Minor Updates and additions:HARDWARE STUFFGuide for preparing a bootable Windows installation - USB Flash Drive, on a computer running Windows XP.Guide for preparing a bootable Windows installation - USB Flash Drive, on a computer running Windows Vista or Windows 7.http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/ ...alt Link:
http://tinyurl.com/8kms7jXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWhen building a comp...any comp...the 3 MOST important parts are these:1.
Case...whether you are air cooling or water cooling get a case with room for growth, great cooling, and case exterior connectors where you are going to want them.
2.
Power Supply ...this runs the show...get a PSU that will
easily drive w/e you have in comp or MAY decide to add to comp. Consider wattage AND amperage.
3.
Motherboard ...EVERYthing ur comp does, it does on or thru the motherboard circuits...you skimp here, you WILL regret it, down the road, or from day one.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------80 Thermal Pastes Testedhttp://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=comcontent&task=view&id=150&Itemid=62 ...or here:
http://tinyurl.com/qfu4byALL about PC power supply cables. Make sure you get a PSU that has the connections your build needs.http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Properly Air Cooling Your Computer1. You are going to need more CFM of Intake than you will for Exhaust. This is due to the fact that the CPU Cooler and Vid Card(s) Cooler(s) will be "starved for air" if you don't.
2. This is how I've set up my system and added "Cold Air Cooling" by way of Comp's location compared to the Windows A/C Unit.
For all you HWMonitor users....this is how AIDA64 Extreme shows the relationship between the CPU temp and the Core temps
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As you build ur 1st comp...take the time to write down: MAKE / Model Number / Serial Number of every part before you put it in comp...if it has a version number like some RAM and motherboards...write that down too. Then when you DO have questions to post...you can just copy paste your system build and save a TON of time...here's mine for example:Windows XP Pro w/SP3
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 125W @ 3.7Ghz
ASUS M4N82 Deluxe nVidia 980a SLI Motherboard
ASUS AMI 0802 BIOS
Realtek ALC888/1200 nVidia MCP72 HD Audio
EVGA 015-P3-1580-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit
Corsair CM2X2048-8500C5D Dual Channel [5-5-5-15-22-2T-2.1v]
SATA WD 300GB Velociraptor
SATA WD Caviar Black 1TB
LG GH22LS30 CD/DVD Burner
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W Quad EPS12V
ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" CRT Monitor
Harman Kardon (3)
Logitech Optical M-BT96a
Coolermaster ATCS 840 Full Tower Case
3x230mm, 1x120mm, Optional: 3x Scythe S-Flex SFF21G 120mm
ZALMAN CNPS 10X Extreme CPU Cooler
Steel Series 6GV2 Mechanical Keyboard
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------How to make a RAM Disk on any Windows version.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrecoX2nsOMFor those who care...a RAM Disk is just a way of moving certain programs from the HDD/SSD to the memory( RAM )...which is WAY faster !NOTE: I would NOT try this with less than a minimum of 8GB of physical RAM installed ^^------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Everything PC Gaming Relatedhttp://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=52288848&f=188&o=0Everything Audio Visual Relatedhttp://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=57557910&f=188Computer Building Guide (step by Step)http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=33861612&f=189Keyboard and Keyboard Switches Guidehttp://www.overclock.net/keyboards/491752-mechanical-keyboard-guide.htmlLatest Tech Newshttp://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=61949096&f=188&o=0------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Maximum PC How - To'sHow To Use Different Wallpapers On Different Displays Without Softwarehttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/howusedifferentwallpapersdifferentdisplayswithoutsoftware ...alternate link:
http://tinyurl.com/3kav886Contest Winners: The 10 Best Windows Application Tipshttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/contestwinners10bestwindowsapplicationtips ...alternate link:
http://tinyurl.com/3dwcj65How to Use Windows 7 Speech Recognitionhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/howusewindows7speechrecognition ...alternate link:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/4tsbkkcHow to Customize the Windows 7 File Browser Menuhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/howcustomizewindows7filebrowsermenu ...alternate link:
http://tinyurl.com/6t5ab34Build It: The Ultimate Windows Home Serverhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/builditultimatewindowshomeserver ...alternate link:
http://tinyurl.com/7ga5gwzThe Ultimate Hardware Hackers Guide: 11 Projects For PC Power Usershttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/ultimate%5Fhardware%5Fhackers%5Fguide%5F11%5Fprojects%5Fpc%5Fpower%5Fusers ...alt link:
http://tinyurl.com/6tra7paXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWindows 7 - SSD Tweak Guides..Your milleage may vary ^^http://www.overclock.net/t/1133897/windows-7-ssd-tweaking-guidehttp://www.overclock.net/t/700470/tutorials-real-world-windows-7-ssd-tweaks-and-optimizationhttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/70822-ssd-tweaks-optimizations-windows-7-a.htmlhttp://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f128/ssd-tweak-guide-236563/http://thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/optimization-guides/the-ssd-optimization-guide-2/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXQuickie Guide to setting GPU fan speed with MSI Afterburner (free program)In MSI afterburner...1. Just to the right of the fan speed slider... un-click the Auto
2. Then, move the slider to 70-90% or until the noise gets on your nerves
3. Then click: Apply
4. Then a tad further left, click: Apply overclocking at system startup
Try to get your GPU temp at idle, about where your CPU temp is, or until the GPU fan noise gets too loud for your desires.