My First Build - help a brother out

Ok so I 've been using PC's for about 10 years now but never actually built one from the ground up. This will be my first. Everything is ordered and will be here Thursday.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums [...] 1192378761


I've installed things before like memory , vid cards , sound cards , dvd drives , so things like that are no problem.

Anything else I should know before doing it?

The list of parts looks very good.

I ASSume you know about static and wrist straps

You probably already know this, but Vista 32-bit will not recognize all of your RAM. To get the full 4GB you'll need a 64-bit OS.

Do you have to use a wrist strap? I mean all you do is touch a metal that connects to the earth to discharge most of the electricity. Theoretically.

I suggest breadboarding (assembling all the parts on an insulated surface outside the case) the system to test all the parts before you install them inside the case. After one problem build about 5 years ago, I always breadboard. I use a nylon cutting board for an insulated surface.

Whether you do breadboard or not, install the HSF before you install the motherboard in the case. The 4 pushpins that Intel uses to mount it's stock HSF has caused problems before. It is much easier to check for proper installation with motherboard outside the case.

RTFM and doublecheck all of your connections.

I know but I didn't want the 64 bit right now. I am not running any 64 bit apps. Theres no reason to get it.
When 64 bit becomes standard stuff then I'll just upgrade to it and buy more memory. Plus I read alot of people have incompatibility problems with it.


"Put simply, running a 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista does not make sense for most people, though I suspect that will change over time. While the Vista x64 versions surprised me with their excellent hardware compatibility--a claim I'd never make about Windows XP Professional x64 Edition--nagging software compatibility issues ultimately sunk any hopes I had of moving to the 64-bit system."

That is not true a lot of times you will see up to 3.5GB of ram on a 32bit os. And after you have 3GB is is awesome.

Yep, and his video card has 512MB, so it'll take a sizable chunk. If I were to guess I'd say he'll end up with around 3.2GB.

First, you should only run one sound card at a time and it would be easier to disable the onboard sound in the BIOS and try the Creative card rather than uninstalling the Creative card. If you've already uninstalled the Creative card, then work with the onboard. Regardless of which card you'll use make sure that the speakers are plugged into the correct plug, if they are colored, it should be the green one. If they're not covered, check the manual that came with the audio card. Make sure the speakers are plugged in and turned on. Check the sound card software and make sure nothing is muted. I just installed a new sound card that at first didn't work, found out I ASSumed I had it plugged into the correct connection on the card, which I didn't

[quotemsg=1752665,18,297545]maybe it isnt turned on in Bios for the onboard card plugin?[/quotems

It's possible, check in the BIOS under on board devices and make sure the sound card is enabled. Did you install the on board audio drivers? If I remember correctly, there are drive problems with some Creative cards and Vista.