First build, guidance needed please

[captaincranky]

I obviously can't speak to UK price or availability, but there is a version of the Antec 300 case called the, "300 Illusion". This has 5 fans pre-installed. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...6&cm_re=antec_300_case-_-11-129-066-_-Product It would be up to you to determine, if the value of the added fans, would cover the price increase for this version.

 

[vale46]

Mmmm cant seem to find a UK stockist so by the time i payed delivery i think it would be dearer, but thanks for the option, good find mate

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Looks good to me. All the cables you need will be supplied with the motherboard and PSU, so don't worry about anything.

 

[vale46]

Cool ;p better tell santa to get my package ready for delivery then lol wish me luck.

I am sure i will be back shortly to ask some more questions.

Just wanted so say a MASSIVE THANK YOU for the support.

Till my next set of questions.... lol kindest regards,

Vale.

 

[vale46]

AArrrggghhhhh bloody Ebuyer !!! what a set of @@@@@@@ !!

I spent a week sorting my order and they are giving me the run around so i need to conform the mother board as eBuyer are out of stock but amazon have one that is almost the same i just need someone to clarify its the same model please

Ebuers was called

Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 iX58 Socket 1366 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/231360

Amazons is called

Gigabyte SKT-1366 X58-USB3 Motherboard
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0042FED8E/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

I just need to know if its the same board please so i can order now !!! lol

Thanks for the help

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Yep, that's the same board.

 

[vale46]

Your a star mate all ordered again and saved £97 merry xmas lol

Al explain my issue with ebuyer later, thanks again lord.

P.S. avoid ebuyer !!!! explanation to follow.

 

[vale46]

Ok, all my components are due to arrive over the next 2 days YEY but reading a few of the build guides Sith Lord provided i have a few questions to clarify.

1, some say remove cmos battery for 10 mins before building, some dont mention it ?

2. Some mention Raid ? what is it exactly and do i dont i ?

3. i will get 6 gig of DDR3 (3x2gig), my MB has 6 slots.. how do i choose which slots to use ?

4. is the HD ready to go ? i read on the reviews that you need to format it in windows managment before windows will recognise it ? how can i do this before windows goes in ?

and last but not least.

5. Antistatic ? again some mention it some dont... my house is totally carpeted so how best can i make sure i dont blow up my new bits ?

I have, in the past, changed PSU's, RAM, Optical drives etc and never once thought about static.... have i just been lucky ?

Probably the first set of stupid questions but i hope your help will clear this up for me and for others that daren't ask lol

Thanks again for reading.

 

[captaincranky]

1, some say remove cmos battery for 10 mins before building, some dont mention it ?.

There's absolutely no need to do this as a matter of course.

2. Some mention Raid ? what is it exactly and do i dont i ?

Put it completely out of your head.

3. i will get 6 gig of DDR3 (3x2gig), my MB has 6 slots.. how do i choose which slots to use ?

You'll use 3 slots of the SAME COLOR.. You need to read the manual as to which socket MUST be populated, then the remaining two sticks, go in the same color sockets.

4. is the HD ready to go ? i read on the reviews that you need to format it in windows managment before windows will recognise it ? how can i do this before windows goes in ?

N-O, NO, N-O. When you install Windows the OS drive, (C:/) will be formatted by Windows. The only decision you will need to make is if you want to partition the drive. I suggest 120 to 160 GB for the OS drive. Others will say something else. We're all correct, but I'm more correct than they are.

I have, in the past, changed PSU's, RAM, Optical drives etc and never once thought about static.... have i just been lucky ?

How about if we agree that it wasn't skill.

5. Antistatic ? again some mention it some dont... my house is totally carpeted so how best can i make sure i dont blow up my new bits ?

First, buy an anti-static wristband; Best Buy sells one, (or did), for about 8 bucks. If not, you should hve ordered one with your goodies.

Second; this is the worst time of the year for static. (At least in the northern hemisphere). Cold dry air = lots of static.

Third; keep your pets away from any parts, and an open case. The average cat can kill a full grown computer with one body rub.

Fourth; Find a large piece of cardboard to stand on while you're working. That will stop you from charging up from the carpet.

And finally fifth: Install the PSU first. Then, plug the surge supressor into a grounded outlet . THEN, WITH the SURGE SUPPRESSOR TURNED OFF, plug the PSU into it, put your wristband on and hook it to the case. Make sure you have bare metal on the case under the clip.

As you proceed, continually touch bare metal on the case, each and every time, BEFORE you touch ANY components. Yes, even while you're wearing the wristband. You can't be too careful.

 

[vale46]

Ace, thanks captain, i am ordering a wrist banned now, then i will kill the cat lol

Appreciate your input matey

 

[vale46]

just a quick question.... i just got some money for xmas and wondered how best to use it, i know i have got 6gig of ram and the i7 950 chip and something was said about this combination working best as the CPU / ram or MB (cant remember) is configured to use 6 gig, or something,
As the MB has 6 slots, would it be beneficial to me to get another 6gig of the same ram making a total of 12gig or should i leave it at 6 gig ?
If you remember, i am using W7 ultimate 64 and my main work flow is photo editing and 3D rendering,
Thanks for any advice

 

[vale46]

btw all my components are due tommorrow and friday so should be building very soon. if the extra ram is viable i can get next day delivery so it all goes in together ?

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

my main work flow is photo editing and 3D rendering,

For that, more RAM is never a bad thing.

 

[vale46]

Thanks sith, i will order a further 6 gig of the same ram. delivery still not here so might try and get it next day delivery if availible.

Jeezzz i just wanna start building it now ;p

 

[vale46]

Hi, i just got my Antec 300 case so only waiting for eBuyer to pull their finger out now so i can commence building ;p yey

The case however is slightly damaged but i am awaiting an email to see what the supplier will do, untill then i noticed that on some of the video tutorials i watched regarding the fitment of the MB that some say to make sure there is a fibre or paper washer between the stand-offs and the MB.

All that my case came with is some brass stand-offs, am i to assume that because of the non-conductive nature of brass that i dont need to buy any extra washers ?

Like i say, all i have is brass stand-offs and steel screws supplied ?

Probably a dumb question but wanted to clear it up

Thanks.

 

[captaincranky]

Look at your motherboard's mounting screw holes. If there are a ring of solder dot's around an individual hole, then it should be grounded, and no insulator is necessary.

If you do not see the tiny solder points, you can generally omit that particular screw, (and the associated standoff), without a problem.

Sometimes, there is a nylon standoff provided in the case fitting pack, if so, (and only if you're paranoid about leaving that particular screw out) , you can use it in the hole that requires insulation also.

I wouldn't bother with it, for this reason; Gigabyte Matx boards are almost random sizes, and invariably don't reach the very last set of mounting posts. Hence, an inch or more of the board hangs in midair. Meh, who cares, they work fine that way.

In a situation such as this, the main power connector could be hanging in midair. So, it helps to support the board gently, (at the edge), when you plug in the main power connector, and the IDE ribbon cable. (AS LONG AS YOU'RE WEARING YOUR ANTI-STATIC WRIST STRAP)!!

If you still have doublts, you can either upload a picture of youuur board, od point us to photos at Newegg.com, so we can have a look.

Different boards require different screws be left out, (or insulated), so this really is a case by case issue.

(Ironically, it's actually a board by board issue, but who writes like that)?

 

[vale46]

Thanks crank, ALL the holes have the solders you mentioned, i have added a link for your viewing, (biggest pic i can find)

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=26177

Should be a straight screw into the brass stand-offs eh ?

 

[vale46]

Also, i got that wrist strap you mentioned so tonight i am gunna fit my HD, align the MB and prepair the MB fixings, Fit my CPU and Heatsink and then fit the MB.

I am then waiting till monday for the other items.

I got some cardboard to stand on and a bit for a work area, with the strap on, (lol) i will touch the metal on the house radiators at the same time as touching the case to totally eliminate charge from me and the case, then i will comence fitting the MB etc.

Wish me luck peeps

 

[vale46]

OK, got CPU and heat sink on, fitted MB and then connected the case wires (think I got em right)

Got the 2 fans in the front and the HD in too, I notice that I have 6 sata connections, 0,1,2,3,4,5
I connected the HD to connection '0' ? hope this is correct the manual is vague.

One thing I want to clear up, the heat sing paste ?

The Intel heat sink comes with 3 pre-applied areas on the sink so I just fitted it as standard, was this ok ? the manual doesnt mention adding extra paste so I didnt. I have got some but wondered what your thoughts were, should I just leave it or take it back off ?

Roll on monday so I can complete the build, weather permitting, its bloody snowing again here

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Yeah, the stock HSF should come with TIM applied.

 

[captaincranky]

Roll on monday so i can complete the build, weather permitting, its bloody snowing again here

So you're building this outside then.....?

 

[red1776]

So you're building this outside then.....?

no! its so Vale can gt to MicroCenter......in the UK....argh, I don't:wave: know what I'm talking about.

 

[vale46]

Hahahaha, im keeping a sence of humour as the UK post is well behind at the mo, considering i ordered most of my parts on the 11/12/10 and im still waiting.

Any how back to the job in hand,

Have i connected the HD to the right sata '0'

And if i were to add another HD is it as simple as just plugging one into say 'sata 1' and then thats it ? when i look in my copmuter will windows already see it as an availble drive ?

also, my 2 fancy blue led fans at the front of the case have both male and female molex plugs, can i connect them together and then only use one molex off the PSU or should i plug them in independent, (fans have no manual)

while you answer these i will be thinking of some more lol

Cheers peeps, snow is getting thicker outside !!! posty better try his bloody hardest ;p

 

[red1776]

Hi Vale
you can run multiple fans off of one molex, they only take about 1.5W a piece, unless you want to independently control rpm through a controller.

**** dont feel to bad, here in Minnesota, we three feet of the white stuff in one 24 hr period.

 

[vale46]

Thanks Greg, i will run the front two off one plug and leave the 2 original case fans plugged independent as they have little fan speed boxes attached.

Difference for you lot over the pond is your kitted out for snow, here in the UK if we get 4inch the country grinds to a halt !!!!! lol, the post service told the post men and women to abandon delivering the other week yet the poor bloody paper boy managed to get out EVERY day !!!!