[BLuRR]

Hello everyone. My name is Adam. For those who don't know I recently purchased my first computer components on Black Friday to build my very first PC. I have average computer experience with PC hardware and moderate/high knowledge of PC software. I will be posting about my experiences and asking for help assembling the parts. I have already reveived my case in the mail and expect the rest to arrive shortly. Please feel free to give me any advice and help that can be offered up! Thank you! Please see my updated components list below:

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
ASUS P8Z68-V LE LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
TP-LINK TL-WN722N USB 2.0 High Gain Wireless Adapter
CORSAIR Gaming Series GS600 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply

[coastie65]

Hey Adam, you didn't say which CPU Cooler you got or are you using the stock Cooler that comes with the processor ?

[BLuRR]

coastie65, on 01 December 2011 - 05:46 AM, said:

Hey Adam, you didn't say which CPU Cooler you got or are you using the stock Cooler that comes with the processor ?

Hello Coastie, I am going to be using stock for the first month.

People kept bugging me for a Christmas list so I asked for NewEgg gift cards, plan on purchasing 212+/Artic Silver 5/Thermal paste remover around and after Christmas.

This post has been edited by BLuRR: 01 December 2011 - 06:17 AM

[BLuRR]

Hey guys I am in search of drivers right now...I was having trouble but looks like I found them all. Mobo, TP Link, Video Card...Audio/Bios/Chipset/LAN/USB...I think that's it...also downloaded some graphics boost driver for the mobo. (This is all just preliminary the rest of my parts are not here yet)

This post has been edited by BLuRR: 01 December 2011 - 07:26 AM

[BLuRR]

OK guys everything is here!!!! just got it at the door from UPS!! Here we go!!!

[coastie65]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 07:00 AM, said:

Hey guys I am in search of drivers right now...I was having trouble but looks like I found them all. Mobo, TP Link, Video Card...Audio/Bios/Chipset/LAN/USB...I think that's it...also downloaded some graphics boost driver for the mobo. (This is all just preliminary the rest of my parts are not here yet)

All the MOBO drivers will be on a disk that comes with the MOBO as well as the additional Apps. As for Video card Drivers, I never use the disk that comkes with the card, but go online and get the latest.

[BLuRR]

Will the disc drivers be enough/up to date enough to not cause issues?

[coastie65]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 05:50 AM, said:

coastie65, on 01 December 2011 - 05:46 AM, said:

Hey Adam, you didn't say which CPU Cooler you got or are you using the stock Cooler that comes with the processor ?

Hello Coastie, I am going to be using stock for the first month.

People kept bugging me for a Christmas list so I asked for NewEgg gift cards, plan on purchasing 212+/Artic Silver 5/Thermal paste remover around and after Christmas.

the 212+ is good. As for The Arctic Silver Thermal Material Remover / Thermal Surface Purifier ( 2 Part system ), I have it but rearely use either. I just use Guaze pads and Rubbibg alcohol to clen up the old stuff.

[Rommel]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 08:03 AM, said:

OK guys everything is here!!!! just got it at the door from UPS!! Here we go!!!

PPL do things differently for different reasons.

My approach is to install the drivers that come with the device.
The mobo has a reasource CD and perhaps a utillity CD or they are both on one.

Drives can be updated later.
Driver updates can spark a debate. I am not a believer that you always need to have the latest.
Sometimes a previous driver works better. Like some BIOS updates. The lastest may not have a fix you need so why take a chance to make a stable system unstable?

Look everything over before you move.
You're a smart guy, enjoy the build.
I remember the satisfaction I felt when I pressed that power button the first time and it came to life.

[coastie65]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 08:15 AM, said:

Will the disc drivers be enough/up to date enough to not cause issues?

Those will be fine, both Hdd & Optical.

[coastie65]

Rommel, on 01 December 2011 - 08:20 AM, said:

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 08:03 AM, said:

OK guys everything is here!!!! just got it at the door from UPS!! Here we go!!!

PPL do things differently for different reasons.

My approach is to install the drivers that come with the device.
The mobo has a reasource CD and perhaps a utillity CD or they are both on one.

Drives can be updated later.
Driver updates can spark a debate. I am not a believer that you always need to have the latest.
Sometimes a previous driver works better. Like some BIOS updates. The lastest may not have a fix you need so why take a chance to make a stable system unstable?

Look everything over before you move.
You're a smart guy, enjoy the build.
I remember the satisfaction I felt when I pressed that power button the first time and it came to life.

With that MOBO, everything is on a single disk ( I used the ASUS P8Z68-VPro in my build ). I have never checked for BiOS updates as the MOBO is doing fine and nice and stable ( and takes Auto OCing just fine as well ) As for the Hdd and Optical drive, as long as you have the MOBO Stuff installed ( Drivers and Controllers ) the stuff from wndows is fine ( actually they will be in place fist anyway ). I remember when I hit the button for the first time. It seemed to take forever to post, but when I saw that ASUS splash screen, I was all smiles.

[BLuRR]

With my mobo, there is GPU boost switch ...should I enable that or leave it off until my next reboot after installing windows? What exactly does it do? I am not sure how it would effect my graphics card.

Also, my IO shield has weird prongs on it, do I need to bend them in any way?

This post has been edited by BLuRR: 01 December 2011 - 09:15 AM

[coastie65]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 09:09 AM, said:

With my mobo, there is GPU boost switch ...should I enable that or leave it off until my next reboot after installing windows? What exactly does it do? I am not sure how it would effect my graphics card.

Also, my IO shield has weird prongs on it, do I need to bend them in any way?

If you are using a dedicated Graphics card, then you need not wory about it. That is for the onboard Intel graphics on the Sandy Bridge Procesor.

This post has been edited by coastie65: 01 December 2011 - 09:59 AM

[BLuRR]

Moving right along my research is really paying off everything is installed except the mobo (still trying to figure the IO shield out) and the Graphics Card...but I am doing really well!

A lot of people said there is no sticker with the i5....that's because it is on the back on the manual LOL Everything has a sticker so far that I have opened (except OEm of course)

[coastie65]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 10:02 AM, said:

Moving right along my research is really paying off everything is installed except the mobo (still trying to figure the IO shield out) and the Graphics Card...but I am doing really well!

A lot of people said there is no sticker with the i5....that's because it is on the back on the manual LOL Everything has a sticker so far that I have opened (except OEm of course)

Ok. With the I/O shield, just push the blank out from the outside in on the case then install the one that came with the MOBO from the inside ( Mke sure it isn't upside down ).

[waldojim]

The little prongs on the io shield are to make ground contact against the board to the case. Make sure they don't accidentally end up in a port, but try not to bend them, as you want a good connection.

[BLuRR]

So my top 2 screws do not line up, (horizontally) and vertically the first 3 rows do not line up. The Mobo takes 2 screws per row inside the case on standoffs. Not sure if it is the mobo or my installation, going to try again see what happens.

This IO shield is killing me. I thought the screws did not line up but they do...just the Io shield is being a PITA.

This post has been edited by BLuRR: 01 December 2011 - 10:54 AM

[coastie65]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 10:39 AM, said:

So my top 2 screws do not line up, (horizontally) and vertically the first 3 rows do not line up. The Mobo takes 2 screws per row inside the case on standoffs. Not sure if it is the mobo or my installation, going to try again see what happens.

There should be Nine mounting screws total for the MOBO ( three rows of three each ). Just gently manuever the MOBO at the I/O shield unto the holes line up ( they will ). Probably not fit into the I/O shield quite right yet.

[coastie65]

waldojim, on 01 December 2011 - 10:24 AM, said:

The little prongs on the io shield are to make ground contact against the board to the case. Make sure they don't accidentally end up in a port, but try not to bend them, as you want a good connection.

I amassuming his MOBO is pretty near identicle to mine. There are only two small prongs at the top and shouldn't be a problem ( at least it wasn't for me ). Just took a bit of jiggling to get the MOBO in and lined up.

[coastie65]

BLuRR, on 01 December 2011 - 10:39 AM, said:

So my top 2 screws do not line up, (horizontally) and vertically the first 3 rows do not line up. The Mobo takes 2 screws per row inside the case on standoffs. Not sure if it is the mobo or my installation, going to try again see what happens.

This IO shield is killing me. I thought the screws did not line up but they do...just the Io shield is being a PITA.

Just make sure the I/O shield is all the way in and flush all the way around.

This post has been edited by coastie65: 01 December 2011 - 11:02 AM