First Time Builder: Need tips

B

bassballboy

Gawd
Joined
Apr 25, 2007
Messages
526
I FINALLY finished getting all my parts, here’s what I ended up with:

Q6600 (OEM, hopefully G0)
Asus P5Q Pro
ATI 3850 (for HTPC use)
Xigmatek S1283
4GB OCZ Platinum Rev 2 (2.2V, hope this doesn’t create problems)
1 640GB WD, 1 500GB WD
P180B
Corsair VX550W
LG Blu-Ray / HD-DVD drive
Samsung DVD-RW


That’s the most of it. Now, as a rookie builder I’m rather naïve. I found a link to show how to apply thermal compound to the S1283 so we’ll see how that goes. I also have zip ties. What other stuff do I need to install everything? Any specific tips I should know?
 
Buy some kits for wire management, you know, those sleeves that organize wires into one bigger wire. Yeah, that junk helps air flow quite a bit.
 
You don't need those flex tubes or sleeves with the P180 case, IMO. Route all the PSU cables through the back, and only the cables you need. Tuck whatever cables you don't need either on top of the PSU (mount the PSU with the fan on the bottom) or "in front" (where an 80mm fan would normally be, but since no fan is there, you can bundle the cables and set them there).

Read the build guides linked in the GenHard FAQ sticky. I prefer mechBgon's build guide:
http://www.mechbgon.com/build/index.html

There's a thread for P180 cable management tips, but I don't have it handy. You can search for it, if you like.

Install the PSU into the case first, and plug it into the wall, but with the power switch in the OFF position. This will ground the case. Be sure to ground yourself before touching anything (just touch a bare metal part of the case).
 
just a quick tip, since this is a new system that you just put together, put together the motherboard, cpu, ram and video card outside of the case, you can put the motherboard on top of a ream of paper ( what i usually do) or some other non-conductive surface.

Power it on and make sure everything works properly before you spend teh time putting everything into the case. That way you dont spend hours putting a nice computer together and then find out that something doesnt work and you need to disassemble your computer agian.
 
Also, please pay attention to how much thermal grease you are putting on your CPU. A lot of first time builders get afraid of overheating and get a tad overzealous with the thermal grease. Too much of a good thing is DEFINITELY a bad thing in this case.
 
w@termelon said:
just a quick tip, since this is a new system that you just put together, put together the motherboard, cpu, ram and video card outside of the case, you can put the motherboard on top of a ream of paper ( what i usually do) or some other non-conductive surface.

Power it on and make sure everything works properly before you spend teh time putting everything into the case. That way you dont spend hours putting a nice computer together and then find out that something doesnt work and you need to disassemble your computer agian.
Click to expand...

I always just sit it on the mobo box :)
 
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