[First Build] A large amount of queries! [Longish Post]

[Tauboid]

I'm about 90% of the way through my build and belive I have done the majority of instructions right, however I still have a few unanswered questions and the sense of dread which I intend to correct ASAP.

My specs:
Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
MSI Radeon R9 380 2GB Video Card
Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case
XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 OEM (64-bit)

(No SSD / 1 HDD)

So yeah, prepare for a long/noobish and most likely tedious number of questions. I only really ask for yes/No replies but descriptions and info are welcomed

Here we go.. I warned you.

PS: I have not yet installed the graphics card + The fans (Don't know how to install the fans yet :/)

1) Does it matter if I leave the AC'97 out if the f_audio is already plugged in with an HD Audio cable?


2) Does this HDD/Sata setup look Ok? + Does it matter if I leave a spare PSU Sata connection for an SSD if I don have one?


3) How does the back look? How could I improve on cable management?


4) Does this look set to go, are all the required ports ready?


5) How's it looking down there with the AMD/Sata ports and USB 3 ports?


6) Another look at my dodgy wiring, how could I clean it up in a micro atx case?


7) Do the Sata connections plug right in to the Motherboard from the HDD and optical drive separately?


8) Something to do with them fans I expect, if not what can this cable be used for? If it's to do with the fans I need info on it please.


9) Why such a large number of power supply connections to HDD, Optical and Ssd? I only used one, there must be spare? Also why so many fan to PSU connections, I'm only using one. Many spare wires?


10)Does it matter if I use the single 8 hole Atx 12v PSu connector or the 4 hole(x2)


11) Any ideas to improve cable management?


12) More fan things I expect once again? I really need help with the installation of theses, More info below.


MAIN QUESTION: how do install the fans to the PSU connectors, I've read through the manual ect and can't seem to find a way.


Thanks for reading through, you're probably extremely board, face palming till your face bleads or losing faith in humanity. Whatever your circumstance thanks for reading through.

 

[fudgecakes99]

Regarding cable management zip ties zip ties zip ties and more zip ties. That said if you don't have zip ties use the little black twisty things the psu comes with.

Try and find the most efficient way to plug in the psu cables. They'll have about 3 or four molax or sata power cables. Try to make it as tight as possible by connecting as many things as you can on one cable to give it the least amount of slack. Always make sure no fans can touch the cables. If it looks like they can then tie it off or use another cable. Trust me nothings worse then finally having everything put together and putting your rig up vertically only to hear that gut wrenching grinding noise followed by sparks when a fan cuts a cable.

Check then double check. That said if you have extra cables left over that's normal you'll be hard pressed to use up all your psu cables as unless you have a ridiculous amount of peripherals or hard disk drives. You won't be needing them all. Also maybe make sure to check if the usb's are being supplied power. Gl with the build.

 

[Suztera]

1) yes it is fine.
2) Yes you can leave like that
3)Subjective. Personally I would run the 8 pin EPS cable around the back of the motherboard. Either the 4+4 or 8 pin is fine. Use one of them.
4) looks fine but double check yourself with the motherboard manual.
7) yes, each gets its own SATA port on the motherboard.
8) Only need if your motherboard does not have enough three pin fan headers.
11) Look at it and think about the route.
12) These are SATA power plugs, they are mainly used to power drives.
Depends on what fans you have. If you have a 3 pin/4 pin fan connector, you connect it to the motherboard fan headers. If you run out of fan header, you can use molex adapter. If the fans runs with molex then you simply use molex plugs.

 

[Tauboid]

Thank you both for your quick replies! Wish I would solution twice 😛 Anyways a lot of pressure have been lifted thanks to the info you've supplied me with, I appreciate that a lot as it has been a nag this whole time.

 

[MarkW]

1) Does it matter if I leave the AC'97 out if the f_audio is already plugged in with an HD Audio cable?

Yes, the HD audio is the newer standard. Both plugs are there to provide backwards compatibility if someone were to need that.

2) Does this HDD/Sata setup look Ok? + Does it matter if I leave a spare PSU Sata connection for an SSD if I don have one?

Yes. You can obviously only use the connectors you have devices for.

7) Do the Sata connections plug right in to the Motherboard from the HDD and optical drive separately?

Each SATA device uses its own SATA cable and port. They also use a SATA power cable each. When a SATA Power cable has multiple power connectors along its length, you can plug into as many as 1 device per connector.

8) Something to do with them fans I expect, if not what can this cable be used for? If it's to do with the fans I need info on it please.

Your fans should have come preinstalled on the case. Simply plug the case fans into the fan headers on the motherboard. Those headers will be 3 pin or 4 pin connectors sticking up from the motherboard and the end of the wire from each fan will connect to a separate header. If the fans are 3 pin, and you have a 4 pin header, stick it on the header, and then when you fire up the system for the first time, make sure the fan is spinning. If not, unplug it, and move it to the other edge of the same header.

Your CPU fan needs to be plugged into the 4 pin connector specifically labeled as CPU FAN.

9) Why such a large number of power supply connections to HDD, Optical and Ssd? I only used one, there must be spare? Also why so many fan to PSU connections, I'm only using one. Many spare wires?

Some of us have a lot more drives and things than you do. And the power supply companies have to try to cover the needs of everyone. Can you imagine needing to buy a new power supply every time you wanted to add a device?

10)Does it matter if I use the single 8 hole Atx 12v PSu connector or the 4 hole(x2)

Last time I checked, 2 x 4 still equaled 8. Old motherboards used a 4 pin connector, so that is why the 8 pin can be both.

There is an 8 pin cable that this nice and thick and that is the 8 pin cable you want plugged into the motherboard 8 pin connector.

If you are talking about powering the motherboard with 2 of the connectors like the ones in this image below, DO NOT DO THAT! There is a special 8 pin cable for that coming off of the power supply.

Your 8 pin motherboard power connector looks like one of these:

12) More fan things I expect once again? I really need help with the installation of theses, More info below.

Those look like SATA power cables. Fans are simple things and come with their own wires.

MAIN QUESTION: how do install the fans to the PSU connectors, I've read through the manual ect and can't seem to find a way.

You don't. you plug those connectors to the motherboard headers for fans.

 

[Tauboid]

Whoa! Must have taken a while to write that! Amazing all round, answered all of my priority questions. If I could solution 3 posts this would definitely be one of them. Thanks so much.

[Edit: Should I remove the fan wires from the molex adons before installing directly to the motherboard?]

 

[Tauboid]

Finished my build 😀 I believe it's all connected up correctly after checking through manual/guide. I ran out of zip ties so I can't compleatly manage all the cables to a high standard, however at this very moment cable management has been improved and I believe it's suitable to go. What do you think?





Before I close it back up and install OS ect any more suggestions?
Thanks to those who commented above.

 

[Suztera]

Looks like you didn't plug back the 8 pin EPS cable into the motherboard.

 

[Tauboid]

Looks like you didn't plug back the 8 pin EPS cable into the motherboard.

Nice spot, When I was taking the pics in was still managing wires that's why it was unplugged.

 

[fudgecakes99]

Looks good i'f you can i'd try to run more wires through the back. But other then that it'd fine.