started to build, stupid ? #1

[Frasher]

Okay, I've installed the CPU, memory, heatsink and fan. I'm going to screw in the mobo, but I'm not sure which phillip head screws to use. The case instructions don't specify. There are 4 different kinds of screws. I assume it is one of the two smaller ones. I have 8 of one size and 20 of the other.
Frasher

[thefultonhow]

Use the ones that fit into the motherboard standoffs. If you can't screw one partway in with your hands, then it won't work.

[rjfvillarosa]

Have you test fitted the motherboard to see if it fits in the I/O shield OK?, if you have, did the motherboard sit on the chassis of the case or does it require brass standoffs to mount it squarely on the chassis?

[Frasher]

Okay, thanks. I got it. Just took one of the standoffs out and tried each one to see what worked. What a concept! Now I'm staring at all the connectors. It is pretty intimidating!
Frasher

[Planenutok]

It is pretty intimidating!

Just take your time and triple check everything. I can be quite confusing looking at all the wires and mess. We will be glad to help you if you get stumped.

[flanzig1]

When starting to connect cable, have your mother board,PSU, and case manual on hand to double check locations and names on connections. Just for referance, the names for the same connection may be labeled a bit differently between the case wires and the mobo.

[Frasher]

Just take your time and triple check everything. I can be quite confusing looking at all the wires and mess. We will be glad to help you if you get stumped.

I hope your not sorry you said that!

Okay, I think and hope I have all the cables connected. I am confused about audio. I don't have a sound card yet. My mobo is Asus A8N5X. Can anybody recommend a sound card ? I have an audio cable (gray 3 wire) that came with my dvd. Do I only use that if I have a sound card? That seems like it should be so obvious. I have a dvd, cd-rom and a floppy, do each of these need an audio cable?
Also, my floppy was an older one taken from another pc. It has the IDE connector and what I assume is the power supply above it, but there doesn't seem to be a plug from the psu to fit it? What am I missing?
Thanks so much,
Frasher

[Freakitchen]

Your motherboard has on-board sound, so you won't be needing a soundcard, unless you want/need the best quality audio. You also won't be needing to use the audio cables, todays IDE transfers digital audio.

Here is a picture of a floppy drive power connector, It's a small 4 pin unit. I've yet to see a power supply without one of these, so double check.

http://www.pcdoctor-guide.com/wordpress/images/floppytippost2.jpg

FK

[Frasher]

Thank you so much! You're right. I found the connector tucked up with some other wires. I think it is all wired now. Wow, scary! Do any of the components that need power have to have their own direct power line? Or put another way, does it matter if you use a separate power line or the extra connecter in a line? Does that make sense?
Frasher

[Freakitchen]

If you're referring to the seperate branches of molex cables, then I prefer to keep the Opticals on one, and the hard drives on another. Same goes for any case fans you have, if your power supply has a third branch.

Thought I'd mention to make sure you've connected BOTH the 24 pin power connector, AND the 2x2 Auxiliary power connector to the motherboard. Forgetting the latter is a common cause of a new build failing to boot, and making sure it's connected now could save you a big headache later.

FK

[Frasher]

Yep, I got both connectors for the psu. Any other common mistakes I should double check?
Frasher

[Freakitchen]

If you installed standoffs only where the board has a screw hole, then looks like you're good to go. That, plus the power connector thing, are the two most common mistakes.

Go ahead and power up :)

FK

[glc]

Before screwing the motherboard in, I'd recommend a quick out of the case POST to make sure the core components are working.........

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

[suitcase]

Also as glc told me, keep any fan power connectors off of the string for the harddrives.

[Frasher]

If you installed standoffs only where the board has a screw hole, then looks like you're good to go. That, plus the power connector thing, are the two most common mistakes.

Go ahead and power up :)

FK

Oh crap! I'm so glad I asked. I meant to remove the extra brass standoffs. Well, I got to disconnect everything and do it again. LOL! It made more sense this time when I put it together. Thanks for the tip about the fan and hard drive power not being on the same branch. I did have it that way. Okay, another question. I have a dvd as a master, and a cd-rom as a slave. The manual said to connect those to your secondary IDE, with the hard drive being the primary. My hard drive is SATA, so I don't have anything connected to the primary IDE. Do I connect the dvd to the primary or not?
Thanks again, you guys are the best.
Frasher

[Planenutok]

I have my optical drives on my primary ide and my hard drive sata, everything works fine.

[Freakitchen]

I actually prefer to connect opticals to the secondary IDE, although there's no reason why it shouldn't work on the primary.

If you are using an 80wire IDE cable (very fine ridges, with a blue connector at one end), then jumper both optical drives to the "cable select" (CS) option, and not Master and Slave. You'd only do it the latter way if you were using an older 40-wire IDE cable.

FK

[Frasher]

I actually prefer to connect opticals to the secondary IDE, although there's no reason why it shouldn't work on the primary.

If you are using an 80wire IDE cable (very fine ridges, with a blue connector at one end), then jumper both optical drives to the "cable select" (CS) option, and not Master and Slave. You'd only do it the latter way if you were using an older 40-wire IDE cable.

FK

Mobo came with both a 80 and a 40wire cable. Didn't notice the difference until you pointed it out, thanks. So is it better to use the 80 with opticals on cable select, or the 40 with master and slave?

Frasher

[jayb1234]

Use the 80, it uses the extra 40 wires as grounds to cut down on crosstalk between the other wires and will be a little better quality(although it might be hard to tell the difference).