Final Opinion - Computer

[HostMe]

Hey,

Now, I am getting to the point where I am preparing to buy my new computer. I keep on at Dad, so I should be getting it very soon. I am building it myself, and I just need to make sure of some things:

- Ofcourse put all the parts into the case
- Insert the Mobo disk when I start it up for the first time?
- Then what..?
- Install my OS

I was going to do it in this order:

- PSU in
- Processor onto Mobo
- Mobo into case
- HDD into case
- DVD drive into case
- Graphics card onto Mobo
- RAM onto Mobo
- Connect wires
- Connect lights/fans etc
- Power up computer
- Insert Mobo disk
- Follow onscreen instructions
- Install OS
- Finished

Is this correct?

Now for the system. I have decided on this...Is it good for the price, can I go even better?


Mobo:ASUS P5KC AiLifestyle Series iP35 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132275)

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair) Retail Boxed Processor (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131950)

RAM: Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429)

HDD: Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB Hard Drive SATA II 7200rpm *32MB Cache* - OEM (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130826)

DVD: Sony DRU-190S 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM Serial ATA - Retail Multi Bezel & Nero (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142274)

Case: Antec Nine Hundred - Gaming Case with 200mm Top Fan - No PSU (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/118268)

PSU: Corsair HX Series 520W Modular PSU - ATX12V v2.2 APFC (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114945)

Heatsink/Fan: Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 Processor Cooler (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/105994)

TOTAL: £524
With Del: £540 :S - For some reason, eventhough ebuyer have a special offer on at the moment, it is charging me £16 for del, even though it says only £9.99


What do you think?

[Stephen!]

Seems like a good plan. Personally the mobo is the last component I put into the case. That way I can route power cables behind the motherboard area so it looks neat and tidy

[HostMe]

Good idea. So everything is ok, apart from putting Mobo in first?

Now, once the system is complete and I power up, and all the fans are working etc, I just insert the disk supplied by the Mobo...but then what do I do?

[Galaxay]

Change the delivery to "Super Saver" and it'll sort it to free as its over £50. but it'll take up to 7 days to deliver :)

[HostMe]

I see :)

Well I will have to order it now or wait until May, because no one is home during the day, so got to wait until im off school.

[Firehorse]

you can get the ram a lot cheaper than that here (http://www.memorybits.co.uk/computerupgradememory_808.php?cPath=808&sort=2a&filter_id=182)

[HostMe]

£6 cheaper. I would rather get it from ebuyer all in one.

[Agnostic Bear]

- Insert Mobo disk
- Follow onscreen instructions
- Install OS

Mobo disks are for drivers after the OS is installed :rolleyes:

[Recursion]

Don't use the disk that comes with it. When you first power it on install Windows, then use another PC, or get them on your old one and transfer them via USB stick, to get the latest drivers for GFX, Mobo etc etc... from the manufacturers website.

I did:
PSU into case
Motherboard standoffs into case
CPU onto Motherboard
CPU HSF onto Motherboard
RAM onto motherboard
disks etc into case, route cables to where they need to be
Motherboard in
cables into motherboard
GFX Card

And "Lolcopters" some people have never built a PC before? :rolleyes:

[HostMe]

I do not understand what you mean Tawn... :S

Transferr what from my old PC? I am clearly buying a new Mobo, so I will have to install the drivers. I will then have a complete system, and will just boot up the internet and download the drivers for my graphics card, sound etc, or just insert the disks which came with my products.

[N!ck]

Sounds like a decent idea. A small guide i wrote for someone else's thread http://www.habboxforum.com/showpost.php?p=3827280&postcount=4

[Recursion]

No, boot the disk into Windows Install, DO NOT USE THE MOTHERBOARD disk. Then, once Windows is installed you will need to install the drivers, so if you can get on the net on your new pc without drivers then goto the manufacturers site and download the latest drivers, the ones on the mobo CD are usually very very old, if you cant, then download the drivers from the net on another pc and just put them on a USB stick and transfer them to your new one.

[BlueMoon]

Sounds like a decent idea.

[HostMe]

Basiclly you are saying the drivers on the disk may be old..but they will still work ;l

I can then go download better ones.

[Recursion]

its easier to download new ones, the old ones will work but a lot of bugs, errors etc... will be fixed in the new ones.

[Agnostic Bear]

Wow this thread is getting stupid.

Motherboard drivers usually install on the windows operating system, not before.

[Jordy]

Nice motherboard, sounds a good plan. You are aware you haven't included a Graphics card right? I'm presuming your using your current Graphics card? just checking :P

[Stephen!]

Wow this thread is getting stupid.

Motherboard drivers usually install on the windows operating system, not before.

RAID drivers need to be installed before the OS is installed.

[HostMe]

That is what I read Stephen..so Mobo disk will need to be installed, because I read because I will be using SATA or something. I will just read the manual.

I do indeed have a graphics card which I have been using for a good 8 months on this computer. A nVidia GeForce 7950GT. Not an 8 series I know, however a nice 512MB and July last year it run top of the range games, so it should be good enough.

[Agnostic Bear]

RAID drivers need to be installed before the OS is installed.

1 HDD isn't gonna need RAID.

[darkchicken101]

That is what I read Stephen..so Mobo disk will need to be installed, because I read because I will be using SATA or something. I will just read the manual.

No, you do not need to do anything to make your SATA harddrive work.

Simply put the OS CD in and follow the instructions. Then, when you get into your OS, put the driver CD that came with your motherboard in and install the drivers from it. They will work fine and you need not spend time downloading drivers from ASUS' website; it is painfully slow and more trouble than it is worth.

The one driver I would download, however, is the one for the graphics card. It is always important to download this one as they are constantly updated to provide better performance.

If you are using Vista, chances are you will not have to install most of the drivers on the motherboard CD, and if you don't need to, I wouldn't advise it. Installing drivers on Vista is where it becomes unreliable: I have used a Vista install for about year now without using 3rd party drivers and it hasn't crashed or bluescreened once. If it's XP, you need to install the drivers.

[Hoodstar]

That is what I read Stephen..so Mobo disk will need to be installed, because I read because I will be using SATA or something. I will just read the manual.

I do indeed have a graphics card which I have been using for a good 8 months on this computer. A nVidia GeForce 7950GT. Not an 8 series I know, however a nice 512MB and July last year it run top of the range games, so it should be good enough.

You need to install your operating system before you attempt to install anything else.

Installation really should go in this order:

Operating System
Motherboard Drivers (Chipset, Audio Cards etc)
Motherboard Utilities (OC Tweakers or anything like that)
Graphics Card Driver.

And then any other pieces of hardware that may need a driver to operate. E.g. Sound Card, WiFi card etc.

Also, do what Tawm said, by going onto the Motherboards website (in your case Asus), searching for your motherboard, and downloading the latest drivers onto a USB Stick. Doing this means it saves you having to update them on your new pc, which can be hassle especially when you want to get to using it asap! I installed straight off the Motherboards disk and found I had to update 2 or 3 things to get it running to it's best potential.

Once you've downloaded the new drivers, just simply put them on a USB Drive, move them onto your new pc, and install them. This means your comptuer (should) run more efficiently.

[HostMe]

Thank you for clearing things up.

I am a little pissed off, because for some reason ebuyer.com have put another £15 on their RAM ;L

[iFuseDan]

What OS are you planning to stick on this? not sure if it was listed and i've missed it - because if your using Sata and Windows XP you MAY need sata drivers for XP installation, Vista and Linux support Sata fine out the box. With Windows XP - you might be better off actually making a second copy of your disk with your Sata/RAID drivers on - you can use something like nlite (http://www.nliteos.com/) to customize xp disks though.

[HostMe]

I am going to get a *certain* copy of Vista from my Uncle. Where can I get Keygens from ;)

I do have a legal XP, which I might put on until I can get Vista. Going to get Vista 64bit so I can use the up to 8GB RAM.

[Recursion]

You can't get "keygens" for Vista. You must use cracks, but to be honest, im happy I actually paid for Vista, I had all kinds of problems with using cracks, Buying the OS has saved LOADS of headaches for me.

[HostMe]

I am downloading a Vista now, however only problem is Rapidshare has decided to stop working for me.

It might come to me buying it if all fails, however that then makes the computer £650+, when I could have it for £530.

[Hoodstar]

I am downloading a Vista now, however only problem is Rapidshare has decided to stop working for me.

It might come to me buying it if all fails, however that then makes the computer £650+, when I could have it for £530.

You have to pay 120quid for Vista?

Surely you can get a Home Premuim 64 bit for like 60-70 quid at OEM?

[Recursion]

I got Home Premium x64 OEM for £59

[HostMe]

I would want Ultimate...

and Tawm if you could link me to Vista HP OEM that would be good.

Also x64 is 32-bit? I need 64-bit.

[Agnostic Bear]

Just get Home Premium, Ultimate is just a bunch of unneeded features.

[HostMe]

Do you get Aero with HP?

[Recursion]

x64 is 64-Bit, x86 is 32bit. :P

Yes you do get aero.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/123067

The one i bought, i bought it about 6 months ago so the price has gone up for some reason.

[HostMe]

I have 3 more parts to download of this Ultimate SP1 ;)

Hopefully it will work.

[Jakish]

I hope it a new crack otherwise your screw'd

[Stephen!]

Paradox crack still works.

[HostMe]

Its preactivated :)