Learning Lurker...

MikeTAD

MikeTAD

MikeTAD

Associate
Joined
2 Apr 2008
Posts
301
I've been lurking around these forums for ages...just a noob trying to learn a thing or two.
I recently bought a 24" monitor after reading the advice in the monitor forum...turned out to be an excellent buy too.
My problem is the complexity of the different requirements when one is trying to put together a new rig...especially as I cannot afford to buy at the 'bleeding edge'.
Being brand spanking new to overclocking does not help either :D
I know what case, PSU and CPU I want. I have a question in the mobo forum about the best mobo to go with the graphics card I've chosen...
What I now need is some general guidance on pitfalls to avoid...i.e any experience that you may have had, that with hindsight, could have been avoided...
Cheers,
Michael
 
Above all, take your time with everything. Take your time with your purchases; research everything thoroughly. And take your time with the build and make sure you get it right. My first build, I was so excited I cross-threaded one of the motherboard screws and had to use pliers to get it out, and didn't plug in the motherboard power properly so it was crashing all over the place.
 
Ah yes...as my dad used to tell me, 'Don't force it son, use a bigger hammer'

And for 'tightening' or torquing...never 4 white knuckles...two white knuckles is enough...

Cheers,

Michael
 
Before fitting mobo attach memory on mobo along with chip heatsink n fan, maybe not a good idea if you have a monster heatsink(tuniq tower for example)and a small case Dont forget thermal paste.Ensure you dont leave or drop any screws that end up under the mobo.Check all connectors all are seated nicley,double check the front panel connectors are all correct take your time and you be good to go.
It really is plug n play compaired to the old days

Nowadays you dont need to do a
config.sys
autoexec.bat
command.com
 
build the pc (mobo, cpu, ram etc) outside of the case, normally on top of the mobo box will be ok, so if something isnt right then it saves a lot of time and hassle, only build inside case once its all happily singing away :)
 
D.M said:
build the pc (mobo, cpu, ram etc) outside of the case, normally on top of the mobo box will be ok, so if something isnt right then it saves a lot of time and hassle, only build inside case once its all happily singing away :)
Click to expand...

Doubt he knows how to power it up without using the power switch?

Anyway... where the powerswitch wire from the case connects to the motherboard, short those 2 pins with a screwdriver :)

To switch it off I just use the switch at the PSU.
 
make sure to ground yourself before you touch ANY computer component that has chips and stuff on (basically everything) you can do this by touching a radiator for a few seconds and dont wear a wolly jumper while working too.
 
As stated above take your time. Keep your cables tidy as possible, even behind the mobo where possible, never uderestimate how much having an uncluttered case helps air-flow and cooling. Oh and most important of all have fun:)
 
Ooo somethign else, consider a flat surface for building... (i know seems pretty odvious but last rebuild was done in bed and it took me half an hour to get the push pins back in for the heatsink, as they are possibly the worst idea iv ever come across...)
 
All good advice...thank you.
I have a 'basic' toolkit that I think should cover everything...any thoughts on pc related tools that you would not be without?
 
I have a screwdriver with a slightly magnetic top, saved me any hours hunting for screws iv dropped...

You might find tweezers and a small watch screw driver useful for getting case related bits attached to your motherboard (power led n so on) especially if you have big hands (or the led bits dont quite match up to your board)

Final odvious(ish) one is a powerful lamp... (try building in the dark and you'll learn why)
 
MiNxYyY said:
also an anti-static armband is good.
Click to expand...

A little sense and a hand on the case is better ;)

Don't pick RAM up by the edge connector, just in case.
And in a house, particularly an old one, you better be VERY sure of your Earth spike,if it's knackered, and something else throws a fault while you're all plugged up, you may just find that you, and/or your new baby, become the easy path to Earth.
Chip labs,where you do need a wrist band, have impeccable electrical safety standards, a victorian pile of bricks that still has round pinned bakelite plugs in some rooms, probably doesn't :D


My two penn'th
From painful personal experiece.......make sure you don't drop the built board into your case, and then find that you can't plug up the CPU power (or rear panel earth, or LCD poster, or whatever), beacause of an office block sized, razor sharp cooler.
And do not build when you are knackered, because there will always be something that will go "unexpectedly",and if you're awake and on the ball it's "oh, interesting, I'll have to try it this way now....." but if you're dog tired after an evil day at work or whatever, it will be "WTF is your &^^$$^*ing )*&$$&& problem you ^£***"%ing total and ""(($_ing complete James (&&%ing blunt!!!!"....followed by a test of the aerodynamic properties of $COMPONENT....usually with an impact resistance test at the end of it.

HAVE A BOOT DISC OTHER THAN WINDOWS TO HAND. I cannot stress this enough, something like an Acronis, or Ghost or some other windows app's startup disc will do, but Ideally, you want to download Knoppix or and Ubuntu or Gentoo LiveCD. Although you may never wish to use Linux,these are a fabulous "control".....if you cannot get windows to work right on the new build.....you do not know if it's a bad setup/component or good ole "Redmond fever"....if a boot disc runs OK, it's not your hardware. The Linux liveCD of any flavour is an exceptional tool in this respect, as it will detect hardware and install drivers for it on every boot, and has real, useful applications on it that you can run either to access the web or just to verify that it doesn't boot and then fill it's undies as soon as you put 30% load on it. Their only limitation is that they will not in general be able to use your GPU, owing to drivers not being licensed for this type of distribution.
Likewise if planning to install Linux, keep an MS bootable install disc around as a control.


And a final note from someone who has killed one £300 board, and NEARLY done the same with a £200 one.....be very VERY careful of those LGA pins.
 
I knew I was right to have concerns...this build info is invaluable.

Oh, I do have one favourite tool...a small 'mechanical fingers'...I have a friend who also swears by (rather than at) his 'extra long' slightly magnetised, phillips screwdriver.
 
hehe i think i have the same screw driver ^^:D

I second the boot disc idea! (just occured to me that iv beend doing that one for years too...)
 
Don't forget the P4 connector or the 8 pin one now for your CPU power. Also don't forget the PCi-e power connector (either a 6pin, two 6 pins, or a 6pin and an 8pin for your graphics card, systems normally won't boot or will make angry beeps if you forget it). Build up your mobo outside the case (bar the graphics card) and then plug it in to see if it boots up (fans spin up etc). Then put in your PSU (I find this way easier) and push the cables out the way and put in your mobo. Plug everything up, put in your HDD(s) and your graphics card sound card etc. Once everything is working and cables are tidy install Windows. I've had two builds so far, both had their little problems/things you forget but both went well. Try not to worry too much about fluffing it or breaking something and enjoy it, as you can worry about fluffing it or breaking something when you have.
 
I now have a decent size 'work area' set up in my garage...tools will be to hand...no vinyl or carpet on the floor here i.e no static generated by walking...good lighting...comfortable seat...now just have to find lots of patience...:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom