Building My First Computer: Need Support

[EliC]

So I am finally taking on the task of putting together my first computer and was hoping for some step by step help (or a link to a really good site). I have checked out motherboards.org (http://motherboards.org) and ugeek.com (http://ugeek.com) . Both are very helpful. While motherboards is very detailed it is a little outdated. Anyway, here is the system:

Tyan Trinity 400 motherboard
Intel Celeron 500mhz
128mb PC133 SDRAM
Maxtor 20GB HD 7200RPM ATA66
Sound Blaster Live! Xgamer
Voodoo3 2000 AGP
Magic 8xDVD
HP 8/4/32 Internal SCSI CDWR
Adaptec SCSI adapter card
Zip 250 external SCSI
3.5 floppy (from old computer, do I need any kind of drivers for this drive?)
Zoom (?) internal 56k modem ISA
Viewsonic 19" monitor
Cambridge Soundworks 4 point speakers
Windows 98 2nd edition
Norton System Works 2000

Anyway, I think that covers everything. Now I just need to put it all together and acutally have the computer start. After I get it booted and the OS installed I am ok getting everything else installed, but getting past the first hurdle may be difficult.
Also, any advice on how to optimize the performance of this system would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for everyones help.

[This message has been edited by EliC (edited 01-11-2000).]

[a Bill]

Computers are really very easy to put together. Just keep yourself from touching any actual components on the circuit boards and slap it together http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

IF a problem arises afterwards, then you might want to post about it. Even if no problems arise, you still ought to post about your success. Then maybe that will boost another persons confidence to the point that they too will build one.

[Livewire]

First thing I always do is set the jumper config... if any, drop the CPU, RAM, and Vid. card in there and config the BIOS. There are some guidelines, defs, and other links specifically for that purpose on the front page of this site.

_-Livewire-_

[tlwhite76]

That's quite the interesting motherboard having capability to insert both a slot 1 or PPGA-370 CPUs, 6 PCI slots and no ISA. Looks to be competively price with ABIT boards. As this is the most important aspect of your new system, have you received good feedback on it's performance. Any Tyan believers out there care to comment?

[EliC]

There 1 4x AGP, 5 PCI and 1 PCI/ISA. The FSB is 133. So far I have heard good things about this board. It was first recommended to me by a member at this board http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum5/HTML/001847.html Then I checked out the tyan site www.tyan.com (http://www.tyan.com) This is the board used in a number of award winning computers from Micron (the millenium max series). Also, tyan has a link to a review that has really good things to say http://www.penstarsys.com/Reviews/mobos/S1854/index.html So I am pretty happy with my choice. It certainly beats intels 820 chipset, about which I have only heard bad things.

The Tyan Trintiy 400
http://www.tyan.com/products/assets/images/S1854_Spec.GIF

[EliC]

Anyone considering building thier own computer should check out http://www.pcmech.com/build.htm

[RobFM]

I must say thats not a bad spec you've got together there. Although i would have gone for the Athlon personally.

[felix726]

hi Elic,

just have a couple of thoughts about the system your going to try and put together. I want to just say first off that the components you choose for your system is completely up to you because in the end you are the one that is going to be using the thing on a daily basis and not me. That being said, I do have a few suggestions about some of the components you have chosen.

1) I don't think the processor/motherboard combo you have chosen is going to be the most productive. For starters, the Trinity 400's biggest selling point is the fact that it supports the 133mhz front side bus. This however would be completely useless if you are running a celeron processor which uses a fsb speed of 66mhz. Even with extreme overclocking you will probably never breathe on a 133mhz fsb.

-May I suggest that if you go with the celeron 500 that you switch to an Intel 440bx based
motherboard. This will give you a definite performance increase over the Tyan board because
the VIA Apollo Pro 133A chipset will cause you about a 10% performance decrease as opposed to
a 440bx based board (the Abit BH6 is a good and fairly inexpensive one). Check out the link
below for a comparison of the two chipsets.

http://www.anandtech.com/html/articledisplay.cfm?document=1119

-If you like the Tyan motherboard I would suggest you look into getting one of the new PIII
500E FCPGA processors. that motherboard/cpu combo has a very good chance of being
overclocked to 750mhz. This is incredible considering it will only cost you about $100.00
more than the celeron. Check out the link below for an example of the amazing potential of
this motherboard/cpu combination.

http://www.anandtech.com/html/articledisplay.cfm?document=1118

Like I said in the beginning though, you are the one that has to live with this computer so the decision is up to you, just thought you might like to know about some of the alternatives.

-felix726

[JimG]

One heck of a system, sounds sorta like mine. Anyway, I didn't see an answer to one of your questions, so I'll answer it (maybe I was reading too fast). You don't need any separate drivers for the floppy drive. Windows will install them during setup. And before you run setup, the floppy will be recognized and work fine.
I'm very impressed with your choice of components.
Good luck building it!!
Remember to read every part of the directions, especially the book for the motherboard. It is invaluable.

[tlwhite76]

Nice review article. One could conclude that the reasons for buying are the same for not buying it. Looks to be on the right track but not quite there yet. I'd stick with the BX chipset and look for boards that offer some of the i810 improvements until some of these bugs get worked out with the via apollo 133 chipset.