CPU and compatibility stuff

[One_Medic_Army]

Remember to put the mobo IO plate in the case before you put the mobo in the case.

or at least be lucky enough to catch it before you bolt everything down

not speaking from experience or anything.

I think everyone's probably managed that one before...

[Tungsten]

Sound stuff, CD/DVD thing, PSU and CPU fan arrived today. I'm a bit disappointed that the box for my PSU had a gash in it, like something tried to chew into it...though, it was protected by a couple of layers of cardboard and some weird foam stuff. Hopefully there's not a mouse or rat roaming around.

I just have to buy a CPU, motherboard, GPU and monitor...and Windows 7.

Also, another question, when I start assembling it, is there a certain order I should put in the parts and plug stuff in? I'm guessing the IO plate should be first...

[crimsonshootingstar]

Sound stuff, CD/DVD thing, PSU and CPU fan arrived today. I'm a bit disappointed that the box for my PSU had a gash in it, like something tried to chew into it...though, it was protected by a couple of layers of cardboard and some weird foam stuff. Hopefully there's not a mouse or rat roaming around.

I just have to buy a CPU, motherboard, GPU and monitor...and Windows 7.

Also, another question, when I start assembling it, is there a certain order I should put in the parts and plug stuff in? I'm guessing the IO plate should be first...

first mount you PSU and then your motherboard (and yes don't forget the plate) then make sure your power cables are routed properly after that it doesn't matter which order you do.

[Tungsten]

Mount the PSU? Can I go on ahead and do that despite not having the motherboard yet?

[crimsonshootingstar]

Mount the PSU? Can I go on ahead and do that despite not having the motherboard yet?

Yeah I cant see why not.

[One_Medic_Army]

Before you put the motherboard in:
Mount the CPU on the motherboard.
Mount the CPU fan.

These are much easier to do while the motherboard's still outside the case.

RAM and expansion cards go in after the motherboard's in the case.

[Tungsten]

I was thinking about getting this motherboard. It seems like a good price, supports i7 (gen 2 and gen 3), has room for expansion and the red-orange trim looks cool. It also has good reviews (all seven of them) which is always a good thing.

Also, while I understand the difference between PCI, PCI 2.0 and PCI 3.0, I'm not really understanding the x4 and x8.

[One_Medic_Army]

You mean where it says PCIe x8 x8 x4?
I think that's referring to the speed of the slot (bandwidth) when using SLI or Crossfire.
If you plug in cards to both slots, they will run at x8 speed, not x16.
I am unsure by reading the specs if one card alone will run at x8 or x16, you want to make sure that your card is running at x16.

Don't stick your video card into the PCIe 2.0 x16 x4 speed slot.

[Boss Llama]

I was thinking about getting this motherboard. It seems like a good price, supports i7 (gen 2 and gen 3), has room for expansion and the red-orange trim looks cool. It also has good reviews (all seven of them) which is always a good thing.

Also, while I understand the difference between PCI, PCI 2.0 and PCI 3.0, I'm not really understanding the x4 and x8.

That mobo will be fine if you aren't running multiple GPUs.

OMA is correct about it referring to the speed the slot will run while multiple cards are present. A given controller chip can only handle so many "lanes," regardless of how many GPUs are plugged in, so with more cards present, it dedicates fewer lanes to each one. Boards meant for SLI will have different or multiple chips, so all the cards can be run with 16 lanes.

For that board, if you run a single card, stick it in the top or middle slot and it will run at x16.

[Tungsten]

Ordered!

I'll be able to start building next week, but I'll have to wait to get Windows 7 before I can start it up...and I still need a new GPU before I start editing and gaming.

[Tungsten]

So far...assembly has been...amateurish.

I didn't think about my SSD being 2.5" and the bays being 3.5".

[Boss Llama]

You can mount the drive to one side of the bay without significant consequence, so long you screw it in securely. There aren't a bunch of moving parts in an SSD to make it spin itself out of position or anything. If you're not comfortable with that as a long term solution, they sell cheap and easy conversion brackets that will allow more traditional mounting of the drive.

An example of such a bracket: HERE

Any other issues thus far, or are things otherwise coming along?

[Tungsten]

I think things are going smoothly. I can really only add in the PSU, HDD and CD/DVD drive. I have the motherboard, but Medic said it would be easier to install the CPU and CPU fan before I install the motherboard. The CPU should arrive early next week.

I still need to get a copy of Windows 7...and I just checked and my student e-mail from school is disabled. Fortunately, my parents still have one or two extra licenses for Microsoft Office 2007 and I think a friend has an extra license for the Adobe Production suite.

[One_Medic_Army]

So far...assembly has been...amateurish.

I didn't think about my SSD being 2.5" and the bays being 3.5".

Could be worse.
These days I just leave my side-panel off and I don't screw in any of my drives, just set them in the case somewhere and plug them in.

[Tungsten]

My cpu arrived today, so I can finish building.

EDIT: Did have a problem, but it was resolved.