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Building New Computer

I went ahead and bought it. It comes with a $10 Newegg promotional card and a free game called Darksiders anyway so it's not a terrible deal at all. Also bought the 8GB G.Skill RAM while it was back in stock.

I still need a hard drive, Windows, and a video card (but the video card can wait until a good deal since I have onboard graphics for now)
 
Ok, back to the topic of TIM, how should it be applied? I've read some guides, but they seem outdated because they say putting the small amount in the center should take care of a single core which is also located around the center of a heat spreader on the CPU. How are the 6 cores arranged on the Phenom II? Near the corners or still in the center?

As for the TIM itself, I'm leaning more towards the MX-2.
 
It's coming together. Case, motherboard, and PSU arrived today. Processor, Hard Drive, RAM, thermal compound about to be shipped. Just need a video card and OS still. I still can't decide if I should still go with the upgrade disk method or just to buy the OEM off Newegg.

Also, is it possible to test the motherboard with the power supply, without the processor or anything else attached to it?
 
RoGuE1230 said:
It's coming together. Case, motherboard, and PSU arrived today. Processor, Hard Drive, RAM, thermal compound about to be shipped. Just need a video card and OS still. I still can't decide if I should still go with the upgrade disk method or just to buy the OEM off Newegg.

Also, is it possible to test the motherboard with the power supply, without the processor or anything else attached to it?
Click to expand...

I would just buy the OEM Disk

And NO
 
This is the version of Windows to buy, right?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Newegg gave me a gift card for running out of stock on an item on Black Friday after I purchased it so It's not too big of a price difference from the upgrade version. The upgrade sounds like too big of a hassle, and it come to virtually the same price if I opt for a real install disk.
 
Ordered! Just need a video card and I'm all set. :D

I was going to possibly get the MSI GTX 470 from Black Friday once it comes back in stock on 12/6. The Newegg OOS e-mail said I can re-order it at the same price ($193.xx), just I won't get the $35 rebate from then. So if there is a new rebate available when its back in stock, I may just get that.

My system total cost so far is $662.78.

After rebates it will come to $612.78.

That should leave me plenty of spending room for a video card.
 
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I just got a GTX 470 for an excellent price, thus concluding the parts hunt!

:D

I read through that thermal compound guide, it was really informative, but never seemed to give a definitive answer on what the best method of application was...

Also, anything else I should know as far as general tips when putting this together? Like, is it easier to install the HSF before or after the motherboard is put in the case?
 
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RoGuE1230 said:
I just got a GTX 470 for an excellent price, thus concluding the parts hunt!

:D

I read through that thermal compound guide, it was really informative, but never seemed to give a definitive answer on what the best method of application was...

Also, anything else I should know as far as general tips when putting this together? Like, is it easier to install the HSF before or after the motherboard is put in the case?
Click to expand...

I like the pea sized dot method for thermal paste application.. & as for the HSF.. It depends alot on the case & the HSF. For the most part on a standard case where the hole side panel comes off & then the Mobo goes straight in I install the HSF 1st. Sometimes makes it a little tricky for some of the mobo screws, But thats better then being tricky if you are having to apply much pressure to get the HSF mounted properly (especially on some of the AMx clips)
 
All done! I've finished building it, and everything seems to be working well. I haven't been able to connect to the internet through it yet unfortunately because of a Windows 7/driver wireless adapter issue. But thats for another thread.

As soon as I get everything set up and tested, I will be doing a mild overclock to 3.0 or 3.2 GHz.

Wire management still needs some more work, and I haven't added the graphics card until I fix the internet issue.

Pictures:

 
I took some temp readings after running wPrime. It only got my cores up to 66%, but what do you guys think about the cooling in the computer?

 
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