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Building first rig, need idiot-proof guide

Y

yellowperil

Diamond Member
All the system-building guides I've looked at online are a bit dated. Anyone know of any that will guide me build step-by-step without improvising? Here's what I'll be using:

EPoX EP-8K7A
Athlon T-bird 1GHz 266FSB OEM
Enlight 7237/300W case/PS

Installing the mobo looks pretty straightforward, but I had some questions about the CPU/heatsink/thermal compound. Here are my questions:

1. How do I install the CPU?
2. Do I install the CPU before or after installing the mobo?
3. How do I install the heatsink/fan? What is a good HS/fan choice?
4. What thermal compound should I use, if any? (not planning to OC, yet)
5. How do I apply the compound? Is there a pad I need to take off?
6. Does the EPoX board have jumper settings I need to set before turning it on? Does it come with a comprehensive manual? (EPoX site doesn't have one up)

If there is a guide out there detailing these questions I'd appreciate it. The rest of the stuff I've installed in the past, but this is the first time putting everything together myself. Thx
 
why hasn't anyone replied ur post??
well I'll try.. since i just witnessed the putting together of a new Tbird 1.2 ghz. asus a7v133 etc etc..

1. install the cpu on the mobo BEFORE puttin it in your case.
2. Use a little amount of thermal paste on the cpu '
3. Carefully install the HSF. a globalwin with a delta black label fan was used. the fan was removed first enabling us to fit the heatsink on with the help of a flat head screwdriver. then the fan was installed.
4. install mobo in case

can't really help u with the EPox stuff tho!

hope this helps!

 
Thanks for that description. I saw a set of instructions here from Arctic Silver's site that I'll probably use too. I'm not too sure about the HSF. Are most of them clip-on, or do you have to glue them on?

I think when I get the gear I'll post pictures, and ask you guys then.
 
along with the instructions on ath arctic silver website, you can look here at amd's processor/hsf installation instructions (pdf file, since you are using arctic silver and removing any thermal pad, ignore those references). as far as the mobo settings, the epox manual that the mobo should come with has sufficient detailed instructions for setting up the mobo. the only thing you really need to do is move the fsb jumper from the default 100mhz fsb setting to the 133mhz fsb setting.
 
Sweet! Just the link I was looking for ledzepp. Thank you.

BTW, if I take the pads off, does that void the warranty on the T-bird? Does the Arctic Silver II require the pads be removed from the CPU?
 
If you're putting thermal compound on your HSF then you need to remove the existing thermal pad. Otherwise it's useless. The idea is the thermal compound does a better job of transferring heat from your CPU to your HSF. If the pad is still there then the compound does no good. 🙂

I dunno about voiding the warranty tho.
Rob
 
WAIT, STOP, WHOA......, i should have been more clear, yellowperil. when i referred to the "pad" i didn't mean the 4 little pads on the corners of the cpu. leave those on, they keep the heatsink from crushing the core or tilting to the side when mounted. the pad i was referring to is the soft, pink pad on the bottom of the heatsink. it is thermal interface material that can be used instead of thermal grease, but not together with it. since you are going to use arctic silver (which is good stuff), you should remove the pad on the bottom of the heatsink.
 
OK, thanks for clarifying that. How do I take the pad off the heatsink?

BTW, is the Thermaltake Volcano II sufficient for the 1GHz, even for a mild OC?
 
I removed the thermal pad from my taisol this morning. I carefully peeled as much of the pad off as I could at one shot, removed the remaining large pieces with a large pencil eraser and then used acetone to remove all of the left over sticky residue.

I then used some isopropyl alcohol to clean the bottom of the HS.

This was the first time I did this and it went smoothly. Everything I read made a *big* deal about not gouging the surface of the heatsink, and since mine is copper-bottomed I was extra careful.

The real trick with a first install is to GO SLOW. The first time I installed a HSF on a Socket A athlon I think I picked up a few grey hairs.

Have fun, but watch out....once you build one, you want to endlessly fiddle. Kind of like potato chips.

regards,

fraz
 
Scrape the pad with a screw driver,

The epox mboard does not have any jumpers. It is the best board in existance at the moment so you made a really good choice but epox are renound for poor manuals, i should know I own 3 8kta3 boards.
 
munka doesn't seem to have experience with the 8K7A. There ARE MANY jumper settings. You need to reset the FSB to 133Mhz if you're running a 266Mhz TBird. You can also reset the voltage and memory configurations through jumpers. The multiplier is set using this switch-type jumper on the board.
 
What jumper settings would I need for the above system? Do I need to change the multiplier and voltage settings if I'm not OC'ing yet? Thx
 
The voltage settings are on default (read:safe), and the multiplier settings are set on auto detect as default. The only thing you'll have to change is the FSB setting to 133. The manual is VERY clear on how to reset the jumpers for the desired settings...
 
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