I need guidance... Please help.

[hugejazz]

Ok, so I brought all the parts which I need for my new computer system.

Thermaltake Xaser Tsunami Black Tower Case (2x120mm, 1x90mm fans)
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor
Zalman CNPS7700-AlCu Cooling
Asus A8N-E nF4 Motherboard
2*512MB · Corsair Value Select PC3200 DDR400 Kit
ATI RADEON X800XL PCI-E 256MB DVI TV-OUT
OCZ modstream 450w PSU
Seagate 160GB Serial-ATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache
LG 52X CD-RW/16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive
Artic Silver stuff...

So now, I have this great pile infront of me. And as a first-timer (yes, a computer virgin :Q) I have no clue as to where to begin. I've read those PC build guides, but Im not understanding them .

My question now is. Where do I exactly begin? Is this correct?

1. Prepare case
2. Put PSU in case
3. Put CD-rom in case
4. Put HardDrive in case
5. Install CPU/HeatSinkFan in motherboard
6. Install RAM in motherboard
7. Put Motherboard in case
8. Put Video card in case

Please add/amend my set of instructions. I know basically how to do each step (still iffy on the heatsink section, artic silver scaring me). Thanks.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I'd put the processor and the HSF on the motherboard, then put in the case before doing anything else. But, I've never built one before so I'm probably wrong.

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

you've got the right idea there. For the arctic silver, put a tiny dab on the center of your cpu, then get a ziploc bag and put your finger inside it to spread it all over the cpu to get a paper thin coat. then just stick on the hsf and go from there.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Did you read mechBgon's guide?

Get the parts to a wooden table.

First I would put the motherboard on the foam pad that came in the box (with the foam pad on top of the box).

Apply Arctic Silver to the CPU via their instructions on their site.

Use Zalman's instructions to put the heatsink on.

Make sure you've plugged the fan into the fan connector on the motherboard

Put in the ram.

Put in the videocard (might need to hang the edge of the motherboard off the box to get the card in all the way and lock it)

Plug in the monitor.

Place the PSU next to the board and connect the 24 pin connector to the motherboard. Connect the 4 pin connector too (yellow and black).

Make sure the powersupply is set to "|" and not "O"

Use the motherboard manual to find the pins that the power button will connect to.

Short out those two pins with a screwdriver for a second.

If everything is working, the computer should boot up.

The point of doing all this is to make sure those parts work before you waste your time putting them all in a case.

 

[qbackin]

Ok first of all if you have read the building guides, you should know.
If not, you should not touch anything lol.

Read the directions of every part.

Real quick:

Pull up the socket tension bar.
Line the cpu up (directions) drop it in the socket.
Lock the little bar back in place.

Get your hs/f and lay it in the cradle, and lock it in (directions)
(Btw this is if you are using the oem TIM pad on the heat-sink, if using Artic Silver 5 just scrape off the pad..put a rice size bead of AS5 on the cpu and then fit hs/f.

Install your ram. 1st and 3rd slot (from left to right)

Put your little brass stand-offs in the case mobo holes.
Set mobo the and fasten screws.

Put your hd in, then install video card. (Some cases conflict)

Now button up your psu, and throw in the optical drive.

EDIT: Whoops little too slow, yoyo beat me to it lol