Aramazd
Deity
Unimportant if you know how to handle the hardware properly. IIRC, ainwood had an excellent post regarding this.
High End Laptop Suggestions (yes, another thread on this...)
- Thread starter jeffreyac
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Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
I had some spare time so I made a relatively simple device that is fairly useful for anti-static. Sure I didnt need it, but after the 3rd motherboard was bad, I decided to take the precaution.
It was relatively simple, I took a spare 3-pin plug, pulled out the neutral and hot wires, replaced them with non-conductive plastic pins ( short ones, its only to hold the plug in place) and attached the ground wire to a round wire loop ( you've probably seen them, used for ground wires).
Hook it up to a case screw and whenever you're not confident that you're static free, just touch the screw. Nothing will help you if you're not careful though.
It was relatively simple, I took a spare 3-pin plug, pulled out the neutral and hot wires, replaced them with non-conductive plastic pins ( short ones, its only to hold the plug in place) and attached the ground wire to a round wire loop ( you've probably seen them, used for ground wires).
Hook it up to a case screw and whenever you're not confident that you're static free, just touch the screw. Nothing will help you if you're not careful though.
jeffreyac
Mostly Harmless
lol... I have heard that it's easy, but I'm still concerned about accidentally messing up expesive hardware through ignorance. My first thought was to just dive in, as how hard could it be? (I do understand about handling chips and the dangers of static electricity; at one time a long, long time ago I had a degree in EE, though I wasn't any good at it actually... 
) One of the local community colleges has a cheap, short class on computer construction and repair - I may jump into that just as a prep/refresher. I may not learn much new, but it's cheap, and I'd probably get at least a little something out of it!
The concerns I've had are 1) getting devices that work together well (motherboard/chipsets and processors, etc) 2) heat issues (properly designing the case/components for good airflow, good fan placement, etc) and 3) software installation - I'm still very new when it comes to BIOS, OS, etc. so I need to learn some about that.
I'll probably go find that guide you mentioned (oir whatever the then-current version will be!) whenever the time comes to actually start building something - but that will probably be at least a year down the road...
) One of the local community colleges has a cheap, short class on computer construction and repair - I may jump into that just as a prep/refresher. I may not learn much new, but it's cheap, and I'd probably get at least a little something out of it! The concerns I've had are 1) getting devices that work together well (motherboard/chipsets and processors, etc) 2) heat issues (properly designing the case/components for good airflow, good fan placement, etc) and 3) software installation - I'm still very new when it comes to BIOS, OS, etc. so I need to learn some about that.
I'll probably go find that guide you mentioned (oir whatever the then-current version will be!) whenever the time comes to actually start building something - but that will probably be at least a year down the road...
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
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- 20,112
Well, most anti-static is common sense. e.g. don't scrape your feet against carpet, don't have wool sweaters, touch bare metal before starting, etc etc.
Aramazd
Deity
I didn't sound like that.
jeffreyac
Mostly Harmless
I guess I mentioned heat issues - one of the things I've read up on is the installation of coolers on the CPU (the use of thermal paste/grease, etc) and that's probably the part that scares me the most. If I build a system, I would guess I'm going to want a good CPU, and I've seen how improperly installing the heatsink/fan assembly can damage or destroy the chip. This is why I think maybe I'd want to look into some practice before trying my first time, or getting some help with this part....
If you use the stock retail heatsink, which is fine unless you're overclocking, it's super easy.
It comes with a thermal pad pre-applied, and directions on how to attach the heatsink, you basically just set it on the cpu, and push a few pegs down.
It comes with a thermal pad pre-applied, and directions on how to attach the heatsink, you basically just set it on the cpu, and push a few pegs down.
jeffreyac
Mostly Harmless
Cool.... I don't really have any desire to OC (at least not for my first try!) so that's most likely what I'd do. I guess I've read too many bad stories about damaging chips - at least, enough to be a little worried about it!
Thanks for the thought, though - more and more it sounds like something I'd like to try!
Thanks for the thought, though - more and more it sounds like something I'd like to try!
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
- Messages
- 20,112
I'm leery of overclocking. However, I read somewhere if you OC too high, the BIOS won't let it. Because I was googling an error message I got in the BIOS, something about safe mode and resetting processor frequency, it happens a lot when overclocking or the CMOS battery is dying (I guess it was the latter.)
Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
I personally wouldnt OC a laptop. Too many problems with heat.
Desktops on the other hand. Its a good way to get all the performance you can. In essence, with overclocking, you can end up with processors as fast as the high-end, 1000$+ processors, all for a fraction of the price. For instance, my Core 2 Quad is running at 3.4gHz, and thats only because I did a mild overclock. Yet, its faster than the top Core 2 Extreme processor intel released which also cost 1500$ when it was released. My CPU cost me 320$ on the other hand.
As long as you're careful and know what you're doing, overclocking can be fun. You get to see just how fast your parts can go. Just make sure you have good cooling.
Desktops on the other hand. Its a good way to get all the performance you can. In essence, with overclocking, you can end up with processors as fast as the high-end, 1000$+ processors, all for a fraction of the price. For instance, my Core 2 Quad is running at 3.4gHz, and thats only because I did a mild overclock. Yet, its faster than the top Core 2 Extreme processor intel released which also cost 1500$ when it was released. My CPU cost me 320$ on the other hand.
As long as you're careful and know what you're doing, overclocking can be fun. You get to see just how fast your parts can go. Just make sure you have good cooling.
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