been following the build guide in the Hardware forum and i've just installed the ram and CPU (phew).. Now for the cooler..

Should I install the cooler without the MB in the case or does this vary? I wonder because the kuhler is hefty and then will need to be attached to the chasis.

 

[David_VI]

Regarding your PSU, as Davola says it will be fine. Did your case have a dust filter for the PSU?

Yup! All good

Screwing MB into case now, figured i'll do cooler after as I haev a backplate which opens so I can attach the cooler

 

[David_VI]

If you have good access to the backplate then i guess you should be ok fitting mobo first.

I spent a very long time confused by the Kuhler.. even some videos made me confused further...

It uses adhesive pads on the backplate, but apparently (if i've read correctly) you don't have to glue the backplate onto the back of the Mobo you can have them just glued onto the backplate.. correct me if wrong.

Anyhow for now, the backplate and the part that holds the cooler are in place.. albeit loosely.

If anyone has any tips on how to tighten it and apply the cooler i'd be greatful.. I've read stories of people overtightening and breaking the plastic parts.. eek.

Also how do I do the push pull configuration? Theres only 4 long screws with the Kuhler and I can't figure how to attach two fans at once.

 

[David_VI]

Never used trust so have no idea what to do.. Do I just click trust under my posts or yours or what?

Also I should be fine, but ill keep updated!

 

[David_VI]

Just click on ur trust and fill in your details, job done.

Click on my trust and send me a msg with ur mob number and then I can reply to it so you've got my number just in case.

Well u know where I am if u need me.

Cheers, ill possibly do that later, my phone is unable to be found at present and the PC is waiting haha.

Edit: Fitted Kuhler, seemed easy, hope it was correct!

Cheers
David

 

[David_VI]

so i take it the old rig is up for sale? in need of one -.-

Sorry to say most of the parts are being re-used as we have a few PC's around here.. Well my GF has one.

In Build news, its pretty much done and seems to boot! Theres no beeps but plugging into a monitor shows the bios and it trying to boot into windows but bootmgr missing as my drives not ready..

Slightly confused why two right angled and two normal sata cables are included with the mobo, i'll have to order some straight ones!

David

 

[David_VI]

ahh itsokay lol found a q9450, 2gb ddr2 & ASUS P5N-D for £140, good deal?

I've no idea, not an expert but 140 doesn't seem much.

Looks good so far

God it was stressy, the managing of cables, I feel I did a bad job. Many times trying to get the case sides on and failing.

It looks good but looks rather funny in its place as its such a massive case.
Also its extremely quiet so far.. but ruined by the 8800gts which I intended to use for phyx if worth it, but with that noise i've been put off.

 

[David_VI]

Does anyone have any tips on cable management? I've found it difficult with the SATA cables, worried about bending them all over the place considering the harddrives are below the Mobo. Also as one is right angled its a bit of a mess.

I would order more cables that would make it easier but can't figure what kind of cables the ones supplied are. All I know is they are black and have a latch.

Ill upload some pics of the near final build so I can get some feedback and tips.


David

 

[David_VI]

Okay here are some photos from yesterday

I/O shield, sticks out a bit!

The most confusing part of the build.. the Kuhlers bracket..

Sortof finished, attempt at cable management, however behind the motherboard its a mess and I got very stressed trying to sort that out. Can see my attempt at push/pull although the fans are different so not sure if that will be too much of an issue..
The Kuhler is plugged into the CPU cooler header on the Mobo and the red Xilence fan is plugged into system fan 1.

The other fans.. the two Fractal fans and the Fractal ontop of the case are attached to the included fan controller which is under the 8800.


Should have got shots of behind the mobo..
Any tips?

 

[David_VI]

Okie Dokie here are some new pics.
I don't believe how addictive this is, I unplugged everything then redid it all trying hard to manage the cables. I didnt want to waste cable ties as I only have 4 left after wasting some the previous day..so used those plastic things that you get an abundance of.. I believe its okay to use these?

BEFORE:

And after the wedding:

Those Sata power leads are a pain, with so much excess between drives!

Size becomes apparent

Does anyone know what setting I should use for the CPU Fan considering the Kuhler is plugged into it? I'm sure I read somewhere it needs full power as its not just a fan and it controls the fans itself, but I couldn't find this information again..

Cheers for your help!