NOOB questions for NOOB's first build

[tomiboi]

I am NOOB, here me roar.

 

I refuse to believe I am in over my head w/ this dfi board!

 

I believe I'm in the right place, so...

 

I am just starting to put together the components, and I think I have a set of good (if not good, easily answerable) questions here for nf4 Ultra-d:

 

1.)[res] If I connected the PSU before the RAM, could that cause anything bad, besides bad jujus? I realize this may be a very stupid question as this is before power is turned on.

 

2.) What's the difference between yellow and orange dimm slots? Why is orange recommended? and why do some people have better results w/ yellow sometimes? Is orange default 1T and yellow 2T by default or st?

I have CH-5 (hyperX) memory (2x512) which I wish to run at 1T in dual-channel, but I hear double-sided memory may not let me. Or does venice fix that? (sorry if I have no idea what I'm talking about)

 

3.)[eno] What is burn-in, advantages, disadvantages, and does it work on all memory types?

 

4.)[res] If my case's front audio connectors are not pin-type connectors, but regular jacks that look like the ones that come out of the speakers and you plug into the back, do need an adapter, or am I just out of luck (unless I make a hole in the case, pull out the audio connector, and plug it in the MB externally[won't that decrease sound quality?])?

 

5.)[eno] The front panel pin connectors each have a pair of wires, one white and one colored, and an arrow on on side of the connecter near the colored wire. Is there a rule like white should be towards the smaller pin numbers or the arrow toward the bigger pin numbers? I need to know what orientation they need to be plugged in.

And why are pins #2 and #4 both "LED-Power(+)", what's the difference b/w them?

 

6.)[res] How do I connect fans directly to PSU (3-pin and 4-pin types)? (I know some say it's ok to connect to the MB, but I'd just like to know how, and if only 4pin-types can do it, etc.)

Plus, I have a fan that came with the case that has as its connectors, 2 (a male AND a female) both large 4-pin long shaped (4 pins in a row) connectors. (Are these called MOLEX connectors?[sorry, for the ultra-noobity])

Why the male and female? What for? and which one do I use? I would think it's to not use a PSU's whole connector for just a fan, cuz if you have like 6 fans you're screwed, but how would I do that, connect both? to what?

Am I going to need an adapter?

 

7.)[eno] Is the fan on the side supposed to blow inwards? Is it never supposed to blow outwards?

I have a PSU that blows inwards; should I have the side fan blowing out, or is that just never done?

Also, in general, should the total sucking of air in always be more than the total pushing of air out, or vise versa? (I know technically they're always the same, duh, but I mean in terms of the CFM of the fans added up) And yes I realize (i think) position is more important, so that being said the config of my case fans is in my sig, any suggestions? I think 120mm in back should cancel out 120mm from the PSU nicely, and the front ones should be sucking air in, so the side fan should cancel them out by blowing outward; but then isn't it better to have fresh cool air from the side fan blowing inward since it's so central. Plus wont it conflict w/ the processor and chipset fans if it's blowing out? Is it ok to have everything including the PSU blowing air inwards, except the 1 back fan exhausting air? (in case my writing was confusing: blowing inward=sucking in; blowing out=exhausting)

 

8.) What software do I need/should have when first building, and where do I get it? How do I get memtest86, or is it in the bios? and if it is, what other testing/monitoring software is in the bios that I should know about? Do they come from later bios updates?

 

9.) I hear updating the bios can decrease performance? If this is so, it must depend on the components connected, like memory, of course. So, for the stuff I have, what bios's should I try? Is there another way besides trial and error to find out? (sorry if question sound weird, I've never updated a bios in my life)

 

10.) Do any of the DFI gods out there see any foreseeable issues I might have with the set-up I'm trying to put together? Tell me so I don't mistake it for something else, or just in general freak out.

 

 

Links are great too, thanks

 

For those of you who respond to any of these, please let me know if the other questions were not anwered because they were stupid questions, you just didn't know, or they're simply unimportant.

 

Thank you all in advance!!

 

*[res]=answered, no more info needed; [eno]=I have enough info, but would not mind more.

[StephenC]

Let's start with number 1 I always install cpu with hsf and ram before I place it in the case. Plase ram in dimm 2 and 4.

[Faygo]

well you have a aspire case thats why the front audio cables have the reg speaker connections i have a aspire case to and what you do is where the covers for i/o expansion cards go you should see one of them with a small hole in the middle remove it pull the front sound cords through it and then place the metal cover back on. When you place the metal cover back on the cord should fit snuggley in that little hole and then you just plug them into the back sound ports. This is the one and only features i hate of aspire cases.

[StephenC]

Boy u have a lot of questions.......

About the side fan, Most likely over the cpu. Have it blow inwards.

Just take your time, read all your documentation and the sticky's on this forum. If you run into an issue during your build, just post here and we will help.

[StephenC]

Oh one more thing number 6. If you can connect it to the PSU for power, DO IT! This way the more power going to the motherboard will be there for the motherboard.

[tomiboi]

StephenC (oh grand one),

-Monarch attached the Proc to the mb. That is all I don't need to do. I am thankful for that.

So it is ok to start with both memory modules in for the first boot, right? great.

 

-So my psu will blow inwards, my side fan will too, and so will my front fans? And only one back fan will blow out?

 

-Ok, how do I connect a 3-pin fan to the PSU, do I need an adapter?

 

Faygo,

oh that's what that hole's for! thanks

But there should be no degradation of signal because of more analog(i think) connections in the way?

[StephenC]

If it is just a 3 pin then you can connect it to the mobo. Look on the mobo. There are multable 3 pin connecters labeled fan 1, 2 and so on. Just connected to the closest one to the fan.The PSU fans blows outword.

[StephenC]

The most common fan configuration is the front fan blows into the case and the rear fan blows out. Now you can reverse this (have the rear blow inwards and the front outwords) Just make sure you have good air flow.

[StephenC]

As to having both ram installed (2x512 ?) . Try with both first. If that becomes an issue in step way out there, then it can be removed...

[Faygo]

nah tomiboi there should be no sound degratiton at all for the sound cord.

[tomiboi]

wow...kickass.

I just took a flashlight and checked; you're right, it blows out(into the PSU).

 

I called some PSU manufacturer's tech support about a week ago and asked about the 120mm fan and they told me it blew into the case. Maybe he was confused, or maybe I misunderstood.

 

Should I go edit my original post and right [RESOLVED] or st in front of every question that get's resolved so newcomers know, not to read that question, cuz it's a LONG post?

[StephenC]

Just keep this thread open....if you have issues during the build just post in this one thread...That way we have a audit trail