Quick pc building tips

[Jebonia]

My idea for this thread is that the community posts quick little tips to make building a PC easier for a new builder. I'll kick it off with a few

 

1) when looking for graphics card lengths, keep in mind where the power will be plugging into. The card might only be 8 inches but the 6 pin power might be facing towards the front of the case so you will need extra room for that.

 

2) Screw your graphics card in before plugging in the power. I sometimes forget to do this when changing graphics cards around and the card will pop a wheelie

 

3) Unplug dvi/hdmi/adaptors/etc before removing graphics cards!

[virusal19]

Not trying to come off mean or anything, but isn't that what the forums was made for? 

[joelthezombie15]

Double check that all your cables are seated correctly

put in the io shield before you install the mobo

This is more of planning, but for the love of god get a good PSU, it it shorts out the entire system is gone, instead of getting that 16gb ram get 8gb and put the money into a good PSU, if you dont know if its a good PSU go to jonnyguru.com

 

Most importantly, Read the manual for EVERYTHING twice, and make sure you know how to build a pc.that helps to

[WoodenMarker]

3) Unplug dvi/hdmi/adaptors/etc before removing graphics cards!

I have yet to remember to do this.

[Raj8396]

Never close the side panel of a new build, always see if it is working first then close the side panels :) :P

[Jebonia]

Not trying to come off mean or anything, but isn't that what the forums was made for? 

Well not everyone has time to search through thousands of threads. anyway, if my idea was stupid, it will die out. And atleast i gave it a shit

[Jebonia]

I have yet to remember to do this.

same

[Jebonia]

Don't remove the cpu socket cover. Just install the cpu and it will pop off by its self. Keep it just incase you need to take out the cpu for extended periods of time or when you need to rma your mobo

[kirashi]

Do not plug USB drives into the LAN port on a Laptop. They will not work.

Sounds stupid, but I STILL pull this to this day on my friends laptop, because the ports are right beside each other. He laughs at me each time. It's not funny.

[the_devil52]

Make sure your monitor is set to the correct input. 

Make sure your power supply is turned on.

[melchiorvester]

Test everything outside the case before putting it in and finding out it doesn't work and taking it back out

[Godlygamer23]

I have yet to remember to do this.

One time I tried to take a card out without detaching it from the case. I was like "why won't this thing move?....Oh...right."

[WoodenMarker]

One time I tried to take a card out without detaching it from the case. I was like "why won't this thing move?....Oh...right."

Only once? You're a lucky soul.

[TheUnicornMan]

-Plug and turn on the power supply before cussing at your machine because it won't turn on.

-When you,re trying really hard to remember to plug and turn on the PSU, don't forget to put in the RAM. <--I'm that dumb

-I/O shield folks! This should go in before the Mobo.

-4 or 8 pin CPU power has to be routed before putting the mobo in, or it is easier to do so before

-DOn't spill soup on a case that has mesh on top. <--- Yup, I was lucky on that one!

-Trouble with cooling and want to know if it's airflow or on the heatsink side? Run superpi with side open, stick a house fan in there, does wonders!

-Again airflow around the CPU cooler, I find that 2 120's on some cases is enough while some juste need 1 outtake 120. (Dropped 10-15 degrees under superpi)

-pcpartpicker.com is your friend, try to get all your parts from only 2 or 3 retailers to save on shipping, some retailers have only a few bucks difference and are gonna save you shipping

[Jebonia]

If you have a raid set up (even if set up storage drive) and It doesn't want to boot, It mightt be because you cleared cmos and changed the setting from raid to ahci. Well that is what happens to me on my msi MOBO

[SirReallySam]

Do not plug USB drives into the LAN port on a Laptop. They will not work.

Sounds stupid, but I STILL pull this to this day on my friends laptop, because the ports are right beside each other. He laughs at me each time. It's not funny.

 

It kind of is funny :3

Never close the side panel of a new build, always see if it is working first then close the side panels :) :P

Ahhaaaa or you could just to a test bench before you put it into the case like I did :ph34r:

[Bamferator]

It kind of is funny :3

Ahhaaaa or you could just to a test bench before you put it into the case like I did :ph34r:

Or, if you haven't tossed it, your motherboard box makes the world's most convenient test bench :D

[shazzam66]

Don't put on the side panels before you make sure the motherboard boots properly!

 

Can be very annoying.

[D3MON]

Trying not to say things that are already said (like not putting the side panel on when you're done, its not a myth its common sense)

1# Installl order (some things may be switched around)
Power supply, then motherboard, then cpu, then cpu cooler, then ram, , then hard drive, then graphics card.
2# Take your time.
3# If you plan to overclock or use a high power cpu get a good quality board with heatsinked 8+2 power phases (heatsinks alone don't mean an 8+2vrm).
4# Dont forget the cpu cooler fan header (every other time in the early days)
5 part a Dont cheap out on a case, (under £50 GBP-exceptions below*), stick to well known brands, if you're unsure, ask.

5 part b; You dont always have to buy a more expensive case from corsair, antec etc (though it is a safer bet), if you're carefull and read reviews you can find unknown bargains (7870Tahiti LE, sharkoon t9*, nzxt source 210*).
5 part c; Easy way to spot a good case. (A good case will be made of thicker quality material and wont just strip threads)
1# Does it have a bottom mounted power supply?-not always the case but if its top mounted AND cheap-rubbish.
2# Does it have a black interior?-if they're willing to do this its a good start.- still a poor case
3# Does it have cable routing holes and a cpu cutout?- if they're willing to do this thats good too.- low case
4# Is there enough room behind the motherboard tray to actually route any cables?-you want an inch or more.- a good case
5# Are those cable routing holes use rubber grommets?-makes a build look tidy, most often on £100+ cases.
6# Better designed-attention to detail, you're unlikely to spot things untill you're building in it or unless Tiny Tom Logan talks about it in a review.
if it has all of the above then you have a good case.
 

6# Bright LED fans unless they're expensive are probably cheap and while sometimes it doesn't always matter... do not go thinking they're going to be amazing just because they look good.
7# Just because loads of people are fanatic about something doesn't mean its good, PERSONALLY I think noctuas are overhyped (still good) and gentle typhoons are all a placebo, GET evidence from MULTIPLE reviews even if it means doing it yourself. It's your cash/pc on the line.

8# Watch linus's future proofing guide, infact watch everything linus has made or done a guide on, seriously.....
9# Never assume anything, Don't assume that because its doa its a terrible product (not always) sometimes things just don't work, Shop around ALLOT and factor in postage and read reviews!
10# If you can get USB3 do it! it will become a standard, other things to a lesser extent are likely to become standard aswell so it can be beneficial to spend and extra 3$ on a motherboard/graphics card to get it, again if you're unsure ask!
Don't buy from apple (do i need to say this? the only people that wont like this will have an apple product of some sort and will have paid double the price because its white and partially made of die cast...)
11# Don't always assume newer is better (pentium 4.....bulldozer)
12# Low end AIO coolers aren't much better than a decent heatsink that are cheaper.

13# DON'T SPREAD THERMAL PASTE, its meant to be the thinnest micron sized film, thermal paste isn't as good at conducting as heatsink-to-metal contact so only use a blot in the center of the cpu and make sure the heatsink is making good pressure and give it a tiny wiggle without it pulling away from the cpu if you can. (this is something I'm very ocd about) doing it properly isn't hard, doing it really well is an art.
14# DON'T NOT USE THERMAL PASTE, Just because I said less is more doesn't mean none.
15# Learn to cable manage, sit back and think ALLOT before doing something, where its going to go, how, what will the effects be?
16# Plan your build as much as you can before buying parts.
17# Bronze efficiency power supply is minimal silver is allot better, gold is a little better and the improvements (in efficiency) shrink from there on but bronze if you're on a budget gold and upwards if your not.
18# Part 1-"I dont care how loud it is", You will eventually so why not make it as quiet as you affordably can now.
Part 2a- having quiet fans is 1 good but having less fans is quieter.
Part 2b-if you have fans blowing through an area that doesnt need anything cooled (empty hard drive cage) unplug it for now..unless its LED
Air moving in and out the case is important but the airspeed is going to be generally slow, So don't go filling it with fans at the front and exhausts at the back/top just because you can.
19# Clean your pc-just do it-especially if you have lots of fans drawing in air
20# Clean your pc-especially if you dont have any fans moving air.
21# Positive air pressure vs negative air pressure-if your drawing unfiltered air in, it will bring dust in, simple.
22# The faster your fans are, the more restricted they will by by filters and grills-slow and steady.
23# cases with top mounting for fans-spill a cup of tea on it and you'll regret it, even if you dont dust will end up going inside the case through the grills and land on your graphics card.

24# Don't build your pc on an anti static bag, it's electrically conductive.
25# Double check your stand off mounts, in the wrong place they can short your board out.
26# Notice things like ddr3 1600 is the same price as ddr1333 and the cost per gigabyte goes down as you get bigger hard drives (generally)

Can't think of anything else I've learnt... :D
Oh and read advice given to you, How much of this did you skip?

[M4XvPA1N]

Seem pretty self explanatory but I guess some people do that!

[M4XvPA1N]

Don't put on the side panels before you make sure the motherboard boots properly!

 

Can be very annoying.

Just a myth. I took a chance on the wild side for my first build and did exactly that and it booted fine.

[shazzam66]

Just a myth. I took a chance on the wild side for my first build and did exactly that and it booted fine.

 

Haha, I'm not saying I believe in the myth.

 

I just mean its annoying if something won't work and you have to take off the panels and unhook fans (if you have them)

[SirReallySam]

Or, if you haven't tossed it, your motherboard box makes the world's most convenient test bench :D

INDEED :)

[Godlygamer23]

Or, if you haven't tossed it, your motherboard box makes the world's most convenient test bench :D

I think any cardboard box will do. Right?

[Ras]

Don't forget to ground yourself before touching your componants.