Follow Along and Help Me With My Very First PC Build. . .

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Continuing from this thread, follow along and help me with my very first PC build! I will post updates here on my progress and post any questions or problems that I come across; basically anything that I need help with. The hardware, software and accessories that I bought are listed here in a Newegg.com wishlist. If you need to, click on the part description to find out more about a particular part.

Wish me luck and hopefully very soon now I will be posting messages on WrongPlanet.net with my newly built PC from Newegg.com!

Okay, currently I have all the parts except for the processor, hard drive and speakers, however, those parts are out for delivery and will arrive sometime today, according to UPS tracking.

Should I go ahead and start putting some things together now, even without these parts, or should I wait?

Do what ever you think is best:)

If it was me i would wait because i usually want to mount the cpu and heatsink onto the motherboard before installing the cpu/motherboard into the case.

You could get the new motherboard out and make sure that the standoffs are in the right place inside the case (very important) to prevent a short circut. You could probibly put the dvd drives in also because they are away from everything else.

Okay, I have a guidebook, "Building A PC for Dummies 5th Edition," just so you know. He he he! I ain't no dummy!

Anyway's, I have read the book from cover to cover, but it's been awhile since then. I plan to read parts of it as I go along.

Question:

Okay, I have an anti-static wriststrap, which has a clip on the end of it, but there are no instructions as far as what I can clip it on to. How do I use this darn thing?

I have been recommended to connect it to the chassis of the computer. You see, the static potential is the risk - if you ground yourself to the computer, there isn't the voltage between it and you.

Incidentally, you should wear natural fibre garments: cotton or such. No static generated, so in practice you wouldn't need the strap. But if you have it, it's always a good precaution.

EDIT: Perhaps someone else is reading this, and doesn't have the strap. A good substitute is to touch the chassis as you take the memory and such from the packages, and keep touching it as often as you can.

My Dummies book says that I might need spacers to put underneath the mobo to make sure that the mobo does not touch the bottom of the case, however, I do not see any spacers anywhere. What do they look like and do I really need them?

I have never used a strap, never had a problem and i have built a lot of systems but its better to be safe of course. I am impatient i guess. I am careful how i handle stuff though.

yes, the standoffs, they should come with the case. they might be inside in a packet with the other screws they actually screw or clip into the motherboard tray no standoff = short circut, you need to screw them into the mothermoard tray in the same pattern as the hols on the motherboard

Okay, I have the mobo out of it's anti-static bag and laying inside the case. I have noticed that there are little white plastic pegs on the bottom of the mobo that help keep the mobo from touching the case. Are these the spacers already built into the mobo?

Yes, if they keep it from contacting. Do you have screws to fasten them?

Fasten what? The motherboard to the case? EDIT: Seriously, I am confused.

Last edited by MrNiceGuy on 15 Nov 2007, 2:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Right. But don't mind - it was quite a useless question. I hope that you have adequate means to fasten the mobo. I don't like the tabs that are pushed to sockets. Screws are better, and I think that they are used most often (not much experience - I've repaired lots of computers but they tended to be by a few manufacturers).

Okay, I have the mobo screwed down into the case. Am I suppose to screw it in tightly, because when I do that it appears that my mobo is bending and I do not want to break it.

I am going to have to leave the system as is for right now and go somewhere. I am sorry but I have been interrupted by other important personal business. I will be sure to put the cover back on the case before I leave.

No problem - I write this for the time you get back.

I'm a little worried now, the mobo shouldn't bend. Check that the mobo is going to the right place in the chassis and the standoffs all look intact.

It's also possible that the mobo has been bent in the package - doesn't sound good. Look at the mobo's profile and see if you can find which is the reason.

You see, the screws should be tight enough that they won't loose and let the mobo resonate.

Or did you mean that the mobo starts bending locally, at the holes? Hard to say as I don't see your stuff.

I haven't left yet, but I will soon.

Yes, I meant that the mobo starts bending locally, at the holes. Don't worry! I loosened them up some, so that they are not so tight, but still tight enough that the mobo won't resonate.