Ok, I've put a little (and I mean a little) work into a FAQish type document. I'll be working on it a bit here and there, but PLEASE comment. Constructive comments work the best. If you can make them funny or insulting, it gets even better.
😀 So read through it, and either post suggestions, or PM me. If I've missed anything, fill me in. I know it needs a lot of work though.
Formatting and professionalism (ugh) will be worked on for a more "final" draft. Just need to get the ideas down first.
🙂
So in the spirit of "stop complaining and get off your ass and do it," here's what I've got so far:
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If you haven't already, check out
mechBgon's
guide to building your first PC. I know I learned a couple of things from it. I'm hoping his second guide relates to which snacks during a build promote the best performance.
😉
Bootup Issues:
Hardware in the system? Try booting the system with a bare minimum of peripherals (motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, video).
PSU:
Is the PSU a quality unit? Antec, Enermax, Fortron and PC Power & Cooling are recommended brands. 500W powersupplies that cost $20 are probably not worth it. Cheap powersupplies often undervolt lines or do not regulate power very well.
While noodling this FAQish document, I PMed mechBgon for recommendations on PSUs. He admits to being an Antec fanboy ( :beer: ), but manages to mention a couple of other brands (listed above). As for what he says about some of the cheaper brands (direct quote from mechBgon, with permission
🙂):
PowMax, RaidMax, CoolMax and Deer are definitely frequent offenders.
He also mentions that Allied maybe good and may not be good. Do you feel lucky? Well, do you? Punk. He also mentions that Thermaltake, Vantex, and Zalman don't receive many bad reports. Lastly, Delta is supposedly good, but finding them can be tough. With great brands like Antec ( :beer: ), Enermax, Fortron, and PC Power & Cooling I wouldn't look too hard.
Ensure that the 20pin ATX cable is plugged firmly into the motherboard. I have personally noticed that these can be a pain to get plugged in. Double check
the connection, and ensure that it does not look funny. A browning connector is a sign that something is wrong.
Make sure the ATX12V 4 pin connector is attached to the motherboard.
Make sure the PSU is powerful enough to handle the entire system. FILL THIS IN?
Memory:
Make sure the memory in the system is seated properly. Use 1 stick of ram, and test it in another system if possible. If there is a tested memory list for
your motherboard, try to choose memory listed there or through a system like Crucial's memory selector. Some motherboards can be very picky about ram.
This is another item that should never be skimped on.
CPU:
Ensure the CPU is fully seated, and in the socket the correct way. Inspect the CPU to check for black marks that may be a sign of the CPU burning out.
HSF:
Again, ensure that the HSF is fully seated. Many systems will not turn on if the CPU and HSF are not seated properly. The fan should be plugged into the motherboard. Most (every?) motherboard on sale has a heatsink fan connector near the socket, and the system will not boot if there is not a fan plugged into that connector.
Motherboard:
Remove the motherboard from the case and set it on a cardboard box. Plug the PSU, CPU, RAM, and video into the system. Then try to power it up. If it does work, something may have shorted the motherboard in the case. Make sure there are no extra wires, screws, or anything that might be touching the motherboard in the places it shouldn't be touched.
