First Build (AMD)

I dunno I still want to just freak out. Just found a 4-pin molex with a red wire out on the case too... perfect. I didn't do that one. Better not blow the whole case or I'll truly be SOL twice over. PSU doesn't even have a connection for it so I'm assuming and praying like mad, that it isn't necessary and also will not affect the case at all.

Going to be mad as heck if I have to take this all apart again for return/RMA... seriously.

Maybe... but I think I made a big mistake by using alcohol. I overfilled the bowl and it did submerge for a bit. Some say its dead to rights, others that its just fine to do (old and recent postings on the internet elsewhere). I don't know yet. I might take a break. Nervous wreck and I haven't even eaten all day (probably still won't...). This is not how I had dreamed it would happen. Sorry to be a downer, thank you all for your help. Just can't freaking believe this happened.

Upon further reflection, I'm going to disassemble and exchange the board and chip. I'm sure Amazon would rather I do that instead of trying to finish... and then have one or both short and fry all of the rest of it. I genuinely do feel bad but the far more likely scenario of the aforesaid would be worse for them and me both. It's not worth trying to finish it after that happened. The other hardware is, right now, entirely unaffected and I'd just be even a larger idiot for not doing this. And this, I thought then, remote possibility is why I chose them for the retailer... they legitimately have a no-BS exchange and return policy.

And... as much as I am deeply ashamed to say this... I'm not cut out for this side of tech/IT. At least not the entirety of it... I can do the basics and intermediate things but from 0-100% is just too advanced for me. I tried, I failed. Yes, they've almost all but idiot-proofed it now, but I still can't do it. Damn I hate admitting it, but the truth is the truth.

So, I'm going to go back to the local and ask how much they will charge for assembly (and I guess repair for that pulled 4-pin molex) and have them do it when the exchanged board and chip get here. Otherwise, I'm really totally screwed. I really can't afford to make another gigantic mistake and I clearly would. Amazon's got stellar CS, but it has limits and I respect those limits. Not willing to risk my inexperience on this high-end system again.

I'm really sorry for wasting your time. I honestly thought it would be a cinch. Live and learn.

You're really too kind, thank you. I know, that really was stupid but I figured that was better than trying to use a toothpick or something else and physically damaging the pins too. I don't have the steadiest of hands. It was a huge mistake to unseat it but that was an accident, the cloth kind of unlatched it as I was wiping it off (I had it properly seated before that, I double-checked) and I knew better than to try and put it back without re-seating but that, I am sure, is how the TIM got in there... it was just a tiny little bit but it didn't stay that way, it spread out and down. So the intention was to just get the pins in the alcohol but I didn't notice until it was too late it was a little higher than those, otherwise I'd never have submerged and it was only for a moment. I just have bad luck. But now I know there's real potential for an even worse, extensive disaster to try and power it up with it. I've seen elsewhere from others that they've done it (full submersion in 70% alc) and it was just fine after but... still, I think it is just for the best I circumvent the absolute worse case scenario there while I'm still ahead of that by just exchanging the board and chip because I still can (I really do feel terrible about having to do that but I have too).

I'd have had to remove the board anyway too because of the I/O shield so, its really no big deal with that considered. I think its just the wrong kind of standoffs for this particular MB with that I/O on (that or perhaps the standoffs aren't supposed to be fastened all the way down on the MB tray? I stopped tightening them a quarter turn after it started getting resistance... hmm) so... when I do get the exchange I'll just have the I/O left off to avoid that happening again. I'm fairly sure the expansion slots line up so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm worried about removing the PSU cables now though... the ones with the RM750 are absolutely terrible to work with. It isn't even that they are stiff and flat, its actually their connecting ends... those are exceptionally unyielding. It's ridiculous and the other half of why this is just too much for me to be able to really do in my inexperience. In all the videos I've watched on this, these are just impossible... the others I saw being worked with don't require half of the effort to fasten and remove.

I'm scrambling now to try and see if we know anyone more experienced than me who could help but I don't know, I'd trust a friend of the family or whatnot more than a shop (both more than me though). I just aimed too high here. I hope something will work out and I'll at least end up with a functional system in the end or I'll have blown all my foreseeable money on nothing. It's a terrible feeling.


And just for the benefit of those finding this because they want to try it too... DIY really is not for everybody, its not as easy as Youtube makes it look by a mile. It really does take more experience than brains to get it done and right. Start with junker systems to gain experience on and then work your way up. That's what I'd have done if I could have. Not saying don't go for it, but don't expect it to go off without a hitch either.

Alright, I've calmed down some. Getting the sense it may just all work out in the end.

I found a local store-front shop and was quoted $25 for help. I'm sure they're legit, they've been in business around here for as long as we've lived here and I'm sure if they were hacks they wouldn't still be in business. Still a little worried about it but you know, I'm sure in the end it'll get done and function. That's all I care about now. This guy's clearly better at it than I am at least and so there we go.

I'm going to still be able to assist (wire management I can and want to do), so it'll be a 50-50 build. I just don't want to touch the motherboard install at all (damn you, I/O shield!) or especially the aftermarket HSF install either; I'm clearly just not experienced enough to handle those two and get them right. Otherwise I know I can get the others done, already done them and those really are easy.

On the other hand, the built-in case fan controller is a headscratcher. I know it goes to the PSU 4-pin molex accessory cable but it didn't seem to want to fit (the fan controller one has both a female and a male end) and there was also another one with white plastic ends on it that I have no idea what it was or where that goes either, but clearly it isn't just there just to be there... the case manual is absolutely 100% silent on those (lovely). I'm thinking they probably all connect together but God forbid I do it wrong and it fries something.

To top it off, there was a "Rear Fan 2" hiding unplugged in the cable management thing and I'm assuming it to be the actual rear exhaust fan... supposed to go directly to the motherboard, I presume? The manual "instructions" seriously just suck.

Its further a very good thing I noticed that red wire not being soldered in on that main black 4-pin molex with the female and male end on it because that could have really screwed the whole thing up if I'd chanced it and powered it on like that anyway. It was not like the white-plastic ended types that you just simply stick back in... nope, this was not even soldered or anything, bare wire. Its kind of cheaply made on that one part but otherwise the rest of it is totally solid and worth $109.99 (although close, it even fit my NH-D14 without the 200mm side fan... that kind of stings but you know, I'm sure its fine without that and if I find another 120mm or 140mm fan I can install that lower-down instead but it will have to be later... I definitely won't be able to spend $20 on just a fan now.

Motherboard and CPU already on the way, just the case I'm waiting on (RMA approved today; shouldn't be too long now to get the replacement) and then its straight to the shop we go.


Wish I could have just afforded Micro Center. Next time that's exactly what I'll do; it's worth their additional hardware markups and the $100 to build it too... piece of mind and no hassle is absolutely worth that. I'm reasonably sure I won't be trying 100% DIY again. Just not for me.

Items all now back in-hand and I'm going to the shop early tomorrow, please pray for success guys.

Oh and I now know exactly what the issue with the case really was. I was accidentally shipped a used one. I know this because the packaging on the replacement is totally different and this one wasn't shortchanged by 2 standoffs either, so I now have 3 extra (awesome). I had actually suspected as much because it shipped out from the same place the returns/exchanges are sent and further, because it was also taped up excessively. So this one actually is brand new and so all should go smooth from here on out. It's still a bummer its 200mm side fan won't clear the Noctua but that's just splitting hairs and I'm still very happy I chose it otherwise... I'll just need to source a 120 or 140 to put there instead.

In hindsight, I would have chosen a different PSU. The Corsair RM750 cables are absolutely terrible. I could forgive them for being stiff as steel... but what I can't forgive is the fact that they also require what is truly excessive force to actually connect them both to the PSU itself and, worse, also to the hardware. I mean you've no idea, these are not good cables at a all. They just won't "click" in place so now I'm really a nervous wreck over that, hopefully they'll work... I don't have time to resolve that through Corsair now (they damn sure should but yeah, they just don't. Maybe they're not supposed too but... well no, yes they sure are supposed too). I'm going to be really mad if, especially, the CPU cable won't seat just right on the first go at it because that's a massive PITA to have to remove the aftermarket NH-D14 to do that (this case is a bit snug up top in that area. NO WAY it could be done with the HSF already installed). But I guess that's why it was $114. If I had enough in my budget, and enough time, I'd head this headache off right now and get different ones but I can't. =/

Steer clear of the RM750 unless you have different cables. Seriously.