# Building a PC: Warn me about things I haven't considered
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 30, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137 "2008-05-30T13:51:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/1 "2008-05-30T13:51:27Z")
Tonight I’m building a PC. It’s my first time building one from pieces, though I’ve done plenty of work on others. I’ve got the case and all the parts I need to get going, and tools. My dining room table is cleared off, and my anti-static wrist strap is at the ready.
Oh, I do still need to find a good burn-in program, if anyone can recommend one.
What things do I need to think about that I probably haven’t yet?
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/2 "2008-05-30T15:04:32Z")
So list out what you’ve got so we can say what’s missing and what would be good to have.
Have you got a mat to protect the table?
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### Author:  [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/3 "2008-05-30T15:14:00Z")
Make sure you don’t forget to use the metal standoffs that go between the case and the mobo. My bro did this once and toasted his new processor.
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### Author:  [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/4 "2008-05-30T15:16:03Z")
Make sure your heatsink makes good contact with the CPU, and you use a dab of thermal-compound between them. (Not too much, thinest possible layer.)
Make sure all your fans are working, especially the one inside the power supply.
Get some wire ties to secure cables. I hate spaghetti-like cable installations. Keep it looking nice and neat, and it will be easier to work inside the case. Cluttered cables also impede airflow, so an organized system will run cooler.
I always get a Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard whenever I work on my computer. But keep it away from the components! I’m sure a nice Cold Beer would work well too.
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/5 "2008-05-30T15:16:28Z")
You don’t need a burn-in program: installing Windows is a sufficient test. You do have all the drivers etc ready, don’t you?
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/6 "2008-05-30T15:18:30Z")
[QUOTE=CoG888]
(Not too much, thinest possible layer.
[/QUOTE]
But not too thin. I made that mistake once. And only once.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/7 "2008-05-30T15:20:11Z")
If any of the drives have jumper settings, copy down the diagram (or scan it) before you install the drives - that way, you can change the configuration in future without removing the drive from the case.
If your drives have to be installed from the inside of the machine (as opposed to slotting them in from the outside), do it before populating the motherboard with processor, cards and RAM - sometimes it’s hard to turn them into position later.
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### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/8 "2008-05-30T15:34:31Z")
Band-aids. There’s sharp metal everywhere on most cases and some other components… I don’t assemble computers lately, but I’ve fiddled around enough to cut my finger(s) or hand almost every darn time.
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### Author:  [@Borg\_Erst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borg_Erst)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/9 "2008-05-30T15:42:24Z")
My lessons: Cooling errors will fry your processor or create vibrations you cannot ever track down and cure. Chip fans and power supply fans are bitches. I don’t think my next machine will be homemade.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/10 "2008-05-30T15:59:32Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz]
So list out what you’ve got so we can say what’s missing and what would be good to have.
[/quote]
I don’t have the actual part numbers and stuff in front of me, but I know I have:
[ul]
[li]Ultra MicroFly case w/ 400W power supply[/li][li]MSI motherboard[/li][li]AMD Athlon 64 CPU[/li][li]one 1 GB RAM module[/li][/ul]
The above items were all bought new. The remaining items below are from the PC I’m replacing:
[ul]
[li]2 hard drives[/li][li]CD-RW drive[/li][li]M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI sound card (I use this PC to record radio broadcasts and digitize LPs)[/li][/ul]
> [@](#):
>
> Have you got a mat to protect the table?
There’s a table cloth, and I have some of that waffley-looking shelf liner stuff.
> [@Nunavut Boy](#):
>
> Make sure you don’t forget to use the metal standoffs that go between the case and the mobo.
Will do.
> [@CoG888](#):
>
> Make sure your heatsink makes good contact with the CPU, and you use a dab of thermal-compound between them. (Not too much, thinest possible layer.)
Will do.
> [@](#):
>
> Make sure all your fans are working, especially the one inside the power supply.
Will do. Definitely something I might have taken for granted.
> [@](#):
>
> Get some wire ties to secure cables.
Check.
> [@Quartz](#):
>
> You don’t need a burn-in program: installing Windows is a sufficient test.
For the machine or for me? 🙂
> [@](#):
>
> You do have all the drivers etc ready, don’t you?
I’ve got the CD that came with the motherboard, and ready access to the internet should I need to download any others.
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> If any of the drives have jumper settings, copy down the diagram (or scan it) before you install the drives - that way, you can change the configuration in future without removing the drive from the case.
Excellent suggestion.
> [@](#):
>
> If your drives have to be installed from the inside of the machine (as opposed to slotting them in from the outside), do it before populating the motherboard with processor, cards and RAM - sometimes it’s hard to turn them into position later.
If I’ve understood the manual for the case correctly, the drive cage tips out. It also has a removable motherboard tray. I think this will be a moot point either way, but I’ll keep it in mind.
> [@squeegee](#):
>
> Band-aids.
Check.
> [@Borg Erst](#):
>
> I don’t think my next machine will be homemade.
I’ll take that as “I wish you luck,” and say “thanks!” 🙂
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### Author:  [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/11 "2008-05-30T16:36:40Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout]
If any of the drives have jumper settings, copy down the diagram (or scan it) before you install the drives - that way, you can change the configuration in future without removing the drive from the case.
[/QUOTE]
I’ve found that rather than worrying about IDE jumper settings, it’s easier to set everything to cable select and never think about it.
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/12 "2008-05-30T16:45:58Z")
Check for clearances, particularly if you’ve got a small case or large components like a big heatsink or graphics card.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/13 "2008-05-30T16:46:04Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout]
If any of the drives have jumper settings, copy down the diagram (or scan it) before you install the drives - that way, you can change the configuration in future without removing the drive from the case.
[/QUOTE]
I can’t imagine how you could possibly move the jumpers _inside_ the case without tweezers and a dental mirror… Anyway, I always just go with cable select.
Don’t connect to the internet before you activate the firewall!
Put some cardboard between the case and the mainboard while you’re working on it. It’ll keep the system from shorting if you need to turn it on before you finish putting it together.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/14 "2008-05-30T17:05:52Z")
Is the price you paid for all the components you require less than what it would be to buy a bare bones system from [tigerdirect.com](http://tigerdirect.com) or similar? Is this about saving money and/or a desire to build your own system from scratch?
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/15 "2008-05-30T17:15:34Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
I can’t imagine how you could possibly move the jumpers _inside_ the case without tweezers and a dental mirror
[/QUOTE]
Tip-out drive cage.
[QUOTE=Duckster]
Is the price you paid for all the components you require less than what it would be to buy a bare bones system from [tigerdirect.com](http://tigerdirect.com) or similar? Is this about saving money and/or a desire to build your own system from scratch?
[/QUOTE]
It’s mostly about saving money. Well, about spending what money I’m going to spend on the things I need rather than things I don’t (like video, etc.). I’ve spent less than $200 on the new parts for this PC (not counting shipping for the case). Given that I needed a small form factor or a desktop, I couldn’t have come out any better going with TigerDirect. The closest comparable barebones kit they have is a ShuttlePC for $199.99 that has stuff I don’t need.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/16 "2008-05-30T17:39:36Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow]
It’s mostly about saving money. Well, about spending what money I’m going to \*\*spend on the things I need rather than things I don’t \*\* (like video, etc.).
[/QUOTE]
I’m pretty sure that’s the rub for most homebuilders.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/17 "2008-05-30T17:49:06Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
I’m pretty sure that’s the rub for most homebuilders.
[/QUOTE]
Well, I know that my budget got considerably easier to deal with when I realized _hey, I don’t need a video card_ because the motherboard’s on-board video will more than handle what I need.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/18 "2008-05-30T18:13:01Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow]
Well, I know that my budget got considerably easier to deal with when I realized _hey, I don’t need a video card_ because the motherboard’s on-board video will more than handle what I need.
[/QUOTE]
Yup.
When I built mine (5+ years ago now) it was all about what parts I could cannibalize from the old machine.
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### Author:  [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/19 "2008-05-30T22:20:12Z")
Does the motherboard’s power connector have the same number of pins as the power supply? Some have 20, some 24. If they don’t match, you’ll need an adapter (which some computer stores don’t keep in stock, in my experience).
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### Author:  [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-pc-warn-me-about-things-i-havent-considered/451137/20 "2008-05-30T22:52:14Z")
Make a list of the part numbers, especially the motherboard and it’s revision number. This last is if you want to update the bios later, sometimes there are different bios for each revision, and it’s a pain to pull the case apart and hunt everywhere for a small printed number hidden under a PCI card.
If there is a 4 pin power connector for the processer, if it’s not plugged in, you will break out in a cold sweat when, after hitting the power switch, there is absolute silence.
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