Building my first PC

[js94]

Hi! Building my first gaming PCs and while watching a Youtube video, I noticed that the guy building the PC said something along the lines of placement of ram sticks for better cooling, and wanted to know what exactly he means and how pivotal is this?

The parts I'm using are:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rykBt6
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rykBt6/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($372.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($175.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom 530 (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($118.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Logitech Wireless Combo MK270 Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($21.72 @ Amazon)
Total: $1583.55
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-10 20:49 EDT-0400

If possible I would like to make this thread a sort of reference, so I can ask questions here throughout the process(?) Unless there's another place I should post all of the questions I come across, Thank you!

 

[js94]

Another random question, are the RAM sticks supposed to be so hard to push into the motherboard? It's require a lot of force? Also would placement of ram sticks matter for my motherboard? It has 8 slots and so should they all go on one side? Or 8 GB on one side and 8 GB on the other? Or it doesn't really matter?

 

[bliq]

Ram sticks do take a bit of force to push in. Usually I push them in as far as they can go and then flip the locks on them by hand instead of relying on force to make the locks flip.

AS for the RAM, I've never used DDR4 or X99 chipset but I assume like other motherboards, you just put ram in matching color slots, meaning you could put all on the same side as long as for each pair, the slot colors match. This could be wrong if x99 uses something like quad channel RAM but I have no experience with that chipset.

 

[Seoulja615]

I am not sure which video your watching but I will go with motherboard recommended ram slots. Also, I recommend Corsair Vengeance LPX 2800 for the ram. Let me know if you have any questions. I am on Haswell - E cpu and also running Asus motherboard, but X99-A. You can check out my computer system on my pcpartpicker link

 

[js94]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roFb3TNePIg

This is one of the videos I'm watching, (idk if we're allowed to post links). In the vid says to use slots furthest from CPU socket to keep it cool. I ended up putting all 4 on one side, unless someone suggests otherwise. I've come across two issues, the cables, the power supply has too many to count and I can't know where to plug them; which will probably be impossible for someone to explain over the internet. But the other issue is installing the Phanteks fan is impossible it refuses to connect both screws to the CPU? ><

 

[js94]

After trying to get this fan to attach for quite some time, I simply don't think it will fit. The two screws on either side won't mount with the brackets that came with the fan. I don't know if anyone can confirm this fan is incompatible with this motherboard but I guess my best bet is to just replace it because it won't lock together at the same time.

EDIT: I seem to have gotten it on securely, so hopefully it's fine now.

 

[js94]

Another issue I've come come across is the Sata cables from the PSU that are meant for the SSD, HDD, and DVR, aren't going into each of the devices, or does this require increased pressure to fit on? For whatever reason it won't connect?

 

[Seoulja615]

You need to put the rams in the correct sockets.. its not going to perform well. Look at your MOBO manual for the correct slots. Sata Cables from PSU should fit SSD HDD and DVR. Make sure to line it up correctly.. some times needs some pressure

 

[js94]

I finished building it, and the computer is not starting, there's a green LED on on the motherboard but nothing else activates when pushing the power button on the case itself, nor the green button. I'm not sure what it could be, but I was having difficulty when it came to the PSU cables because I wasn't sure which ones were meant for the CPU power slots of the motherboard. I didn't put a PCIe cable into a slot but the ones I put were unlabeled so it didn't help to clarify what it was I was putting in the few slots besides the main power. There is one blue light that turns on the top left which is labeled CLR_Cmos1, but that's it

 

[Seoulja615]

CPU connector is the 8 pin connector.. make sure your ram's are in the right slots. from left to right 1 3 6 8 slots. Looking at your graphics card it has 14 pin.. so use two 8 pin power supply.. use one to 8 pin hole and use 6 out of 8 pin for the 6 pin hole. check out my wires http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Seoulja615/builds/

 

[qwerty987123]

it might be worth going to a hardware shop and getting them to check for you and asking them to show you what you've done wrong

 

[js94]

I have the 14 pins plugged into the graphics card, removed all but 1 ram stick, I have 8 pins plugged into the top of the CPU aside from the 24 pin one. I'm going to try reconnecting / rebuilding to see if I put something in the wrong place.

Also about my motherboard, which is slightly different than most motherboards I've seen in videos, it only has one latch towards the top of the motherboard, not two. So when I try to unhinge one (to unlock both), only one would unlatch and watching a video printed in my motherboard user guide via QR Code, the person in the demonstration only unlatches on too. So that was surprising. And another thing my motherboard supports 128 GB memory, and all 8 RAM slots can be utilized, so position shouldn't matter, but I did shift them to a position suggested by the booklet.

 

[Seoulja615]

What latch are you talking about? for the CPU? you need to take both out and put it in one at a time.. you might damage the motherboard cpu pin! that is no no since they will not take your motherboard back if its damaged. If you are talking about the ram.. yes only the top.. bottom one is not going to move. Also, 128 gb ram... it does matter where ram goes just go with what the manual says.