Let's Go Blues

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:Okay I've started building my new behometh computer.. Last night I hung the motherboard, installed the ram, video card, and wireless card without a hitch. I've also got the DVD drive and HDDs in place.. But I'm having issues with the CPU.. I'm using an ASUS motherboard and the Phenom II AMD 940 cpu chip.. I've watched about a dozen videos on installing CPUs and in every one there are levers that lock the cpu in place.. Mine has a lever but it does absolutely nothing when I put it down in terms of keeping the CPU in the motherboard. On top of that there are 3 or 4 bent pins.. I've researched that issue and may be able to fix it, but I'm curious how to hold the CPU in place.. Whenever I put the computer upright the CPU tries to fall right out (I keep my hand under it).. I haven't installed the heatsink that came with it b/c I bought a separate bigger one (Tuniq).. Do I just rely on the heatsink to hold the CPU in place or something or do I need to do something else? The chip does appear to work perfectly with the slot on the mobo (the gaps in pins and pinholes are in the exact right places), and the chip does fall into the slot but it just doesn't stay in at all..

Currently I'm waiting on the powersupply and the cpu heatsink to be delivered (which is held up cause of the snow.. I should have had both yesterday).

Oh also to anyone who wants to know.. The GTX 295 graphics card is huuuuge. I figured when I dropped so much dough on a video card it was gonna be unlike any I've had in the past, but I didn't expect it to be this freakin big. It weighs a few pounds and stretches all the way to the HDD bays in the front of the case.

Any help is appreciated as I can't wait to get this machine workin.

Prngr44 wrote:I doubt I'll ever build my own rig again with prices as low as they are.

All you have to do is buy a Dell with a few slots to slap in a nice video card and sound card if you REALLY want for about $600 and you can usually get a 20 or 22" LCD thrown in the deal too.


The bent pins thing is baaaad. Have you (melted) powered it on yet? I'd almost have sent the proc back immediately without trying to hit it with power if you bent those pins.

ViPeRx007 wrote:

Prngr44 wrote:I doubt I'll ever build my own rig again with prices as low as they are.

All you have to do is buy a Dell with a few slots to slap in a nice video card and sound card if you REALLY want for about $600 and you can usually get a 20 or 22" LCD thrown in the deal too.


The bent pins thing is baaaad. Have you (melted) powered it on yet? I'd almost have sent the proc back immediately without trying to hit it with power if you bent those pins.

Come on, you'd miss the angry cursing, wall punching and 3AM nights that comes with building your own rig.

In my experience I still wouldn't trade it for a boxed system; way better bang for your buck when you can put in what you want.

Prngr44 wrote:

ViPeRx007 wrote:

Prngr44 wrote:I doubt I'll ever build my own rig again with prices as low as they are.

All you have to do is buy a Dell with a few slots to slap in a nice video card and sound card if you REALLY want for about $600 and you can usually get a 20 or 22" LCD thrown in the deal too.


The bent pins thing is baaaad. Have you (melted) powered it on yet? I'd almost have sent the proc back immediately without trying to hit it with power if you bent those pins.

Come on, you'd miss the angry cursing, wall punching and 3AM nights that comes with building your own rig.

In my experience I still wouldn't trade it for a boxed system; way better bang for your buck when you can put in what you want.

That's just it. Time is money too. It's WAY cheaper for me to go the Dell route and just slap in the few things they didn't come with (or were way too high to upgrade through the vendor.)

I gotta disagree with the more bang for your buck.

Just for shits... spec out a dual core 2.4Ghz proc, 3GB memory, 320GB HD, DVD-RW, Integrated sound & video on the MB and a 19" widescreen LCD capable of running 1680x1050. Don't forget the cost of a legal copy of XP Pro or Vista Home Premium. Can you keep it under $380 shipped? Mine was 330 plus shipping & tax.

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote: Also.. Legal copies of Windows are lame.

the knob wrote:

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote: Also.. Legal copies of Windows are lame.

Not when you employer has a volume license.

abc789987 wrote:

the knob wrote:

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote: Also.. Legal copies of Windows are lame.

Not when you employer has a volume license.

or you could use the free linux programey thingyy...

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:Also.. Legal copies of Windows are lame.

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:Is it discounted cheaper than free? Cause I got 64-bit Vista and Office 2007 for nothin.

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:Is it discounted cheaper than free? Cause I got 64-bit Vista and Office 2007 for nothin.

Prngr44 wrote: Just for shits... spec out a dual core 2.4Ghz proc, 3GB memory, 320GB HD, DVD-RW, Integrated sound & video on the MB and a 19" widescreen LCD capable of running 1680x1050. Don't forget the cost of a legal copy of XP Pro or Vista Home Premium. Can you keep it under $380 shipped? Mine was 330 plus shipping & tax.

negronic wrote:

Prngr44 wrote: Just for shits... spec out a dual core 2.4Ghz proc, 3GB memory, 320GB HD, DVD-RW, Integrated sound & video on the MB and a 19" widescreen LCD capable of running 1680x1050. Don't forget the cost of a legal copy of XP Pro or Vista Home Premium. Can you keep it under $380 shipped? Mine was 330 plus shipping & tax.

where/when did you get that deal?

stinkdified wrote:

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:Also.. Legal copies of Windows are lame.

Aren't you a student? I got a legit copy of XP Pro when i was at rolla through the IT department for 11 dollars. I can't remember what the program was called, but it was everything from M$ you could want (office, access, visio, etc.) for way discounted.