New PC

Inactive · Apr 20, 2008, 12:43:33

Quote from: Simon on Apr 20, 2008, 11:22:05
I shall be commencing construction imminently!

Sounding like a building contractor today Simon..

Sebby · Apr 20, 2008, 12:45:48

Quote from: Inactive on Apr 20, 2008, 12:43:33
Sounding like a building contractor today Simon..

Nah, he'd have said he'll have a cup of tea and then commence building if that were the case.

Rik · Apr 20, 2008, 12:46:41

You'll have to start editing large images in Photoshop, Sebby.

Malc · Apr 20, 2008, 12:46:54

Quote from: Inactive on Apr 20, 2008, 12:43:33
Sounding like a building contractor today Simon..

Don't forget yer builders bum then.

Sebby · Apr 20, 2008, 12:47:44

Granted, I don't do photo editing, or anything particular RAM-intensive for that matter. I wonder if Simon does...

Rik · Apr 20, 2008, 12:49:12

I don't know, but as I do, I went for the 4GB of RAM (allowing for a change to 64-bit at some point too...). The extra 1.2GB makes a huge difference to an app like PShop, or running multiple apps.

Simon · Apr 20, 2008, 13:52:17

Bloody hell!!! It's started already!!! The deliberate manufacturer's wind up, the misplacement of connectors, bleeding motherboard screws!!!

Right, mobo is in, CPU is on, Heatsink is on. Started to connect up wires, and the first one I find is an 8 pin power connector for the CPU. Only there's two. One is labelled P2, and white, the other is labelled P4 and black. Now, I thought (assumed) I would need P4, but that one won't fit, and only the white P2 connector does, even though they look identical.

Next thing... in the mobo instructions, it tells you to connect a 4 pin power connector to a socket towards the rear of the board, to power the USBs. OK, fine, but if I connect that, the other two power connectors won't reach the drives, so I won't have enough connectors for them!

Arthix · Apr 20, 2008, 14:10:47

I find that the PSU never has enough 4pin connectors

. You can buy splitters though I think?

That connector is for the USB devices? I have the same board and I always assumed it was for the PCI slots, Guess I shouldn't skim the manual.

TheMonkey · Apr 20, 2008, 14:12:24

doh!

I just rebuilt my comp with a gygabyte mobo and the power connector was a bit of a stretch too. not sure why they put it at the bottom

Simon · Apr 20, 2008, 14:16:30

Now got all these tiny little fiddly sound connectors to try to fit. I can see this taking longer than first perceived.

madasahatter · Apr 20, 2008, 14:34:39

Sounds like you're going well Simon - best to take time and do it right first time

Simon · Apr 20, 2008, 15:29:36

Right, I give up! The graphics card has no power connector, and won't fit in the slot, because there's a bloody 1394 connector in the way, whatever the hell that is. Can you use an AGP graphics card in a PCI-E slot? Bet you can't, as that would be far too easy.

Rik · Apr 20, 2008, 15:34:27

No, you can't Simon.

The 1394 is the Firewire.

Sebby · Apr 20, 2008, 15:36:05

Are you sure it's AGP, Simon? I would have said a new graphics card would be PCI Express. I know that some graphics cards can be turned around, if you know what I mean. In other words, they are both AGP and PCI-E - you just have to move the metal bit that connects to the case.

Also, not all graphics cards require dedicated power, though I'd say your one probably does. The connectors can be well hidden.

TheMonkey · Apr 20, 2008, 15:41:40

Quote from: Rik on Apr 20, 2008, 15:34:27
No, you can't Simon. The 1394 is the Firewire.

yep,

I had exactly the same problem!!

here is what you do. take the firewire connector out...........and throw it in the bin

don't think i've ever used my one. not sure about you though simon.

what graphics card you using? i have Radeon 3850 HD 512mb. it had a massive fan on it

Simon · Apr 20, 2008, 15:52:21

Quote from: Sebby on Apr 20, 2008, 15:36:05
Are you sure it's AGP, Simon? I would have said a new graphics card would be PCI Express. I know that some graphics cards can be turned around, if you know what I mean. In other words, they are both AGP and PCI-E - you just have to move the metal bit that connects to the case.

Sorry, Seb, I meant, as I can't use the PCI-E card, could I use an AGP one instead, as I have one I've never used, but now I know the answer is no. Haven't tried it the other way round, but there's a notch where it fits in the slot, so I doubt it, but will have a look.

QuoteAlso, not all graphics cards require dedicated power, though I'd say your one probably does. The connectors can be well hidden.

It says in the book, it won't work without the power, but on the same page, it says, if you're not connecting the power lead, skip step 7!

Quote from: Rik on Apr 20, 2008, 15:34:27The 1394 is the Firewire.

Right, well, I don't even know what that is, so I guess I could do without it.

Sebby · Apr 20, 2008, 15:53:17

Ah, I see the problems now.

Rik · Apr 20, 2008, 15:53:42

Firewire is an alternative to USB, Simon. I have nothing which uses it...

Simon · Apr 20, 2008, 15:54:03

Quote from: TheMonkey on Apr 20, 2008, 15:41:40
yep,

I had exactly the same problem!!

here is what you do. take the firewire connector out...........and throw it in the bin

don't think i've ever used my one. not sure about you though simon.

what graphics card you using? i have Radeon 3850 HD 512mb. it had a massive fan on it

This is a Gainward 8600GT - which easily takes up two slots. Why do they make the things so big?? I'll try it with the Firewire thing disconnected.

Sebby · Apr 20, 2008, 15:57:39

I built a PC for a friend and the graphics card also took up too slots - the thing was huge!

Malc · Apr 20, 2008, 15:59:44

Just had a look in mine, a 8800gtx, thats huge.

Rik · Apr 20, 2008, 16:00:53

Quote from: Simon on Apr 20, 2008, 15:54:03
Why do they make the things so big??

Usually it comes down to the fact that the slots weren't designed to take cards with heatsinks and fans.

Niall · Apr 20, 2008, 16:13:54

They are so big because the newer GPUs churn out so much heat, Nvidia (the first to start it with their failed line of 5700s I beleive) added the fans onto the card so it doesn't overheat. Now the cards are asked to do so much, they WILL overheat without adequate cooling. Disconnect the cards fan to see

(this is a joke, so don't complain to me if you fry your card!

).

Anyway, back to the subject.

You really should have done a bit more reading up on this, as everything you're mentioning is normal for building a PC. You have to make sure you've got enough parts for whatever you're doing. Bear in mind that PC cases vary quite a lot, so the ones that they tested them in may well be smaller, or laid out differently to yours.

Personally I've got a full tower case that makes it essential to have splitters, etc to reach drives. Well, that's not actually as true now due to motherboards I buy being laid out correctly, so the drives connectors are next to the drives, and the power connectors will reach the card, etc.

I suppose you've learned the hard way, but at least you know now! ALWAYS read up on the layout of motherboards, and read reviews of them. Some are poorly laid out and can cause CPUs (or other components next to where CPUs are mounted) to overheat if not using certain cooling/fan combinations.

Building a PC is extremely easy, you just have to make sure you've got everything you need with the motherboard, etc. I've amassed quite a pile of backplates for various motherboards (amazingly some motherboards don't come with them!), screws, extension cables, splitters, ATA/SATA cables, floppy drives (now in the bin!).

The main thing to research is the PSU. Some of them may be rated as powerful enough for your needs, but may not have the amount of cabling for your requirements!

Glenn · Apr 20, 2008, 16:25:46

The motherboard and graphics card are both PCI-e so it should fit without any problem into the blue slot mid way up the left side to the board, same side as the I/O ports.

With the graphics card you should have a 6 pin molex connector that plugs into the card and the PSU fly leads http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/graphics-cards/gainward-8600gt-goes-like-hell/3

Quote from: Simon on Apr 20, 2008, 00:23:39
I shall be embarking on a new self build tomorrow:

ABIT/IP-35 S775 MOBO
4GB Corsair Kit DDR2 667MHz UB
Intel E6750 Core2Duo 2.66GHz
SONY DRU-190S X20 SATA RETAIL
1.44 BLACK SONY FLOPPY DRIVE
256MB GAINW 8600GT PCIE 8859
500GB SEAGATE SATA2 ST3500320AS
80GB SEAGATE SATA2 ST380815AS
Coolermaster case with 550W PSU

Wish me luck!

Simon · Apr 20, 2008, 16:28:22

I have built 4 before, Niall, albeit 4 or 5 years ago, so I wasn't exactly going in green. I can't see how it's possible, from a picture in a review, to measure exactly how much room your graphics card is going to require, or whether there's likely to be a stupid little connector in the way. Those are the sorts of things you just come across as you go along. I haven't an in depth knowledge of computer building, but other than one, which developed a fault on the mobo, all four of my machines are still going strong.

It's all together now, and without plugging the monitor in, I held my breath, put on some rubber soled shoes (joke!), and hit the power button. It all sprung to life, for two seconds, then died, but before I could reach for the hammer, it started up again, and I got the post beep!

Can't do any more now, until I get an extension SATA power lead for the DVD drive.