Pack Rat's First PC...Budget PC Time (56k BEWARE!)

[Pack Rat 24]

Hey guys, welcome to my first worklog...also, my first PC build process. Later on, when I'm finished, I hope to assemble it all into a how-to guide on how to build a PC and post it in the Knowledge Base, but for now, here's the log...

For your convinience, I'll break up each day into a seperate post...

[Pack Rat 24]

Day one started out with a pile of parts scattered all over my worktable for the project. My goal was to build a PC under $500 w/o a monitor, keyboard & mouse, and speakers. It's meant to be a work PC, so it doesn't need to break speed levels, and also, it's in a school, so software will need to be legal copies. All of the parts were purchased from Newegg.com

Here's the parts list, followed by photos:

DFI "KM400-MLV" KM400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL - $47
AMD Sempron 2600+ 1.833GHz, Socket A Processor - Retail - $83
Corsair Value Select Dual Kits 184 Pin 512MB(256MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail - $86.27
SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM - $6.99
Seagate 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST380011A, OEM - $61.90
SONY 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DDU1613, OEM - $22.99
Thermaltake PIPE101 3 in 1, Model "CL-P0006" -RETAIL - $37.99
Antec All Clear Pro 92mm Double Ball Bearing Case Fan, Model "75002" -RETAIL- $9.99
Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 -OEM - $87.00
Warrenties - $35.45
Shipping - $26.09
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOTAL: $504.67

Not too shabby, eh? Oh, you're probably wondering about the case...Well, I happened to have one laying around, so I donated it to the project. Here are all of the photos...

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/1.JPG
All of the bounty out of its confined cardboard shipping box...

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/2.JPG
...The parts future home...

[Pack Rat 24]

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/3.JPG
...all of the pieces and parts that make things work...

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/4.JPG
...Hard Drive, DVD Rom Drive, and Floppy Drive...

[Pack Rat 24]

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/5.JPG
...Memory, HSF, Windows XP, and the DFI Motherboard...

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/6.JPG
...AMD Sempron Processor in all of its cost-cutting glory...

[Pack Rat 24]

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/7.JPG
...And Finally, a better HSF for that processor so that it can breath freely!


Onto Day One Of Assembly!

[Pack Rat 24]

DAY 1: Things started off well today...opened up the box, took everything out, and started assembly. First thing I did was install some case fans so that the case could breath...there isn't that much circulation in its new home, so these fans should help...sorry, no photo of this...

So, with the fans in their home, it's on to the motherboard

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/10.JPG
Began things off by checking my manual, just to make sure I didn't screw anything up, lol...

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/8.JPG
...and here's a picture of the motherboard and the processor...waiting to finally become one...

[Pack Rat 24]

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/9.JPG
...And, just in case you're interested in this type of thing, here's a close-up of the processor...

Things went well with the installation, so I began the process of readying the HSF to adorn the processor

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/11.JPG
Can you tell the difference between stock and this add-on? Can't wait to get it mounted...

So, I got the 92 mm fan from Antec screwed on there, and then whaddaya know, the bell rang for the end of the class period. That ended day one of assembly. My goals for tomorrow include finishing some simple items with the motherboard and also checking measurements. I only have 15 minutes of work time tomorrow, so more work will be done on Day 3, in which I hope to complete it...

See you tomorrow...please post comments if you will, and if you spot a mistake or something, correct me now, instead of later when I can't fix it, lol

[Lightning]

Day one started out with a pile of parts scattered all over my worktable for the project. My goal was to build a PC under $500 w/o a monitor, keyboard & mouse, and speakers. It's meant to be a work PC, so it doesn't need to break speed levels, and also, it's in a school, so software will need to be legal copies. All of the parts were purchased from Newegg.com

Here's the parts list, followed by photos:

DFI "KM400-MLV" KM400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL - $47
AMD Sempron 2600+ 1.833GHz, Socket A Processor - Retail - $83
Corsair Value Select Dual Kits 184 Pin 512MB(256MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail - $86.27
SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM - $6.99
Seagate 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST380011A, OEM - $61.90
SONY 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DDU1613, OEM - $22.99
Thermaltake PIPE101 3 in 1, Model "CL-P0006" -RETAIL - $37.99
Antec All Clear Pro 92mm Double Ball Bearing Case Fan, Model "75002" -RETAIL- $9.99
Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 -OEM - $87.00
Warrenties - $35.45
Shipping - $26.09
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOTAL: $504.67 Did you forget the video card?

[Pack Rat 24]

Did you forget the video card?
No...It's a buisness PC, doesn't need a video card

[Pack Rat 24]

Well, another day, and another chance to finish things off with the motherboard assembly.

With the processor already in its area from yesterday, I moved onto the process of attaching the HSF. Now, I know you guys are all waiting to see that nice, big chunk of copper put onto the little Sempron, but I decided that since this is my first time through things, I'll use the stock HSF in case something goes wrong.

After some coaxing and cautiousness, I got the HSF on there with no problems. I didn't hear a crunch, so I believe the procedure was a success, so here's the pic for it:

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/12.JPG

My next project was installing the memory...not really a big fuss

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/13.JPG

[Pack Rat 24]

And with all of that done, here's the finished result!

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/14.JPG

And so, we move onto the next step, which is finding which hole matches up with which hole on the motherboard...I located them, and put the spacers in there...

http://www.packratmods.riffst3r.com/off_site/PC_Build/15.JPG

And as I was about to drop the motherboard in to its new home, the darn bell rang, which ended day 2.

In summary, I was able to mount the HSF and the memory onto the motherboard, and also prepare the case for the motherboard.

Tomorrow, I hope to be able to drop the motherboard into the case, install the drives, and connect all the wires to the board. If all goes well, I should be able to have it up and running by the end of the day!

Wish me luck, Pack Rat 24

P.S.

Keep your comments coming...I need a name for thing, as "Budget PC just doesn't sound exciting. I know, you may think, "It's just a buisness PC, why name it?" Well, the guy that commissioned the project (aka my boss) wants to have a name for it. If you have any suggestions, please post them here...So far, I've only come up with one thing. Since it uses a Sempron processor, I thought Semper-Fi...I know, a little wierd, but it's an idea...

[FuNkyGuY]

how about calling it "number-combabulator thingy"

[Lightning]

No...It's a buisness PC, doesn't need a video card What are you planning to plug the monitor into? It may not need a good video card, but it still needs a video card.

[Daniel]

What are you planning to plug the monitor into? It may not need a good video card, but it still needs a video card.

It has onboard video. Notice the VGA plug on the motherboard.

[Lightning]

Uhh.... It has onboard video. Notice the VGA plug on the motherboard. I couldn't see it from the first pics he posted. I just saw an empty agp slot.