Custom Gaming rig - Any good?

Static · 22 Jun 2009

weh said:

@ Static: Check this out: How to build a PC
A step-by-step guide to enthusiast system assembly.

And, yes, each CPU chip design conforms to a specific socket configuration. If you choose a particular motherboard, you must purchase a CPU which fits its socket. If you choose a particular CPU, you must purchase a motherboard which implements that socket. Generally, there are a wide range of CPUs with varying capabilities and prices for each socket configuration.

Perfect help. Read thru it twice now and probably once or twice again when the time comes.

The only thing that really messes with my head is all the BIOS talk. But I assume that every mobo is different and I'm going to have to in depth research the one I buy.

For the most part for people that do this often, Without going into overclocking, if I plug a fresh Motherboard in and everything was installed properly, should most settings be the default settings? or are there for sure many things I'm going to have to change/set?

weh · 22 Jun 2009

Static said:

Perfect help. Read thru it twice now and probably once or twice again when the time comes.

The only thing that really messes with my head is all the BIOS talk. But I assume that every mobo is different and I'm going to have to in depth research the one I buy.

For the most part for people that do this often, Without going into overclocking, if I plug a fresh Motherboard in and everything was installed properly, should most settings be the default settings? or are there for sure many things I'm going to have to change/set?

The BIOS allows you to turn certain features on/off, set absolute and/or relative speeds of some things, adjust timings, and change priorities. In most cases, default settings work perfectly. However, particularly with enthusiast gear, you may need to make a few adjustments to get best performance -- particularly, many current memory modules are designed to run at a default set of timings and can be switched to optimized timings. This is all standard fare.

Then there is overclocking (OC'ing): That's where you use the BIOS settings to push the envelope of your equipment's performance. Many computer parts can, with very careful attention of voltages and cooling, be pushed well beyond their rated performance. However, with OC'ing, you take risks. Over-do it and you can fry your system. The usual process is to push performance in small steps and then do stability testing using software that stresses your system. If all runs okay, then puch the envelope again and re-test. Keep going through the cycle in small increments until some of the tests fail. Then back off to your immediately previous settings and you've overclocked to a reasonable limit.

jw12345 · 22 Jun 2009

And on overclocking: playing with voltage is much more dangerous than frequency. If you have too high of a frequency, it just won't boot or will overheat (honestly pretty safe because of built-in thermal protection mechanisms) and you simply reset the bios. Wrong voltages can straight out kill a part though.

Static · 22 Jun 2009

weh said:

The BIOS allows you to turn certain features on/off, set absolute and/or relative speeds of some things, adjust timings, and change priorities. In most cases, default settings work perfectly. However, particularly with enthusiast gear, you may need to make a few adjustments to get best performance -- particularly, many current memory modules are designed to run at a default set of timings and can be switched to optimized timings. This is all standard fare.

Thanks. I understand the basics of it. And of overclocking. I understand the extremes (Default -------- Fully Overclocked). I guess I just don't know where I lie in this spectrum. I'm a gamer. and Am building a gaming rig. But I don't want to overclock. I'd just like optimal performace. so then the real only thing I need to worry about is mostly default settings and then trying to figure out memory timing corrects?

weh said:

Then there is overclocking (OC'ing): That's where you use the BIOS settings to push the envelope of your equipment's performance. Many computer parts can, with very careful attention of voltages and cooling, be pushed well beyond their rated performance. However, with OC'ing, you take risks. Over-do it and you can fry your system. The usual process is to push performance in small steps and then do stability testing using software that stresses your system. If all runs okay, then puch the envelope again and re-test. Keep going through the cycle in small increments until some of the tests fail. Then back off to your immediately previous settings and you've overclocked to a reasonable limit.

I'm probably not going to mess with overclockings but thank you for the basic understanding. I think I need to just try and find the middle ground of making sure my equipment functions together properly and efficiently without over stressing them or risking anything.

weh · 22 Jun 2009

Static said:

... the real only thing I need to worry about is mostly default settings and then trying to figure out memory timing corrects?

Correct. And that's usually very easy. For example, the memory I used in my current workstation is designed to run at DDR3 1600; however, to ensure compatibility, it defaults to DDR 1066 when first installed. It came with instructions which included suggested settings for DDR 1333 and DDR 1600 with appropriate timings. All I had to do was go into the BIOS and make changes from menu choices. Worked perfectly the very first time.

Static · 22 Jun 2009

Nice. Good to know. Thanks for all the assistance.

I've been kinda curious and hungry to try my hand at all this stuff but just really never knew where to begin and how to go about it. These forums are a wealth of information. Thanks to all so far and especially Weh.

ikilledkenny · 22 Jun 2009

I plan on overclocking, but I will refer to the ones at our forum for help.

weh · 23 Jun 2009

There are a plethora of really good computer-related forums on the internet, but two excellent starting points are AnandTech and the Tech Report.

ikilledkenny · 23 Jun 2009

I could also just ask my friend for help :)

He's built four, so I think he's got it figured out.

weh · 23 Jun 2009

ikilledkenny said:

I could also just ask my friend for help :)

He's built four, so I think he's got it figured out.

I've totally lost count; however, I think I'm well past the 400 mark and may even have broken 500 by now. Build my own first custom PC rig back in '91. (However, I've been building computers since the mid-'70's. My first was an Altair.)