Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Butcher on February 13, 2012, 10:14:03 AM

Title: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Butcher on February 13, 2012, 10:14:03 AM
I haven't put together a build since college and that knowledge has long been gone, by mid this week I should have all the parts to build a new system, any advice would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: FLOTSOM on February 13, 2012, 10:52:04 AM
bestest advice i can give you is look up TillDeath here on the BBS and ask for his advice and help on any issues you may have.

good luck  :aok
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Butcher on February 13, 2012, 11:43:40 AM
He was building it, except I requested a refund I don't feel comfortable floating a large sum for over 4 weeks.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Skuzzy on February 13, 2012, 12:31:29 PM
Take your time.
Do not overtighten screws holding the motherboard.
Take your time.
Do not slather on 5 pounds of heat sink compound on the CPU.
Take your time.
Do not force plugs.  They are all keyed, but some will allow you to forcibly plug them in wrong.
Take your time.
Ground yourself and do not build it on carpet while shuffling your wool covered feet around!
Take your time.
Before touching ANY electronic component, touch some metal first to insure you are discharged.
Take your time.

Putting together the components is actually not hard.  The software, on the other hand....

Oh, and take your time!

Disclaimer:  If you chose to follow my advice, and you screw it up anyway,...it is YOUR fault.  I will not assume any responsibility for your choices.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Flench on February 13, 2012, 12:40:12 PM
So how much Heat sink should one use ?
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Butcher on February 13, 2012, 12:40:30 PM
Hmm think what Skuzzy is trying to say is "Take your time?"  :aok

Edited:

Thanks Skuzzy, I didn't feel comfortable building it myself, unfortunately I have no choice right now.

I did order a proper tool said for $7.50 off Newegg, has everything such as non magnetic tools and a grounding wire.

Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Flench on February 13, 2012, 12:46:09 PM
I see that ,I think but my last build I plasterd it all over the CPU and never had any trouble out of it . Got the Heat sink in a small tube and figured you supose to use it all ?
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Butcher on February 13, 2012, 12:51:14 PM
I see that ,I think but my last build I plasterd it all over the CPU and never had any trouble out of it . Got the Heat sink in a small tube and figured you supose to use it all ?

Last PC I built didn't even have a heat sink, so yeah I am treading unchartered waters...
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Skuzzy on February 13, 2012, 12:52:52 PM
Thermal compound should be micro thin and consistent across the face of the applied surface.  All it is suppose to do is fill the micro gaps in the surfaces to help with thermal dissipation.  Too much thermal compound can actually impede cooling of the CPU.

Apply a blob, then use a plastic spreader (cut a 1/2" wide strip off of a dead credit card) to spread it around, then use the edge of the dead credit card to scrap off the excess and provide a consistent coat over the face.

You really do not want to use your fingers, to spread the compound, as the grease/oils in the skin will contaminate the compound, not to mention what it might do to you.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Flench on February 13, 2012, 12:57:03 PM
Thank you Skuzzy . I am almost to that point in my new build . Good thing I seen this .
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Rob52240 on February 13, 2012, 01:14:47 PM
So how much Heat sink should one use ?

3 or 4 tubes is usually enough for my systems.  If I have any left over I try to save 2 tubes for the innards of my joystick and 1 to apply under my neighbor's windshield wipers.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Flench on February 13, 2012, 01:32:11 PM
and 1 to apply under my neighbor's windshield wipers.
Don't be giving me no idea's , hahahahaha
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Tigger29 on February 13, 2012, 02:28:17 PM
I found this video demonstrating the different methods for applying compound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXLu1Ms-q4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXLu1Ms-q4)
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Flench on February 13, 2012, 02:35:31 PM
Hey thanks Tigger , great video .So I don't have to cover the hole platforum ? Don't know what I was thinking but was thinking it had to cover all of the surface ?
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: cattb on February 13, 2012, 03:11:44 PM
To much compound can actually act as a insulator and the heat from the CPU may not travel efficiently to the CPU cooler.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Butcher on February 13, 2012, 03:43:13 PM
To much compound can actually act as a insulator and the heat from the CPU may not travel efficiently to the CPU cooler.

I will make sure to research it further before attempting, much appreciated on this warning. My biggest fear is always the BIOS and heat sink
when i considered this build, BIOS I will probably leave it to factory default with a few changes nothing major.

Its going to have raid I would assume to use Raid 0 for performance or Raid 1 for mirroring? any thoughts?
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: The Fugitive on February 13, 2012, 03:58:07 PM
I see that ,I think but my last build I plasterd it all over the CPU and never had any trouble out of it . Got the Heat sink in a small tube and figured you supose to use it all ?

Another method is to use rubber gloves while handling the CPU and the paste. If you don't have gloves, a couple of zip-lock bags works great too.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: FLOTSOM on February 13, 2012, 05:42:20 PM
Another method is to use rubber gloves while handling the CPU and the paste. If you don't have gloves, a couple of zip-lock bags works great too.


hmmmmmmmmmmmmm............... ..and you go by the name "THE FUGITIVE...................ok im now officially getting nervous!
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: The Fugitive on February 13, 2012, 06:16:18 PM

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm............... ..and you go by the name "THE FUGITIVE...................ok im now officially getting nervous!


Oh I have rubber gloves, plastic sheets, bone saws, what ever you need  :noid
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Flench on February 13, 2012, 06:30:18 PM

Oh I have rubber gloves, plastic sheets, bone saws, what ever you need  :noid

HAHAHA Fugitive , same here . All but the PC part's I need , lol .
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Getback on February 13, 2012, 08:22:21 PM
I don't know about skuzzy's message it seems subliminal. However, take your time and most of all enjoy savor every plug in, attachment, every wire placement. Make it beautiful. Be a craftsman.
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Bizman on February 14, 2012, 01:28:34 AM
Just for clarification, I noticed someone talking about thermal paste using the expression 'heat sink'. If articulated sloppily, sink and zinc sound much alike, but zinc paste is not suitable for electronic use.

A heat sink:
(http://www.aluminum-solar-frame.com/upload/day_110501/201105011853351266.jpg)

Thermal paste:

(http://www.koolance.com/technical/cooling101/images/spreading_thermal_paste.jpg)

Zinc paste:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518MGHXPJQL._SL500_AA300_PIbundle-4,TopRight,0,0_AA300_SH20_.jpg)
Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: Bino on February 14, 2012, 08:43:58 AM
Detailed instructions on how to apply thermal compound to a CPU can be found here on the Arctic Silver web site. (http://www.arcticsilver.com/instructions.htm)

Per their write-up:

"Important: Keep the surface free of foreign materials and do NOT touch the surface after it has been cleaned. A hair, piece of lint, and even dead skin cells can significantly affect the thermal interface's performance. Oils from you fingers can adversely affect the performance by preventing the micronized silver or ceramic fill from directly contacting the metal surfaces. (Fingerprints can be as thick as 0.005")"

Title: Re: Need some advice on building a rig
Post by: BERN1 on March 10, 2012, 04:58:20 AM
Arctic silver recommends a grain of rice sized amount I use this amount on all my build and no heat issues ever