Noob Needs Some Advice

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Gawd
Joined
Mar 25, 2006
Messages
562
Hey guys, I've come for a lil help.

I'm putting together a rig and I was waiting for Intel price cuts to take affect. The egg has just now dropped the price on the CPU I wanted. So I pulled the trigger.

Now before Y'all go askin why not a Conroe, I'll be honest and come clean, I'm assembling a Dell XPS 600 that I bought cheap as a barebones package (case, mobo, psu, win XP & driver disk). The NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 MCP motherboard is not compatible with the core 2 duo cpu. (I checked and verified this in the dell forums)

Now I know alot of you wouldn't go that route, but I'm kind of excited here. This is my first gaming rig. And hey, after I get done if I'm not happy, well, I can always off it on eBay and chalk it up as experience.

OK, so here's where I need some help. I've put in memory, HDD's, video cards, etc. But I have never assembled a complete system and I have never installed a CPU into a motherboard. So I here's a few questions:

1. I read that Y'all use this thermal compound when putting the heatsink onto the CPU. But which one of THESE should I use?

2. I've looked around but can't seem to find any good documentation on how to install a CPU into a motherboard. This is the most critical and expensive part of the assembly process and I'll admit I'm a lil nervous. Can anyone offer some advice or post a link to some good websites that explain this delicate operation?

3. I'm not too sure about whether or not I should:
a.) first install the bare minimum components to load win xp, and then after everything is running properly, add the other parts such as 2nd HD and DVD burner.
b.) just hook up everything all at the same time and fire it up?

Yeah, I'm a n00b, but i think I can do this. And with a lil advice from some of you seasoned rig builders I'm sure it will go smoothly. Thanks guys
 
1)The AS5 should be fine. You could probably pick it up at a local electronics store and not have to pay shipping. Make sure you follow the instructions and don't put globs of AS5. I think for most HSF u just use a dab and then make contact with the HSF, and let the AS5 fill in thinly with the pressure and heat.

Are u getting an aftermarket HSF?

2) http://www.waterwheel.com/Guides/how_to/cpu/CPU.htm

3) You could install all your HDDs, optical drives (if you're using IDE cables make sure the jumpers are set to master for the master drive and slave for slave. (the way the jumpers should look should be in the manual for your drive).
 
Thank you for the excellent link to installing a CPU into a motherboard. Has nice clear pictures and easy to understand directions.

All the cables and case fans were included with the barebones package. Also, the original CPU HeatSink ( big copper thing with fins which looks huge) and the CPU fan that's made especially for the XPS 600 are all there and intact. So I'm planning on using those, although there is a HSF that is included with Intel retail-boxed Pentium D 950.

I didn't order any thermal compound yet. I, too, though the shipping for a little tube of it was kinda high (especially since all the PC components I bought all came with free shipping). And it's good to know I can install everything at the same time as long as I make sure jumpers are set correctly.

One other thing I was wondering is, Do I also need that cleaner stuff or can I just use like rubbing alcohol to clean the HS before attaching it to the CPU?
 
you shouldnt really need to clean the heatsink with anything if it hasnt been used. if you mess up during the first install and want to clean off the thermalpaste then I suggest getting some rubbing alcohol that has the highest amount of alcohol possible (some rubbing alcohol is only like 75%, try to get close to 100%). and let it dry for like an hour or so. you would have to try to mess anything up. I'm sure you will be able to do it fine.
 
Brilliant CPU and is even more brilliant after it has been overclocked. ;)
 
i got a small question of my own, do the Conroes come with their own thermal paste of any kind for the stock heatsink/fan?
 
Retail kits do include a paste preapplied. Its not the best but not the worst either... With the Core 2 getting so much attention for its low heat output you might be able to get away with just using the stock paste and a decent OC as well.
 
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