Any first time PC building tips?

FenrirHS

Honorable
Feb 3, 2015
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10,680
Quick backstory: I'm 14 and my dad'd promised me that if i got accepted in an elite high school he'd give me around 2000 BGN for a new gaming PC. Since I got accepted in the 2nd most elite school in my country (Bulgaria) the deal is on and he just got back from a business trip (high working positions come at a price, sadly) and decided to go on a 1 week vacation. By the time he's back, I'm supposed to be ready with a build idea so we can buy the parts as soon as we can when he gets home.

Now, I'm posting my build on the bottom (if anyone's wondering), components are clear to me. But I've got some issues with the actual build. I'm pretty sure that I haven't learned everything on building a PC from just watching a 1 hour tutorial video. My main problem is wiring. Are the instructions written on the PSU manual, the case manual, the motherboard manual, or all of them? The other one is compatibility with my monitor. I have a VGA 1080p monitor but the GPU I've chosen doesn't have a VGA port. Will I be fine with a DVI-I M to VGA F adapter or do I have to consider another adapter (or a brand new monitor that already has a DVI/HDMI/Displayport plug)? Here's the build I've prepared:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wNxxBm

P.S. If you're worried about the price or whether my dad is fine with this build, he is more than fine with it. This was supposed to be a reward for my dedication to studying and he actually encouraged me to build my own PC so I can handle any troubleshooting easier in the future. I've shown him the build and he's really happy that I'm showing more interest in I.T. Oh, and sorry for my bad English, it's not my native language.
 
Solution
It's very important that you read the motherboard manual before doing anything else. The other manuals are also important but the motherboard one is the most important in my opinion. Pay particular attention to fitting the CPU into the motherboard as this varies between motherboard brands so it is essential that you read the manual carefully. Also, there will be a particular way that you're supposed to arrange the RAM in your motherboard.

You're best to breadboard your build before putting it into the case.

First, on a non-conductive surface like a wooden table or piece of cardboard (NOT CARPET!) install CPU + cooler, RAM and PSU motherboard connections. Connect to monitor and turn on. You can turn it on by shorting the on/off pins...

plywrlw

Admirable
It's very important that you read the motherboard manual before doing anything else. The other manuals are also important but the motherboard one is the most important in my opinion. Pay particular attention to fitting the CPU into the motherboard as this varies between motherboard brands so it is essential that you read the manual carefully. Also, there will be a particular way that you're supposed to arrange the RAM in your motherboard.

You're best to breadboard your build before putting it into the case.

First, on a non-conductive surface like a wooden table or piece of cardboard (NOT CARPET!) install CPU + cooler, RAM and PSU motherboard connections. Connect to monitor and turn on. You can turn it on by shorting the on/off pins on the motherboard (see manual) or by connecting the on/off switch on your case (again, see manual for motherboard and case). If your PC boots into the BIOS, great :), if not you'll need to go through some troubleshooting steps.

Once you know the foundation of your PC is OK you can put it into the case and see if it boots into the BIOS OK. If it does you can start to add the other components like GPU and HDD. This way, if you have problems, you will know which part(s) is causing it.

You're absolutely fine using an adaptor for your display. The DVI/VGA one that comes in the box with your GPU should be fine. You will see huge speed improvements (mainly outside gaming) with an SSD.

Congratulations on getting into a good school and your English is excellent; much better than my Bulgarian!

If you run into any problems just get back in touch on these forums. People are always happy to help.
 
Solution