BUILDING MY NEW COMPUTER TOMORROW !

[john_smarty]

i am building my new computer tomorrow and i was wondering if you guys could give me some pointers. this is my first build so i dont know much. is their any tips or things i should look out for when building

specs:

i7 920
gtx 285
asus p6t
patriot viper 6 gb
rc-690
pc power & cooling 750

 

[Jack64]

Read the manuals familiarize yourself with the instructions for the MB, PSU, this will save you ALOT of headaches when you do hit that power switch the first time. Many people jump right into slamming the parts together and never even crack the manuals, most times it is ok.....sometimes it's not, so look at them especially the areas about the power hookups and ram installation and drive configurations, ram timings and voltages, as these are the things that bite folks in the ass, and then they panic. I say this NOT to be mean or snippy, but from years of experience at helping friendds who have jumped in without a care in the world or a clue what they were doing. If you do it right the first time it makes for a great feeling and sense of acomplishment.

Make sure you discharge any static electricity BEFORE you handle any parts. Wrist strap hooked up to ground is nice. Also, install your cpu and heatsink before you put it in the case, place it on the anti-static bag it came in on a nice level flat surface, it makes it much easier to get it aligned and placed. Also it is easier to put the ram in while it is out of your case....more room. If ya get an aftermarket cooler for your cpu mount it while outside of the case. Then make sure and double check your standoffs to be sure they match up with the mounting holes in your motherboard. Then make sure you connect all the correct psu cables to the correct connectors. TAKE YOUR TIME, do not rush it, double check everything.

 

[Guest]

jack is right about everything he said. also, be extra careful if you're using push pins on the cpu cooler. they need to be pressed very hard and you have to try to not break the motherboard. it's a pain in the butt but not as hard as it sounds. be quick to jump on here with any questions. good luck.

 

[Jack64]

With the CM rc-690 case, you should have plenty of room to get everything hooked up. cable management should be easy with the PSU at the bottom. After getting the MB and power connections done, hdd and optical drive set in and hooked up, just double check everything after you think you have it done....then check it again, go over every connection. Then when you do power it on, go into the bios and set boot order and check that the bios had detected your hdd and optical drives, check ram timings and voltages. if your not sure, then refer to the ram packaging for timings and voltages. If everything is detected and set, boot order is set to optical drive first, then hdd, put your windows installation disk in the optical and let it format and partition the hdd and install windows.

 

[Jack64]

anyone else gonna chime in?? Surely I missed some stuff!!

 

[Terminal58]

I was going to make a very similar thread, can you give me a list of tools I'll want (screwdriver, static wrist band thing, and thermal paste is all I got but I want to know which of these you suggest still)

 

[john_smarty]

i need help,
everything is hooked up and powered on but their is NO VIDEO
i dont know what is the problem
evga gtx 285 sc edition

 

[Jack64]

OK, John, make sure you have the PCIE power going to your video card. There should be 2X6 pin power connector on the card, make sure they are BOTH connected
Double check the ram seating and your MB power connectors, especially the one near the processor, that is your cpu power. (usually if your card is undervolted (one connector plugged and one not, the card will emmit a high pitched beep))

 

[Jack64]

I was going to make a very similar thread, can you give me a list of tools I'll want (screwdriver, static wrist band thing, and thermal paste is all I got but I want to know which of these you suggest still)

All you need actually is a Phillips head Screwdriver, static wrist band and the thermal paste. And patients!!! take your time and double check everything!!
Something else that is really handy is a pair of LONG needle nose plyers

 

[Jack64]

You need to make sure you have the monitor connector plugged in and tight, also it is turned on...I know this sounds silly, but sometimes in our haste we forget the simple things....IE. can't see the forest for the trees!!

 

[john_smarty]

both are plugged in everything is done i checked all the power everything is working just the video is not showing on the screen. changed the pci port/changed ram/changed wires

 

[knotknut]

Magnifying Glass(es) to read those little letters for front panel connections, or is that just me?
Edit: that was for the list of essentials.

Your Video:
Some MB have a specific PCI-E slot when a single card is used. Check your Manual.
Check your 4 or 8 pin ATX 12v power connector. I know your Power Supply has an 8pin connector and your MB has a plug in 1/2 of the 8pin shows only 4 with the plug in.

 

[Jack64]

both are plugged in everything is done i checked all the power everything is working just the video is not showing on the screen. changed the pci port/changed ram/changed wires

Is the fan spinning on the Card?? try plugging the monitor into the other plug on the card! I know I had a gtx 8800 that would do that to me.

 

[Jack64]

Magnifying Glass(es) to read those little letters for front panel connections, or is that just me?

I have a lighted one for that EXACT thing!! You are right!!!!

 

[Jack64]

John, is the monitor light blinking.....no signal right? Just to make sure. Also, you MIGHT try taking the card out and reseating it in the PCIE slot....might not be seated all the way.....

 

[john_smarty]

k i will triple check

 

[Jack64]

What kind of monitor are you using?? not that it matters, just curious. CRT, LCD??? how big?

 

[john_smarty]

its a 17' CRT and i am using a vgs-hdmi connecter

 

[chuk15]

does thermal paste come with the cpu, or do you need to buy it from a third party?

 

[Guest]

thermal paste will come with the cpu but it's reccomended to get better paste. if you aren't going to overclock, you'll probably be fine with the regular paste though.

john, which p6t do you have? it doesn't have on board graphics that need to be turned off does it?

 

[john_smarty]

i am going to see if i can get a new video card tomorrow....... if that doesnt work its a bad board

 

[Jack64]

ok John, sorry had to go eat. Did you get a DVI to VGA connector, if so use that. If I'm not mistaken, you have to have the drivers installed for the card for the HDMI to operate!! I know on my GTX 295 you do.

 

[john_smarty]

i dont have any drivers installed..... but yah i am using the adapter with no success

 

[Jack64]

Oh, I thought you were using the HDMI output to your monitor thru an adapter. If you are using the HDMI I don't think it will work that way, but if you hook up to the DVI port and use the adapter to go from that to the VGA then it should work....by the way, is the fan spinning on the card??

 

[john_smarty]

the fan is spinning. i have the DVI hooked up with the converter to vga