Support NeoGAF

[Chrono]

For me at least.

I started on my first PC tonight and totally messed it up.

- Freaking' DVD-RW drive DOESN'T FIT IN THE SLOT. I'm supposed to screw in rails but that's the reason it doesn't fit. I tried for hours several times over and over in both directions of screwing in the rails but only I got screwed. I finally got it to stay in the slot with one rail. =\

- I/O panel also doesn't fit. It looks bad. That's not really important though.

- The front panel 5.25 panels, the two I’m not using, are both out and that also looks bad. I can't fit them back in. My hands are fucking bleeding. I have cuts all over BUT I CAN'T FIT THEM BACK IN.

- Video card. Can't wait to see its magic. doesn't fit in PCI slot. Or any slot. The motherboard needs to be a couple of inches to the right but then everything would get messed up. Audi card fits though I'm not sure if I should push it more in or what.

- It's not complete if you haven't figured it out already. And I'm worried if I cracked my processor while installing the heat sink/fan.


*sigh*

Did everything go alright the first time you built a PC? Share your stories and make me feel even more pathetic.

 

[Teknopathetic]

I usually get everything set up right on the first time, at the most, I might not have seated an IDE cable completely in, or I didn't do the front case USB wire connections right (or at all, god, that's annoying), but other than that, I have it set up on the first try.

 

[Black Deatha]

For me at least.

I started on my first PC tonight and totally messed it up.

- Freaking' DVD-RW drive DOESN'T FIT IN THE SLOT. I'm supposed to screw in rails but that's the reason it doesn't fit. I tried for hours several times over and over in both directions of screwing in the rails but only I got screwed. I finally got it to stay in the slot with one rail. =\

- I/O panel also doesn't fit. It looks bad. That's not really important though.

- The front panel 5.25 panels, the two I’m not using, are both out and that also looks bad. I can't fit them back in. My hands are fucking bleeding. I have cuts all over BUT I CAN'T FIT THEM BACK IN.

- Video card. Can't wait to see its magic. doesn't fit in PCI slot. Or any slot. The motherboard needs to be a couple of inches to the right but then everything would get messed up. Audi card fits though I'm not sure if I should push it more in or what.

- It's not complete if you haven't figured it out already. And I'm worried if I cracked my processor while installing the heat sink/fan.


*sigh*

Did everything go alright the first time you built a PC? Share your stories and make me feel even more pathetic.

I'll sum it up for you, upon building your first PC, ask a person who knows how to help you on your first, and for fuck sakes, please tell me it's a PCI-E card!!!

~BLack Deatha

 

[Chrono]

and for fuck sakes, please tell me it's a PCI-E card!!!

Doesn't fit in that one too. It's closer, but the mobo still needs to be half an inch to the right.

I'm getting some help tomorrow. Goddammit I wanted to do this alone.


Oh and I have a question.. how the hell am I supposed to install all the drivers for the video/audio cards and DVD drive and HDD and everything? All the manuals (which are worthless) assume you’re adding them to an already built PC. When I first boot it up there won't be any drivers installed from the CD for anything. Does it just… work.

God my hands hurt.

 

[SpoonyBard]

CD drives should work without drivers, and the video card works in VGA mode until you have installed the drivers.

But seriously, get help.

 

[Black Deatha]

Doesn't fit in that one too. It's closer, but the mobo still needs to be half an inch to the right.

I'm getting some help tomorrow. Goddammit I wanted to do this alone.


Oh and I have a question.. how the hell am I supposed to install all the drivers for the video/audio cards and DVD drive and HDD and everything? All the manuals (which are worthless) assume you’re adding them to an already built PC. When I first boot it up there won't be any drivers installed from the CD for anything. Does it just… work.

God my hands hurt.

Yeah man, basicly, had you had your hardware all installed correctly, you would turn your new PC on, and probably want to start by installing Windows (or whatever OS you choose, though I couldent comment on installing them seeing as I have only used Windows myself), thna after Windows is installed you would go the rest, video/sound/everything else.

Than since your PC will be empty and boring you'll download some porn to make things intresting... Right?

And lastly, I dont really understand your description about your video card, but did you buy a AGP card for a PCI-E board by any chance?

I admire you wanting to do it on your own, but come on man, not your first time, if you want to do something on your own the first time around, just install a video card or something simple.

~Black Deatha

~Black Deatha

 

[Citainus]

I didn't have any idea what I was doing building my first PC and made some rather absurd mistakes, but it worked out well in the end.

- When I opened the Processor casing it flipped out landed in the floor and bent a few pins. After going through the run around of building my computer and trying to use the chip anyway, seeing it fail, then trying to bend the pins to perfect alignment with will, I got it replaced. (Bless you NewEgg. )

- The one thing I was always a bit wary about was the heatsink part, and had no idea that I should have scrapped the thermal pad off the heatsink if I wanted to use gel. This of course was wasted on the processor that was bent.

- I have no idea how to install a drive bay with easy clips, my cd-drives are still just hanging there. I just want to use screws.

* I guess someone could answer this, why can I never use my Radeon 9800(AGP) to display on newly installed windows, I have my Voodoo 3(PCI) in there just to display for the few minutes it takes to install catalyst drivers.

After actually getting a working chip I got it working in a few hours though, that was joy to see it boot up for the first time. I guess screwing around with my old computer helped out, of course how many times I cut my hands on those metal edges is unknown. -_-

 

[Hitokage]

Make sure you're using the right form factor for everything.. and get an Antec case.

Should make things a little less painful.

 

[8bit]

- Video card. Can't wait to see its magic. doesn't fit in PCI slot. Or any slot. The motherboard needs to be a couple of inches to the right but then everything would get messed up. Audi card fits though I'm not sure if I should push it more in or what.

Are you sure it's a PCI card?

 

[xsarien]

First of all, calm down and take everything out of the case. Carefully.

Without knowing anything about what you bought, I'm going to assume this is a standard issue ATX case, with an ATX-sized motherboard. Pull the cards out of the motherboard, leave the CPU and heatsink on. They're more of a hassle to pull off than they're worth.

Make sure the output panel on the back of the case lines up with your motherboard. If it doesn't, your motherboard probably came with a replacement panel. Those things pop right out, just replace it.

Once you have it lined up, screw the motherboard in gently. Make sure it's tight, though.

Now, assuming you bought the right kind (and amount of) memory for your system, install it. Most chips are keyed these days, so short of you taking a hammer to the damned things, you can't screw this up. The fit is going to be snug; the best and easiest way to get them in is to push one end in first, hear the clasp latch, and then push the other end in. Again, make sure the clasp is tight and hugging the memory.

Now it's hard drive time. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can install a hard drive. But first you're going to want to make sure the jumper settings are correct. Next, connect the controller cable to the thing. Find the SATA or EIDE cable, connect it to the back of the drive. Connect the other end to the appropriate point on the motherboard (primary channel for IDE.) Next, connect the power. Then, slide the drive into the bay and screw it in.

Repeat this step for the optical drive, if possible, plug it into the seconday IDE controller.

Next you'll need a video board. Judging by your post, this is either one of the more expensive rookie mistakes I've seen, or you were trying to put it in the wrong slot. First thing's first: Find out what kind of interface your card needs. These days, it will either fall under AGP 4x/8x or PCI-Express. Make sure your motherboard has the corresponding slot, there should be a diagram somewhere in its documentation.

Once the card is in (make sure that a power cable from the power supply is connected, if necessary), forget about the case for a moment and see if the system will power up. It will probably go through the POST, and then moan about not having an operating system. This is perfectly normal and won't damage anything. Simply put the (presumably Windows) disc in the drive, reboot, and go through the motions. You should always add hardware one piece at a time with the OS already in place anyway.

 

[Chrono]

Yup, my card is AGP 8X (this one) but my motherboard is PCI-E (Link). And guess what? Newegg doesn’t refund opened items and I think especially ones with the stickers on the card removed. Yay that’s $200!

And another 200 probably because I spent too much to just let this PC die. Awesome. Anybody care to recommend a PCI-E 128MB video card? No, I’m not going to hang myself!

Oh and the other stuff that doesn’t fit just doesn’t. The I/O panel is perfect for the size but it keep falling if. There are no screws or anything to help. The plastic thingies in the drive bays fit (they were in there in the first place) but I can’t squeeze them back in. I get the left side, but the plastic tabs sticking out the right are too long for me to push them in.

As for the DVD-RW drive, it’s the same problem. It fits in but falls with no rails, I screw in the rails and it’s too wide to fit in. The case is an Antec btw. Here's a picture of the rails.

I think I’ll just leave everything in a corner for some time and get back to it a week or two from now. Or maybe a month.

 

[Hitokage]

The I/O panel is perfect for the size but it keep falling if.

That's OK. When the motherboard is installed it should hold the panel in place with the I/O ports pressing against the case.

I get the left side, but the plastic tabs sticking out the right are too long for me to push them in.

Don't let one side go all the way in before the other.

It fits in but falls with no rails, I screw in the rails and it’s too wide to fit in.

There should be guide rails in the bay where the rails slide into. Make sure if you don't need to take off the front of the case to expose the openings.

 

[AntoneM]

you could always try selling your AGP card on Ebay or elsewhere.

As far as $200 PCIe cards go, a 6600GT is still a good choice, just be sure to get the PCIe one. The best choice, if you can find one for around $200 is the ATI x800 (vanilla). I see that they are currently around $300 on Newegg, but thier MSRP is $250. Basically it performs as well as, maybe better than, a 6800 (vanilla).

 

[Chrono]

Thanks for the help.

 

[darscot]

Why bother putting it together yourself? How much can you really save? Were I get my stuff I say what I want he adds up the total cost of all parts. I laugh at the price he brings it down I pick it up the next day.

 

[Vormund]

It's the leet factor.

It can be kind of fun though....