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Rig building info

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easygoer

Registered
Joined
Nov 22, 2005
Does anybody have a site that shows you how to build a computer? I have the parts on the way but I've never built one before. I have a general idea but I want to make sure I don't mess anything up. My last resort is going to buy How to build a PC for dummies. Thanks
 
Pretty simple, mainly self explanatory once you get parts, I'm sure someone here would be glad to go indepth with everything. Look at www.howstuffworks.com to find out the usage of each computer part or at least their purpose.

Summary:
Get every part, Mobo, PSU, CPU, RAM, HDD, GPU, PCI cards, and etc all into one case. Mobo holds RAM, CPU, GPU, and PCI cards. You plug HDDs into the mobo, and connect PSU to every thiing, ie. GPU, HDDs, Mobo, and etc. Should be fine to turn on, pop in the Windows XP CD and follow on screen instructions and you'll be good.

Dictionary:
Mobo=Motherboard
PSU=Power Supply
CPU= Central Processing Unit
RAM= Well, RAM memory sticks
HDD= Hard Drives
GPU= Graphics Processing Unit, ie. Graphics card
PCI cards= Sound cards, 56k modem cards, Ethernet cards, wireless cards, etc.
 
With this MB DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D RT do I need to put a new bios onto a floppy?
 
You can just download the bios from website and it'll install and flash on its own, no need to update bios until you have everything running stable.
 
easygoer said:
Does anybody have a site that shows you how to build a computer? I have the parts on the way but I've never built one before. I have a general idea but I want to make sure I don't mess anything up. My last resort is going to buy How to build a PC for dummies. Thanks


Go to google and type "build computer".
Just that, should give you a bunch of hits. For a basic system you need (in order of most to least important).

1. CPU (main "chip" that does almost everything, computer is useless without one. Also the major speed determiner of the system, the rest of the system is designed to flow data to and from the CPU as quickly as is possible and affordable.)

2. Motherboard (aka board, main board, mobo etc. Absolutely everything connects to it in some way, also controls how the CPU connects to other hardware, computer is useless without one).

3. Video card or onboard video (deals with 2D and 3D work, sends signals to the monitor to display. You can technically run a computer without one, but good luck knowing what the computer is doing).

4. RAM (aka memory. Works as a "work area" for the CPU. The CPU processes stuff from the RAM, then sends the result back to the RAM. If you need to save something, that is the hard drive's job. Computer is useless without RAM. I recommend at the very least, 512MB).

5. Hard drive (aka HDD, hard disk. Holds the OS*, holds all your files. Again, computer can run and work without one, but since about 1985, it's been impossible to not have a hard drive)
*OS=operating system (You will be using Windows XP).

6. Power supply (aka PSU, PS. 100% essential part of the computer. Without one you have a box with useless circuit boards and metal. It's listed down here because, although important, a more powerful power supply doesn't make the computer "faster", you just are allowed to run a more powerful CPU, motherboard, more drives etc).

7. Optical drives (CDROM, CDRW, DVDROM, DVDRW as well as some others. This is the primary way to get major software onto the hard drive. Such as the OS, major programs.

8. Other small PCI things, most of these are integrated on the motherboard. Most motherboards have decent integrated sound, they usually have integrated ethernet (for high speed internet or networking), and don't worry about USB, you will not find a motherboard now without at least several of these connectors. One thing I will say, unless you are going for the absolute CHEAPEST you can go, do NOT get integrated video. Working with video (especially any shadowing or 3D) is very intensive and should not be integrated (integrated video usually steals time from the CPU and is generally a lot crappier than even a low end dedicated video card.)


I guess since you ordered the parts, you probably knew most of the babble I just typed :bang head What kind of system did you order?


Hopefully I didn't make this too obvious, if you already knew most of it, well :bang head
 
Turtle Shell said:
what are the specs of the rig you have on its way?


Here they are:

Update Thermaltake XASER, Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum/Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: VA8000BWS $149.99

MB DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D RT $113.00


Update OCZ PowerStream OCZ520ADJSLI ATX, BTX, SATA, P4 and EPS12V 520W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: OCZ520ADJSLI $139.99

Update OCZ Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model OCZ4002048PFDC-K - Retail Model #: OCZ4002048PFDC-K $218.31

HD 250G|HITC 7K 8M SATA2 0A31636 %
(Serial#: T4CXE9LC ,T4CXGD6C) 2 $109.50 $219.00

Update NEC Black IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner Model ND-3550A - OEM
Model #: ND-3550A BK OEM $79.98

Update Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
Model #: 70SB046000007 $119.99

Update Microsoft Windows XP Pro With Service Pack 2 - OEM
Model #: N09-01152

eVGA GeForce 7800 GT CO 256MB DDR3/PCI-E/VIVO/Dual-DVI $348.99

AMD Opteron 175 Dual-Core 2.2GHz 1MB (per core) 64/32-Bit (939) (OEM) $476.63

Dell UltraSharp 2005FP Wide Flat Panel w/Height AdjustableStand,20.0 Inch $396.71
 
Yes K15 I've own computers and tinkled with them here and there but never built one from scratch. Your info is appreciated. So far I recieved the MB, memory, and HD's. Should I hook my HD's in raid? I was told by someone that they didn't notice a difference.
 
RAID 0 (or striped) is indeed significantly faster. But, if one harddrive fails, you lose all your data (of course with a single drive, a failure results in the same thing). RAID is a bit more hassle setting up and maintaining. It's more of an advanced thing. I suggest not doing RAID at first, so you have one less thing to worry about and one less headache.

Here are a couple bits of advice. Be careful when handling the components. Static shock can kill stuff, especially CPUs. I generally touch the metal case frame to discharge any static before handling components or before working inside the case. Don't wear wool socks and shuffle your feet on the carpet (LOL).

Don't force things. If the CPU don't pop right into the socket with gentle pressure, stop and look. It only goes in one way and maybe you have it turned wrong. Same with RAM, there is a key (notch) on the pins, so the RAM only seats into the slot one way. RAM also has clips on each end. Flip them open before snapping the RAM into place and then make sure they are securely clipped up once the RAM is seated.

Most of the IDE cables have a red stripe on one edge. That indicates pin #1. Match that up with pin #1 on the connector (usually closest pin to the power connector on optical drives and harddrives).

If you are connecting 2 IDE devices to the same cable, the one device on the end will need to have the jumper set to master and the other device needs to have the jumper set to slave.

Motherboards usually have very good instruction manuals. Read it. For specific questions, ask here on the forum.
 
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Thanks for the good advice. The opnly think Im worried about is putting the heatsink on the processor. I attempted to put a Artic cooler on my brand new video card and messed it up. Hopefully I have better luck with the processor.
 
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