DIY PC assembly

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Vonnii

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I'll hopefully be collecting all the parts for my new pc this week and will be putting it together myself. I just wanted to double check if there are any additional parts that might be missing from the retail boxes, such as necessary cabling or Thermal paste for the processor?

Any hints and tips I should keep in mind?

I've worked with pc hardware before but this will be the first time I'm building it completely from scartch and would appreciate any pointers.
 
Your Processor will come with the cooler & the thermal paste is already on the cooler ... so thats easy! Make sure you dont develop any static while assembling...
 
What comes to mind are: the power cable, the DVI cable, molex to sata power adaptors and, if you're backwards, a floppy drive data cable. Otherwise, it should all be included. The chip should come with the thermal paste on the heatsink.

It's not hard to do, we're here if you get stuck.
 
After your build you will probably have left over cabling...your cooler will have thermal paste applied already.
Read all the manuals, especially the mobo manual.
Google how to install the stock intel cooler(if intel) there manuals are ambiguous.
Plan your cable routing, route all your cables roughly then pull them out and lay them neatly in order... I find this helped me.
 
They tend to include everything but the kitchen sink,stick everything in the right way around and fasten correctly,plug in what you need to plug in and you're golden
 
Install PSU and mobo in chassis and connect them up.
Plug in PSU to the wall socket (don't need to turn on)
Use a ground/earth strap on the chassis.
Then start installing more expensive components like processor GPU etc.
Static electricity can be a cruel mistress...
 
If you have a case with bottom mounted PSU, then you might want to by an extended CPU power cable (8-pins) for like R40.

Other than that, the CPU should come either with pre-applied thermal pads or with separate thermal paste in a syringe.

Just ensure that you don't build up static electricity like IRG said. You can do that by plugging in the power cord in the PSU, but keep it switched off at the plug. Then touch the case every now and then to ensure that you're discharged.
Edit/Update: do as viven said :)

Oh, and don't ever plug in the front USB into the firewire connector - like I've done this week by accident when I was too hasty. I've blown a mouse and a flash drive like that :(
 
Gonna list my experience in case this gets searched later :)

Typically standard:
*Most CPU's I've bought come with a layer of white thermal paste, which should suffice fine. Otherwise you can go and buy some Artec Silver or equivalent.
If you do this, remember that you'll need some alchohol swabs to remove the paste. Go donate some blood and ask them if you can grab a couple ;)
*Mobo will come with all needed screws and spacers.
*CPU, unless stated otherwise, will come with it's standard block cooling.
*Memory is pretty much standard.
*Hard & optical drives will have screws/clips/dampeners supplied with your chassis.

Sundries
* Your power supply might come with a European plug (circular 2-pin one), so you might need a plug adapter or just a 3-pin plug from a hardware store.
* Check to make sure that your monitor(s) can connect to the graphics card. A big shiny card might only have DVI & HDMI. That said, if you're spending that amount on a card, the chances are that it'll include adapters.

edit: Seems i took so long to type the thing, that everyone else have responded already with everything that I said :P
 
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I would also have some cable-ties handy to make everything look nice and tidy inside when you're done.
 
Wow, thanks everyone for the really good advice. I'll definitely keep this thread open on my laptop while putting it all together. I hope it'll be of use to someone else looking for the same advice. Now just to wait for my i5 2500k to arrive from the supplier, holding thumbs for it to arrive this week.
 
South_Bit said:
I would also have some cable-ties handy to make everything look nice and tidy inside when you're done.
Click to expand...

+1

They are dirt cheap, make a huge improvement to accessibility within the case, not to mention airflow, and general aesthetics. Always have a box close at hand.
 
Remember to put the spacers in behind the motherboard.
Watch your fingers when putting in the motherboard I/O plate, since those things love to slice fingers.
Putting in drives before the motherboard is usually a good idea, especially if your case is smallish.

And probably the no 1 thing ever, ime:

Make sure the ram is properly and securely seated.
 
If your case will handle it, route the cables behind the backplate. Do this before installing everything else, and with good planning you'll have a neat looking case from the start. Cable ties like was said help a lot.

Also be sure to earth properly before installing, and ensure that all components are electrically grounded with the spacers, and keep HDDs from touching bare metal. You can short out your PC if you have improper contact with the chassis.
 
cerebus said:
Also be sure to earth properly before installing, and ensure that all components are electrically grounded with the spacers, and keep HDDs from touching bare metal. You can short out your PC if you have improper contact with the chassis.
Click to expand...
You actually want the HDDs to touch the bare metal on the sides so that they don't run that hot.

This is one thing that pisses me off about the CM 690 II Advanced's removable HDD trays which are plastic: it has no thermal conductivity whatsoever :(
 
I'm also a noob at this.

My PSU didn't come with a wall power cable.

I see there is some thermal paste that doesn't cure - from Zalman. I suppose that would help when you need to swap parts around or upgrade.

Are those copper motherboard risers hand screws or do you need a special tool?
 
Your PSU is supposed to come with a wall cable. Perhaps yours came with a European (round 2-pin) wall cable?

The copper motherboard risers can be screwed in with your hands.
 
Lounger said:
I see there is some thermal paste that doesn't cure - from Zalman. I suppose that would help when you need to swap parts around or upgrade.
Click to expand...
As far as I'm aware, more than swapping out, it keeps it's thermal properties, ie. when it goes all hard and brittle, it loses the ability to effectively dissipate the heat created by the CPU to the cooling block.

Lounger said:
Are those copper motherboard risers hand screws or do you need a special tool?
Click to expand...
Finger-tightening should be fine, otherwise you can just use a pair of pliers to tighten them a touch more, but it shouldn't really be necessary.
 
Pada said:
Your PSU is supposed to come with a wall cable. Perhaps yours came with a European (round 2-pin) wall cable?

The copper motherboard risers can be screwed in with your hands.
Click to expand...
Totally absent with the Seasonic M12D :-(

Maybe they thought we would not appreciate a Euro/UK plug? Just a guess ...
 
FWIW they are made of brass, not copper, not that it makes any diffs. Brass threads aren't the toughest, softer than the metal they are screwed into, they will strip if over tightened. Manufactured from hex rod, so there is something to grip with.
 
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