handholding needed for assembling a pc

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mavsham

Member
Apr 20, 2001
48
0
0
i am planning to assemble a new pc. however i have never done this before and attaching a cpu to the mobo is making me nervous :) i defintiely dont wanna screw it up to where i damage any of the hardware. also i have NO knowledge of heatsinks, etc.

can someone please help me with the following questions

1) should i attempt this on my own :) ?
2) if so, is there like a step by step process do this available anywhere on the net?
3) i am planning on getting the DFI NF II ultra mobo and wanted to know from people who own it what RAM works best. i have read at several places that people have had issues with installing memory on this mobo
4) i know a retail amd comes with a heatsink. should i go with that? or try something else like buy an oem one and do the heatsink installation etc by myself?
5) lastly how much time does it take to get everything together and close the tower :) ?

Thanks a lot for all the help and empathizing with my ignorance :)

- Shakti
 
Lyfer

Lyfer

Diamond Member
May 28, 2003
5,842
2
81
I would recommend a building using a P4, the stock heatsinks are super easy to install. Then again you could buy a simpler HSF for an Athlon rig.
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
3. - Sorry I don't own the DFI NF II MB.
4. - The Alpha 8045 is easy to install (as far as the risk of cracking the core goes). The Alpha tightens down nice as steady when installed as directed.
5. - I wouldn't close up the tower for a couple of days, just to make sure everything is operating properly.
 
L

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
When I ordered my retail AMD CPU, and retail Mobo, basically the instructions they came with fairly well explained the processes necessary to make sure everything worked out, and it did.

It was my first time doing a whole system (rather than plugging in more RAM/cards etc) and it turned out OK, mostly by following the instructions that came with the stuff.

I used the stock heatsink, but left on the thermal pad because I didn't want to try anything else my first time.

I did it all on my own.

If you want to overclock it might be better to buy a different heatsink because it will probably cool the CPU better.
 
S

Sheriff

Golden Member
Mar 14, 2001
1,182
0
0
1) Sure as you apparently have a Rig working to ask for help her or other places.
2) Blaine took care of that ;)
3) You can Post that ? over the MoBo Forum but I'm sure most quality stuff would work
4)Yes , you can alsway change later but the retail isn't that much more and comes with a 3Yr warranty.
5) Set aside a Day and if you start in the morning, all goes well you can lunch with a friend but plan on Dinner ;)
 
D

Davegod

Platinum Member
Nov 26, 2001
2,874
0
76
thw whole thing is actually way easier than it looks, especially if you have a "quick install guide" or something for your mobo that has a diagram of what the connectors are.

Essentials:
- installing heatsink onto cpu is the hardest and most "dangerous" bit. take time and care with it, and install prior to putting the motherboard into the case. although the ease of crushing the core is probably well overhyped, there is balance because of the equal idiots who slap goop on with a trowel and chuck the heasink on like its a another brick in the wall. read this and the instructions that come with the heatsink carefully. careful with the screwdriver when pushing down the clips; for protection you may be able to put some thick cardboard or better yet a magazine over the mobo in the places the screwdriver might slip onto.
- do not put the heatsink on the wrong way around! There will probably be a ledge cut into the base of the heatsink, this should accomodate the raised shelf thing on the cpu socket. If you put it on the wrong way around, the shelf will raise the HS off the CPU and very poor contact will be made, likely resulting in a fried cpu.
- when you put the mobo into the case, remember the standoffs! forgetting will cost you the mobo and quite possibly more.
- make sure your cpu heatsink's fan is plugged in before turning on
- make sure your cpu heatsink's fan is plugged in before turning on
- make sure your cpu heatsink's fan is plugged in before turning on
- when you press the power button and nothing happens, either a) you forgot the power switch wire, b) you forgot to turn the switch on the back of the PSU on c) you forgot to plug it in at the wall. Everybody does this, if everything does start, worry that you dont know where your quota of forgetfulness has occurred ;)

other than the above, there's really not much you can do to actually damage anything, bar the blatantly obvious like
 
O

oupei

Senior member
Jun 16, 2003
285
0
0
1. yes
2. yes
3. dunno, try mobo forum (i know, it's a scarry place, but...)
4. oem cpu if overclocking. retail otherwise
5. leave yourself a free evening
 
M

mavsham

Member
Apr 20, 2001
48
0
0
many thanks to everyone. especially davegood for the detailed reply. however i got a 404 error trying to access that link. thanks again everyone for all the input.
 
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