The PC Builder's Guide

[Xyvik]

Anybody have some useful tips for the actual building of the machine?

Like:
"test as you build"
"Start with the power supply, then the... etc."

Not that those two necciserally are correct, they are just examples. I am just asking if there are some handy tips and tricks to make it more easy.

Thought I'd make a little return to answer your question with the Xyvik Patented Computer Building Method. Which actually isn't patented at all. Anyway.

Before you begin, obviously have a large enough table, somewhere metallic to touch to help with static, and all the parts you need for your computer. That may seem obvious, but I can't count the number of times I've had people ask me for help when they hadn't even done that.

After that, place your case on the table and remove the side (usually with a window, depends on your case) but it is always the left side when looking at the front of your computer (unless foreign computer makers do it differently, never checked.)

Start with your Hard Drives, CD Drives, and Power Supply. I know a lot of places tell you to do motherboard first, ignore them. Trust me, you so do not want to try and mess around with installing those things once the motherboard is in place. Obviously you can't hook anything up just yet.

Once those three items are in, then it's time for your motherboard. Before you screw it in completely, line it up on the "pegs" (no idea what they are really called) in your case that separate your motherboard from the actual case. make sure there are enough of them in the case. There usually aren't, so you'll have to add some (they either come with the case, or the motherboard). Line them up with your motherboard, screw them in, and then screw in the motherboard. More than one client has busted his motherboard because he didn't have enough pegs in the right place when he had to push a connector in strongly. Not a pretty sight.

After that, plug in your processor and its fan. Then go for the video card, and then the RAM. (unless you have an oversized CPU cooler, in which case you do RAM first, then CPU, then vid card.) Once those are in, you can start hooking hard drives, power cables, and everything else up.

Only then do I (personally) test the rig by hooking it up to a monitor and plugging it in.

The First Law of Computer Building states emphatically: you will never get it right the first time. You will always forget to plug something in. It happens to me now, ten (almost eleven) years and hundreds of computers later. Don't expect perfection and you'll be fine.

If it doesn't start up, then you can worry about why. It has been, for me, easier to figure it out afterwards, and takes less time too. Usually its something small like I didn't seat the RAM in all the way (man I can't count how often -that- happens) or I forgot to plug in the power to my hard drives.

Hope that helps!

[Twilice]

Something (obviously a fan) is buzzing very "pitchy" at regular interwalls. Not all the time then it sounds like normal but some of the time it sounds really really "pitchy" if you know what I mean.

What could be the problem?

[EvilGenius]

sounds like a wire hitting a fan... I know the wires to my video card's fan tend to get stuck in the heatsink fins, and eventually head towards the fan blades.

Even when you do forget to plug something in (you will) GENERALLY the computer will freak out, and tell you something is wrong - My video card whines horrendously if i don't have it plugged into the power supply.

[spychi]

Even when you do forget to plug something in (you will) GENERALLY the computer will freak out, and tell you something is wrong - My video card whines horrendously if i don't have it plugged into the power supply.

what card do you have and what PSU you have?
you might not giving it the right ammount of power and there is something really going wrong with your card

[Twilice]

Hm, it doesn't sound like the computer gives a warning about it (that sounds alot more and like a "beep") But I just started cleaning and getting rid of everything that laid ontop of the computer (lol at all the schoolmaterial I had there)

So I will open it up and se if I can find the issue. Maybe it's just the case that vibrates and create some kind of resonance? I used to have that problem before but fixed it.

[mikill]

I got a question on software, Anti-virus to be specfic. What is the best anti-virus software because i got 5 guys telling me 5 different things. For home not a workplace setting.

[spychi]

I got a question on software, Anti-virus to be specfic. What is the best anti-virus software because i got 5 guys telling me 5 different things. For home not a workplace setting.

for me NOD32
never used anything else, because there was no need to, it defends my system superbly

[Drake Clawfang]

So, I have a new PC, and usingmnthe scan in the first post of the thread here are the system specs. I'm told this PC is fairly new, and it seems so, so could you guys tell me if it'll likely be able to run SC2 okay? To save the C&P I screenshotted the specs, so...yeah, will this do for SC2?

[mikill]

This is new?? 2GB of Ram, Intel Pentium Duo Core with 2.7 Ghz, 500 GB HD. Seems like it is old.

[Drake Clawfang]

Well its a lot newer than my old PC by a long shot, the CPU and monitor are one piece and it came with wireless keyboard and mouse. Will it do for the game?