Questions regarding PC building.

[NissanSkylineN1]

Azuremen's arrogant cocky comment.. "I've been doing this for 20 years, look I'm the PC king! I'm always right, and that also gives me the right to treat and talk to others like they're subhuman!"

It doesn't hurt to check your parts and save some hassle reaching into the case.
So, am I supposed to listen to you or Newegg?

Skip to 5:30


Calling people twits and telling them that they are full of crap gets you nowhere in life. Learn some respect.

 

[bergauk]

Dosn't matter who recommends it. It's a fact of common sense. How pissed off would you be if you installed the entire system, only to find out your motherboard is buggered, or that a PCI slot is jammed so you can't get that last graphics card in. I've built over 20 systems and every one I do this too. I use old parts sure, which means I find lots of fried or not working parts. Even if the parts are new, you should always test them first.

I wouldn't be mad at all. I'd just take it out in a matter of minutes. I tend to inspect parts visually before they go in though, I thought everyone did that. 👍

I've built, rebuilt, frankensteined a good number myself over the years and I've not yet once built a whole entire system outside of its case because it is a stupid and wasteful use of time that could be spent using your computer.

Should you do this for every new component you put it though? I really wanna know. Should I test the whole system out if I put in a new powersupply? What about a new gfx card? should I take it out then? How bout a new hard drive or sound card? I think it's very important for everyone to know.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

I wouldn't be mad at all. I'd just take it out in a matter of minutes. I tend to inspect parts visually before they go in though, I thought everyone did that. 👍

I've built, rebuilt, frankensteined a good number myself over the years and I've not yet once built a whole entire system outside of its case because it is a stupid and wasteful use of time that could be spent using your computer.

Should you do this for every new component you put it though? I really wanna know. Should I test the whole system out if I put in a new powersupply? What about a new gfx card? should I take it out then? How bout a new hard drive or sound card? I think it's very important for everyone to know.

It all depends if you want to take the chance of seeing if you save time. There's nothing wrong by not doing an external build, but if you have the chance of doing it, I would reccomend it.

Regarding each part, no. I wouldn't take the whole mobo out for just that one part, since the only change would be that part, meaning that if there's something wrong with the PC, its most likely the new part.

 

[Azuremen]

It doesn't hurt to check your parts and save some hassle reaching into the case.
So, am I supposed to listen to you or Newegg?

Calling people twits and telling them that they are full of crap gets you nowhere in life. Learn some respect.

You realize Newegg is doing that to cover their asses as much as possible, not because it is the easiest or best way to go about actually doing it?

It doesn't save any hassle at all. I've not seen a single modern case that is remotely irritating to work in, at all, including most smaller micro ATX form factors. So I really have no idea where you are getting this idea it is some how easier or faster.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

You realize Newegg is doing that to cover their asses as much as possible, not because it is the easiest or best way to go about actually doing it?

They're covering their bottoms because if they did it the other way, people would go after them with RMA etc. Why? Because a problem occured. So, by Newegg reccomending this, not only are they safe, but the customer is also happier too.

I never said its easier or faster. I said that its better to do so you can identify a DOA or an incompatibility before you put it in the case.

 

[Azuremen]

They're covering their bottoms because if they did it the other way, people would go after them with RMA etc. Why? Because a problem occured. So, by Newegg reccomending this, not only are they safe, but the customer is also happier too.

I never said its easier or faster. I said that its better to do so you can identify a DOA or an incompatibility before you put it in the case.

But how much trouble is it to put a card into a computer? Honestly, the only difference even if you are replacing the whole motherboard is the 4 mounting points for the risers. And you also get to play around with running the PSU and all that out of the case as well.

And this certainly doesn't make them immune to RMA. If something doesn't work before it goes in the case, it is still going to be RMA'd. It is just to make it so idiots don't complain because they can't figure out a damn thing.

Every tech I know just works on stuff in the case. And every system builder just builds in the case. Why? Because it saves you a ton of time. Installing a board with all the cards and with a heatsink on it is a huge pain in the ass and honestly a high risk for breaking something. So you either double the time to check something that isn't going to be any harder to check in the case.

I know, you built a computer. And you read some stuff online, but please stop arguing with the common sense of people who have been doing this 20 years. Next you'll tell me I'm a fool for not using a static ground cable as well.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

First of all, static ground cables are a scam.

Secondly, I know that its not a hassle to unscrew and screw in a motherboard, but for someone who hasn't built a computer before, like the OP, it would be good for him to do so. Also, RMAs aren't that likely, but again. Since its his first build, let's play it safe. It would also help him to learn how to put together the parts as a first hand experience, without reaching into a case. This will help him do the internal build later on.

Thidly, I've built more than 1 computer, the build you are mentioning is my most recent one. I've done other builds, including 2 Celeron builds and a 2600K build for my friend.

And just because you've built computers for 20 years doesn't make you sit on a high horse with a crown on your head directing opinions as orders.

 

[bergauk]

I know, you built a computer. And you read some stuff online, but please stop arguing with the common sense of people who have been doing this 20 years. Next you'll tell me I'm a fool for not using a static ground cable as well.

Stop this heresy at once!

Just kidding, I don't use one either.

Thidly, I've built more than 1 computer, the build you are mentioning is my most recent one. I've done other builds, including 2 Celeron builds and a 2600K build for my friend.

Whoop whoop, 4 computers. Try having a job where your duty is to build computers. Then think about your only training being that which was given on site. Then remember that no one ever said anything about building a pc outside the case. Because it's a stupid idea. The only thing you could put on before in the case is the cpu, and cooler for it if it can be done better outside than in the case. Otherwise, build it in the damn case.

 

[Pako]

I have never pre-built a system on the mobo box, but..... If I were doing a full H2O system and wanted to make sure the components were in good working order before I started cutting and adding all my water blocks, it actually makes sense to do a little pre-building. That being said, for a standard build, it literally takes minutes to mount the mobo in the case. Not a big deal. Add the components and fire it up.

 

[tlowr4]

Oh lawl, I quoted Skyline; learn to read.

The only metal on metal would be at the riser contact points, which are separate from the board circuits. Certainly better than cardboard on top of god knows what; though I've built my fair share of things on counters. But suggesting to pull the mother board out to test a part? Are you serious? It would take several times longer to pull it out of case, even if installing a CPU, than just doing it in the case.

Building PCs today is damn near idiot proof. There are no jumpers, no slave or master stuff, everything is color coded, and you don't have to side load drivers to use an optical drive. Its literally put parts in box, put disc in tray, hit power button, click "OKAY" a few times, and come back. It has been this way for years.

...

Learn respect.

 

[bevo]

Dosn't matter who recommends it. It's a fact of common sense. How pissed off would you be if you installed the entire system, only to find out your motherboard is buggered, (that OK?)

That's exactly what happened to me with my first build last june. i got it all together and it only recognized 4 gig of ram. I spent weeks trying to figure out what was wrong, and eventually, after taking everything back out, found out the cpu socket had a few bent pins. I ordered a new board and sent the other one back for RMA after I had it fixed. To answer your question about how pissed off someone would be, is they are very pissed off when this happens.

What really pisses you off though is when you have a 1366 board after the 1155 sockets are out, and newegg will not RMA your board. No one is building a PC with the board I have now, so I have a 200$ mobo just sitting in my room upstairs. I was going to give it to a friend for his build, but the 1366 CPUs are way to expensive now. Live and learn. My next build will go much easier. As easy as they are to put together now, that first build teaches you alot.

Like Azurmen says though, I don't think I would want to try and put it all together out of the case. It's only a few screws to take it all out, and if you do it right the first time, you won't have to take it all back apart and then put it in the case. It's actually really easy to build a pc now. Everything is labeled really well, and any questions you have will be easy ones that would be answered in a few minutes in a forum. There really is no reason at all to buy a prebuilt PC anymore, other then being lazy or not having any interest at all in saving money. I just wish you could build you own laptops.

 

[Pako]

*snip* I just wish you could build you own laptops.

You can.

 

[Seismica]

I built mine in the case, it was a little bit of hassle getting the CPU cooler on but apart from that I don't see why there would be any advantage to building it outside of the case. I used an anti-static wristband just to be on the safe side because I was inexperienced (I know lots of people who don't use them and have never had problems - but that doesn't mean they don't offer some sort of safeguard if you don't know what you are doing). It doesn't matter how you build it as long as it works when you are finished. People tend to find the way that works best for them.

When I read several guides before doing my build, nowhere, in any of the guides did it mention that building it in/out of the case is bad practice, or higher risk.

This is coming from someone who has only built the one computer. But despite several hitches, everything worked. A more experienced builder would not have made any of the mistakes I did and so there would have been less of a chance for something to go wrong.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

The problem with the anti-satic wrist bands is that they don't work. Siesmica, go and check your wrist band for continuity.

Also, how can you build a laptop? Where do you get the parts from?

 

[Seismica]

The problem with the anti-satic wrist bands is that they don't work. Siesmica, go and check your wrist band for continuity.

Actually, they do. They're just pointless as they're not as effective as the recommended way of grounding yourself (Touching an unpainted metal object, like perhaps the PSU or part of the case).

An experienced user would never need one but they're an extra safeguard for inexperienced builders such as myself. Even when using one you're still supposed to take the usual steps.

 

[Pako]

Also, how can you build a laptop? Where do you get the parts from?

My local computer supply shop builds their own and said they could sell me the parts to build my own. You pick the screen, shell, mobo, processor, etc. Not much different than building a desktop. You just assemble it and away you go.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I like to put the CPU and heatsink in outside of the case. Putting it together twice seems like a hassle.

 

[Casio]

I like to put the CPU and heatsink in outside of the case. Putting it together twice seems like a hassle.

This. Particularly modern heatsinks which require backplates, they don't always fit the cutout in the motherboard tray (Especially if you get a very recently released chipset).

It's definitely incorrect to build things out of the case. Components are designed to be used in a case, and you may cause more issues with them sitting out (Obviously some exceptions like SSDs). For example, GPUs aren't really designed to just be solely supported by the PCI slot, the motherboard is designed to be on risers, not sitting on a flat surface, etc.

 

[Xenn]

After looking at the price differences of 4GB and 8GB of RAM, I will go with 8GB. I didn't expect the difference to be less than I thought.

With video cards, i'll take a look at some benchmarks of the suggested ones.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys!

 

[tlowr4]

Excellent choice of the RAM. I've actually seen 4GB kits of RAM cost more than a semi-decent 8GB kit.

Also, anti-static wrist bands are a waste of time, money, and I either have to take my bracelet or my watch off to use one. Just touch the case or the power supply (make sure the PSU is plugged into the wall, but switched off, so it can ground itself through the house).