[Build Log] Mini-ITX PC - Middle School

[tiny voices]

Yes, around 140-150 watts. With the system (without the GPU) consuming only about 200-250 watts, you should be good to go.

You should probably ground yourself by touching a metal part, perhaps an unpainted part of the case. Many people say that it's unnecessary, but why not take a second or two or make sure you won't ESD damage your parts? I would also put the motherboard on the box it came in without the anti-static bad. That would be all the advice I could offer.

ESD is not the problem here. I agree staying grounded is important, but it is basically IMPOSSIBLE to damage modern computer components with ESD. I do all my builds, even for friends/ customers while wearing socks and standing on carpet. It is basically a non-issue.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Yes, we established that ESD is not going to be a problem about 7 pages back .

I'm more concerned with good old fashioned ignorance, or worse, me assuming things work the way they used to, but they don't. This computer is more complex than older ones, because AFAIK, there are no/few ROMS to handle things like disk access.

Not-so simple question. I assume that I boot off my Windows disk and use the ASRock disk for drivers. What drivers can I expect to find on it? Will I have to make choices from a huge menu.? How will I know which ones to use for each of my hardware components?

 

[KalTorak]

Boot from the windows disk, you shouldnt need the ASRock disk until windows is fully booted.

If using an SSD ensure you are using AHCI in the bios settings, if not you can get away with using Sata/IDE

If not using an SSD then I would use SATA.

Make sure that the HDD you will be installing is using the Primary (0) Sata slot on the motherboard. (No need to worry about Master and Slave any more, YAY!!!!)

Make sure you dissable to onboard graphics if you are using a discreet card, this stops it trying to use the onboard and having a grinding performance in games.

For installing set the CD/DVD drive to the primary position in the boot order, after that ensure you set it to the booting HDD, this will speed the boot time up by a few seconds.

With the ASRock driver disk, most should be ok, for instance no need to do the USB 3, but if they have sound drivers install those if using the onboard. Obviously the chipset drivers would be a good idea. Other than that, it depends what it lists, they usually have some bits on there that are unnecessary, but wont damage when installed, just cause a bit of bloat.

 

[Novuake]

Yes, we established that ESD is not going to be a problem about 7 pages back .

I'm more concerned with good old fashioned ignorance, or worse, me assuming things work the way they used to, but they don't. This computer is more complex than older ones, because AFAIK, there are no/few ROMS to handle things like disk access.

Not-so simple question. I assume that I boot off my Windows disk and use the ASRock disk for drivers. What drivers can I expect to find on it? Will I have to make choices from a huge menu.? How will I know which ones to use for each of my hardware components?

Instal Windows, insert driver disc, choose what NOT to install and complete the auto reboot function in Asrock installer, then it will do the rest itself.

SOOOO simple these days.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

I am using a SSD, it is connected to SATA (0) and just to be sure, the HDD is neither connected to the SATA nor power. I have no on-board graphics as yet?

I will need to interrupt the initial boot inorder to access the BIOS to set the ACHI and other things, right?

 

[zeyuanfu]

If you have no video from the IGP, then something is wrong either with the CPU or the motherboard.
Yes, you will have to press a certain key on a (wired) keyboard to access the BIOS to set the boot order.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Sorry, I mis-wrote. I HAVE NO DISCRETE GRAPHICS AS YET. Sorry about that.

I'll be connecting the monitor via USB 3.0 and a keyboard, via USB 2.0, and the DVD via USB 2.0 too. I have not yest attempted to get or test video.

 

[zeyuanfu]

Okay
You have a USB monitor?

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Yes. It runs HDMI over USB 3.0, or so I was told.

 

[zeyuanfu]

Nice!
I wish I has one of those...

 

[DonkeyOatie]

I can't bring my 26" TV/Monitor to school easily, so I'm going to use the one from my AV center.

 

[KalTorak]

Wow, never heard of a USB monitor, but I guess it makes sense, USB3 now has the bandwidth to drive a screen. What resolution is it, FHD?

If you arent running a discreet gfx card, im sure you know you need to make sure that the IGPU is enabled in the onboard devices section ^^

I love how everything, including the DVD drive is going in over USB, genius invention if ever there was one.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Resolution, I don't actually know. I would assume 1080p.

If I need to enable the iGPU from the screen, how am I going to see the screen to enable it if the iGPU is not enabled? (That sounded odd, but I guess you know what I mean. It has to do with chickens and eggs)

 

[Novuake]

The iGPU should be enabled by default, if it is not, reset the BIOS, then it definitely will enable.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

I'll be trying it after school today, so I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Well I tried it before school and in my Elective, since only one student was there and they were interested in computer.

Does USB3.0 work on boot? There are lots of signs of life, but nothing on my screen. I have a tube TV/Monitor with a VGA adapter, should I use that instead? With no header for case speaker I'm deaf.

My thermal probe is giving me a temp of 42C from the CPU cooler heat sink, so I assume things are good.

 

[tiny voices]

Honestly I would guess no. You probably need a traditional monitor connection (VGA, DVI, HDMI) for first boot.

 

[Novuake]

Well I tried it before school and in my Elective, since only one student was there and they were interested in computer.

Does USB3.0 work on boot? There are lots of signs of life, but nothing on my screen. I have a tube TV/Monitor with a VGA adapter, should I use that instead? With no header for case speaker I'm deaf.

My thermal probe is giving me a temp of 42C from the CPU cooler heat sink, so I assume things are good.

Only USB ports native to the Intel chipset, as in not added by Asmedia controllers by the board manufacturer, will work without any drivers installed. They should be clearly marked on the motherboard near the backpanel or in the manual.

Any display SHOULD work, if it does not, something is wrong, try the VGA. But its important as to how you connect it when it comes to the iGPU and motherboard output.

Notice your boards outputs, the VGA is the ONLY analogue output, the DVI and HDMI will ONLY work as a digital output and should not be converted to a VGA connector.

As a side note, I do not know how this will effect a USB to HMDI converter, although as long as you are using a native Intel USB3 port, it should not be a problem.

Try the VGA monitor on the VGA port.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

I looked into the snakes nest of wiring on the cart, and the monitor is plugged into a box from which the USB3:0 cable comes. It's dark and difficult to see, but I think the monitor has an HDMI plug on it, if I can just get to it.

My only VGA cable is too short. The TV is mounted 7' above the floor and I cannot suspend my computer. GRRR!!! Class starts soon.

 

[Novuake]

I looked into the snakes nest of wiring on the cart, and the monitor is plugged into a box from which the USB3:0 cable comes. It's dark and difficult to see, but I think the monitor has an HDMI plug on it, if I can just get to it.

My only VGA cable is too short. The TV is mounted 7' above the floor and I cannot suspend my computer. GRRR!!! Class starts soon.

Good luck! I know your frustration.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

At home, I have all the cables and stuff. At school, not so much.

 

[zeyuanfu]

If you can put some sort of box under the TV and put the computer on it, I'm sure you'll be okay.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

It was OK. I 'borrowed' another monitor from a room where the teacher was off sick today. It has a standard sub-D connector.

1. Computer turns on, everything spins and goes.

2. Can get to ASRock screen, check memory ,disk drives, boot sequence, ACHI, ....

3. CPU temp 48C, motherboard temp 28C

4. Boot of windows off DVD works.

5. Asks for drivers, so I put in ASRock DVD.

6. Only one driver is found (the chipset) and process stops. The process asks for more drivers. I don't have any.

7. Now when I start the computer, it boots to a very primitive looking DOS style interface, Nero?????

I have two different Windows 7 install disks, one mine, one the school's and both behaved the same way.

Until I get the WiFi card going, I have no Internet access. There are no wired ports available to me.

Ideas?

 

[zeyuanfu]

Seems weird...
If you have a Windows 8 disc, maybe try that. I don't think that W7 install is supposed to ask for drivers.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

If I had Windows 8, I would have used it