My first rig project :D

So far so good....

External test build seemed ok.

A few questions I've noted, pointers/ answers for any appreciated

*The silver motherboard panel, on the back of the case, is loose. I've got the standoffs (*9) in their place and tightened in (using the standoffs and the small 'B' bolts supplied with the case, I'm assuming no washers are required to protect from static here).

*Which sockets to use for 2 4GB 1600Ghz? I've got one in each blue socket of the separate channels.

*In terms of plugging components into the mobo - is it safe to plug things in if the sockets look correct... do I want to be checking each connection and reffering to the mobo manual??

So many cables....
 
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*The silver motherboard panel, on the back of the case, is loose. I've got the standoffs (*9) in their place and tightened in (using the standoffs and the small 'B' bolts supplied with the case, I'm assuming no washers are required to protect from static here).

They can be a bit tough to put on, although I don't bother with them personally. The standoffs are fine, no washers required.

*Which sockets to use for 2 4GB 1600Ghz? I've got one in each blue socket of the separate channels.

Both in blue or both in black, each colour denotes a channel.

*In terms of plugging components into the mobo - is it safe to plug things in if the sockets look correct... do I want to be checking each connection and reffering to the mobo manual??

So many cables....

Everything will be labled on the motherboard. Power/reset headers for example need to be the right way around or they won't work. USB2.0 will have a single pin blocked so they cant be put in the wrong way and so on.

I find the best way to keep everything tidy is to fit the PSU then pass every cable through the back of the case. Then only pass through what is required, in your case that should only be the 24pin, 8 pin and possibly some more 8/6 pins depending on which GPU you will be using.

That way all the cables you don't need will be out of the way and you can then cable tie them all somewhere behind the motherboard tray.
 
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My hard drive isn't being detected. SATA and power cables connected. I read online that maybe my mobo is 'IDE' mode and I might need to switch it to RAID, but I can't see hopw I can get into BIOS. System just starts up, brief message flashes up and then it says 'Reboot and select proper boot device or Insert Media.....press a key'

One thing; I've got one cable that runs from the front of the case that has a couple of headers on it, that isn't plugged into the mobo. One read 'HD Audio' and the other 'AC'97', I can't see where to put them.

Also the temp. readout / HD LED on the front panel isn't lit up.

I think I've screwed up some cabling here. Any help?
 
Ive just learned those headers from the front are nothing to so with it. The HD is making noise when power is switched on
 
Ah got that one sorted now thanks to OC help, again.

I would be uploading picks but every time I use flickr something called 'Ruddl' or something like that crashes and then won't play ball. Nvm, Im taking pics as I go and Ill upload when I've got the system going 100%
 
Im now posting from my new system :)

Physical building was straight forward pretty much, although this part did take roughly 7 hours (with a few tea breaks)

Now I'm using windows 7 ) OS, I've run into plenty of niggly things that seem to be taking so much time to sort out....

@Raikiri I registered at that host, but it says error when I try to upload my pics :)

The temp readout and fan controller arn't working yet.... I think I didn't plug a couple of thins into the PSU...

Drivers too,... bit of a chore... I think with a few rum and cokes tho I can work a bit more into the night...
 
After blowing up my PSU and replacing it (+ surge protector) I've finally got my system up and running again. Even though the extra £95 hurt a whole lot, I do feel like the universe is smiling upon me again :O)


Flickr/connection is playing silly bugggers so still can't upload anymore pics yet....


A few questoions I've got.... I'm trying to figure these oput myself, but input is much appreciated..



* There's a very, very slim chance that I slipped a USB header into a firewire one, while the power was unplugged.
In the unlikely event this did happen, what 'damage' might I do the mobo?

* How can I get a reliable CPU temperature reading? I've got the temp. probe inside, do I just have to stick it so its touching a certain part?

*Where do I get started with overclocking?

* I'm trying to update my BIOS. The surest way is to get direct from the manufacturers site, right? I've downloaded and unzipped a ROM file for it, now what do I do with that??
 
After blowing up my PSU and replacing it (+ surge protector) I've finally got my system up and running again. Even though the extra £95 hurt a whole lot, I do feel like the universe is smiling upon me again :O)

Flip your PSU around, it will interfere less with the GPU cooler and will make cable management easier.

Flickr/connection is playing silly bugggers so still can't upload anymore pics yet....

Use Imgur then ;)

A few questoions I've got.... I'm trying to figure these oput myself, but input is much appreciated..

* There's a very, very slim chance that I slipped a USB header into a firewire one, while the power was unplugged.
In the unlikely event this did happen, what 'damage' might I do the mobo?

It's unlikely you did this, as IIRC they use a different number of pins. However, if you did it hopefully woulnd't have hurt anything.

* How can I get a reliable CPU temperature reading? I've got the temp. probe inside, do I just have to stick it so its touching a certain part?

Just use core temp, don't worry about seperate hardware probes.

*Where do I get started with overclocking?

The BIOS ;) Assuming you're using the standard 2500k/Z68 then set the multi to 44x, cpu voltage to 1.3-1.35v and you should be fine.

* I'm trying to update my BIOS. The surest way is to get direct from the manufacturers site, right? I've downloaded and unzipped a ROM file for it, now what do I do with that??

There will often be software to update the BIOS directly from Windows, generally these are pretty decent now and by far the easiest way to do it.
 
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