Any safety issues in partially assembling a system..?

[Pott]

I'm still lacking my graphics card, but all those cardboard boxes are making my appartment a hazardous place... :'(

Is it ok for me to install + mobo + processor + PSU into the case, without test firing anything for now..?

I've already installed the optical + hard drives.

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

Do you have on-board graphics on the mobo? On the CPU? An old graphics card laying around somewhere? If so, fire it up with one of those and check things out. There isn't a safety issue, no, but you don't want to let them sit too long so that you know whether or not you need to RMA something.

 

[MJinZ]

I'm still lacking my graphics card, but all those cardboard boxes are making my appartment a hazardous place... :'(

Is it ok for me to install + mobo + processor + PSU into the case, without test firing anything for now..?

I've already installed the optical + hard drives.

Yes, the Graphics card is the last to get plugged into any aircooled build anyway.

 

[Pott]

Alright. And no I don't have any built in graphics or spare graphics card unfortunately. Hence why I would not test fire the rig.

 

[fffblackmage]

It's not like the rig will self-implode or anything if you wanted to test fire the rig without a graphics card... you simply won't get any video....

 

[Pott]

Which is going to be annoying to me; it's my first build and as such I wouldn't know when I could turn shut it down or I couldn't double check the bios...

 

[RebateMonger]

With no video card, in POST the system will beep several times and refuse to go further.

Beep codes for various BIOSes:
http://www.agathering.net/computer/troubleshooting/troubleshooting_bios.html

 

[Pott]

Ah so I guess it is all safe for me to assemble what I do have:

RAM, mobo, processor, PSU, DVD burner, HDD and fan cooling.

Thanks

 

[Pott]

Early process: nothing connected yet.

All connected (I still need the graphics card).

I have most of my longer cables tied to the hard drive bay with plastic cable ties.

It'll be fairly easy to fit in the GPU later.

If I turn on the PSU without turning on the computer I'll be able to see at least whether the fans work correctly without turning on the PC/going to the BIOS, is that right?

 

[CurseTheSky]

If I turn on the PSU without turning on the computer I'll be able to see at least whether the fans work correctly without turning on the PC/going to the BIOS, is that right?

The fans may spin momentarily, but they should immediately shut back off. Just flicking on the PSU isn't really a good test.

There should be no harm in turning the actual system on - you should just get a BIOS post code (combination of long and short beeps) for no video detected. If you get a BIOS post code for missing memory or CPU, on the other hand, then you have a real problem.

On the other hand, CLEAN UP THOSE WIRES!

 

[Pott]

Aaaye we'll see what I can do... The problem is that they're all tucked in right now. A lot of wires are right in that annoying length range where they're slightly too long to be tidy, and too short to be tucked in!

Once I get the bios code though how would I know when I can safely turn the PC off again? This is not something I want to risk... :/

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Aaaye we'll see what I can do... The problem is that they're all tucked in right now. A lot of wires are right in that annoying length range where they're slightly too long to be tidy, and too short to be tucked in!

Once I get the bios code though how would I know when I can safely turn the PC off again? This is not something I want to risk... :/

You have nothing installed on the HDD. It is safe to turn the PC off at any time. I do want to mention however, that if there is ANY problem with the build, by installing everything because you've got itchy fingers, you have just made trouble shooting any problem much more difficult.

 

[Pott]

Very true...

Therefore I just test fired it.

It lives! All spins up nicely, nothing blew up, optical drive opens just fine, CPU + 2 case fans work well. It seems everything is a'ok based on the mobo manual too.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Sounds good. Congrats on your build!

 

[Blain]

Sure it's safe :sneaky:

 

[Pott]

Hehehe...

Anyway... I was er... smart (... lucky) enough to chose a motherboard with a self-troubleshooting function via LEDs. So I booted up and the RAM LED was lit. I used the MEMOK! function to see if it would boot under other configurations but to no dice. I just re-installed the RAM and now the only two lit up LEDs are the main power one and the VGA one (obvious, since I have no graphics card).

Looks like it's all good here.

 

[jadinolf]

Sure it's safe :sneaky:

 

[Pott]

Well I cleaned up a few more wires. The wire hiding place doesn't look too pretty...! But it's clearer in front of the mobo now. The three wires I could not hide are the mobo power x 2 and the audio connector.

 

[Davidh373]

I dunno if a graphics card is on it's way in shipping or whatnot, but if you can't afford a huge one you can always get one for cheaps just to test

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814500165

$27 with free shipping. You can then at least install Windows 7 and test that everything is working, so that if something isn't you can send it on back.

 

[Pott]

Aye I could do that... except this is Europe and 'cheap' graphics cards here aren't THAT cheap and are very bad I should get my GTX460 either tomorrow or Tuesday, and W7 Tuesday or Wednesday...

ONE thing I'm worried about:

My W7 is OEM, which means that once I install it, I'm stuck with it.
I didn't plan on getting another bigger graphics card once I outdate this one, but to SLI it. However my motherboard doesn't allow SLI (but it does crossfire...).

Which means that if I ever want SLI or a core i7 (doubtful mind you...) I would require another mobo + W7... but given the price of W7 OEM it's not THAT bad I guess.

One of many lessons learnt for my first build.

 

[mfenn]

If your Windows 7 OEM ever fails to activate, it will give you a phone number to call MS. Just tell them that you changed the mobo, and they will give you a code to activate with.

 

[Pott]

Thanks! I thougth the point of OEMs was that you were also limited to one motherboard... we'll see if I ever change it The P7P55D series seems perfect for what I want out of a mobo for now though.