Doing my first build soon

[Simplicity]

Ok, I am building my first computer soon, and I am a little anxious to get this baby up and running.

The thing is, I have never done anything like this before so I have a few questions.

Is there anything I should know or anything I should keep in mind while building? I already know about staying grounded and stuff, but I still know there is probably some other things I could do wrong.

People told me that the instruction manual that comes with the MOBO really explains anything that I need to know, and that putting together a computer is like legos, pretty easy.

Anyways, thanks in advance, and if you want the specs just ask and I will post them up.

 

[Trashman]

hey, welcome to AT.
One of the more popular and helpful members around here, mechBgon, has a very handy guide that he made to help beginners, should help you get started...LINK.
Good Luck

 

[Simplicity]

Thanks a bunch, reading now

 

[jlee24219]

My biggest advice would be not to get frustrated. Ive built several and only a couple have went well and booted right up with no problems, but sometimes you will have problems. maybe a defective part, but dont get angry just slowly decifer the problems as they come and stay calm. This will eventually save you time and probably some money, most things can be fixed without having to rma something. Usually by bios updates and such. But hey yours may go well! Good Luck

 

[Simplicity]

Any other feedback

 

[ts3433]

Make sure you're plenty awake, so you don't end up putting the ATX12V cable in sideways and pondering why your computer won't start up for 8 hours.

 

[Simplicity]

Hahah werd.

Someone did something like that earlier (glad i was there to learn form it)

PSU had 20 pin power cord, MOBO had 24 pin receptor. He had it stationed in the middle so that there were two on each side... he had to have it so pin 1 was activated.

 

[raanemaan]

Make sure motherboard is attatched to the case using standoffs. There was a post earlier where they screwed it directly to the case. Not good on the motherboard usually.

 

[Simplicity]

I heard some guy had his mobo catch on fire like that

eek.

 

[Waylay00]

And never close the case door before you first boot it! This invokes Murphy's law and something is bound to go wrong.

 

[neuralfx]

I would only echo raanemaan, make sure the motherboard is not grounding out in any way, any metal touching the bottom of the board. This is the most common mistake by first time builders and even experienced ones who overlook something. The sympton associated with this is that all your fans and lights turn on but no POST beeps or anything. And have fun! =)
-neural

 

[Anubis08]

The wristbands are a waste of money. Just touch your PLUGGED IN but SWITCHED OFF psu every 10-20 minutes and if you are working like on a kitchen table place parts that come out of electrostatic bags on the bags. Also, put all the parts together and I would suggest to even load windows and get it working (without drivers was the way I went) before you actually put anything in the actual case. It will not hurt it to run on the bags. And put the mobo in first. Chinese proverb say it will save much pain and time.

 

[Simplicity]

Put the mobo in first?

I also heard wear shoes and do it on tile..

I wasnt aware you had to touch the PSU to ground yourself... I thought it was jsut an unpainted part of the case?

 

[Simplicity]

Now my newegg order wont go through

 

[Simplicity]

Ok, I just have one quick question for you guys,

everywhere I have been says only put something on the cpu the size of a grain of rice (thermal paste) that sounds reasonable.

But what about the Heatsink? Should I be putting some thermal paste on there? If not, I was worried that the thermal paste might not get between every part of the cpu and metal to metal might touch = heat lol.

If so, how thin should it be, and should I just judge by eye which part I should put any on.. like jsut put osme on the part I KNOW will be touching the die?

I thought that once the heat came in the thermal paste could like melt, and drip! whatever though, I am the biggest noob at this stuff... but I am ****ing determined not to **** up.

 

[ts3433]

You could put the thermal grease on the heatsink instead of the CPU, but it's usually easier to do on the CPU. Apply it to one or the other. Refer to the instructions for your thermal paste for the best method to put it on.

I think the thermal paste is actually supposed to melt a little to fill little gaps between the HSF's base and the CPU's core or IHS, and it won't mess anything up unless you use too much and it gets all over your parts.