Its all here! Time to start building!! Help a newb out!

[Sulaco]

Hey guys!
Well, today my case came, the last of the components I need to start to work on my new PC.
I'm a first time builder though, so this is all pretty intimidating. The case came with absolutely no instuctions on how to mount the motherboard, and neither did my 8RDA+ manual. So I guess I'm going to have to scower the internet for that info.
Other than that, I'm pretty confident about everything else.

But I'm hoping you guys can hold my hand throughout this...as I DONT want to end up with a $300 pile of scrap because I got cocky.

So to start me off, what should I do first? CPU/Heatsink installation on the mobo? What do you guys do first?

 

[BmXStuD]

mobo is easy to install just screw it in and make sure it doesnt touch the case. also put the cpu and heatstink on 1st than put the mobo in the case. Also if it comes w. a little pad on the bottom the heatsink keep it,It nots the best but it works good also.

 

[jam3]

Make sure you have a nice clean area to work in.

Have a power supply outside of a case for setup

With your power supply, keyboard, monitor and mouse setup your MB, proc, vid card, and ram and ensure it works before mounting it.

- hopefully your case has a removable mountable piece for the MB. if not simply lay the MB on the anti-static bag it came in.

-this may get tricky if you need the power switch (most people have a switch they ripped from an old case) so you may need to have the case handy and play somewhat with the MB placement just so you have a power switch.

-when placing the proc and fan in the MB be sure you get it perfectly right. Read the MB instructions which should probably have instructions for mounting the proc. Handle the cpu like its a the first time you've ever held a baby. Also make sure you have a perfect understanding of shims and grease and exactly how to apply them. This part you HAVE to get right.


-When you turn on the computer immediatly look at the proc fan (if this fails for some reason you might have 5-30 seconds(depending on how good the heatsink is and how good you made the contact to the chips surface) to turn off beast or fry your chip.
Test each component as you place it by turning the beast off an on , cables, hdd, cd-rom, etc.

Basically build your machine twice, once free-form outside of the case using a big clean area and no ESD, then again as you mount everything in the case.

Good luck

 

[KDOG]

i don't know about that "build it outside the case first" stuff. I never have and haven't had any problems in that area. But definetly install the cpu and HS first, along with your memory. Just BE CAREFUL. If you don't have an anti-static wristband get one, and always set everything on those anti static bags they come in.

As far as putting motherboards in the case... You know those gold screws about 1/4" long? The go in the holes in your case that match up to your motherboard... simple...

 

[everman]

You don't need an anti-static wrist strap, I've never used one and in all this time have never zapped anything. You must however ground yourself before touching any components. Touching your case will do fine and discharge any static electricity.

 

[clumsum]

Sulaco,

jam3 is giving you very good advice.
It's much easier to install the cpu and heat sink fan (hsf) before installing the mb into the case.
Never run the pc without the hsf installed and fan lead plugged into the mb fan header! The cpu will overheat in just seconds.
If you do assemble the mb into the case (before booting it up outside of the case), at least just install the minimum necessary components first, make sure it boots up ok, immediately check the cpu temperature in the Bios.
Install the rest of the components; one at a time.
It's much easier to troubleshoot with just the basic stuff installed.
Good luck, keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Sulaco]

Ok, I think I have the CPU and Heatsink properly mounted, but I'd like you power the motherboard on just to verify that the CPU fan turns and that everything is ok.

Can I just plug the power supply into the motherboard and turn it on?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Sulaco
Ok, I think I have the CPU and Heatsink properly mounted, but I'd like you power the motherboard on just to verify that the CPU fan turns and that everything is ok.

Can I just plug the power supply into the motherboard and turn it on?

I'd recommend you put it in the case first.

You did remove that crappy thermal "pad" and apply some proper thermal compound, right?

- M4H

 

[jam3]

I'm guessing you only have a switch on the case.

Go ahead and put the MB in the case and put in the vid card (and plug the monitor into it) and attach the switch cable from the case to the MB and don't attach anything else.

*note: I am assuming you have a power switch on the back of the PS and a power on switch on the case.

Power on the PS then the case with a hawk's eye on the cpu fan. If it comes on you should be ok. If not have a quick hand on the PS switch to turn the sucker off. Also check the PS fans next and if there not running then turn it off.

If you get the boot sequence up on the computer you have just done a pretty good job so far (and have been initially lucky in your components. You should immediatly watch for the delete to enter the bios. Go to the thermal readings on the cpu and sit there and watch it for 5 minutes or so it shouldn't get much hotter than 55-75 deg F. and should hopefully be much lower if it starts exceeding these temps you may need to review your cpu fan/shim paste/assembly.

At this point there are a ton of things that could be wrong if you don't get the boot sequence.
bad PS
bad memory
bad MB
bad cpu
bad vid card
bad monitor
Or if it didn't even "click" on it could be the switch or the cable attachment to the board (or maybe the bad PS)

or simply an improper assembly (i.e. you didn't put the ram in all the way)

theres no harm in rebotting it a few times to make sure its all working

next attach your HDD (no need to screw it in yet) and make sure you can see it in the bios and make sure it boots with the HDD attached.
next floppy then CD/DVD drives LAN/SOUND Cards etc. each one at a time amaking sure the system boots and the bios recognizes the device.

If everything looks good you can begin the final assembly in the case.

you can always run into problems and the cheif rule of troubleshooting is to never assume anything. You could get a non-boot and it could be a bad stick of ram thats been working the first 10 times. Always remember the process of troubleshooting will be reversing the assembly from the last device you installed to the previous..... until you find the problem. You may end up back with the prerequistes to boot before you know it.

Hopefully you'll get lucky and have 100% working compnents!!

 

[Sulaco]

Jam, you're a gem!

Seriously, I really appreciate all the time and help you guys have given me thus far, but its not over yet. :-\

I'm currently mounting the motherboard into the case. I have installed the brass spacers in first, then placed the motherboard directly over those holes, and am now about to screw the screw into the spacers to secure it. Is this right? Do I put the rubber washers included with the case in between the screws and motherboard??

P.S. I understand that NO PART of the motherboard can touch the case, at all. What about the device connectors/IO ports on the back of the mobo (where you plug in keyboard, mouse, etc). Can any of that contact the case at all??

 

[jam3]

Originally posted by: everman
You don't need an anti-static wrist strap, I've never used one and in all this time have never zapped anything. You must however ground yourself before touching any components. Touching your case will do fine and discharge any static electricity.

This is typically true. Though there is no harm in using one. Also if you live in a dry area using one is definetly not a bad idea. I live in New Meico and you zap every other piece of metal you touch ALL THE TIME. The frickin gas pumps around here have all sorts of warning about ESD as every other day somebody ignites themselves while pumping gas. ESD is VERY real. Most places in the U.S. are typically pretty humid so ESD is not much of an issue.

 

[Sulaco]

Heh...I'm in Phoenix, AZ...one of the dryest places on earth it seems....so likewise, ESD is quite significant.

Not to worry though, I have a good anti-static wrist strap.

P.S. Jam, could you glance at my post above? I guess we posted at the same time.

 

[jam3]

Originally posted by: Sulaco
Jam, you're a gem!

Seriously, I really appreciate all the time and help you guys have given me thus far, but its not over yet. :-\

I'm currently mounting the motherboard into the case. I have installed the brass spacers in first, then placed the motherboard directly over those holes, and am now about to screw the screw into the spacers to secure it. Is this right? Do I put the rubber washers included with the case in between the screws and motherboard??

P.S. I understand that NO PART of the motherboard can touch the case, at all. What about the device connectors/IO ports on the back of the mobo (where you plug in keyboard, mouse, etc). Can any of that contact the case at all??

Yep, the big rubber "feet" are for the case though. Not that you made a wrong assumption but I have seen alot of people who think this goes under the MB. Just take your time and don't give the screws that final twist. Make sure you mounted it right and the MB fits neatly in the case with all the ports poking out the form factor(the part with all the holes for the ports you might want to notice that that piece is removable and can possibly gets launched out, its pretty easy to pop it back in though) and the vid card mounting nice and snug. You may need to make some minor adjustments to get that perfect fit so just be patient and make adjustments slowly.

 

[Sulaco]

Sorry for the newbie questions, but with the mobo holes perfectly aligned with the case holes, the mobo seems awfully close to contacting the case (about the width of 3 sheets of notebook paper). Is that too close? Everything seems to line up correctly with the holes and all, I'm just paranoid about frying the mobo when I power it on.

P.S. One of the I/O port connectors (speaker plug, to be exact) does slightly contact the case. Is this normal??

 

[jam3]

Yeah its always a close fit. The ports don't matter much since there is alot of plastic protecting it from reaching the circuitry. And the soders underneath the board are done in such a way as to prevent electrical jumps from the case to the board.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Sulaco
Sorry for the newbie questions, but with the mobo holes perfectly aligned with the case holes, the mobo seems awfully close to contacting the case (about the width of 3 sheets of notebook paper). Is that too close? Everything seems to line up correctly with the holes and all, I'm just paranoid about frying the mobo when I power it on.

P.S. One of the I/O port connectors (speaker plug, to be exact) does slightly contact the case. Is this normal??

Yeah, they can touch, not a problem at all.