First Build Questions?

[lost0822]

The parts for my first build will be coming in this week and I?m really anticipating doing this as I?ve been looking forward to it for a while. Parts are as follows:

CASE ANTEC P-160WF
AMD Athlon64 3400+
MSI ?K8N Neo Platinum? nForce3 250
Corsair (512MBx2) DDR PC-3200
SAMSUNG 160GB 7200RPM SATA
NEC 16xDVD+/-RW
DVD-Rom Lite On

I already have eVGA 6800GT, Antec 430 true power, mouse, keyboard and monitor. I am fairly confident in putting the parts together since I?ve replaced things in my Gateway (current setup) and by looking at the many guides on the internet. The thing that worries me and I?m the most nervous about is hopefully when I get all the parts together the thing posts, then once it does what order of operations to go in next? Do I update the mobo bios first or what? Also I?ve never done that before, how hard is it and are they any really good guides to guide me through it? Also setting up my Bios as well since I?ve never had to do that before, are there any good guides to setting up the cpu, to make sure the FSB is right and what not? So I guess I?m asking in what order should I go through once I get it to post, install the OS, update mobo bios/chipset, what?

Then do I need to run prime95 since I?m not overclocking yet and memtest86? If you any suggestions or could point me in the right direction with maybe some links on what steps to take after getting your rig to post I would be very appreciative. Like I said I?m really excited and anxious to do this, I don?t just want to have to spend weeks trying to just get the thing up and running right. Thanks!

 

[CJP]

Before I build I usually download and read the motherboard manual as it will detail alot of the steps to putting things together (cpu installation etc.). It'll also walk you through the bios settings.

I only flash my bios when I need to like for example I'm upgrading to a new cpu and the motherboard won't recognize it without a flash.

 

[Hyperlite]

you seem to be making it a little more complicated then it actually is...relax =D. don't worry about updating the BIOS when you first get things set up, you can do that later. the BIOS will already be fully operational when you put the system together, and it will recognize the proc and everything without a problem...theoretically. the biggest problem you will have is probably getting the SATA drive running. if all your parts are working correctly, it should all go down like clockwork. keep in mind, you MUST have a floppy drive present to get the SATA drive working. you can run the torture tests just as a priliminary burn-in.

After you POST, enter the BIOS and begin following the basic setup instructions in the motherboard manual. That motherboard manual will be your Bible for the next several days, so keep track of it, and follow its instructions carefully. don't worry about getting the OS installed untill you have everything in the BIOS squared away. i'll be back to add more later.

 

[mechBgon]

The Athlon64's all use the same bus speed, so your board's default should be on-target.

I assume you'll be using WinXP on it. My suggestion would be to keep it disconnected from your broadband modem (assuming you have one) until you've got a firewall going, either a hardware firewall (a router) or a software firewall (ZoneAlarm free version, or the one in WinXP SP2). This prevents your computer from "talking to strangers" behind your back and catching worms as a result.

If you can pre-download the full Service Pack 2 installer and save it on CD or something, that would do double duty as both a software firewall and eliminate the security holes that today's crop of worms are looking to exploit. If you have broadband, still get a router too if you don't have one already. Netgear's RP614 is currently $34 shipped after MIR at Newegg.

After installing Windows from CD, go this way:

• Begin by going to Control Panel > User Accounts and set strong passwords on your accounts. Example of strong password: n0v1rus4meTHX!, which includes numerals and a symbol, is 10+ characters long, and isn't dictionary stuff.
• Make yourself a Limited account (assuming XP Professional, which has this capability) to use as your daily-driver account. Use it when you don't need Admin powers. I realize this makes a lot of people :roll: because it's slightly inconvenient, but it's a nice safety net. If other people will use the computer, make one or more Limited accounts for them to use.
• Get your firewall in place, either by installing Service Pack 2 and enabling its built-in firewall, or by installing ZoneAlarm, or a router, or a router PLUS one of the other two.
• Install your antivirus software
• Plug in your network cable after the firewall is up
• Install your nForce3 4.27 platform driver package from here and reboot
• Go to Windows Update for any Critical Updates they might have, and update your antivirus software
• After the chipset drivers, NOW install your video drivers (notice that the video drivers come after the chipset drivers, not before, which means you may have to suffer along with a crummy-lookin' display up to this point)
• Now install other drivers as needed (sound, etc)
• Enable Automatic Updates if you didn't already
• Install Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2.1 and run it
• Snack break while the system runs Defrag

edit: added a couple of things

 

[RJShultzie]

NEWB question,

Where do you find the service pak 2 on your computer to copy to cd?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: RJShultzie
NEWB question,

Where do you find the service pak 2 on your computer to copy to cd?

You can get SP2 for WinXP either by going to Microsoft's site here and downloading the whole thing (if your connection can take it... that's about 230MB), or by taking the computer tohttp:// Windows Update and having Windows Update install it (this takes less downloading, not sure how much less exactly), or even by ordering a SP2 CD-ROM from Microsoft for free: link to free CD-ROM order page.

I like how SP2 adds popup blocking, ActiveX-download blocking and control of browser add-ons to IE, and how it babysits the firewall and antivirus softwares. It also adds Data Execution Prevention (Athlon64 owners get hardware-level DEP support in addition) and you can enable DEP for all software as opposed to just Windows' core stuff if you want. DEP takes the teeth out of buffer-overflow exploits, a common tactic for viruses and worms. I guess SP2 has its teething pains, but overall it seems like a nice improvement.

 

[RJShultzie]

I already did the update and it is on my system. You stated above "If you can pre-download the full Service Pack 2 installer and save it on CD or something" so my question is if it is already on my computer how do I copy it to disc.
Thanks

 

[lost0822]

awesome thanks for the response! One more newb question, do i need to get a hold of my internet cable provider to let them know that i'm using a new rig or can i just hook my modem up to the new rig? Will it work right?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: RJShultzie
I already did the update and it is on my system. You stated above "If you can pre-download the full Service Pack 2 installer and save it on CD or something" so my question is if it is already on my computer how do I copy it to disc.
Thanks

Oh, I understand now. I don't think you can extract the files out of the patched installation. Given that the full download is supposed to be much bigger than the Windows Update version, there may be stuffs that your system didn't need and therefore didn't get, but which another system might.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: lost0822
awesome thanks for the response! One more newb question, do i need to get a hold of my internet cable provider to let them know that i'm using a new rig or can i just hook my modem up to the new rig? Will it work right?

If you power down the cable modem, plug in your system to it, power up the modem, let the modem sync up to the ISP, and power up the system, you'll know pretty quick. Hopefully you don't need to call.

But can I repeat my recommendation for a hardware firewall (a router) between the modem and the computer, it's such a good first line of defense against worms and hacks for what it costs. If I were able to afford broadband, I'd definitely run a router plus WinXP's firewall (or ZoneAlarm).

 

[lost0822]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: lost0822
awesome thanks for the response! One more newb question, do i need to get a hold of my internet cable provider to let them know that i'm using a new rig or can i just hook my modem up to the new rig? Will it work right?

If you power down the cable modem, plug in your system to it, power up the modem, let the modem sync up to the ISP, and power up the system, you'll know pretty quick. Hopefully you don't need to call.

But can I repeat my recommendation for a hardware firewall (a router) between the modem and the computer, it's such a good first line of defense against worms and hacks for what it costs. If I were able to afford broadband, I'd definitely run a router plus WinXP's firewall (or ZoneAlarm).

thanks, actually i'm going to have your guide up and running on my current rig while i put my new rig together, it looks really easy to follow, good job! I'm thinking i'm going to take your advice on the router, i have a gift certificate to new egg anyway....i'm thinking about getting wireless as well so that i can have, one computer upstairs for my wife to play on, when i'm busy on mine....she loves shopping online, now we won't have to fight over the computer! any suggestions on wireless stuff?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: lost0822

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: lost0822
awesome thanks for the response! One more newb question, do i need to get a hold of my internet cable provider to let them know that i'm using a new rig or can i just hook my modem up to the new rig? Will it work right?

If you power down the cable modem, plug in your system to it, power up the modem, let the modem sync up to the ISP, and power up the system, you'll know pretty quick. Hopefully you don't need to call.

But can I repeat my recommendation for a hardware firewall (a router) between the modem and the computer, it's such a good first line of defense against worms and hacks for what it costs. If I were able to afford broadband, I'd definitely run a router plus WinXP's firewall (or ZoneAlarm).

thanks, actually i'm going to have your guide up and running on my current rig while i put my new rig together, it looks really easy to follow, good job! I'm thinking i'm going to take your advice on the router, i have a gift certificate to new egg anyway....i'm thinking about getting wireless as well so that i can have, one computer upstairs for my wife to play on, when i'm busy on mine....she loves shopping online, now we won't have to fight over the computer! any suggestions on wireless stuff?

I'm not knowledgeable on wireless hardware, sorry Maybe do a Search in the Networking forum and see what comes up, or ask over there for recommendations if you don't get good results. If you do go wireless, read your product documentation thoroughly and enable whatever security measures it has. Consider just doing a little wiring and using plain old Cat5E cables too.

Be aware also that a router's firewall (whether wired or wireless) doesn't protect your two computers from eachother. If one of them catches a virus/worm, then a software firewall may help the other computer, and so will strong passwords if it's a share-hopping worm. Using free ZoneAlarm with the Trusted Zone security cranked to High would be a good defense. Also, McAfee VirusScan 8.0 Professional comes with a two-computer license so you could have one year of AV protection for $40. I got that for one of my sisters and it was pretty straightforward to set up, unlike past McAfee home AV software I've used. It even detects spyware/adware.

edit: BTW, glad to hear the guide is useful Maybe someday I'll have a page on A64 CPU/heatsink installation too.

 

[JoeChicken]

There is a web site that can be found Here that is really awesome for walking you through clean Windows XP installs. Although it adds a lot of advanced stuff that is only an option and not required but I'll post it here for your reference anyway. It helps to set up your machine to be faster for different uses such as gaming if that is what you use it for.

Here is a direct link to his Windows XP Pro Installation which includes screen shots and very detailed descriptions and step by step instructions.

Good luck! You'll find building computers is a lot of fun if you like hands on stuff. Plus there is so much customization that can go into such things once you learn the basics and a few of the advanced options.

Oh, and Here is the step by step he does to secure his machine directly after a clean Win XP install.