First Build (AMD)

[MagusMagnus]

Already bought (from Amazon, except the case):

Gigabyte Sumo Omega
Corsair RM 750W
Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0
AMD FX-8350
Noctua NH-D14
Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3 1600
EVGA GTX760 SC 2GB
WD1003FZEX 1TB
Asus DRW-24B1ST

Er... so basically, I'm a total n00b in the actual assembly procedures. Well, not quite but on the cabling and such (fans etc.), I'm about next to clueless. Otherwise I've been doing my homework since 2006 (this has been a very, very long time coming) so I think I'm alright on everything else (maybe not on the TIM/HSF...) so just please bear with me.

Anyways, I’ve just run into a snag this morning. The board takes 9 standoffs but the case only included 7 and 0 included elsewhere. I’m hoping to be able to get two more of them (probably the fastening screws as well just to be extra safe) from a local shop for <$5 or so but if they’re obscenely priced (Jesus, I’ve seen them listed at like $12! WTF?!) which configuration of those 7 standoffs could I get away with on this board and that NH-D14 (obviously the four closest to the cutout are foremost but otherwise, which are the least important)? I’d rather not skimp on those however I might have to, I just want to check it won’t damage the board whichever way I’d have to go about it. I don't have an old system to salvage them from or I would lol.

I already know not to use the paper board washers so we're good there... or are we?

I’m also planning to just put everything into the case first WITHOUT the CPU and HSF for a dry-fire POST test to at least ensure the RAM isn't DOA before I go about the NH-D14, which would be a huge hassle to have to take off and put back on if the RAM is DOA (this is sufficient testing for that yes?). I'd rather not have to deal with it and the TIM more than once. I also don’t like the thought of doing the rudimentary POST test outside of the case either... I want the board grounded to the case for even just that.

I *will* be using a ground strap and I know better than to build on carpet so we're also good there.

Oh right and, PSU, ODD and I/O shield are officially already mounted (yay).

And yup, about covers where I'm at.

 

[Solarstarshines]

You are only missing 2 standoffs you can get some for a $1 at like a Microcenter or Frys electronics

if you can't get any Standoffs you can install the board with 2 missing but the trick is to make sure the edges of the board and the middle is secure even if you didn't put one on the either sides of the board it will not pose a issue as long as the others are around the key points to make sure it is grounded

Pretty much the key is making sure it is secure and grounded even with missing 2 standoffs hope this helped you

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

I think you should go pick up more standoffs

 

[linnemeyerhere]

MagnusMagnus,
You've got a killer rig coming together and please take some pictures for us and you yourself, they come in very handy !
You're right to go get the stand off's but as mentioned as long as the stand off's you have are in the correct position you'll likely get good support but all things being equal just go and get them. If you purchase maybe some other custom items like a braided cable kit or other the computer shop may just sport you the stand off's for free. Good luck and enjoy the process....it's addicting and you've just been bitten by the bug !

 

[MagusMagnus]

Thanks guys. I just got back from the local a bit ago and he graciously let me pick through the spares and I found three. I offered to pay, but he told me to forget it "I have screws up the *cough*" haha. Awesome, know where I'll be going if I get really stumped somewhere. So yeah, one was slightly larger as just barely not to fit in my CompUSA hex tool, and I'm a little concerned even that hair's amount larger might short the board out but you know, I don't think so. The threads are real small and it fit into the board tray just fine (they're both the identical height and everything that actually matters to others) so I don't think there will be a problem. I gave them a 70% alcohol bath though, were a bit grimy but hey, they work and now they're clean.

So I just opened up the mobo, took the stock mounts off and installed the Noctua ones (yes, facing in) and didn't screw too tight, also put the RAM in as well. But, when I went to 'drop' it into the case (using its VRM and NB sinks, can't get a good hold on it anywhere else... its fine), the damned I/O shield "blocks" the ports from going through it, there's a bunch of tabs. Do I have to bend those back by hand or "force" the board through? I have that installed the right way, with the audio towards the bottom and the labeling to the outside. I'd really rather not force the board through them... probably why those things "up and stop working" actually lol. Manuals are absolutely silent on this one so... help?

Thanks again everyone, really appreciate your input.


Oh yeah, I'm definitely bit. This is WAY better than Kinex and Legos lmao. Unfortunately, our stupid camera is ancient and doesn't seem to want to stop zooming in and out so... I can't really take pictures right now (I know, I wanted to... I really wanted to, especially the labels. Grrr!).


EDIT: I/O is not perfectly aligned but I can at least plug the stuff into it, so Mobo is installed and so is the HDD.

Thinking about just skipping the prelim test to finish it faster too lol. Hmm...

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Yes just bend those tabs back.

 

[MagusMagnus]

I just kind of mushed them down. They weren't blocking the port entrances, but they were pushing the board backward too much, taking it out of alignment with its standoffs. So I did that then I aligned the standoffs into the center of the board holes. Its now installed.

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

Good job!

 

[MagusMagnus]

Yup, gonna skip the prelim test and just fully assemble and hope for the best (I really don't anticipate issues). So I'm now at the stage of the TIM. I have never done it before and this is the most nerve-wracking of the whole thing. CPU installed without a hitch (why do so many view that as the most anxiety-inducing? lol) but this part really makes me nervous... I know about 4-5mm is the mentioned amount or the pea or the rice grain but which for AMD 8-core? I'm going to use the Noctua stuff.

Also should I do the blob in the center or something else (spread)?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I like the 5 dot method one center and four in a square around it. All five should be about the volume of a puffed grain of rice or less. Then set the cooler down and give it a little wiggle and then tighten it down. Then after some time for curing via heat and cool cycles then you'll begin to get slightly lower temps. Remember with thermal compound less is more.

You can also use a single thin line about the size of puffed grain of rice or the thin spread method where you take a credit card and spread an extremely thin layer on the cpu or the heatsink and set it down. Just remember the actual CPU is dead center under the lid and is a slight rectangle from top to bottom along the case lines.

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

Here's a how to video. Kind of old, but short and sweet. Everybody has their own idea of how to spread it. But, this works, too.

How to Apply Thermal Compound to a CPU - YouTube

 

[MagusMagnus]

Think I will try the "X" method... How Thermal Compound Spreads - YouTube

I'm really more worried about far too little than I am too much at this juncture.

Just in case I have to do it again for some reason, is 70% alcohol pure enough for cleaning the CPU/HSF?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Correct for cleaning and you can try x method then lift gently up and see what kind of spread you're getting.

 

[jgiels]

To much is as bad as not enough. I put a pea size in the center and haven't had any issues.

 

[MagusMagnus]

That's about what I put, chickened out last minute on the x lol... did the blob. Noctua is a pain to get to bite, though. Wow. And huge bummer... the 200mm fan had to go off the side panel. It was only JUST too thick to close over this HSF (why in the heck did they have to leave the heat pipes sticking so far out?). So now, eventually, I need to try and go find another that I can use (thankfully, there are other mounting configurations), but that's a long while from now... hopefully the cooling especially to the GPU won't suffer too much without it. Gigabyte also really should have designed it with that fan mounted on the outside like the dust filter is, dang it.

This basically just leaves the GPU and the wiring to the PSU... I'll start with the GPU.

 

[MagusMagnus]

And damn, just realized I can't reach to plug in the CPU fan either. So I have to do it all again.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

You're learning and it's all good as they say !

 

[MagusMagnus]

A bit of the damned TIM got onto a couple of pins... its not conductive but now I have no idea what is going to happen. I dipped it in the alcohol and I also used a alcohol pad to very gently get it off. This sucks. I don't know how it happened... just did. This is why I didn't want to have to do it twice. I had the correct amount on there. It was perfect.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Keep breathing.....just clean the paste off as best you can you can even try a tooth pick in the alcohol to gently get between pins but use your best light and reading glasses if possible and just go slow and steady.

 

[MagusMagnus]

I did... even though it was very little, I'm pretty sure its all in vain after that point. I'm still trying anyway. I only hope this won't short out the entire thing or I'm totally screwed. I had one shot at this, financially speaking. I'm trying to wire it up now... Yeah... trying to keep breathing but all I honestly want to do is have a panic attack.