Hitikiro's Build Log

[Hitikiro]

Day 3-
** You can check out my "First Computer Build Thread": http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/intel/1722-first-computer-build-some-insight-please.html to see the first 2 days**

Last night I decided to open the P182 so I can put the Corsair HX520 PSU into the case.

** Note to others **
I didn't put the modular cables into the PSU when I screwed it into the P182 but I would strongly advise you do that first before inserting it. It is much harder to install the modular cables once it was in :doh: . Don't make the mistake I made!
** **

The Corsair HX520 fit snuggly into the bottom of the P182. There were anti-vibration strips where you install the PSU so that is a plus :thumb:.

Here are a few pics of the 182:

Inside the P182:

Here are is a picture of the Corsair HX520:

 

[Hitikiro]

Day- 4

Tuesday afternoon, I headed out to NCIX to grab my Core 2 duo E6750 CPU and eVGA 8800GTS Superclocked GPU. I unexpectedly went to Staples to check out the Logitech X-540 to see if I could price match the speakers to Dell. In the end I got the price match and I got the speakers for $74 + $30 Mail-in-rebate. So the net price is $44! Not bad for a set of 5.1 Speakers unk:.

Once I got home I immediately began the build :clap:!
But first, here are some pictures of the Core 2 duo E6750 & eVGA 8800GTS:

Here is a picture of the $44 Logitech Speakers X-540:

This computer build would be my first attempt (2nd one actually because I helped my friend build a system w/o any experience :haha. First off I went to clean my grubby hands with soap and water + a lot of scrubbing. I dried my hands off completely then and took some alcohol to give it another cleaning. I then allowed the alcohol to dry off before I started the build.

The first thing I opened was my Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme. Here are some pictures:

I then took my P182 case and laid it down on its side. The P182 case was supported by some black styrofoam from the Corsair HX520.

** Note to others **
Always touch the chassis/case (the metal interior/exterior) before handling any delicate PCB boards (ie mobo), ram, GPU, CPU. This will help minimize ESD (electricostatic discharge) that may damage your components.
** **

The next thing I opened up was the Abit IP35 Pro Motherboard. Here are some more good looking visuals:

It came with 6 Sata Cables, 2 IDE Cables, Front panel USB, eSata, Firewire plugin and of course uGuru manual.




** Note to others **
Always touch the chassis/case (the metal interior/exterior) before handling any delicate PCB boards (ie mobo), ram, GPU, CPU. This will help minimize ESD (electricostatic discharge) that may damage your components.
** **

After fiddling with the motherboard and the neat components that came with it, I decided to open up the CPU and place it on to the mobo! Here are some images:

Eeeehh my leg!

** Note to others **
Always touch the chassis/case (the metal interior/exterior) before handling any delicate PCB boards (ie mobo), ram, GPU, CPU. This will help minimize ESD (electricostatic discharge) that may damage your components.
** **


I followed the instructions provided by Abit's Motherboard manual when I installed the CPU. Notice that the yellow/golden arrow is at the bottom left corner. This yellow arrow ensures that I have properly installed the CPU correctly.

Now back to the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme (TR 120) Heat sink! I purchased some Arctic Silver 5 (AS5) Thermal compound (one of the better thermal compound) so I can apply it onto the TR 120 and CPU. Here are the steps I took to apply the AS5 on to the heat sink:

1) First take a clean empty sandwich bag and invert it inside out.
2) Apply a dab (pea size) of AS5 onto the heat sink.
**Note**
It was sort of sticky, probably because I stored it in the small fridge I have downstairs
** **
3) Take the inverted bag and evenly coat the heat sink.

Here are some pictures of the outcome:

 

[Hitikiro]

After applying AS5 to the TR 120 I applied some on to the motherboard. I went to AS5's website to see how to apply it onto a dual core chip. Here is the website: Arctic Silver Incorporated - Route to Product Instructions for Arctic Silver 5

Here is a picture of how I've done it:

I tried my best to keep the line as straight as possible :haha:.

Now it was time to mount the TR 120 onto the motherboard. This is one of the most challenging part of the build. The TR120 had a back plate to support the massive heat sink and it was kind hard to install the TR 120. Here are some tips for others who are deciding on getting the TR 120.

Tip #1:

Do not install the fan first like the instructions depicts. But do place the anti-vibration strips if you are intending on using fans. ** Note: I found it much easier if you install the fan last.**

Tip #2:

Make sure you position the TR 120 correctly when you place it on to the motherboard. By correctly I mean "Vertically" OR "Horizontally". I placed it horizontally which was not my inital intention. So I took it off and place it "Vertically".

(I dunno but this could be the cause to the high temperatures **subjective view** (ie. uGurushows CPU temp as 29c idle 40c load [ would this be consider high??? with the TR120] CoreTemp shows 35c 39c idle??) Any suggestion from others?

Solved:
**After the 200hr break in time for AS5 CoreTemp pre-overclock was showing Core 1= 26C and Core 2= 31. Post-overclock temperature is quite similar. Core 1= 26-27C and Core 2= 31-32C**

Tip #3:

Make sure you know how to install the fans because it took me quite a while to figure out how those little prong things attached to the heat sink.

Here are some pictures of the mounted heat sink:

Now its time to take the whole motherboard and mount it inside of the P182 case!

** Note to others **
Always touch the chassis/case (the metal interior/exterior) before handling any delicate PCB boards (ie mobo), ram, GPU, CPU. This will help minimize ESD (electricostatic discharge) that may damage your components.
** **

Here is a picture of the mounted motherboard in the P182 case:

**Note to others**
Using a magnetic screw driver may or may not damage your hardware. I used a magnetic one because it was so much easier to install the screws.
**Note to others**

You can see that I've installed my Crucial Ballistix Ram sticks there as well. The installation of the ram sticks occured after the motherboard was mounted on to the case. It makes it much easier to insert them in!

Here is a picture of my Crucial Ballistix Ram sticks installed onto the mother board:

 

[sswilson]

Looks like you're having fun!!!

Just a note to let you know that you can host your images here using the vb image host.

 

[magictorch]

looks good

even cleaned your hands with alcohol!

 

[BALISTX]

Let me know how those Logitech X-540s sound, I was thinking of getting a set.

 

[Hitikiro]

Looks like you're having fun!!!

Just a note to let you know that you can host your images here using the vb image host.

LOL, I spent my time uploading them else where XD and it took awhile.

 

[Hitikiro]

Let me know how those Logitech X-540s sound, I was thinking of getting a set.

Well for $40 its a steal, but right now NCIX has the Z-5300E for $129.

 

[Hitikiro]

Continuation of Day 4 post- ** I couldn't post anymore because the net is always slow during peak hours**

Now it was time to install my eVGA 8800GTS superclocked version!


** Note to others **
Always touch the chassis/case (the metal interior/exterior) before handling any delicate PCB boards (ie mobo), ram, GPU, CPU. This will help minimize ESD (electricostatic discharge) that may damage your components.
** **

Here are some pictures of the eVGA 8800GTS:

The 8800GTS are pretty big and it required me to remove to backplates at the back of the case. One for the dual VGA slot and the other for the exhaust fan. Here is a picture once the GPU was installed:

The HDD and Optical drive installation is pretty straight forward so I'm going to leave it out in this write up. But I do have a picture of how the right-angled Sata ports are proven to be quite beneficial:

Now its time for the modular cables from the PSU to be plugged into the Motherboard. I would say 95% of the cables are managed on the left side of the P182 so it is quite clean around the centre of the case. Here is a picture:

Here is the end result of my cable management skills!

In the end, everything turned out pretty well! Here is the final product of slaving over my new build! Here is a photo:

I hoped you guys enjoyed reading through my rant! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

 

[enaberif]

remove the fan from the bottom cage and put it up top , or buy another fan for the front and you'll get some pretty nice air flow across that case.

Also the cage for the power supply isn't necessary and I'd pull out the hard drive trays from the upper driver cage.