DIY

Hey there community chums!

I've never built my own pc before and to be frank, I'm a touch wary of doing so but I'm as keen as mustard to pop my DIY cherry!

I've bought a new 400w power supply, Athlon 64 3000+ 939, Gigabyte PCIEXP board with all the bells and whistles, 6600GT, 1 gig dual channel ddr 400, western dig 80 gig 8mb cache etc etc.

I bought this gear as its an upgrade until AMD do their full overhaul with the 940 and ddr 2 next year and that's when I'll spend more.

So I've got it here ready to go and I have not got the coconuts to sit down and dismantle my old pc and put this new gear in. I've read a couple of online DIY help manuals but I'm still not sure.

I can pay some joker $70 on Monday to do all for me and because I'm a coservative bugger I'm thinking of waiting as the Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-9 looks like a trouble maker for the novice, you know.

Any helpful advice guys?

<b><font color=green> "America is full of vociferous minorities and silent majorities". Richard Nixon on the Progressive Party's failed presidential candidate, Henry Wallace. </b> </font color=green>

I have to agree with Mozz-cretin - give it a shot yourself, it's quite straightforward and you'll learn a lot.

I'm the good time that was had by all

Go for it Bill. Look at it this way, if you fock it up first time, you'll never fock it up a second. Not that I think you will.

It's a piece of piss mate. Get stuck into it. Have beer handy though, it's thirsty work. [/RC]

<font color=blue>"My magic words at half-time were f*ck, bollocks, bastard, crap and piss-poor." - Mick McCarthy </font color=blue>

lol!

______________
Welcome to my Shed of Pleasure

Mate, a case is now chilling of a new brew we've got over here called: Pure Blonde. Yep, you read it right, and I dont get the marketing either but the whole deal with it is that its a 'low-carb' type. Had 8 the other night and they're all good!

Do I really need one of those anti-static wrist pieces?

<b><font color=green> "America is full of vociferous minorities and silent majorities". Richard Nixon on the Progressive Party's failed presidential candidate, Henry Wallace. </b> </font color=green>

If the man wants to be called Frank I say we call him Frank

Intel P4 550(3.4)@<font color=green>5Ghz</font color=green>
Asus P5AD2-E-Premium
Crucial Ballistix DDR2 667@<font color=red>DDR2 800<font color=red> make that <font color=red>DDR2 855 VALIDATED!<font color=red>Owned!
TT 680W PSU

That's a nice way of putting it. Between the two of you, Ned and you have the intelligence of a squirt of pee [/lovely attitude for a Friday]

I'm the good time that was had by all

ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!

Intel P4 550(3.4)@<font color=green>5Ghz</font color=green>
Asus P5AD2-E-Premium
Crucial Ballistix DDR2 667@<font color=red>DDR2 800<font color=red> make that <font color=red>DDR2 855 VALIDATED!<font color=red>Owned!
TT 680W PSU

Just admit it, you look up to us really [/liquid lunch today]

<font color=blue>"My magic words at half-time were f*ck, bollocks, bastard, crap and piss-poor." - Mick McCarthy </font color=blue>

Only because I'm a dwarf, numbnuts.

I'm the good time that was had by all

With the thermal paste, just a small amount on the die. Use an old credit card to spread it properly, then fit the heatsink. So nowt like prepping your bird for a spot or rear entry!

I'll be about tomorrow if you need any pointers.

<font color=blue>"My magic words at half-time were f*ck, bollocks, bastard, crap and piss-poor." - Mick McCarthy </font color=blue>

Its kinda like a chess game. Your focus should be on the task at hand, but at the same time your always thinking a few steps ahead.

There really isnt much to the Hardware part. It can be tricky when you get to the drivers and software. There really isnt that much to a computer.

PSU
MOBO
HD's
CPU
RAM
Video Card
Case

You can do it.

Intel P4 550(3.4)@<font color=green>5Ghz</font color=green>
Asus P5AD2-E-Premium
Crucial Ballistix DDR2 667@<font color=red>DDR2 800<font color=red> make that <font color=red>DDR2 855 VALIDATED!<font color=red>Owned!
TT 680W PSU

ROTFLMFAO:

Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Focking Ass Off.

<font color=blue>"My magic words at half-time were f*ck, bollocks, bastard, crap and piss-poor." - Mick McCarthy </font color=blue>

A reaction I often provoke. Either that or violent puking.

I'm the good time that was had by all

Tremendous, Ned. Then the crew I bought the gear off laugh their tits off silly when I walk back into their joint asking for a refund over 'faulty equipment'.

What can I supplement for a credit card, a piece of stiff cardboard to smear the shite on?



<b><font color=green> "America is full of vociferous minorities and silent majorities". Richard Nixon on the Progressive Party's failed presidential candidate, Henry Wallace. </b> </font color=green>

lol.

Use anything, it doesnt have to be perfect. The presure from the hsf will spread it out for you.

______________
Welcome to my Shed of Pleasure

Quick, kick him while he's down!!!

______________
Welcome to my Shed of Pleasure

Ahh, Wings, just read the bio, mate. Irish all the way, eh!!! Good to know.

It must be sleepy time for our North American Friends and I'm not far off a kip myself.

<b><font color=green> "America is full of vociferous minorities and silent majorities". Richard Nixon on the Progressive Party's failed presidential candidate, Henry Wallace. </b> </font color=green>

Step within two feet of me and I'll shower you with cum.

Hey...why is Eden suddenly running in my direction?...

I'm the good time that was had by all

Do you have your case fans, optical drive or drives, Video, Sound, floppy drive, or any of those things easily overlooked, like an operating system! [A floppy drive will be needed to load the drivers for Win2K or WinXP if you run SATA or any RAID setup]

Heres a couple of tips, forget the static strap you don't need it, just make sure you're touching the case metal when you're working inside and handling the M/B.

Make sure you only have mounting studs inserted for the exact grounded holes in the M/B, don't assume it will be the same as the setup of the M/B you're removing if you're using your old case.

Its always a good idea to Clear the CMOS on the M/B before you install it, instructions on how to clear it is in your M/B manual.

I've gotten into the practice of mounting my CPU and CPU/Heatsink Fan on a flat solid surface with some paper towels underneath the M/B[For cushioning purposes], some heatsinks require quite a bit of pressure to seat in place and its a whole lot easier to do it outside of the case and then install it in the case. [With thermal compound the least amount is the best, you don't goop it on the die, you apply a very thin layer as someone had already posted to you.] Also go ahead and seat your RAM modules after you seat the heatsink on the same flat surface, then mount the whole M/B assembly in the case.

Note: Make sure if there is a step on the CPU heatsink, you align it properly with the step on the socket, and don't forget to plug the heatsink fan into the designated M/B CPU fan header.

If you're still unsure so was every one of us until we did it the first time, if you look in the Other Components Section, the Sticky at the top, has some Build It Yourself Guides at the bottom of the post, they are older guides but tell you pretty much what you'll need to know.

Go for it and have fun, if you run into trouble and don't want to be cracked on PM me I'll help you. Ry


<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=2541&st=0#entry20385" target="_new">System Specs</A>

As for the strap, I agree. (ryan)
The case has always been good enough for anyone I've known. You just need to discharge anything built up, and if it's there, the case should get it. When I built my first I was just out of tech school so I though the same thing. Then I met up with my friend who was into building custom rigs for people; he came in eating toast right over the open case, jammed the cards in like car parts with no more than half the screws for anything, and fired it up. His systems have always worked.
Now, there can be problems. But the only way to learn that is to do it. It's not as hard as it seems at first and after you get into it you'll be suprised how direct it is. The biggest problem I ever had was always at the OS install stage, the hardware is usually pretty straight forward and generally forgiving. (not always, no flames pls guys)

If you match your hardware specs to the mobo you're using you should be good. (if you have a decent shop in the area they'll usually help you matching components)

JM, thanks for the vote of confidence.

Its part of the reason why I love this place; the generosity of those who have the power to help others because of their knowledge base.

I'm looking forward to giving this a shot.

Thanks.

<b><font color=green> "America is full of vociferous minorities and silent majorities". Richard Nixon on the Progressive Party's failed presidential candidate, Henry Wallace. </b> </font color=green>

Im doing good. I went through a similar situation 4 or 5 years ago. I worked for one of the largest brokerage firms in the country for over 8 years. I was knocking down six figures my 3rd year but I havent ever been so unhappy. I let myself get into really bad shape mentaly which turned into physical probelms as well. At 27 my doctor told me that I was a "Dead Man Walking". Blood pressure was sky high and im thin as a rail. I finally gave up that job but it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. 11 more years and I could have retired and never worried about anything again. I jsut realized that that was 5 years ago so that would mean that if I still had that job I would only need 6 or seven more years left. Im sure its more stressful when your married. Having more than yourself to worry about.

Best luck to you

Intel P4 550(3.4)@<font color=green>5Ghz</font color=green>
Asus P5AD2-E-Premium
Crucial Ballistix DDR2 667@<font color=red>DDR2 800<font color=red> make that <font color=red>DDR2 855 VALIDATED!<font color=red>Owned!
TT 680W PSU

You don't need an anti-static wrist wrap, just stick your penis in the ground plug of a wall outlet. You'll know the ground plug, it's the one the size of your penis.

Or at least, your e-penis.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

Oh, Crash, only if I had done that. My dumb arse wouldn't have wasted a top-line Gigabyte board.



<b><font color=green> "America is full of vociferous minorities and silent majorities". Richard Nixon on the Progressive Party's failed presidential candidate, Henry Wallace. </b> </font color=green>