Yet Another New Computer Build Thread....Comments please! :)

[Buckets]

Okay, so I have all the parts put together!!! (Pics coming soon!)

Only thing I don't have is the OS (I ordered the wrong one! I'm waiting on the 64bit). Is there anything I can do until I install the OS, like configure the BIOS?

Thanks!

If you have a computer with a DVD burner sitting around, you could burn an Ubuntu disk and play around with taht until your copy of Windows arrives. It is easy to install, a bit of a pain to configure and really easy to wipe out when you get your copy of Vista in the mail.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

[Bamboo]

That is a good idea Buckets. And even if he didn't want to install, he could run it with a live disk, though that does run kind of slow.

And there is a 64 bit version of Ubuntu out.

[Global.Cooling]

I have a copy of PcLinuxOS

But I'm more interested in if there is anything in the BIOS I need to be setting up?

[Bamboo]

about the only thing would be to check what voltage settings your RAM wants, and set that. and maybe set your drives up, like primary harddrive and stuff

But I really wouldn't try overclocking or anything strait off.

[Global.Cooling]

Here are a couple quick pictures. This is my first build, let me know how it looks!

[Buckets]

It looks like you did a pretty good job to me. Your wires are way tidier than mine. You'll probably want to upgrade that CPU cooler at some point but the build looks great. Did you enjoy doing it?

[Global.Cooling]

Of course I enjoyed it!

I was told the stock cooler was good enough since I'm not doing any OCing.

I plan on adding one more case fan to blow on the video card.

[Buckets]

Of course I enjoyed it!

I was told the stock cooler was good enough since I'm not doing any OCing.

I plan on adding one more case fan to blow on the video card.

Well, if you're not going to overclock, the stock cooler will be just fine. It seems to me to be a shame to have a nice new Intel CPU and not overclock it though. OCing is where Intel's Core2 stuff really pulls away from the latest revisions of AMD's K10 architecture.

[Global.Cooling]

I'll keep that in mind. Will it enhance my gaming experience?

[Bamboo]

I would say it might slightly increase your games FPS, but not by too much. But that really depends on what game. The good news is you bought a quad, so in programs and games that support it, a little bump can help. Like yesterday, I rendered a movie and had all 4 cores on my quad at 100%. I am overclocked to 3.0, so I'm sure that helped shave a few mins off the render time.

But in crysis, my 4 cores never really got above 90%, and I can't remember if I was overclocking yet or not. But most games are GPU bottlenecked, not CPU. My BF2/PR pretty much only uses 1 core, but only at like 80%-90%.

That may change with FarCry2 and Stalker: Clear Skies and other games supporting quads as they have said they will, because every game is coded different.

[Global.Cooling]

I got Vista64 installed and everything is GREAT!!!! This is the first time using Vista and I actually like it!

This computer rocks! It beats the snot out of my old rig.

[Bamboo]

Did you turn the admin. notice thing off, so you don't keep having the security pop ups?

[Global.Cooling]

No, where do I go to do that.

Also, can I not have it ask for a user/password when I boot up. I want it to go directly to the desktop.

Thanks!

[Bamboo]

Here is a good tweak guide, and the best part is they list the other best tweak guides at the bottom of the page
http://tweakhound.com/vista/tweakguide/index.htm

Like the Blackviper site and tweakguides.com


Mine goes directly to the desktop. Maybe when you turn the User Account Control, that will do it.
Here is the page about it:
http://www.tweakhound.com/vista/tweakguide/page_5.htm

It says to do it before you install any programs, but I did it after on both my computers, and it did fine so far.

I would leave Windows Defender on, as it actually does a good job. It, along with spybot search and destroy, has kept me from getting any spyware/addaware for about a year now.

Any other questions feel free to ask and we will try and find an answer.

[Global.Cooling]

Okay everything is up and running! Had a little issue with the front audio ports, but all is fixed now.

Next Question:
I need some sort of 'Internet Protection' software. My other computers (Desktop, laptop) use Norton Internet Security.

What are your thoughts? Maybe some suggestions about about other similar programs.

Thanks!