1st Ever Homebuild - Need some help/input!

[randomhero1090]

Here's what I got....

Case: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FB65CE/ref=oss_product
CPU: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TQYUAE/ref=oss_product
MB: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DVZZLM/ref=oss_product
HD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MQC0P8/ref=oss_product
RAM: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004APA58I/ref=oss_product (times 2)
GPU: PNY XLR8 GeForce GTX 460 1GB (already in hand)
PSU: Antex 550w (already in hand)

All in, in for about $650. Got the OS from the wife's work (edu) for $6. Win 7 Pro. Gives me room to go SLI down the road, add more RAM, even move to a 6-core.

Couple questions...
1) Link to a GOOD "build your own PC" guide? I've setup BIOS, full hardware installs, but never a completely-from-scratch system.

2) Don't plan on OC'ing. Recommend a good cooling unit that's not going to break the bank.

 

[banthracis]

1. Plenty in the stickies. In fact, there's even a whole buncha "best configs" for all prices/purposes threads currently stickied.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/288241-31-read-posting-buyer-guides-troubleshooting

2. Stock cooling that comes with CPU is fine.

 

[sadams04]

As banthracis said, stock cooling is fine if you are not overclocking. If you decide to OC, this aftermarket cooler will do you well... => http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=212-_-35-103-065-_-Product

 

[randomhero1090]

I added that Cooler to my order. I'd rather install it right away, and then if I decided to do some OC'ing, i'm good to go.

$25 on Amazon, can't go wrong.

 

[randomhero1090]

Thanks for the link banthracis. Read the "Step-by-Step Guide to Building a PC." Pretty much exactly what I thought. I got my existing system to "learn" from. I've installed every single part of a computer at one point in my life. But I can't remember ever booting a system up "fresh."

No jumpers I need to worry about or anything???

 

[banthracis]

Nope, no jumpers unless you're breadboarding. If not, just push the power button (just make sure the hard switch on the back of the PSU is on =D).

 

[randomhero1090]

Serious banthracis... Is it really that "easy" anymore? I mean. I put "easy" in quotes because items could be DOA and cause you to remove all of your hair via pulling.

Wanna know how long its been since I did any real PC work? I panicked a little when I realized I forgot an Ethernet card, then realized they've been built into the boards for years now

 

[banthracis]

Haha, well if you're used to doing new builds it's not bad. If you have spare parts lying around like I do, you can easily isolate an issue and have the system running in a few hrs at most.

Honestly, you can do a new build in 3 hrs, 2 of which are spent on cabling =P.

Then it's another day or so running Prime 95, memtest and Furmark before moving on to overclocking.

The testing is easy though, just start and come back after you wake up/get back from work/school.

 

[randomhero1090]

Never did a build from complete scratch. Never installed a motherboard. However, i've stripped down several systems to just the case/mobo and installed all new parts from there. I've played in the BIOS settings enough to know what's going on. Found enough guides on here to figure it out. Again, i'm not doing anything crazy. Just a standard build/install. From there, I might do some overclocking and such.

I've got 2 existing systems to "learn from" or use working parts off of. So that's the good news.

I'm so anal, i'll spend a day on the cabling.

Got to admit, I needed a project to hold me over during the winter (play a ton of golf during the spring, summer, fall). I am really looking forward to working on the system!!!!

Testing....didn't even think of that......