Help with First Build Needed

[walden_emrys]

Alright i need help with my build. Mainly with the wiring, I know people say that wiring is no big deal, but for me I just take a look and my mind freezes. Also I need help on basic video card water block installation. And on how to navigate BIOS, overclock, and installation of an OS. Build specs below

Case Caselabs SMH10

Motherboard ASUS RIVE

CPU 3930k

RAM Corsair Dominator 32GB

Video 2 GTX 670 FTW 4GB

Sound Asus Xonar Essence STX

SSD 2 240GB Corsair Neutron GTX, 2 480GB Corsair Neutron GTX

PSU Corsair 1200i Platinum

Cooling

Radiator XSPC 480AX

Pump D5 with EK black pump top

Reservoir EK multioption 400mm

CPU Block Swiftech Apogee HD

Video Card Block EK something (too lazy to look up right now lol) Also bought EK backplates

Liquid Mayhems Red

Thermal Paste IC Diamond

Thanks LSD for this forum (linus, slick, and diesel). If you have any tips for a beginner that I haven't asked for but you think I should hear, please let me know. I'll see if I can post pictures later of my rig.

[Guest]

For the second time - post disapeared. Anyway, let's try for a third.

1. BIOS

This is acessed straight after your system POST's which is the very first thing it'll do when you power it up and it'll like check RAM, video card ect. Hit whichever F key it is for your board (it'll say while POSTing), it'll probably take a couple of attempts for you to get it. To navigate you may be able to use your mouse, i'm not familiar with that board otherwise just use the arrow keys. All the menus are pretty self explanatory so you won't have much trouble.

2. Installing an OS.

In your BIOS, navigate to wherever the boot order is. It could be called "Boot" or "Startup" or something like that. Change the boot order to the following: 1. Optical drive or wherever your OS to install is, 2. wherever you plan to install to (SSD, HD ect), 3. whatever else.. Save and exit BIOS and then it'll guide you through the rest. You may need to reboot for it to take effect.

3. Overclocking

- That'll probably help you the most but I tend to tinker with the multiplier, base clock and voltage and see what is stable by testing for 12 hour lots with Prime95 or the Intel burn test. Your board may also have an auto OC mode which is where the board automatically OC's to what it feels is safe which may be ideal for you.

4. Cable management

- That'll probably help you too. Personally I run all the cables that I know I will need from my PSU out the back of the case and then just start plugging things together, first with power, then data then anything else. Once I've got everything connected, I move around to the inside and make it look tidy before tying down at the back being careful not to strain or over tighten cables.

5. Waterblock

I haven't done a waterblock install so I'll leave the ins and outs to someone with a lot of experience but the general gist is delicately remove the casing from the card then very carefully bolt on the waterblock, sandwiching the card between it and the backplate.

Let us know if you need any more help

[Dim]

For the second time - post disapeared. Anyway, let's try for a third.

1. BIOS

This is acessed straight after your system POST's which is the very first thing it'll do when you power it up and it'll like check RAM, video card ect. Hit whichever F key it is for your board (it'll say while POSTing), it'll probably take a couple of attempts for you to get it. To navigate you may be able to use your mouse, i'm not familiar with that board otherwise just use the arrow keys. All the menus are pretty self explanatory so you won't have much trouble.

2. Installing an OS.

In your BIOS, navigate to wherever the boot order is. It could be called "Boot" or "Startup" or something like that. Change the boot order to the following: 1. Optical drive or wherever your OS to install is, 2. wherever you plan to install to (SSD, HD ect), 3. whatever else.. Save and exit BIOS and then it'll guide you through the rest. You may need to reboot for it to take effect.

3. Overclocking

- That'll probably help you the most but I tend to tinker with the multiplier, base clock and voltage and see what is stable by testing for 12 hour lots with Prime95 or the Intel burn test. Your board may also have an auto OC mode which is where the board automatically OC's to what it feels is safe which may be ideal for you.

4. Cable management

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERhxmzQR6xA - That'll probably help you too. Personally I run all the cables that I know I will need from my PSU out the back of the case and then just start plugging things together, first with power, then data then anything else. Once I've got everything connected, I move around to the inside and make it look tidy before tying down at the back being careful not to strain or over tighten cables.

5. Waterblock

I haven't done a waterblock install so I'll leave the ins and outs to someone with a lot of experience but the general gist is delicately remove the casing from the card then very carefully bolt on the waterblock, sandwiching the card between it and the backplate.

Let us know if you need any more help

Sorry dude, it says that Slick and I each deleted one of your posts -- not sure how... silly vB5.

Anyway, keep up the helpful work!

[Administrator]

For the second time - post disapeared. Anyway, let's try for a third.

1. BIOS

This is acessed straight after your system POST's which is the very first thing it'll do when you power it up and it'll like check RAM, video card ect. Hit whichever F key it is for your board (it'll say while POSTing), it'll probably take a couple of attempts for you to get it. To navigate you may be able to use your mouse, i'm not familiar with that board otherwise just use the arrow keys. All the menus are pretty self explanatory so you won't have much trouble.

2. Installing an OS.

In your BIOS, navigate to wherever the boot order is. It could be called "Boot" or "Startup" or something like that. Change the boot order to the following: 1. Optical drive or wherever your OS to install is, 2. wherever you plan to install to (SSD, HD ect), 3. whatever else.. Save and exit BIOS and then it'll guide you through the rest. You may need to reboot for it to take effect.

3. Overclocking

- That'll probably help you the most but I tend to tinker with the multiplier, base clock and voltage and see what is stable by testing for 12 hour lots with Prime95 or the Intel burn test. Your board may also have an auto OC mode which is where the board automatically OC's to what it feels is safe which may be ideal for you.

4. Cable management

- That'll probably help you too. Personally I run all the cables that I know I will need from my PSU out the back of the case and then just start plugging things together, first with power, then data then anything else. Once I've got everything connected, I move around to the inside and make it look tidy before tying down at the back being careful not to strain or over tighten cables.

5. Waterblock

I haven't done a waterblock install so I'll leave the ins and outs to someone with a lot of experience but the general gist is delicately remove the casing from the card then very carefully bolt on the waterblock, sandwiching the card between it and the backplate.

Let us know if you need any more help

vb5 has a post selection bug so sometimes it randomly deletes things when we are trying to delete spam :( sorry windspeed

[Guest]

For the second time - post disapeared. Anyway, let's try for a third.

1. BIOS

This is acessed straight after your system POST's which is the very first thing it'll do when you power it up and it'll like check RAM, video card ect. Hit whichever F key it is for your board (it'll say while POSTing), it'll probably take a couple of attempts for you to get it. To navigate you may be able to use your mouse, i'm not familiar with that board otherwise just use the arrow keys. All the menus are pretty self explanatory so you won't have much trouble.

2. Installing an OS.

In your BIOS, navigate to wherever the boot order is. It could be called "Boot" or "Startup" or something like that. Change the boot order to the following: 1. Optical drive or wherever your OS to install is, 2. wherever you plan to install to (SSD, HD ect), 3. whatever else.. Save and exit BIOS and then it'll guide you through the rest. You may need to reboot for it to take effect.

3. Overclocking

- That'll probably help you the most but I tend to tinker with the multiplier, base clock and voltage and see what is stable by testing for 12 hour lots with Prime95 or the Intel burn test. Your board may also have an auto OC mode which is where the board automatically OC's to what it feels is safe which may be ideal for you.

4. Cable management

- That'll probably help you too. Personally I run all the cables that I know I will need from my PSU out the back of the case and then just start plugging things together, first with power, then data then anything else. Once I've got everything connected, I move around to the inside and make it look tidy before tying down at the back being careful not to strain or over tighten cables.

5. Waterblock

I haven't done a waterblock install so I'll leave the ins and outs to someone with a lot of experience but the general gist is delicately remove the casing from the card then very carefully bolt on the waterblock, sandwiching the card between it and the backplate.

Let us know if you need any more help

Yeah I saw that you apparently deleted one of Helltechs too :P

It's fine - I've learnt to backup anything long and important

[Dim]

If you're just looking at two 670s, you don't really need 1200W of power -- if you're considering a three-way SLI configuration then it may be somewhat necessary. In the meantime, though, you can look at just a Corsair 860i if you want to save some money :)

[Guest]

If you're just looking at two 670s, you don't really need 1200W of power -- if you're considering a three-way SLI configuration then it may be somewhat necessary. In the meantime, though, you can look at just a Corsair 860i if you want to save some money :)

Me thinks they've bought it already

[Guest]

A few other tips I've been thinking of

• Be patient
  
• Don't close the case until you're running
  
• Regularly touch something grounded
  
• Don't work on carpet in socks
  
• Don't force components - especially the CPU
  
• Test bench the system first
  

[Dim]

If you're just looking at two 670s, you don't really need 1200W of power -- if you're considering a three-way SLI configuration then it may be somewhat necessary. In the meantime, though, you can look at just a Corsair 860i if you want to save some money :)

Yeah, seemed like it, but I wasn't positive so I just said it anyway haha--better safe than sorry :)

[Dim]

Other help I can give as to wiring, waiden: most cables only have one place they can really go--always refer to your manual if you're unsure. If something doesn't fit somewhere, it probably isn't supposed to go there, but have a look on the end of the cable and the plug it's going into. Some things like your motherboard power adapters are fairly obvious, but you might get confused with little things such as LED lighting; make sure you look at the manual and check to see if the LED cables need to go into a specific place. For example, +LED and -LED are common to see, so make sure they go in their respective pins as indicated by the motherboard :)

[Guest]

Other help I can give as to wiring, waiden: most cables only have one place they can really go--always refer to your manual if you're unsure. If something doesn't fit somewhere, it probably isn't supposed to go there, but have a look on the end of the cable and the plug it's going into. Some things like your motherboard power adapters are fairly obvious, but you might get confused with little things such as LED lighting; make sure you look at the manual and check to see if the LED cables need to go into a specific place. For example, +LED and -LED are common to see, so make sure they go in their respective pins as indicated by the motherboard :)

@OP From memory, the Rampage like most Asus boards, comes with the little 12 part connector thing where everything is labelled to make life easier :)

[walden_emrys]

Windspeed - thanks for clearing up the whole OS problem and for the links.

Good rules to build by.

• Be patient
  
• Don't close the case until you're running
  
• Regularly touch something grounded
  
• Don't work on carpet in socks
  
• Don't force components - especially the CPU
  
• Test bench the system first
  

What does a test bench involve exactly? Do you just boot up the system and see if everything is running?

Dim - the reason I chose that PSU was because I'm trying to future proof this build as much as possible and I wanted to get a PSU that I won't have to replace for another 2 or 3 builds. Plus I might add another 670 if my budget allows.

Thanks for the help that you guys have already given, if you have any more advice that you think that a first time builder might need please feel free to let me know.

Edit: Also, I'm at a loss on how to connect the fans to the fan controller, get power to them, etc. Also my case is big and the fan wires aren't that long, is there supposed to be some kind of extension that I have to buy? Again, thank you for all of your help.

[Guest]

For test benching - your motherboard box works fine. Just put the board down, put on the components and power it up. If everything appears to be working just turn it off and build. To start the board outside of a case, take a paper clip or something and put the PWR and its ground together - this will start the system.

As for your fan controller, what are you using?

[walden_emrys]

I'm using a NZXT Sentry Mesh for a fan controller. When test benching do I connect the hard drives as well or no?

[Guest]

I'm using a NZXT Sentry Mesh for a fan controller. When test benching do I connect the hard drives as well or no?

You can but you don't really need to bother

[Guest]

With your fan setup, didn't your fans come with extension cables or anything?

[walden_emrys]

It came with the cable that comes out of the fan and another cable that splits in to two cables; one that looks like the first cable (small three pin) and a larger four pin connector.

[Guest]

It came with the cable that comes out of the fan and another cable that splits in to two cables; one that looks like the first cable (small three pin) and a larger four pin connector.

If they're not long enough to reach the fan controller, then you'll need to buy extensions.

These are high quality NZXT ones: http://www.amazon.com/Nzxt-CB-3F-NZXT-Technologies-Cable/dp/B0036ORCLW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1358920916&sr=8-3&keywords=3+pin+extension

[walden_emrys]

Also, does anyone know how to install a fan to a case when the case isn't threaded for a screw? I mean there's holes to install a fan there but the holes aren't threaded for a screw.

[Guest]

Also, does anyone know how to install a fan to a case when the case isn't threaded for a screw? I mean there's holes to install a fan there but the holes aren't threaded for a screw.

Get a washer for the screw..

[walden_emrys]

Does anyone know how to figure out how many fans can go on one channel of a fan controller? The Sentry Mesh has a rating of 30W per channel max, but I'm looking at the fans and don't see anything about watts in the description (I'm using Gentle Typhoons 1450 RPM). Don't want to put too many fans on the same channel and risk damage to the controller.

[Guest]

Does anyone know how to figure out how many fans can go on one channel of a fan controller? The Sentry Mesh has a rating of 30W per channel max, but I'm looking at the fans and don't see anything about watts in the description (I'm using Gentle Typhoons 1450 RPM). Don't want to put too many fans on the same channel and risk damage to the controller.

Voltage x Current = wattage so yours from memory are something like .5amp x 12v = 6w :)

[walden_emrys]

Does anyone know how to figure out how many fans can go on one channel of a fan controller? The Sentry Mesh has a rating of 30W per channel max, but I'm looking at the fans and don't see anything about watts in the description (I'm using Gentle Typhoons 1450 RPM). Don't want to put too many fans on the same channel and risk damage to the controller.

How do I find the current?

[Guest]

Does anyone know how to figure out how many fans can go on one channel of a fan controller? The Sentry Mesh has a rating of 30W per channel max, but I'm looking at the fans and don't see anything about watts in the description (I'm using Gentle Typhoons 1450 RPM). Don't want to put too many fans on the same channel and risk damage to the controller.

Normally it is written on the fan motor otherwise the manufacturers website

[walden_emrys]

Does anyone know how to figure out how many fans can go on one channel of a fan controller? The Sentry Mesh has a rating of 30W per channel max, but I'm looking at the fans and don't see anything about watts in the description (I'm using Gentle Typhoons 1450 RPM). Don't want to put too many fans on the same channel and risk damage to the controller.

My fans are 12 Volts and .049A, for some reason that doesn't sound right to me, but thats what it says on the fan. That would mean that the Watts would only be about .6