BEST PRACTICES -- Installing CPU Cooler

budgetGamer

Junior Member
Apr 27, 2006
6
0
0
Hi,

When installing the CPU cooling fan, should I install it on the mobo BEFORE putting it in the case, or AFTER?

TIA!

Also, feel free to comment on my budget gaming PC :) Here's the rig I will be building tonight, right after Survivor:

[*] Thermaltake SOPRANO VB1000BWS Black Steel/Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
[*] ECS C19-A SLI (1.0A) Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI XE ATX Intel Motherboard
[*] SAPPHIRE 100106SR-RD Radeon X850XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
[*] Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V ATX12V 550W Power Supply
[*] Intel Pentium D 940 Presler 800MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor
[*] CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Unbuffered
[*] Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
[*] Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

~Andrew
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Doesn't matter. If you can manage, put it on while the M/B is in there. If not then stick it on before (Unless you have to use mounting holes or replace the mounting mechanism)


Ok, about your system:
[*]First off that Tt case will be poor construction (Loud, Poor build quality). I would look at Antec or Coolermaster for a better case.
[*]The ECS is a good beginner board, but you might also want to look at Biostar, and Jetway who have a good track record thus far.
[*]The video card is an utter waste. The 7900GT or the X1800XT are hands down the best bang for you buck in the price bracket. Dont even both with the last generation at this point
[*]The power supply is good, but overkill. A solid 420 Watt should have no problem powering this system. I would definitely look at Seasonic, (Lower power) Antec, Enermax, OCZ, Forton.
[*]Why in the world would you even bother getting a P-D 940? Get an X2-3800+ or an Opteron 165. It is worth the extra money for what you get. In which case the price of the motherboard will be slightly cheaper.
[*]Good choice on the RAM, but once again should you choose to go AMD (I recommend it at this point) look at Corsair Value Select DDR-400. Most are pretty cheap now.
[*]2x HDD's are utterly unnecessary. Not to mention the 16MB cache and WD's are overpriced. Look at the Samsung Spinpoint drives. Also if noise isn't that big of a concern the Seagate 7200.9 (7200.10 are too new) are definitely the best out there. Dont bother getting 2x HDD's.

Not a bad build but i think it can be better.

-Kevin
 

budgetGamer

Junior Member
Apr 27, 2006
6
0
0
Thanks Gamingphreek!

I considered the AMD and went back and forth for a while (I have an obsessive mind). I finally settled on Intel because I want this to be upgradeable in the future, and AMD is goign to the new AM2 socket. This means, I think, that any mobo I get with a 939 socket will prohibit me from upgrading in the future. meanwhile, Intel will be using the LGA775 for a while with their dual processors, and I will be able to upgrade processors in the future.

Let me add that I am pretty new to all of this so maybe my conclusions are ill-advised. I also did not even know these forums existed until after I purchased everything. I still think I should get better 3dMark05 results than 5180 which is what I have now.

I will also keep in mind your comments about the other video cards. I am going to be building a gmaing PC for my wife and daughter in a couple of months, so maybe I will give them the 850, and buy me a new one :)

Comments? Feedback?
 

996GT2

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2005
5,212
0
76
About your build...I suggest you go AMD if you want to build NOW, and if you are patient then I suggest that you wait for intel's Conroe, coming in a few months.

Here are the parts I suggest for a budget build like yours:

AMD Athlon X2 3800+ or AMD Opteron 165 (AMD processors are MUCH better for gaming than Intel)
1GB Kingston HyperX or Patriot Low Latency (I think they both still have rebates) if not get ValueRAM from a good company like Corsair, OCZ, Kingston, etc. Btw the DFI board may not like Corsair RAM, so if you want that don't buy Corsair.
DFI Lanparty Ultra-D nForce4 or EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra (former may still accept the SLi mod, both are great at OCing and very stable)
1 large HDD, or 2 smaller HDDs if you want to run RAID-1. No need for 16mb cache as its performance isn't justified by cost
nVidia 7600GT for low cost (better than X850, cooler and uses less power too) Get eVGA if you can
nVidia 7900GT or ATi X1800XT if you have some more $$ to spare

Fortron AX4540PN Power Supply (compare its Amps on the +12V rail to the much more costly Antec)

EDIT...you said you are buying Intel for upgradeability. Wait if you want Conroe. Don't buy parts now, as your mobo's chipset is unlikely to support Conroe in the future, though they share the LGA775 socket.
 

budgetGamer

Junior Member
Apr 27, 2006
6
0
0
996GT2.

First, let me bow down before the Porsche owner. I am a mere BMW 330 owner (though I plan on upgrading to a M3 when my wife goes back to work).

Thank you for your advice. Now, I have already purchased these items, and will be building this tonight. So, I guess I am a bit stuck. And since you're telling me that the mobo's chipset is unlikely to support Conroe, going to Intel doesn't seem to make the most sense. But still, I should be able to build a rig faster than what I have now.

I went with dual hard drives so I can swap out one if the hard drive fails. Probably should have just done RAID. Oh well...

I have much to learn.

Thanks! And thanks for the comments on the other thread too.
 

RallyMaster

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 2004
5,581
0
0
lol, 996GT2 doesn't own a Porsche...I think he's a Toyota driver :p

stock cooling can be installed after you put the mobo into the case. some 3rd party coolers will require you to take out the mobo to install though.
 

imported_redlotus

Senior member
Mar 3, 2005
416
0
0
Originally posted by: budgetGamer
I went with dual hard drives so I can swap out one if the hard drive fails. Probably should have just done RAID. Oh well...

Don't beat yourself up on that decision. IMHO RAID is the bigger waste right now. If I was in your shoes, I'd be using a second, high-capacity for data storage too. I've used a seperate data drive for the last five or so years and never regretted the decision. In fact, I plan to add a data drive to my wife's 'puter soon, also:) It just makes life easier.

-red