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Assembled my new PC

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  • S Sijin

    Just assembled my first PC, i've had a comp as long as i can remember and have tinkered around with the individual parts quite a bit, but this is the firs time i assembled a complete system from scratch, wow what a rush. Spent 2 days going through extremeTech and AnandTech and a bunch of other hardware sites getting up to date on the latest hardware. It took me 3 hrs to assemble the whole thing, pretty long but i was damn careful :) :) The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Anyways i must say i really enjoyed doing all that, and the first thing i did after setting it up was to post on CP. And next on the list is DOOM III, anyone play it yet? P.S: Here's the config, P4 2.8C, 865G Chipset, 2x256 MB DDR 400 SDRAM, GeForceFx 5600 Ultra, SB Live 5.1, 7200 rpm 80 GB disk. Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories?


    I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

    J Offline
    J Offline
    jhaga
    wrote on last edited by
    #9

    Yes, I have built many. The problem with home built computers is that you only get one year of warranty on all parts. If you buy a ready HP computer you will have 3 years of warranty. jhaga --------------------------------- Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet. -Dave Barry-

    J 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • S Sijin

      Just assembled my first PC, i've had a comp as long as i can remember and have tinkered around with the individual parts quite a bit, but this is the firs time i assembled a complete system from scratch, wow what a rush. Spent 2 days going through extremeTech and AnandTech and a bunch of other hardware sites getting up to date on the latest hardware. It took me 3 hrs to assemble the whole thing, pretty long but i was damn careful :) :) The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Anyways i must say i really enjoyed doing all that, and the first thing i did after setting it up was to post on CP. And next on the list is DOOM III, anyone play it yet? P.S: Here's the config, P4 2.8C, 865G Chipset, 2x256 MB DDR 400 SDRAM, GeForceFx 5600 Ultra, SB Live 5.1, 7200 rpm 80 GB disk. Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories?


      I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

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      Roger Wright
      wrote on last edited by
      #10

      I don't generally buy complete systems, though I usually recommend that my customers do so. It doesn't save any money, but I like selecting the exact hardware I want, plus I can ensure that I have plenty of room for growth. The additional warrantee time a few OEMs are offerring isn't worth the hassle of being limited to what they provide, nor is dealing with their warrantee people a treat. To date, I've had no failed systems, and only one drive that conked out after about five months - just a bad lot from WD, and they replaced it almost overnight.

      "Welcome to Arizona!
      Drive Nice - We're Armed..."
      - Proposed Sign at CA/AZ Border

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      • A Andrew McCarter

        I don't think DOOM III is out yet. Unless someone has been doing bad things with USENET ... :~ Building machines can be fun. I haven't bought a complete system in years now.

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        James T Johnson
        wrote on last edited by
        #11

        Andrew McCarter wrote: I don't think DOOM III is out yet. The demo from last years E3 got leaked out because id didn't remove it from the provided computers. Of course I had to download it and see what it was all about...thats all I could do; watch it run at about 0.5 FPS on a Radeon 7500 ;P James "I despise the city and much prefer being where a traffic jam means a line-up at McDonald's" Me when telling a friend why I wouldn't want to live with him

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        • R Rob Manderson

          When I built my first Athlon based machine (8 months ago) I had to use a frightening amount of pressure to get the heatsink clip on. So much pressure in fact that the clip is never coming off again. Never ever. So more recently I built myself a Dual CPU Athlon system. Same retail boxed CPU kits but the heatsink clips were much easier to install. I was dreading the idea of applying that much force again. Is your P4 a Hyperthreaded one? I'd be interested in knowing how it performs (assuming you've got an NT derived OS or Linux installed). Rob Manderson http://www.mindprobes.net

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          Matt Newman
          wrote on last edited by
          #12

          Rob Manderson wrote: I had to use a frightening amount of pressure to get the heatsink clip on. You become fatigued to that after awhile. I did Matt Newman
          Sonork: 100:11179 "Jokes should at least try to be intelligent - this is just toilet humor" - Heath Stewart

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          • S Sijin

            Just assembled my first PC, i've had a comp as long as i can remember and have tinkered around with the individual parts quite a bit, but this is the firs time i assembled a complete system from scratch, wow what a rush. Spent 2 days going through extremeTech and AnandTech and a bunch of other hardware sites getting up to date on the latest hardware. It took me 3 hrs to assemble the whole thing, pretty long but i was damn careful :) :) The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Anyways i must say i really enjoyed doing all that, and the first thing i did after setting it up was to post on CP. And next on the list is DOOM III, anyone play it yet? P.S: Here's the config, P4 2.8C, 865G Chipset, 2x256 MB DDR 400 SDRAM, GeForceFx 5600 Ultra, SB Live 5.1, 7200 rpm 80 GB disk. Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories?


            I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

            J Offline
            J Offline
            jelaft
            wrote on last edited by
            #13

            The first PC I built was a 486 DX 50. Yes. That was a long time ago. And I managed to break a SIMM (remember those...) in the process. Duh! Since then I have generally bought Dell boxes. However I built a Shuttle PC a couple of months ago. It was SO easy in comparison to the 486 box - only about 30 mins, and with a decent Athlon inside it's stink fast. I can't recommend them enough. Jimbo

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            • S Sijin

              Just assembled my first PC, i've had a comp as long as i can remember and have tinkered around with the individual parts quite a bit, but this is the firs time i assembled a complete system from scratch, wow what a rush. Spent 2 days going through extremeTech and AnandTech and a bunch of other hardware sites getting up to date on the latest hardware. It took me 3 hrs to assemble the whole thing, pretty long but i was damn careful :) :) The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Anyways i must say i really enjoyed doing all that, and the first thing i did after setting it up was to post on CP. And next on the list is DOOM III, anyone play it yet? P.S: Here's the config, P4 2.8C, 865G Chipset, 2x256 MB DDR 400 SDRAM, GeForceFx 5600 Ultra, SB Live 5.1, 7200 rpm 80 GB disk. Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories?


              I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Matt Newman
              wrote on last edited by
              #14

              I'm starting my second hand built PC this fall after my first university payment (if theres any money left :) ) I've already built 1 Athlon XP system. Building an AMD box will teach you alot about heat dissipation and airflow. Sijin wrote: The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Ram has always required more force than I am comfortable with. As for heatsinks I have gotten used to it, but I still practice a lot of caution because one slip-up could cost quite a bit of money. So have you let windows screw it up yet I mean gotten it working :~ :-D Matt Newman
              Sonork: 100:11179 "Jokes should at least try to be intelligent - this is just toilet humor" - Heath Stewart

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              • R Rob Manderson

                When I built my first Athlon based machine (8 months ago) I had to use a frightening amount of pressure to get the heatsink clip on. So much pressure in fact that the clip is never coming off again. Never ever. So more recently I built myself a Dual CPU Athlon system. Same retail boxed CPU kits but the heatsink clips were much easier to install. I was dreading the idea of applying that much force again. Is your P4 a Hyperthreaded one? I'd be interested in knowing how it performs (assuming you've got an NT derived OS or Linux installed). Rob Manderson http://www.mindprobes.net

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                ColinDavies
                wrote on last edited by
                #15

                The force thing is something that still scares me. Even plugging in PCI cards etc, seems to require way too much force. Those Pentium 2 boxed CPUs use to scare the hell out of me. I really thought I was going to crack the Mother boards with the force I had to use. I think there is a problem in the specs with allowing this amount of force to be used. Sure good electronic contacts are essential, but there are more practibale ways of designing stuff to pop-clip in. Expense I guess is against this. Regardz Colin J Davies

                *** WARNING *
                This could be addictive
                **The minion's version of "Catch :bob: "

                It's a real shame that people as stupid as you can work out how to use a computer. said by Christian Graus in the Soapbox

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                • C ColinDavies

                  The force thing is something that still scares me. Even plugging in PCI cards etc, seems to require way too much force. Those Pentium 2 boxed CPUs use to scare the hell out of me. I really thought I was going to crack the Mother boards with the force I had to use. I think there is a problem in the specs with allowing this amount of force to be used. Sure good electronic contacts are essential, but there are more practibale ways of designing stuff to pop-clip in. Expense I guess is against this. Regardz Colin J Davies

                  *** WARNING *
                  This could be addictive
                  **The minion's version of "Catch :bob: "

                  It's a real shame that people as stupid as you can work out how to use a computer. said by Christian Graus in the Soapbox

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Rob Manderson
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #16

                  Those ZIF sockets for the CPU were introduced due to the sheer number of pins on the modern processor. Imagine the nightmare if they'd stuck to the 40 pin DIL style socket for a 478 pin CPU. So the chip itself is easy to install. It's the damn heatsink that's the problem now. I've also heard stories that the thermal pad can adhere so strongly to the CPU that attempting to remove the heatsink wrenches the CPU out of the socket. Ouch!! Rob Manderson http://www.mindprobes.net

                  S 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S Sijin

                    Just assembled my first PC, i've had a comp as long as i can remember and have tinkered around with the individual parts quite a bit, but this is the firs time i assembled a complete system from scratch, wow what a rush. Spent 2 days going through extremeTech and AnandTech and a bunch of other hardware sites getting up to date on the latest hardware. It took me 3 hrs to assemble the whole thing, pretty long but i was damn careful :) :) The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Anyways i must say i really enjoyed doing all that, and the first thing i did after setting it up was to post on CP. And next on the list is DOOM III, anyone play it yet? P.S: Here's the config, P4 2.8C, 865G Chipset, 2x256 MB DDR 400 SDRAM, GeForceFx 5600 Ultra, SB Live 5.1, 7200 rpm 80 GB disk. Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories?


                    I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

                    J Offline
                    J Offline
                    John M Drescher
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #17

                    I have built about 30 PCs for myself, my friends and my department at work. For me it takes longer to select the components and purchase them than to put the whole thing together but I am very careful at the selection process for the most part unless I get something cheap off of ebay. I recently picked up a couble of systems (CPU + mobo with audio, video and lan + 512MB memory + case ) for under $200 delivered... John

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                    • J jhaga

                      Yes, I have built many. The problem with home built computers is that you only get one year of warranty on all parts. If you buy a ready HP computer you will have 3 years of warranty. jhaga --------------------------------- Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet. -Dave Barry-

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      John M Drescher
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #18

                      This depends on the manufacturer and if you get OEM parts or retail. I have always got a three year warrantee on my stuff... John

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                      • J John M Drescher

                        I have built about 30 PCs for myself, my friends and my department at work. For me it takes longer to select the components and purchase them than to put the whole thing together but I am very careful at the selection process for the most part unless I get something cheap off of ebay. I recently picked up a couble of systems (CPU + mobo with audio, video and lan + 512MB memory + case ) for under $200 delivered... John

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        J Dunlap
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #19

                        John M. Drescher wrote: . For me it takes longer to select the components and purchase them than to put the whole thing together but I am very careful at the selection process for the most part unless I get something cheap off of ebay. I recently picked up a couble of systems (CPU + mobo with audio, video and lan + 512MB memory + case ) for under $200 delivered... Same here for all of the above. I don't buy pre-built systems - I like to choose exactly what I put in. But if I do things right, I can build good systems for under $200.

                        "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." - Jesus
                        "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • R Rob Manderson

                          When I built my first Athlon based machine (8 months ago) I had to use a frightening amount of pressure to get the heatsink clip on. So much pressure in fact that the clip is never coming off again. Never ever. So more recently I built myself a Dual CPU Athlon system. Same retail boxed CPU kits but the heatsink clips were much easier to install. I was dreading the idea of applying that much force again. Is your P4 a Hyperthreaded one? I'd be interested in knowing how it performs (assuming you've got an NT derived OS or Linux installed). Rob Manderson http://www.mindprobes.net

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          Sijin
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #20

                          Yes the P4 2.4C is HyperThreaded, to get the real performance boost you have to run the system in dual channel memory configuration, boost is about 33% over single chanel configuration.


                          I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

                          C 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • R Rob Manderson

                            Those ZIF sockets for the CPU were introduced due to the sheer number of pins on the modern processor. Imagine the nightmare if they'd stuck to the 40 pin DIL style socket for a 478 pin CPU. So the chip itself is easy to install. It's the damn heatsink that's the problem now. I've also heard stories that the thermal pad can adhere so strongly to the CPU that attempting to remove the heatsink wrenches the CPU out of the socket. Ouch!! Rob Manderson http://www.mindprobes.net

                            S Offline
                            S Offline
                            Sijin
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #21

                            I've also heard stories that the thermal pad can adhere so strongly to the CPU that attempting to remove the heatsink wrenches the CPU out of the socket. Oh yes, while trying to remove the heatsink off my last comp i broke the clip but the heatsink didn't come off, i didn't touch the heatsink again :-D :-D


                            I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • S Sijin

                              Just assembled my first PC, i've had a comp as long as i can remember and have tinkered around with the individual parts quite a bit, but this is the firs time i assembled a complete system from scratch, wow what a rush. Spent 2 days going through extremeTech and AnandTech and a bunch of other hardware sites getting up to date on the latest hardware. It took me 3 hrs to assemble the whole thing, pretty long but i was damn careful :) :) The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Anyways i must say i really enjoyed doing all that, and the first thing i did after setting it up was to post on CP. And next on the list is DOOM III, anyone play it yet? P.S: Here's the config, P4 2.8C, 865G Chipset, 2x256 MB DDR 400 SDRAM, GeForceFx 5600 Ultra, SB Live 5.1, 7200 rpm 80 GB disk. Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories?


                              I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

                              T Offline
                              T Offline
                              tidge
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #22

                              now that you've warmed up on a Pentium, try building a board with an Athlon processor on it. The clip that holds the heat sink on takes so much damn pressure to latch that your sure (at least i was) that it was going to bust something. First time I thought it was a fluke. Second Athlon I built did the same thing. Must be pretty funny to watch. Both times I was shaking like a leaf trying to put just the right amount of preasure and not an ounce more.

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                              • S Sijin

                                Yes the P4 2.4C is HyperThreaded, to get the real performance boost you have to run the system in dual channel memory configuration, boost is about 33% over single chanel configuration.


                                I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                ColinDavies
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #23

                                Sijin wrote: Yes the P4 2.4C is HyperThreaded, to get the real performance boost you have to run the system in dual channel memory configuration, boost is about 33% over single chanel configuration. I think this hyperthreading stuff is darn exciting. It gives CPU makers another way to continue the exponential increases in speed that they have achieved. Now they have another development set to work with. I still wonder what it really means to the coder at the coal face though. Regardz Colin J Davies

                                *** WARNING *
                                This could be addictive
                                **The minion's version of "Catch :bob: "

                                It's a real shame that people as stupid as you can work out how to use a computer. said by Christian Graus in the Soapbox

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • J James T Johnson

                                  Andrew McCarter wrote: I don't think DOOM III is out yet. The demo from last years E3 got leaked out because id didn't remove it from the provided computers. Of course I had to download it and see what it was all about...thats all I could do; watch it run at about 0.5 FPS on a Radeon 7500 ;P James "I despise the city and much prefer being where a traffic jam means a line-up at McDonald's" Me when telling a friend why I wouldn't want to live with him

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  dandy72
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #24

                                  > > I don't think DOOM III is out yet. [snip] Anyone seen the Half Life 2 demo yet? "Demo" is a bit of a stretch, as it's just a .MOV file (22 minutes, ~600 :wtf: megs)...can't find the link right now... In any case, it makes that Doom III alpha look very dated and underwhelming...

                                  J 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • S Sijin

                                    Just assembled my first PC, i've had a comp as long as i can remember and have tinkered around with the individual parts quite a bit, but this is the firs time i assembled a complete system from scratch, wow what a rush. Spent 2 days going through extremeTech and AnandTech and a bunch of other hardware sites getting up to date on the latest hardware. It took me 3 hrs to assemble the whole thing, pretty long but i was damn careful :) :) The most harrowing part was installing the CPU heat sink and the memory it required a bit more force than i was expecting and i didn't want to break them... Anyways i must say i really enjoyed doing all that, and the first thing i did after setting it up was to post on CP. And next on the list is DOOM III, anyone play it yet? P.S: Here's the config, P4 2.8C, 865G Chipset, 2x256 MB DDR 400 SDRAM, GeForceFx 5600 Ultra, SB Live 5.1, 7200 rpm 80 GB disk. Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories?


                                    I always think that the idea of a compiler that compiles another compiler or itself is rather incestuous in a binary way. - Colin Davies My .Net Blog

                                    R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    Richard Jones
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #25

                                    Sijin wrote: Anyone else got any DIY (Do it yourself) stories? Yeah, when you are installing the mobo, make damn sure you check the risers are in the right spots, or they will short it out! (done it).:(( I've done the Athlon 800kg/cm2 heatsink event.:cool: I've exchanged video cards, only to have the system tell me there are NONE (by displaying a black screen all the time). Even switching back didn't help. Only a trip to the local compu shop fixed it. My favorite was a fried of mine installed a CD burner, switched on the pc and smoke poured out of the power supply, the drives MELTED, and the mobo fried. Guess the RIAA really means business.:laugh: Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963)

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                                    • D dandy72

                                      > > I don't think DOOM III is out yet. [snip] Anyone seen the Half Life 2 demo yet? "Demo" is a bit of a stretch, as it's just a .MOV file (22 minutes, ~600 :wtf: megs)...can't find the link right now... In any case, it makes that Doom III alpha look very dated and underwhelming...

                                      J Offline
                                      J Offline
                                      James T Johnson
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #26

                                      Daniel Desormeaux wrote: Anyone seen the Half Life 2 demo yet? I nearly wet myself when I saw it :-O My friend and I have decided that we're going to upgrade our PCs just so we can play that game. Doom III will just be an added bonus whenever it comes out :) James "I despise the city and much prefer being where a traffic jam means a line-up at McDonald's" Me when telling a friend why I wouldn't want to live with him

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