The (new) Official PC building thread!

billybob,

We'll be here when you need us!

Clock On,
theone :>)

 

are they SATA (usually a red cable) or are they IDE (thin, but very wide, usually grey or black)

SATA is very easy, you just take one end of the cable and plug it on the motherboard and the other on the drive, you dont have to worry about master and slave. Then you give it power with a SATA power cable (if you power supply does not have this then you just get an adapter, and some hard drives have both SATA and molex power connectors)

IDE is also very easy, but if you computer is new it should no have it

 

They're pretty simple, especially as mikeh said, if they're S-ATA. The CD/DVD drive probably won't be S-ATA though, so what you nee dot ensure is:
The IDE cable's the right way round (usually there's a blue end at the motherboard)
The IDE cable's the right way up (there's a spot where a pin's missing in the connector to help you get it right)
The correct Jumper is set. You'll want the CD Drive as Master if there are no other IDE devices present.

 

Thought this needed some attention from the people in the know!!! I don't know about this PSU but I think it's upper end Antec and what a deal. I'll leave it up to the "gurus" to comment and leave their opinion on the PSU.

...gm

Antec TruePower Quattro 850

 

that looks like a great PSU, i have an antec and it works great

 

The fan thing for my processor, has a cable coming out of it, obviously needs to be plugged in the motherboard. Its got three pin holes in it, the closest i can find it one with 4 pins. It connects okay as i just leave the end pin blank, is this right?

 

Right, i cant even fit the dam thing in the box!!

LOL. I cannot figure out how to screw in my motherboard, attaching it to the case...its a socket AM2 motherboard, and a standard towercase from ebuyer. None of the little holes in each corner seem to line up with any hole in the tower case :S

 

it will be fine in a 4pin socket

Are you sure you have a case that supports ATX? oh and did you use this: http://www.silverpcs.com/images/screws_mb_mount.jpg (you usually need to)

 

yes, you must use risers like those before you screw them in. As for the holes matching up, assuming you bought an ATX motherboard, and an ATX case, they will.

 

Yes i have a cheap standard casecom case, but it specifically states its compatible with ATX and MATX motherboards.

and this motherboard: http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119408

So they should be, and those risers...more info ?

I did say i was a noob, i meant it

 

They look like those things in the picture. You screw THOSe into the motherboard holes, then put the motherboard on top of them, and screw the board into the risers.

 

i seeee

 

Install the rear I/O panel into case...and maybe H/D's...If ATA...Pre-set H/D to Master or Slave...Don't know what case you have...
Then Install CPU...and Ram...on to M/B before...installing M/B in case...

Also Do Not "Over Tighten Screws" and Crush the M/B...

Then Apply Arctic Silver or Paste...Then Install CPU Cooler...P/S...DVD Drives...Pre-set CD/DVD Drives to Master or Slave...then install Video and Audio Card if you have one...
Then Hook-up front of Case Wires to M/B Header...
Hook-up DVD and HD Drive Cables to M/B...
Then Route P/S Wires and attach to all Components...and finally wire all case fans to appropriate headers on M/B...

Make Sure that the CPU Cooler is hooked up to the "CPU Fan Header" for proper monitoring by M/B's...CPU Thermal Protection...

 

billybob,

That's a really great price on that Power Supply! Newegg gets $249 for the same one! Compusa is out of stock on them at the moment, so I suspect that's the last we'll see at that price!

Clock On,
theone :>(

 

just make sure you put the risers ONLY wherer you need them or you will kill the board (the metal will short something for sure.

So just put one riser in at a time while making SURE it matches up with the motherboard holes


this is what happens when you dont line them up:

1. http://www.aditus.nu/jpgraph/img/fried_server/heat1.jpg

2. http://www.health-in-action.org/library/pdf/Shaken Baby/Images/Waa cry baby2.jpg

 

It was greensman who posted the PSU, Russ, Billybob's from the UK!

Mikeh: That can also happen if you overtighten the screws, I've never seen a crushed MB, but I do know some motherboards won't POST if you do up the screws too tight.

 

okay then.

Sam, will i have some of those with my case/motherboard? Or will i have to buy some.

(i havent checked to see if i have them included yet)

 

They should always be included with the case. Even a SuperFlower ebuyer extra value case I paid £25 including delivery for had them, so yours should.

 

okay then. i did get a bag of screws i kept safely

 

Good! If in doubt, keep the screws!