Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

repeat after me

s

a

d

sad.

/me tuts at dave polishing his computer:erm:

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

lol I know, its in the review http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling...px?i=2525&p=13

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Here's what I'm thinking of getting VERY soon

Antec Sonata II Ultra Quiet Midi Tower Piano Black inc 450W PSU

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...13&GroupID=424

Asus A8N-E AMD Skt939 nForce 4 Ultra

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...91&GroupID=526

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice Core 64 bit
(will upgrade to something more juicy at a later date when funds permit lol)

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...93&GroupID=980

36 GB Western Digital Raptor 10Krpm 8Mb Cache Serial ATA HDD

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...81&GroupID=596

Geil® Value 1Gb PC3200 Dual Chan DDR Kit (2x512MB)

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...608&GroupID=57

Need to pick out a graphics card yet, and operating system and a few other bits and pieces.

Total so far £399.55

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Good luck if you can get the case. Overclockers have got it advertised as '1-3 days' - but they've been saying that for about, er, 3 days. ;)

You could save a bit by getting a slower hard drive.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Funny you should say that, I've been looking around for last hour or so doing just that lol.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Buy a maxtor diamond max 10 with 16 meg cache ;) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Maxtor2.html £63 quid for a 200 gig ;)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Got a DiamondMax 9 160GB IDE in my current set up; it's LOUD :erm:

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

To be honest I don't think I need one that big, just yet anyway ;)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

you do ;)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

I do :shocked:

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

That's what I thought when I bought the 80GB on my existing setup. And when I bought the external 160GB to go with it. And when I bought the extra 160GB to go with those ..... ;)

Now I've bought an 80GB and a 300GB for the new machine. I reckon I'll be checking the price of TB drives in about, oh, 9 months or so ..... :D

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

lol

Just checking out a few sites atm, will post later, this is a pain choosing lol.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

right.........have decided to get this http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=235260 having read reviews, its one of the better 7,200rpm drives you can get. :naughty:

Graphics card next, am not a gamer (yet) will buy something cheap for the moment. Something that will be good for watching dvd's and video streaming, will be fine :)

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

looks good - though check overclockers; they were doing a 300GB seagate at a discount this week :) - not much pricier.

By the way - case and power supply arrived this moring :)

I'm going to start off with the 350W that came with the case, then once I'm happy with everything swap the power supplies round for the 480W neopower brute thingy.

Can I ask a stupid question while I'm reccying things:

How do you remove the i/o shield that comes with the case? And how do you put in the one that came with the mobo? It's not immediately obvious!

Edit - ah, cracked it :) .

Next task: work out which of the 4 kinds of screw that came with the case do what ..... ;)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

check out microdirect - they had a sata 300gig maxtor up for £85 the other day.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Am happy with my choice of hard drive, thanks though :tu:

Could do with with someone recommending a graphics card though, no frills, just cheap lol.

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

How cheap is cheap, if you don't mind me asking? Is < £100 considered cheap, or were you aiming for < £50, for example?

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

I really only need it for video playback and internet content, just usual office applications. Am just going to buy something as cheap as poss that will do the job, and later can think about something better if need be. Probably something based on the radeon x300 (yeah I know) for now.

Regards.

Turned it on - and nothing happened
 

Well, I've connected the DVD drive and the primary HD; the graphics card and the power connections, connected up the front panel wires, and ready to go.

Plugged in a monitor, leyboard, mouse, turned it on, and NOTHING.:Yikes:

Swapped the power plugs round in case it's the socket not working, and NOTHING :Yikes:

Two minutes sweating, close to tears, then I remember: this PSU has an on/off switch, unlike my current PC. Changing that setting had a profound effect. :):):):):)

Seems to have found the stuff I connected in. Now I'm going to take a break, then connect up the USB ports, other HDD etc, then finally - install windows.

I feel soooooo much better than I did 15 mins ago !!!

Re: Turned it on - and nothing happened
 

phew - the thought of all that money & it not working :Yikes:

- glad it is looking ok, now, though, - at the risk of sounding patronising, well done :tu:

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

I'm glad all is going well for you.
I remember back to when I built my first system. There is always going to be that moment of complete worry as you turn on the switch for the first time hoping nothing goes wrong.
You've past that and are now on your way so :tu: to you.
Windows is a breeze to set up. Just stick in the Cd, reboot and follow instructions to format drives, install, etc.

Then tonight, sit back, get yourself a drink, and enjoy what you yourself have achieved.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

I remember when I built my first pc :) I sold it very soon and built a better one.Then I sold that one and built a better one etc until now when no one can afford what I have :D :D :D :D

And I still worry till that lovely post beep even now ;)

also you newbies dont know your born.No screwdriver and immence pressure just to fit the heatsink. Farewell skt A and good ridance.

And having to set jumpers for fsb and multiplier an v core god I hated that

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Well, I'm a happy bunny now :)

Typing this on my new computer - Windows installed without any fuss, activated first time round too :D

Internet Explorer didn't find the NTL connection at first, but when I turned off and just left the SACM for 5 minutes it seems to have picked the connection up :) . Haven't set up Firefox/Oulook Express though yet.

Now I'm going to collapse :) I can worry about setting everything up/checking everythings working correctly/ tidying up tomorrow ..... I need a large vodka right now.

Thanks for all the help & encouragement - I certainly needed some of it at times ;)

I'll arrange reps when I've calmed down ...... :erm:

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

well done cookie :tu: I bet you're well :hyper: now lol.

Will be making a start on mine soon, hopefully will be done trouble free just like you :naughty:

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Right ! I'm totally fed up waiting for the sonata II to come back in stock at my local retailer :mad:

I've decided to get either this http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...31&GroupID=424 which has no psu, so will have to buy one seperate. Or this http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...63&GroupID=424 which does have a 400W psu. As far as I know they are the same, more or less, but one has a psu and the other doesn't. What would the techies advise ? buy the one with a psu, or buy the one without and buy a seperate psu for it ? Cost effectively, I should buy the one with.

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Right ! I have all my bits.......start the clock :D

Hope I don't mess up :erm:

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Good luck :) Should be someone lurking here if any 'issues' come up ;)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Thanks :tu:

Memory and cpu done :D

Now for the graphics card :erm:

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Sounds good. I hope it all goes well for you. Remember to make sure all those fans are connected up, that no screws are loose or fall under the motherboard, and that you position cables carefully to not obstruct air flow. Let us know how it goes when you switch on.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Thanks for the info :tu:


I have fitted everything in the case now. Just a couple of questions though. Firstly (and bare in mind I'm a newbie to this) Do I connect both the 4 pin power connector to the motherboard AND the 24 pin connector ? Also, I have fitted the sata cable to the hard drive, there is another connector to the left of the sata cable. There is a connector from the psu that fits in there, do I connect it in there or do I connect the 4pin connector to the right of the sata cable, or both ?

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

The square 2x2 ATX 12v connector? Yes

An oblong 4x1 connector from the power supply? Does the case/power supply manual talk about this as a 'molex'?Yes, you need that. The hard drive needs both a data connection (the Sata one with the L shape in the middle) and the power connection.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Thats the one :tu: Was just wondering whether you connected one or the other or both lol Thanks for clearing that up I will connect both.

I don't see a reference to it, but the documentation is a bit thin on the ground about the case. I have connected the data cable, there is the one you speak of to the right (its the same connector as old ide drives) so I'm familiar with that. On this drive there is a very similar one to the data connector, but is wider (to the left of the data connector)

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Do you mean this one? (piccie attached)

It's the new type of SATA power connection. You can use this if your power supply has them OR the 4 pin old IDE connector but DONT use both

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Thanks cookie, that looks very similar to mine, I will just connect that one :)

will probably post again soon lol

Regards

ps just out curiosity, when you connected your LED's to the board did you have any left over lol ? I have connected as instructed but still have a couple of spare hdd led cables.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

some sata drives only have the new type of power connector,the spare ide cables maybe something that the case gives as a back up :) you will see if you have doen it righe when you power the machine up and the ide light flashes when drive is read (or not ;))

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Ok thanks, this has both and I wasn't familiar with the new one.

Anyway, am ready to delve into the bios now and configure things lol. Will post soon, with a new pc hopefully :erm:

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Yes, I've got a bunch of spare led cables in both my PCs - if your mobo doesn't have connectors for them just leave them tied up :)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Might be worth just taking a break first ;)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Oops ! too late lol

Anyway, it went well, am typing on my brand spanking new pc now :D

Thanks to everyone who helped, it's been an education :cool:

Am off now for large amounts of vodka :beer:

Regards.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

:cleader::cleader::cleader::cleader::cleader:

Congrats pedantic :)

Now you've got the biggest task of all ahead of you: reinstalling all your applications & copying all of your music etc files onto the new machine .... :Yikes:

Still haven't really started on mine, 3 weeks after finishing the build :erm:

Think I'll join you in that vodka :)

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Glad all went well for you. I'm sure you have done this already, but if not, maker sure you install your anti virus, firewall, and perform any updates to software you install.

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Don't remind me, loads to do yet :erm:

Voddy's all round it is then :D

Re: I'm going to build a PC
 

Already done the anti-virus and temporarily using windows firewall until I get sorted out properly. Am behind a router so not too bad until then. Fully up to date with windows updates too.