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Some building questions

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Ok so I'm in the process of building my first computer. I had a few questions that I wanted to be sure about:

1) My PSU has 4 PCIe x6 / x8 compatible cables. My video card (which I forgot if it's x6 or x8) says in general to not plug in a x6 into a x8 power cable. I'm assuming that this only applies to true x8 only power cables, and not power cables that are x6 and x8 compatible. I just wanted to make sure before I hooked it up (and again my vid card might be x8 anyways).

2) I have an optical drive and a hard drive which both need to be connected to power via sata power cables. There are two sata power cables from my PSU and they both have multiple plug-ins along the cords (which I know is normal). My question is should I use the same power cable for both drives or use separate ones? Also, does it matter which plug-in along the cable that I use for each drive?

3) I also broke off the metal tabs on my I/O panel. After this I read that they are used to ground the ports. How critical is it that I broke them off? Do I need to somehow get a new I/O panel or is it not that big of a deal?

4) What is the best way to install drivers? I plan to download them onto a flash drive and install them that way but should I intall them all at once or install one at a time and restart between every driver?

Should I update my BIOS?

Should I install all of these motherboard drivers: http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=880G%20Extr...

5) What do I need to know about configuring my BIOS? Do I just check that the settings are what my motherboard/cpu manuals recommend?

6) I think the guides have some links to some temperature monitoring programs. How do I know if my system is too hot?

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
MoBo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Thanks for any help! I know it's a lot of questions!

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Question 1) Not answered.

Question 2) It is ok to have them on the same plugin, one thing you must make sure of though. You must make sure that the sata cable for the hard drive has an L shaped end, this end plugs into the motherboard. That is all.

Question 3) I do not think there is much to worry about, but if you really do not want your computer to fry, i suggest you get a new one, they can't be really expensive. Although make sure it is compatible with your mobo.

Question 4) You just need to have your network driver, downloaded using another computer, this way you can access the internet and download the drivers from your newly built PC.

Question 5) You can download BIOS updaters, usually it is not needed. They will flash your BIOS.

Question)
0-40 C = OK
40-60 = SATISFACTORY
60 + = NOT GOOD

good luck!

Best solution

Question 1) It is okay to use a 6+2pin PCIe cable for a 8pin slot on your GPU. It isn't okay to use just a 6pin PCIe cable for a 8pin slot on your GPU.

Question 2) ^+1

Question 3) I would get a replacement but for the time being, you can run without one installed and it won't cause any issues.

Question 4) ^+1... If installing Win7, it will most likely have the network drivers at which point you want to install your Graphics card driver, MOBI drivers, anti-virus software and Windows updates. Reboot during the process when required.

Question 5) ^+1... On BIOS updates. You will want to verify/set your RAM is running at listed voltage, speed and timings on the RAM sticks. Overclocking adjustments can be dicussed when that step is made.

Question 6) ^+1... Specially when running idle (overclocked or not). You may see some higher temps (70C's) when running a full load test (Prime95 is an example) at stock or overclocked. It is okay.

Thanks for the answers. Just to clarify:

2) Ok so for my hdd's and optical drive's power I have them on the same SATA power cable (L-shaped but bigger then data cable) and of course I have separate SATA data cables going to sata ports on the MoBo.

4) Ok, I will install anti-vir and firewall from usb before connecting to internet, then use win7 to download updates to drivers.

5) I won't worry about BIOS unless I have problems.

6) Temp should be <60 C while idle, if it gets to high 70's during games I should worry about it.

Thanks!
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Yes... except Question 6)

If you are idleing at 45C < 60C, you need to review your thermal compound and heat sink application to make sure they are installed properly. You shouln't idle above 40C unless your room is really hot (non-overclocked system).

Ok.

I now have another question after trying to plug in the system panel header. So my MoBo has a system panel header with: PLED + and - , HDLED + and - , PWRBTN # with a ground across from it, and RESET # with a ground across from it.

It also has a power LED header which is 3 pin and has: PLED + for 2 pins and PLED - for the other.

My case cables have a 1-pin power led + and 1 pin power led -. Which header do these plug into? Also my HDDLED has a red and black wire--black is negative? Power SW has a green and black cable--black is ground? Reset switch has a blue and white cable--white is ground?

My fans have peripheral power connectors so I don't need to worry about using the fan power headers on the motherboard as long as each fan is plugged into something for power? (this excludes cpu fan of course which is plugged into the correct header)

Thanks again for the help.
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