Newbies guide to setting up first build?

H

Hoof

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Messages
161
Holy crap I feel like an idiot, I spent $2500 on new computer parts and now I dont even know what to do with them! I managed to install the psu in the case. The mobo is hanging by one screw because the wholes on the mobo and case are just slightly unaligned. I managed to install the processor fairly easily but I literally spent about 4 hours trying to install the Zalman CNPS9500 to my a8n32 before I said screw and and just used the stock heatsiknk. I managed to install the vid card correctly ( i think) the sound card also is in the right place I think. Now im in the proccess of trying to mount the freaking cd-rom/floppy drive/ and hard drive. None of the cables are connected and I have no clue where anything goes. This is my first build and im totally lost. Can anyone help? Here are my parts:

-Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card
-BFG Tech BFGR78256GTXCOD2 Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
-OCZ PowerStream OCZ520ADJSLI ATX, BTX, SATA, P4 and EPS12V 520W Power Supply
-AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor
-OCZ Gold Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 500 (PC 4000)
-ALPS Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive
-ZALMAN CNPS9500 LED 92mm 2 Ball Blue LED Light Cooling Fan/Heatsink
-Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM
-NEC Black IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner
-Lian Li PC-7077B Black Aluminum Server Computer Case

Someone please help! I feel like just saying the hell with this and just get a dell or something :(
 
"Someone please help! I feel like just saying the hell with this and just get a dell or something "

Its like talking someone out of contemplating suicide...
 
Any friends near that can help? Worst case, take it someplace that will assemble it for you. I believe that you can find a shop that will.

 
Johnnyscans said:
do not force something to go into a slot
do not forget to install standoffs on the motherboard
make sure you ground yourself
and follow that guide
Click to expand...
The forcing part, I've found at least, isn't always true. I usually have to push down pretty hard on RAM to get them into their DIMMS sometimes. Also, pulling those 4-pin molexes out of optical drives can be really tough sometimes.

As for grounding, just plug the PSU into the wall, turn off and tie a copper wire from your arm to the PSU (an ESD band would do the same thing).

BTW, that article is awsome ;) (I finally understand how SATA drivers work!)
 
$2500 worth of parts is not what you should be learning on... but best of luck...
 
Whew, damn, $2500 is an expensive learning rig. Just take it slow, don't get frustrated, follow instructions, be carefull, and triple check everything.

One problem I can almost certainly see occuring here is a heatsink issue. Almost everyone does it wrong the first time. Just be careful with what you're doing, and take note that most things can only be connected one way, such as IDE cables will only fit in one socket type, and only one direction.

Best advice, read up on some build FAQs, and take your time. Rushing will result in some horrid problems if you aren't careful.
 
yes, yes, yes!!!

be careful! very, very careful!

you shouldn't need to rush it, when you rush because you cant wait because you got so many freakin good parts...thats when those freakin good parts stop working...

- make sure the motherboard is seated correctly before anything else
- you will need to use force on the heatsink...I know force on PCB...not good...(but thats the way they make them...)
- make sure to keep all your cabling neat and out of the way of airflow and you working
- don't install the drives until you have the actual computer set up...(mobo, ram, cpu)
- take it one step at a time...be careful, you are dealing with some heavy hardware there
- KEEP YOURSELF GROUNDED!
- uhhhhh been awake all night but these guys can help you more than I can...
- good luck and have fun! don't get angry, just take a break and when you come back to it you might have a solution.

my first build took me about three hours but that was without any special heatsink ( I added one later though) Ive taken apart mine about a dozen times including:

-new heatsink
-reseating of processor
-new video card
-cleaning
-reseating of NB heatsink and fan (ABIT!!!)
-new mobo (dang blasted abit NB fan!!!)
-new modem(dang blaster customer wants a modem NOW! can't wait 3 days!!!)
-cleaning
-reseating of processor


with each build it gets easier...
when building for customers be extra careful about cabling looking good(especially if it has a side window...or if its acrylic)

thats about all I have...good luck again!
 
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