Common mistakes when building a computer?

[Skelator]

I have picked out all of the parts for my new computer and am ready to start building it. It will be my first computer build from scratch so I wanted to find out what the most common mistakes are and what to watch out for when putting it together.

The Sysopt forms have been great for help in picking out parts and I wanted to learn from others mistakes before I make them myself. Thanks for all the help guys (and gals).

[stix_kua]

I haven't made many common mistakes but I have some guidelines...


1. Protect your parts from static by wearing a properly grounded static strap.

2. Take your time...rushing lead to troubles

3. Do it right the first time

4. read directions if you have to

5. if you are not sure, ask and ask again

6. do yourself a favor and make sure you have a clean work place and you have the right tools

7. let us know when you are done

8. make sure the parts fit and that they are going in the right place before you actually put them in.

9. always duoble, scratch that, triple check everything....

[chubtub]

Good reply stix_kua, only thing that I would do is take number 4 to the extreme and read the directions anyway. I have had some hardware that does not follow the standard setup - floppys, CD-Roms, heatsinks.

If Dealing with jumpers on MB or Media double check them and couple times.

Never work with the pc plugged in.

You can do what I do and have another person look at your work before you power it up, if someone is around that knows what they are doing. Different people catch different problems.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

If its an AMD box make sure your careful when clipping on the heatsink, dont want a chiped core do we. Also double check the HS is on securely and the right way around and its fan is plugged into the right header before starting up

--Jakk:t

[Strawbs]

Install HSF and RAM with mobo sitting on anti-static sleeve and thin foam\thick cloth, not in case.

After installing be sure the board is not grounded against the backing plate.

Make sure you study the sequence of wiring the front panel switches to the mobo.

Leave out extra periphery (cd-rom, modem, etc.) until you have a clean boot.

Be 100% certain that everything is plugged in to the hilt.

Check IDE\Floppy cables are correctly aligned (i.e. red\blue stripe to pin 1).

Use common sense, Lock the hammer in the garden shed and give the key to a friend you can trust not to return it while you're angry. :D

If it don't fit, don't force it. :cool:

:t

[Bigjakkstaffa]

If it don't fit, don't force it.

Although soemtimes will fit but just need forcing..so...errrr... use your judgment on that one ;)

--Jakk:t

[Strawbs]

I meant; round hole, square peg type don't fit. :)

:t

[JonathanB]

If you are about to power up... DONT. Check again your connections. And in case after it's powered and nothing happens, immediately pull out the cord at the back of your ATX PS and recheck and remove/reinstall VC, RAM, processor.

[paul0660]

chipping amd cpus and not providing enough case ventilation

[stix_kua]

Originally posted by paul0660
chipping amd cpus

I still have yet to do this....I have to admit that AMD HSFs are a
b!tch to put on at times but i have not cracked the core yet...

10. have FUN when you build it;)

11. Don't have too much fun!:D

12. take breaks to release your anger (if any) from a distance of at least 25 ft.:D

[gjimene2]

Yea, have fun and take your time and have patience.

Another thing don't cheap out on vital stuff suck as a power supply or thermal grease. In other words, get a good power supply that will give you clean power, and get a good thermal grease, I recoment Artic Silver 3, **** good stuff. The only down is that it can stain your hands a bit if they are rough like mine. but **** good stuff.

[stix_kua]

Originally posted by gjimene2
Another thing don't cheap out on vital stuff suck as a power supply or thermal grease. In other words, get a good power supply that will give you clean power, and get a good thermal grease, I recoment Artic Silver 3, **** good stuff. The only down is that it can stain your hands a bit if they are rough like mine. but **** good stuff.

of course, one should not cheap out on a PSU...the thermal solution battle thing is not an issue becuase i's all the same when you break it down...it all works but some may occasionally work better than others. I perosnally use coolermaster's stuff and it works d a m n well...

[Skelator]

Thank you sysopt members! I am very appreciative of all of your tips and advice. I am sure to have a few more questions as I build it this weekend. I had a bit of luck this morning. As I was searching the web for a good walkthrough for building a computer, I found a site which shows step by step with pictures. To my surprise, the demo system used the same motherboard and a few other parts that I am using. That should make my life easier. :) Thanks again.

[Baddog]

Originally posted by stix_kua

9. always duoble, scratch that, triple check everything....

Double

:D Sorry I could not resist

[ESHAW]

Not only triple check and take your time when you are ready to turn her on for the first time just get it to post and go into bios then turn off and add hard drive and other devices the first time just boot with ram and vid card this makes any troubleshooting easier if there should be a problem:D

[Eric Legge]

If the hard drive works at 7200RPM make sure that it has space around it. Don't jam it in between a floppy drive and another hard drive because these drives give off heat.

Install a CD-RW drive very securely in its bay - screws on both sides - because such a drive vibrates and needs to be well fixed in the case.

I would add heatsinks to the voltage regulators which get hot and can reduce the lifespan of the board. The MSI K7N2 - L nForce board come with the heatsinks on the parts that get hot.

Read the manual through - even if you think you know what is what - and never force anything into place.


Eric,

http://www.legge40.freeserve.co.uk/BuyerBeware.htm