Assembling New Rig

[Cloud_Ratha]

(Click To Enlarge)

All my parts finally arrived today. But seeing as I've left my exams for the last minute, i don't exactly have time to sit and fiddle tonight. So I'm gonna leave it for today, and do it tomorrow.

Specs:

Intel Core i7 920 CPU
Asus Rampage II Gene Mobo
Patriot Viper Series XMP 3x2Gb DDR3 1600 RAM
Seagate Barracuda 500Gb HDD
Mushkin GTX 260 896mb GFX
Vantec Ion 2 PSU
Cooler Master CM960
LG 22x DVD-RW
Zboard Bundle

Ill be needing some help as its been ages since I built a rig, but i guess its like riding a bicycle. I think the hardest part will be keeping the cables all tidy, as the PSU has a kilometer of wires :P Also any advice on prepping the workspace, what to start with, order of assembly, will be appreciated.

And iv just finished downloading Windows 7 RC 64

Cannot wait to try it out!

[Spindleshanks]

Lucky son of a @!%#@!

[Zen]

Order of Assembly (in my opinion):

- Put the motherboard's back plate in first.
- Put the PSU in.
- Now whilst the motherboard is not fitted inside do the following:
-> Fit the processor & HSF.
-> Fit the RAM.
-> Wire the power switch, reset switch, front panel USBs, front audio, HDD LED and power LED.
- Fit & secure your motherboard into the case.
- Pop in your HDD and DVD-RW, secure them with screws.
- Pop out the required slots for your graphics card from the back of the case.
- Fit the graphics card.
- Wire the PSU to everything requiring power.

[Takiro]

What are you using for CPU cooling?

[GeometriX]

Nice rig dude.

My preferred order of building a machine:
1) Board, CPU and RAM put together outside the case.
2) Prep the case - remove side panels (both sides, so the other side doesn't get scratched up), install copper screw stand things, remove front panel drive bay covers as necessary. Install motherboard IO shield and remove rear expansion bay covers as necessary.
3) Install PSU in case.
4) Install motherboard in case (hang the bulk of PSU cables outside the case so they don't get in the way).
5) Install optical drives and hard drives
6) Install expansion cards like video cards and whatnot
7) Connect everything up - power cables first so you can cable tie them down before they get in the way.
8) Close up the case, safe in the knowledge that everything will boot perfectly the first time.

Oddly enough that's not far off Zen's.

[Cloud_Ratha]

What are you using for CPU cooling?

Um the CPU Cooling fan?

Thanks for the help guys, i think i know what i intend to do now :)

Just FYI, the case is pretty kitted out, it has cable clamps lining the drive bays. makes for easy cable tidyness. Another thing that im confused about is the motherboard. It has a start button? does this button play a factor in the initial boot up or assembly? Now iv just got to make sure i put the right cables in the right place :P

[Takiro]

Yup, That's what I mean :)

[Cloud_Ratha]

Yup, That's what I mean :)

Im just using the standard fan that came with the cpu.

[Ch@pS]

Nice rig dude.

My preferred order of building a machine:
1) Board, CPU and RAM put together outside the case.
2) Prep the case - remove side panels (both sides, so the other side doesn't get scratched up), install copper screw stand things, remove front panel drive bay covers as necessary. Install motherboard IO shield and remove rear expansion bay covers as necessary.
3) Install PSU in case.
4) Install motherboard in case (hang the bulk of PSU cables outside the case so they don't get in the way).
5) Install optical drives and hard drives
6) Install expansion cards like video cards and whatnot
7) Connect everything up - power cables first so you can cable tie them down before they get in the way.
8) Close up the case, safe in the knowledge that everything will boot perfectly the first time.

Oddly enough that's not far off Zen's.

What Geo said. My advice, just get everything together and working before you try neaten the cables. No use spending an hour with the cables just to find something somewhere doesn't want to play nice.

Oh, and the one thing I hated about my CM690(which is a very nice case), the "cable management system", otherwise known as "oh **** off you stupid black clip **** **** waste of plastic!!". Maybe you'll have more luck with them. :/ Are you planning on adding more 120mm fans to the case?

[Cloud_Ratha]

What Geo said. My advice, just get everything together and working before you try neaten the cables. No use spending an hour with the cables just to find something somewhere doesn't want to play nice.

Oh, and the one thing I hated about my CM690(which is a very nice case), the "cable management system", otherwise known as "oh **** off you stupid black clip **** **** waste of plastic!!" Are you planning on adding more 120mm fans to the case?

Yeah, i noticed that. There are a **** load of those black clips. :P
I remember reading a review on the case. Saying it was difficult to get the cables tidy, but very difficult, not impossible tho.

I was def thinking about adding extra fans. At least one at the bottom and one at the top.

[Ch@pS]

Did you get the non windowed or windowed version? I had a fan in each slot, and managed to get one on the front in the drive bay area, which isn't all that loud if you get silent or variable speed fans, really was worth it. My advice though, consider water cooling, its an absolute dream with that case. But I guess after a build like that finances are feeling it for a few months. :(

[McDangerous]

Dude, i only recently got into the whole hardware thing, and i'm so friggin jealous! i loved it just to replace my 8400GS with an HD4670, so assembling a whole new rig must be absolutely awesome! enjoy it man! and good luck, hope it exeeds ur expectations when it starts up!

[Cloud_Ratha]

Did you get the non windowed or windowed version? I had a fan in each slot, and managed to get one on the front in the drive bay area, which isn't all that loud if you get silent or variable speed fans, really was worth it. My advice though, consider water cooling, its an absolute dream with that case. But I guess after a build like that finances are feeling it for a few months. :(

It is the windowed version. Mine has a fan in the front already, but it seems like such a mission to replace. Yeah the case was made for water cooling, but im in no position to even think about it right now.

[Ch@pS]

Not the bottom front one, I had one top front. :) Gives nice clean airflow towards the CPU, i found it helped. Still, that rig is very awesome, any chance you can found out if the CPU is a C0 or D0 stepping? Don't think I can really fault you on any of your choices(and you know how I love to nit pick ;)), you did your homework, so may your rig give you many hours of gaming joy. :)

[Cloud_Ratha]

Not the bottom front one, I had one top front. :) Gives nice clean airflow towards the CPU, i found it helped. Still, that rig is very awesome, any chance you can found out if the CPU is a C0 or D0 stepping? Don't think I can really fault you on any of your choices(and you know how I love to nit pick ;)), you did your homework, so may your rig give you many hours of gaming joy. :)

Sweet jesus. Didn't think a fan could get in there. As for the stepping. Apaarently there is no way of telling until its set up and the pc is running. But if they stopped producing the C0 and started making the D0. Then i have the later i think, as it was packaged on the 5 may. But ill let you know when i do :)
Thanks
Without u guys i would of spent double the money on half the quality if i did it myself. :P

[Ch@pS]

Its on the CPU box, but no worries, if that late it possibly is D0. xD

[Cloud_Ratha]

Its on the CPU box, but no worries, if that late it possibly is D0. xD

Well i looked everywhere on the box as well as the manual. But nothing. If you know where exactly to look id be happy to look.

Tomorrow cannot come quicker!

[FEN1X]

Do want!

Hehe, I just had a major adrenaline rush when I put my new graphics card in. For a first timer putting in parts that are worth so much can be kak scary. So i cant wait until I can save up to make a whole rig from scratch.

Awesome.

[Cloud_Ratha]

I just shat a load everywhere. Thought i ****ed up the cpu. But it is meant to be a tight fit. Or at least sealed tightly. Im so worried im gonna do something wrong. But i remember how its done! :P pics soon

[cov1e_stalker]

Dude you are going to struggle to get optical drive bays open , my friend has the same case and it took us a long time to remove the bay covers , but he lost the manual.