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Couple of simple questions about building a new computer

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  • Computers
  • Graphics Cards
  • Processors
  • Windows 8
  • Hard Drives
Last response: in Components
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September 22, 2014 2:54:14 PM

So I am building my first computer, and I have a few questions. These questions may be simple, but this is my first time building.

My (theoretical) build:
fx 6300 (Already bought)
Asus M5A97 R2.0
Gigabyte r7 260x (already bought)
WD Black 7200rpm 1TB drive (bought)
Corsair CX430m 80+ Bronze PSU (bought)
NZXT S340 (???)
Ram : IDK, whatever's on sale during thanksgiving

1. Is it okay if I touch the pins on the gold side of my processor gently without bending any pins? Will the oil on my hands cause any inconveniences, or will the static electricity fry it?
2. On pcpartpicker, it says on the bottom "Some AMD 970 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Vishera CPUs". Do I need to be of concern? I read that most manufacturers have they BIOS factory updated so that I can just run it without any problems.
3. When I ordered my HDD, it came in only as the HDD itself in a little bag. Is this normal? Or was it supposed to come with cables and stuff/
4. Is it okay if I touch the green side of my GPU, or will it fry it? It's kinda hard having to only hold it by the side that's sticking out of the case. Can I hold it on my hand touching the green part, or can I touch the fans and heatsink?
5. I don't have an optical drive, and am not planning to buy one. How will I install the driver update for my graphics card? Will it run without them? Can I plug in everything and then go download them online?
6. I'm planning to buy Windows 8.1 online, and it's only gonna give me an activation key. As I don't have an optical drive, how will I download windows? (Give detailed step by step answer please)
7. Do I need a sound card to hear sound?
8. On what settings and fps will I be able to run new games like Sniper Elite 3, Battlefield 4, and upcoming games like farcry 4 and Assassin's Creed Unity?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, please indicate which question number you are answering, and please don't just tell me to scrap what I have and go with a build you made. I don't expect anybody to answer all of them at once, but just try.

More about : couple simple questions building computer

September 22, 2014 3:16:37 PM

1. I recommend that you don't, but you should be okay.
2. Do not worry, I believe that the update will notify you if it is needed
3. Yea, this is normal. When mine came in, I was concerned, but it is alright. Cables come with the motherboard
4. You should be okay, but don't force anything and make sure your hands are dry
5. Just get an optical drive. It is only around $15 and will save you a lot of trouble.
6. Again, just get an optical drive. It's alright to have one, and will save you a lot of trouble.
7. No, you do not. The motherboard has onboard sound.
8. Google those games along with PC specs. They will tell you.

This is all I know. Hope it helps!

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a c 333 U Graphics card
a b * Windows 8
September 22, 2014 3:30:42 PM

1) Not advisable! The first thing every CPU manufacturer states is not to touch the pin side, always hold the processor by the edges.
2) If you are buying new, that won't be a concern. All boards should be Vishera aware by now.
3) You probably ordered an OEM HDD. That is one that is sold in bulk like the builders buy. Your PSU and MB will have the cables you need.
4) Not sure what the "green side" is that you are referring to. But the gfx card is not that delicate. Just don't grab the fan itself.
5) Yes, the card will run w/o a driver. But you will want the latest driver anyway. Just download it from the AMD site and install it. http://support.amd.com/en-us/download
6) I presume they will let you download a .ISO file that can either be used to burn a DVD or convert to a flash drive with this tool: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.H...
Not sure how it works for Win8. I quit using Win8 long time ago. I like an OS that is intuitive.
7) No. The MB contains a sound chip that is more than adequate for most people.
8) At 1080p resolution with that R7-260X you will probably be having to reduce settings to ~ medium for smooth frame rates. I can't say the exact FPS because that depends on settings and other variables.

One note: Your MB will come with a disk containing all the drivers needed to install once you are in the Win environment. Since you won't have an optical drive, you will want to download the latest versions of those drivers from the board's website and unzip them to a flash drive. http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/HelpDesk_...
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September 22, 2014 3:34:43 PM

Shadeslayer110 said:
1. I recommend that you don't, but you should be okay.
2. Do not worry, I believe that the update will notify you if it is needed
3. Yea, this is normal. When mine came in, I was concerned, but it is alright. Cables come with the motherboard
4. You should be okay, but don't force anything and make sure your hands are dry
5. Just get an optical drive. It is only around $15 and will save you a lot of trouble.
6. Again, just get an optical drive. It's alright to have one, and will save you a lot of trouble.
7. No, you do not. The motherboard has onboard sound.
8. Google those games along with PC specs. They will tell you.

This is all I know. Hope it helps!



Thanks for the quick answer. But...
I don't plan on getting an optical drive, because the case, NZXT s340, does not have 5.25" drive bays. I would get a case with optical drives, but so far this is my favorite case. Maybe I can do with an external optical drive, but even then, how would I download windows? I'm only getting a product key. Let's start with the assumption that I won't get an optical drive. I know that I can boot from a USB and install windows from there, but how would I get windows in there in the first place? And I'm asking that can I start and run the computer without updating the drives on my gpu so that I can go on the internet and download the drives manually from the website? What website do I go to, AMD or Gigabyte?
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September 22, 2014 3:40:10 PM

clutchc said:
1) Not advisable! The first thing every CPU manufacturer states is not to touch the pin side, always hold the processor by the edges.
2) If you are buying new, that won't be a concern. All boards should be Vishera aware by now.
3) You probably ordered an OEM HDD. That is one that is sold in bulk like the builders buy. Your PSU and MB will have the cables you need.
4) Not sure what the "green side" is that you are referring to. But the gfx card is not that delicate. Just don't grab the fan itself.
5) Yes, the card will run w/o a driver. But you will want the latest driver anyway. Just download it from the AMD site and install it. http://support.amd.com/en-us/download
6) I presume they will let you download a .ISO file that can either be used to burn a DVD or convert to a flash drive with this tool: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.H...
Not sure how it works for Win8. I quit using Win8 long time ago. I like an OS that is intuitive.
7) No. The MB contains a sound chip that is more than adequate for most people.
8) At 1080p resolution with that R7-260X you will probably be having to reduce settings to ~ medium for smooth frame rates. I can't say the exact FPS because that depends on settings and other variables.

One note: Your MB will come with a disk containing all the drivers needed to install once you are in the Win environment. Since you won't have an optical drive, you will want to download the latest versions of those drivers from the board's website and unzip them to a flash drive. http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/HelpDesk_...


Thank you! This is a nice help, but I'm just not sure how I will be able to get windows onto a flash drive. Can you post a step by step how to guide for that? I'm not a big fan of reading these vague FAQs, since I'm not too good at deciphering it. Maybe also include on how to get it on a CD too, since I might just get an external optical drive and save me some trouble. Will that work? Or should I get another case with an internal optical drive?
And wait, for the mother board drivers, can I have everything up and running and install them straight from the website like the GPU drivers? Or do I NEED to download them into a flash drive and install them from there? If so, can I copy the files on the CD onto a flash drive and do that?
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a c 333 U Graphics card
a b * Windows 8
September 22, 2014 3:57:22 PM

I don't do Win8, so I am not familiar with the odd changes Microsoft made to a perfectly good OS. You are goinf to have to read the info I sent or post a seperate question about that.

If you are very new to building a PC, I would advise you to get either an external DVD drive or change your case to one that will accept an optical drive. Optical drives can be had for less than $20.

Basically, you finish your build, see that it can boot to BIOS, make any changes you feel you need in BIOS, and then install Win. After Win has installed, you will run into a problem w/o an optical drive. Unless Win8 is different from Win7, it will not recognize your LAN. Therefore it will not install a default LAN driver for internet connection. You will have to have the LAN driver already on your flash drive so you can install it and begin downloading the other drivers and utilities you may want.
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September 22, 2014 4:11:21 PM

clutchc said:
I don't do Win8, so I am not familiar with the odd changes Microsoft made to a perfectly good OS. You are goinf to have to read the info I sent or post a seperate question about that.

If you are very new to building a PC, I would advise you to get either an external DVD drive or change your case to one that will accept an optical drive. Optical drives can be had for less than $20.

Basically, you finish your build, see that it can boot to BIOS, make any changes you feel you need in BIOS, and then install Win. After Win has installed, you will run into a problem w/o an optical drive. Unless Win8 is different from Win7, it will not recognize your LAN. Therefore it will not install a default LAN driver for internet connection. You will have to have the LAN driver already on your flash drive so you can install it and begin downloading the other drivers and utilities you may want.


Nyah, might as well get an external optical drive so that I can save myself the trouble but still be able to keep the case. Any recommendations?
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September 23, 2014 12:41:48 PM

Ray Tsou said:
Shadeslayer110 said:
1. I recommend that you don't, but you should be okay.
2. Do not worry, I believe that the update will notify you if it is needed
3. Yea, this is normal. When mine came in, I was concerned, but it is alright. Cables come with the motherboard
4. You should be okay, but don't force anything and make sure your hands are dry
5. Just get an optical drive. It is only around $15 and will save you a lot of trouble.
6. Again, just get an optical drive. It's alright to have one, and will save you a lot of trouble.
7. No, you do not. The motherboard has onboard sound.
8. Google those games along with PC specs. They will tell you.

This is all I know. Hope it helps!



Thanks for the quick answer. But...
I don't plan on getting an optical drive, because the case, NZXT s340, does not have 5.25" drive bays. I would get a case with optical drives, but so far this is my favorite case. Maybe I can do with an external optical drive, but even then, how would I download windows? I'm only getting a product key. Let's start with the assumption that I won't get an optical drive. I know that I can boot from a USB and install windows from there, but how would I get windows in there in the first place? And I'm asking that can I start and run the computer without updating the drives on my gpu so that I can go on the internet and download the drives manually from the website? What website do I go to, AMD or Gigabyte?


Alright! Well, have fun and hopefully everything works out!
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