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new components arriving on friday! i'm scared!

B

bigsexychris

Member
some opening info:

1) Hi. My name is Chris and I am a Hardcore Lurker.
2) I have thoroughly searched/researched the archives before posting
3) I know a lot of people are sick of "my nu systam bild is so uber l33t HELP LOLROFL" posts that have been popping up in GH
4) In light of 3 & 4, I will attempt to not repeat questions that have been answered to death
5) I will probably look foolish by repeating questions that have been answered to death
6) Thanks 🙂

----------------

Okay, I have ordered all of the following parts (from www.mwave.com and www.zipzoomfly.com for those interested) which are due to arrive at my doorstep this Friday (excited!). Seeing as I have already paid for these, I am not asking for you to critique my setup - I am very aware that some components could be better or may not be the best choices, but 1) my component choices are final and 2) money was a major factor. Enough with my ranting:

case/PSU - ANTEC SONATA II w/ smartpower 2.0 450w
MOBO - DFI nForce4 Ultra (939) LanParty UT Ultra-D
proc - AMD x2 3800+ Manchester dual core
heatsink/fan - Thermaltake CL-P0025
ram - Corsair XMS XL (TWINX1024-3200XLPT) (2-2-2-5)
hdd - 2 x Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 160GB SATA II (raid-0)
vga - ASUS Radeon X800XL 256MB (dual dvi-out)
dvd - Aopen 16x dual layer dvd
fan - Antec Tricool 92mm
fan - Antec Smartcool 120mm
fan controller - Sunbeam RheoBus 4 channel
keyboard - MS Multimedia Keyboard and Optical Mouse
floppy - MITUSMI 1.44 FLOPPY
mouse/keyboard - MS Multimedia Keyboard/Optical Mouse
OS - XP with SP2 with a possible dual boot XP64

(If you're wondering, I'm a bit excited to put this together)

----------------

So now onto a few questions. Thanks in advance to whoever happens to answer!

1) Although it's a little late, does anyone see any major/obvious/glaring/i'manidiot incompatibility issues? This is a remote possibility, but I'd feel better getting another opinion.

2) The fans will be setup as follows: (a)120mm rear exhaust fan blowing out (b) 120mm front fan sucking air in (c)92mm fan in air duct to cool cpu .. would an 80mm fan for the vga (supported by the case) make a noticeable difference in temps?

3) I'm scared of applying arctic silver 5. I will probably curl up in a ball and cry for several days if I don't get it right. I've read arctic's installation guide suggesting 1 drop (2/3 size of a bb) in the middle, but I have not been able to find any legitimate information about possible different application techniques for X2's. Any advice?

4) I've read so many pc construction guides, that I'm overwhelmed with build orders, procedures, etc. Please give me a very brief idea of what the a decent build order is (i.e. first put in psu, second processor, third heatsink). And please talk from personal experience.

5) I'm putting the two hitachi's in RAID 0, but I want to make sure I format them correctly the first time through to avoid installing windows multiple times. What's a foolproof way to make sure they are setup correctly?

6) This one actually means a lot to me and I think it would be cool if a lot of people commented, but please share a personal tip or trick you use when building your rigs to make sure you build them correctly.


Whoever is still reading is a saint. Even if you can only answer one of these questions, I would greatly appreciate your input.

I'm not going to take all this information and run with it either. I hope to document my system build with pics and commentary to help other custom pc virgins feel a little more comfortable building their own. Thanks again!



-Chris (not necessarily big and/or sexy)
 
i myself, put the motherboard(pain in the ass w/o a removeable tray) in first, then i put the power supply in, then the slotted stuff(video card, additional sound card), then i go with the hard drives, the optical drives, then i run all my cables, and then you hook up your usb ports on the brackets.just be sure not to have any cables near the fans, they rub and i can hear em on mine sometimes if they get too close(just never stop the fans on mine though, just cut right through em on a 120mm). i'v never run raid yet, but i plan to in the near future. arctic silver....easy to put in you just put a dab on the cpu and the heatsink(if you want to) smoothen it out very nicely with a razor, and then put them to gether on the board. oh i forgot to mention, depending on heastink i would suggest on putting it on before, but if its a small one go ahed n put it on after.

i would suggest a new psu, but its probly not highly needed right away.
 
1. probably not, but im not an expert in compatibility for the DFI board. The only possibility of incompatibility would be memory.

2. probably

3. The heat spreader no the AMD64s simplify it somewhat since the large area, but you can spread it with a credit card too. It's harder due to the density, but some people do it.

4. above is pretty good(psu should be fine)

5. i dont raid either

6. The DFI is a pain in th a55 to install(almost no documentation) so if i were yuo, id get a manual from another manufacturer to guide me sorta.
 
don't forget to put the motherboard on risers...don't bolt it right to the tray 😉
don't forget the 4 pin power plug.
make sure everything is seated properly
read your mobo book thoroughly, so you know what pins to plug in for HD/Power LED/buttons

just some of my common problems...hehe...enjoy
 
Well I must say it's still early for me to read the whole thing....some cliffs might be nice for those of us who are lazy.

I do have some thoughts.

1. I don't like the Thermaltake coolers, take a look at a Zalman or Thermalright.
2. The fan idea for the case looks good, get some Panaflo fans for it.
3. Don't be nervous to use the Arctic Silver 5, it's easy, just follow the directions.
4. I would go with a better video card if you are gaming, trust me it's worth it to spend your money on this. The x800xl is great for the price, but look at maybe stepping up to a 7800GT.
5. Please oh Please don't waste your time on a RAID0, a few people may tell you it's worth it if you are doing video encoding or editing, besides that it's a waste!!!!
 
RAID0 is worse than a waste; it's actually dangerous. If one drive fails, you lose everything on both drives. I don't use RAID myself (if I did, I'd probably go with RAID1 mirroring). Instead, I partitioned each of my 2 hard drives into a system partition (20 - 25 GB) and a data partition (the remainder of the drive, so 4 partitions in all), like this:

C: 25 GB partition - Windows XP Pro (This is the boot partition)
D: X GB partition (the remainder of the drive): Data files for each user
[E: DVD-RW Drive]
F: 25 GB partition - Backup of user settings/preferences, Windows registry, BOOT.INI, and other key system files; room to do a full Windows backup image if I decide to go that route
G: X GB partition (the remainder of the drive): Backup of data files for each user

This way, if I have to reformat and reinstall Windows (C: partition only), I don't lose any data and I can quickly recover all user settings.
 
Always install the Proc, HSF and memory on the board before you install it in the case. I would rather have not seen a new first time builder going wht SATA and Raid. Not that these are not good choices for configurations..but...SATA can be a little tricky as can Raid and this opens the door to a less than trouble free install....good luck!!
 
RAID 0 is a waste, very unreliable. And using ATA drives? Might as well prepare the RMA labels 😛

RAID 1 is fine but there's no performance advantage. It is strictly data integrity and redundancy.

SCSI is the only choice for ANY RAID configuration (IMHO) from both performance and data security standpoints.

Quite frankly a newbie shouldn't bother with either.
 
Originally posted by: deathwalker
Always install the Proc, HSF and memory on the board before you install it in the case. I would rather have not seen a new first time builder going wht SATA and Raid. Not that these are not good choices for configurations..but...SATA can be a little tricky as can Raid and this opens the door to a less than trouble free install....good luck!!
Click to expand...

I find nothing "tricky" about SATA drives in a non-RAID set up. They are even easier than EIDE drives because you don't need to worry about jumper settings.

On RAID 0 for your set up, I'd say don't bother. Use one drive for your system and programs and the other for data storage. You can do different partitions as mdubrow suggested, but I'd just get your system up and running since this is your first build. Later when you've a bit more confidence you can try a more sophisticated set-up.
 
Everything looks good besides RAID 0. I wouldn't have done that. RAID 0 is pretty much worthless on ATA and SATA.
 
I wish you didnt buy:

1) The corsair ram.....corsair + dfi = 🙁

2) The asus x800xl...the asus one some of them are underclocked, mine wasn't, its at 400/490, but some asus x800xl are 400/350....please link to yours to make sure.
 
Do check DFI-Street.

Remember to plug ALL 4 power connectors into the DFI board. Yes, you need the floppy connector in too. If you have a floppy drive or your PSU only has 1 floppy power connector, you better get a splitter.

Check the diagnostic LEDs.

1) DFI is VERY picky. Don't be surprised if you don't boot first. Clear CMOS, pop the battery, check DFI Street for the DFI way of clearing BIOS. Once you get up and running, raise the voltages a bit. Higher is ok because we want to get running. 2.8 for dram, 1.45ish for CPU. Flash to 623-3 bios (official bios) first. Work from there. Upgrade only if necessary.

2) Your airflow is fine for now.

3) Same way. Just put a small dot on the center. PRactice mounting the HSF w/o AS5. You want to mount it in a quick manner so it smashes the AS5 and spreads it out nicely. Remember, YOU ARE NOT SPREADING the AS5. The HSF is via its weight/pressure. That's why it is important that you get the mounting down well. You don't want to be playing around and smashing that AS5 and smearing it all over the place. 1 or 2 practice shots is good enough.

4) I recommend you read this guide http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6615

5) For RAID, you will need a floppy disk for drivers. Press F6 on Windows install. If you are NOT doing RAID, you will NOT need a floppy disk as drivers. NF3 and NF4 chipsets are capable of recognizing SATA devices through Windows installation.

6) If you have ANY trouble, consult people here or DFI Street. Don't freak out.

I tried to research so much on DFI-street but even then I couldn't boot the first time with my 3700+ and Ultra-D. But I was patient, and it soon ran... The thing for me was that CPU fan could not be in the CPU fan plug. I had to put it in FAN5 or any other fan connector (I had a medium speed 120mm panaflo btw)
 
Originally posted by: mOeeOm
I wish you didnt buy:

1) The corsair ram.....corsair + dfi = 🙁

2) The asus x800xl...the asus one some of them are underclocked, mine wasn't, its at 400/490, but some asus x800xl are 400/350....please link to yours to make sure.
Click to expand...

1)Has anyone else encountered problems with corsair + dfi?

2)Asus - X800XL link here .. Is this one ok?

--

3) I noticed everybody shunning RAID 0 .. however, I mainly work with video editing/graphic design (premiere pro/after effects/cs2/illustrator) .. so in this scenario, would raid 0 be worth it? would RAID 10 perhaps be worth it? or is the gain of speed/reliability not going to offset the loss of disk space?

--

Thanks for all your replies

-Chris




 
Maybe I'm blind, but I can't find the core and memory...make sure they are 400/490(980), if yes, then you are fine. I've also noticed that the asus x800xl gets 4820-4840 on 3dmark05...but the vanilla gets 4900-5000....what does this mena? like a 5-10 frames difference in some games, but the asus is cheaper than others.

I havn't seen someone put a corsair into a dfi without problems....they are just not compatible, and if they do work, its after a lot of tweaking and headaches, stick with OCZ and spare yourself hell.
 
Originally posted by: bigsexychris
some opening info:

1) Hi. My name is Chris and I am a Hardcore Lurker.
2) I have thoroughly searched/researched the archives before posting
3) I know a lot of people are sick of "my nu system build is so uber l33t HELP LOLROFL" posts that have been popping up in GH
4) In light of 3 & 4, I will attempt to not repeat questions that have been answered to death
5) I will probably look foolish by repeating questions that have been answered to death
6) Thanks 🙂

--------Mucho Deleto-----

So now onto a few questions. Thanks in advance to whoever happens to answer!

1) Although it's a little late, does anyone see any major/obvious/glaring/i'manidiot incompatibility issues? This is a remote possibility, but I'd feel better getting another opinion.

2) The fans will be setup as follows: (a)120mm rear exhaust fan blowing out (b) 120mm front fan sucking air in (c)92mm fan in air duct to cool cpu .. would an 80mm fan for the vga (supported by the case) make a noticeable difference in temps?

3) I'm scared of applying arctic silver 5. I will probably curl up in a ball and cry for several days if I don't get it right. I've read arctic's installation guide suggesting 1 drop (2/3 size of a bb) in the middle, but I have not been able to find any legitimate information about possible different application techniques for X2's. Any advice?

4) I've read so many pc construction guides, that I'm overwhelmed with build orders, procedures, etc. Please give me a very brief idea of what the a decent build order is (i.e. first put in psu, second processor, third heatsink). And please talk from personal experience.

5) I'm putting the two hitachi's in RAID 0, but I want to make sure I format them correctly the first time through to avoid installing windows multiple times. What's a foolproof way to make sure they are setup correctly?

6) This one actually means a lot to me and I think it would be cool if a lot of people commented, but please share a personal tip or trick you use when building your rigs to make sure you build them correctly.


Whoever is still reading is a saint. Even if you can only answer one of these questions, I would greatly appreciate your input.

I'm not going to take all this information and run with it either. I hope to document my system build with pics and commentary to help other custom pc virgins feel a little more comfortable building their own. Thanks again!


-Chris (not necessarily big and/or sexy)
Click to expand...

If it's okay I'll refer to you as Hard Core Lurker instead of BigSexyChris. It makes me feel a hell of a lot better about helping you. 😎

First let me say that second Budman's suggestion to check out Mech's guide. It should be the only one you need, and if you need more then post it in here.

Here's how I did my first few builds...

Turn off the TV and any distractions. You don't want to get knee deep into the build, get lost and then wonder if you did or didn't do something.

Clear a space for your work area. Keep kids and pets away. Fix yourself a non alcoholic drink to sip on while you step back and look at your progress every few minutes.

Get a good phillips screwdriver and some needle nose pliers for the one screw you will drop somewhere. I also use a nutdriver or pliers for the standoffs.

Get your AS-5 and some alcohol with a cloth that is as lint free as possible. I never worried about using the 110% alcohol or whatever it is, just get the highest content you can find at the drug store. You'll need it for the AS-5 cleanup.

Check the power plugs on the PS and make a mental note of how you want and need to route them during assembly.

Install the standoffs finger tight, then no more than a quarter turn tighter with a wrench or pliers. Any more than that and you will pull the threads out. Don't worry - just don't go beyond snug tight so they can't back out if you have to remove the MB screws.

Install the drives. Start with opticals first. Either check or set the jumpers for to CS for cable select or use the needle nose to set jumpers to master and slave.

This is optional. I install the CPU and HS with the board out. Some do it the other way. The one that works best is the one you want, just don't pick up the board by the HS. Use the AS-5 as per the instructions. I don't have an X-2 core so I can't say how much you REALLY need. Less is better as long as the core will be covered.

Ease the board down on to the standoffs. They may be a fraction of an inch off. Move the board around in the backing plate until all ports are extended through the cutouts. This should help align the holes with the standoffs.

Start your first screw in the center but don't tighten it until the rest of the screws are in and you know you won't have to nudge the board again. Tighten them snug. They aren't holding any moving parts so don't crank on them.

Add your memory according to the board's instructions, usually DIMM 1 and 2 if you are using two sticks.

Insert the cards making sure they all fit firmly into the slots. Secure them with the single set screw usually provided with the case.

Route your cables.

Connect the pins from the case switches and LEDs.

That's a basic rundown of how I built my first few systems, but you will need the MB book and by all means do read up on Mech's guide for anything I left out. Come back here for help if you need it.

One more note of advice. You have a lot of add-on devices like numerous fans, controller and RAID. If you are fully committed to going with RAID in any form I would follow the instructions and get the board booting and load the OS. Be 100% certain you have connected the CPU fan and leave the rest along with the fan controller for later when you have the system running and can breath easy again.
 
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