Home Building Technique Hints Options

[ranchhand]

I have noticed that we are getting more home-builders on the forum, and that is really great! I have some suggestions that will make it easier and possibly save some headaches. This post assumes that you have a basic knowledge of components and how they mount in a case.

First, remember that just because a component is factory-new doesn't mean it works.

>When you purchase your components, definitely buy a cheap power supply tester. There are many, Newegg has 24 pin testers for around $25-$40 at this posting time. I noticed that Apiva has one that is getting excellent reviews. Remember, these testers are for 24 pin power supplys that mainboards now require with the advent of socket 939 and A2. So literally count the number of leads on your big power supply plug that inserts into the mainboard socket before you buy one. Most now have LED readout panels for voltages and will test SATA power leads, fan plug leads and others. **No, these are not "pro" voltage testers, nothing will equal a full-blown voltage tester that can test under load, but they will tell you if a rail is dead or a bad connection wire; most of the time that is all you need.

>Download the ISO of Memtest86+ and burn to a CD Memtest86+

> Finally, when you are picking out a case, seriously consider getting one that has a good, easy to read LCD temperature readout mounted into the panel. There aren't a lot available so the selection is limited. An example of what I am talking about is the Apevia X-Dreamer case. There are also 3rd party add-on LCD gauges that are available, or you might investigate some third party software utilities that will read your CPU temperature on the monitor. Occasionally glancing at your CPU temperature while under load can be extremely helpful when keeping a check on how the unit is doing and especially in troubleshooting.

When you are ready to start your build, do this:

*Plug in the power supply to the wall outlet, and then plug the mainboard cable coming out of the power supply into your new tester. Everything should register as good. Okay, now you know your PS is good.



*Ground yourself by touching a water pipe, sink faucet, etc. Take the foam pad that your new mobo (mainboard) sits on in the box and place it on your workbench. Take the mobo out of the static bag and place it on top of the foam pad. Turn OFF the power switch on the rear of the power supply. Mount the CPU and heatsink/fan, insert the memory stick (use only one if you have multiple sticks), and plug in your power supply to the mainboard. If you have a separate video card, mount it in the AGP or PCIe slot (first, see the paragraph above for tips). Now plug in your monitor's DVI or VGA cable to your video-out. Make very sure that nothing that doesn't belong is touching the mainboard, and the mainboard is positioned on the foam pad so that there is nothing contacting the bottom of the board (we don't want any shorts from metal-to-metal contact on the bottom).

*NOTE*: lately these manufacturers have been getting very stingy with their power-supply cable-lengths. If you have it mounted in the case already, it may take a little positioning to get it to reach the mainboard power plug, so be imaginative. If you purchased a power supply separately, sit it on the packing box and plug it in (see picture below). Easier.

*Touch a water pipe (ground yourself) to protect against static. Mount one (1) memory stick in the proper slot in the mainboard. Only mount one stick even if you have multiple.

*If you do have integrated video on the mainboard but you do have a video card and want to install it, do not insert your video card yet. Run your boot-up test without it using the mainboard's video. After you have gotten the computer to POST, then insert the video card. If suddenly the computer will not POST then you know you have a problem with the card.
*The following applies only if you do not have integrated video on the mainboard: take your new card and insert it in a different computer and boot. You do not have to install the drivers, just make sure that it will make contact and function and you get picture on the monitor. Okay, now you know that the card is good. Again, if you simply cannot find a second computer (even a friends), then install the card, but if you cannot get anything on the monitor at all on boot but you hear the system beep and the fans spin up, the first suspect is the card.

*Reset the BIOS back to factory defaults just in case the settings got corrupted in handling. Most mainboards now have a small jumper that you can use to do this. See your manual that came with the Mainboard.

Okay, show time! Make sure your monitor is plugged into a wall socket and turn on the power switch on the rear of the power supply. Now take a regular screwdriver, and cross the two tiny contacts on the mobo that the on/off switch from the front of the case plugs into (if you don't know where they are, use the mainboard manual to locate them). The computer will start, the CPU fan will spin up. You should see the POST screen on the monitor. Great! Everything works that is the foundation of your computer!

**At this point, there is a really great way to test your memory. Power down. Now take your DVD drive (that you haven't mounted in the case yet) set it on the workbench and plug in the power to the mainboard, and the data cable (see the picture below). Power up your computer; trigger the DVD to open, insert your Memtest disk, and reboot. Memtest will start to run and you can run it on your computer to test your memory. That will let you know if all components are functioning up to that point and check your memory at the same time. See the picture below, and note everything is running and the CPU is now running Memtest+ on my memory (I did one stick at a time).


If the computer will not post, you know for sure that it is one of the components that you just installed, and troubleshooting is So-o-o-o much easier.

In addition to the above, you will notice how MUCH easier it is to mount the CPU and heatsink/fan before you install the board inside the case!

At first you may get an anxious feeling about having the mobo sitting naked on the workbench. Don't worry about it.

Trust me, the above will save you countless hours of headscratching trying to find what of the many components is causing problems after the whole computer is installed. Just ask any of our posters who are having problems trying to get their new-builds to boot!

Happy Building!