I'm going to build a PC

[patrickp]

Originally Posted by cookie_365

I'm definitely not going to rush this; I'll set aside a whole day to stick everything together, and I've got a wrist-strap from when I changed the heatsink on my current PC - and yes, I did remember to reconnect the fan

If you don't have an anti-static strap with an earth lead, make sure your PC case is earthed when you work on it, cookie. Wihout that, static charges will be dispersed over the whole structure, but they can still be there - grounding things gets rid of them altogether.

I notice, as well, that you're thinking of getting a fast 300GB drive. A much better idea would be to get a much smaller fast drive to install and run your OS and programs on, and get a larger but not necessarily as fast drive for storing data on. You can put every thing on it: transfer My Documents there, download stuff to it, keep your emails and bookmarks on it (most browsers and email clients will let you do it this way), set your games up to save to it, etc.

The advantages of this are that your system can then access data at the same time as it's accessing progams etc, and particularly, if you have to format your primary drive and reinstall your OS (happens to all of us; it's just that some people will try to keep their OSs limping along forever ;-( This makes it much easier to bite the bullet!) you still have all your data, saves, downloaded progams, updates etc.

Can be a good idea to partition the big drive, too - different partitions for different things.
__________________

Originally Posted by melevittfl

I wasn't saying it only addresses a max of 512 meg, just that there's a point of deminishing returns were adding more RAM dosn't add a noticable increase in performance.

The difference between going from 1 gig to 2 gig is going to make a much smaller difference in terms of performance than going from say 128 megs to 512.

1GB would still be a good idea, though - the difference between 512MB and 1GB can be considerable, in W2k or XP.

[cookie_365]

Good thinking Patrickp

I was going to recycle my 160GB IDE from my current machine to the new one, but then I'd have Windows and not much else on the new 300GB and not enough on the old one for My Documents. I'll maybe get a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 NCQ 80GB SATA150 7200rpm 8MB for XP in addition to the 300 GB.

And since I've decided not to get a PVR just yet I'm going to spend the dosh anyway - I'll go for the A8N-E mobo together with Corsair Memory TWINX2048 - 3200C2PT XMS3200 2x1GB 2x184DIMM CAS2 memory since that's been tested as working in this mobo. And if I'm paying for all that, it'd be churlish not to go for the dual-core while I'm at it

This is why I haven't done this kind of thing before - it's so easy just to keep spending more money (at least if I wasn't spending time with all this I'd probably be spending the same money in clothes shops anyway )

The wrist strap I've got has a wire with a bulldog clip that you attach to the radiator/metal PC case. As I mentioned, I've taken out & replaced the CPU, changed the CPU heatsink, replaced memory, disks etc on the current machine with it and nothing's zapped yet; no way am I working on a PC while it's still plugged in - and if I zap the mobo, well, I'll just have to buy another

Final decision expected monday morning .....

Originally Posted by cookie_365

Good thinking Patrickp

I was going to recycle my 160GB IDE from my current machine to the new one, but then I'd have Windows and not much else on the new 300GB and not enough on the old one for My Documents. I'll maybe get a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 NCQ 80GB SATA150 7200rpm 8MB for XP in addition to the 300 GB.

And since I've decided not to get a PVR just yet I'm going to spend the dosh anyway - I'll go for the A8N-E mobo together with Corsair Memory TWINX2048 - 3200C2PT XMS3200 2x1GB 2x184DIMM CAS2 memory since that's been tested as working in this mobo. And if I'm paying for all that, it'd be churlish not to go for the dual-core while I'm at it

This is why I haven't done this kind of thing before - it's so easy just to keep spending more money (at least if I wasn't spending time with all this I'd probably be spending the same money in clothes shops anyway )

The wrist strap I've got has a wire with a bulldog clip that you attach to the radiator/metal PC case. As I mentioned, I've taken out & replaced the CPU, changed the CPU heatsink, replaced memory, disks etc on the current machine with it and nothing's zapped yet; no way am I working on a PC while it's still plugged in - and if I zap the mobo, well, I'll just have to buy another

Final decision expected monday morning .....

Good choice going for the dual core other choices seem sound.1 note lay the mobos foam pad with its anti static bad on top all on a firm even surface,place mobo on top of this,lift lever.Then and only then open the cpu box remove cpu inc packaging and open carefully .The 939 are very delicate unlike skt A pins.If you manhandle the cpu you will find yourself strightening the pins for hours Ask Marky about damaging a cpu

[cookie_365]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Good choice going for the dual core other choices seem sound.1 note lay the mobos foam pad with its anti static bad on top all on a firm even surface,place mobo on top of this,lift lever.Then and only then open the cpu box remove cpu inc packaging and open carefully .The 939 are very delicate unlike skt A pins.If you manhandle the cpu you will find yourself strightening the pins for hours Ask Marky about damaging a cpu

Thanks

If I throw it at the wall, would it be better to pick NE or SW (CPU will fall onto exposed floorboards) or NW or SE (CPU will fall onto static-packed man-made carpet) ??

Originally Posted by cookie_365

Thanks

If I throw it at the wall, would it be better to pick NE or SW (CPU will fall onto exposed floorboards) or NW or SE (CPU will fall onto static-packed man-made carpet) ??

Just dont drop it I dropped a skt 754 onto the mobo from just a couple of inches and this resulted in 2 hours with a stanley knife straightening them again
The worst enemy of an "experienced" pc builder is complacency.

[marky]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Ask Marky about damaging a cpu

Oi i saw that

[patrickp]

Originally Posted by cookie_365

Good thinking Patrickp

You're very welcome, cookie! ;-)

Originally Posted by cookie_365

I was going to recycle my 160GB IDE from my current machine to the new one, but then I'd have Windows and not much else on the new 300GB and not enough on the old one for My Documents. I'll maybe get a Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 NCQ 80GB SATA150 7200rpm 8MB for XP in addition to the 300 GB.

Doesn't even have to be that big. My system's set up that way, and the C: drive has less than 8GB used. 20GB would be fine; I guess you could get something a bit bigger, partition it and use the spare partition for temp files etc.

Originally Posted by cookie_365

And since I've decided not to get a PVR just yet I'm going to spend the dosh anyway - I'll go for the A8N-E mobo together with Corsair Memory TWINX2048 - 3200C2PT XMS3200 2x1GB 2x184DIMM CAS2 memory since that's been tested as working in this mobo. And if I'm paying for all that, it'd be churlish not to go for the dual-core while I'm at it

Go for it! <jealous...>

Originally Posted by cookie_365

This is why I haven't done this kind of thing before - it's so easy just to keep spending more money (at least if I wasn't spending time with all this I'd probably be spending the same money in clothes shops anyway )

To paraphrase the Furry Freak Brothers, cool computer gear will see you through times of no clothes better than clothes will see you through times of no cool computer gear... unless you have to go out... hmmmm...

Originally Posted by cookie_365

The wrist strap I've got has a wire with a bulldog clip that you attach to the radiator/metal PC case. As I mentioned, I've taken out & replaced the CPU, changed the CPU heatsink, replaced memory, disks etc on the current machine with it and nothing's zapped yet; no way am I working on a PC while it's still plugged in - and if I zap the mobo, well, I'll just have to buy another

No, that's not quite what I mean, cookie. First, that clip should definitely be attached to the chassis you're working on; that will equalise any charges building up between you and it. Then the chassis needs to be earthed itself to dissipate any charges - you need to attach a wire to it and connect that to your radiator or (favourite) the earth pin of a 3 pin mains plug (and plug it in). Don't use a plug that you have anything else wired into, and make sure your electrical installation is Ok - not much point in running a decent PC on it, and you don't want to electrocute yourself!

Originally Posted by cookie_365

Final decision expected monday morning .....

Heavy sedation tonight, I think! ;-D

Originally Posted by marky

Oi i saw that

[patrickp]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

The worst enemy of an "experienced" pc builder is complacency.

Absolute truth, zingle! ;-)

[cookie_365]

Originally Posted by patrickp

To paraphrase the Furry Freak Brothers, cool computer gear will see you through times of no clothes better than clothes will see you through times of no cool computer gear... unless you have to go out... hmmmm...

... and I've never had to use an online forum to find out how a pair of jeans works

Originally Posted by patrickp

No, that's not quite what I mean, cookie. First, that clip should definitely be attached to the chassis you're working on; that will equalise any charges building up between you and it. Then the chassis needs to be earthed itself to dissipate any charges - you need to attach a wire to it and connect that to your radiator or (favourite) the earth pin of a 3 pin mains plug (and plug it in). Don't use a plug that you have anything else wired into, and make sure your electrical installation is Ok - not much point in running a decent PC on it, and you don't want to electrocute yourself!

Ah, got it. I'd rather risk zapping the mobo than zapping me (you can't get a replacement me, at least not on Dabs ). I'll grab some wire & a couple of croc clips from Maplins.

Originally Posted by patrickp

Heavy sedation tonight, I think! ;-D

Yes, but that happens anyway

[patrickp]

Originally Posted by cookie_365

Ah, got it. I'd rather risk zapping the mobo than zapping me (you can't get a replacement me, at least not on Dabs ). I'll grab some wire & a couple of croc clips from Maplins.

My strap & lead plugs into the crocodile clip with a 4mm plug, so what I did was solder a stackable 4mm plug to the earthing lead. That way I can use the strap & lead with the croc clip by themselves, or plug the lead into the stackable plug, and that into the croc clip, thus providing earthing as well.

[cookie_365]

Well, I'm now £900 poorer than I was this time yesterday

And that's without a monitor ... or XP ....

Still, it's what I go to work for ... at least, that's what I'm telling myself.

I wonder which expensive item of electronics I'll break first ....

[pedantic]

Well......now that I paid off my latest credit card bill I am now looking at buying bits and pieces for my first crack at this Not sure I will be buying parts as lavish as cookie though lol. I rarely play games, so will probably spend half of the the £900 you are spending. I will probably go along the same route as you regarding the motherboard. But probably will go for a Athlon64 3000 (venice) 1GB ram and a cheapish graphics card. And as this is my first attempt, I'd be irritated if I fried anything that cost me an arm and a leg. Will see how I get on, and maybe build a better one later after I have gained some experience.

Regards.

Originally Posted by pedantic

Well......now that I paid off my latest credit card bill I am now looking at buying bits and pieces for my first crack at this Not sure I will be buying parts as lavish as cookie though lol. I rarely play games, so will probably spend half of the the £900 you are spending. I will probably go along the same route as you regarding the motherboard. But probably will go for a Athlon64 3000 (venice) 1GB ram and a cheapish graphics card. And as this is my first attempt, I'd be irritated if I fried anything that cost me an arm and a leg. Will see how I get on, and maybe build a better one later after I have gained some experience.

Regards.

Good luck its easy really just read the manuals and follow what it says you cant go wrong

[cookie_365]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Good luck its easy really just read the manuals and follow what it says you cant go wrong

.... and if you believe that .....

You do realise it's your fault I've spent so much money, Zing? I may be asking for a little contribution from you ....