So I'm going this alone.
I've cleared off the living room coffee table as a workspace. I should have some sort of grounding thing, but it's been rainy and I don't expect to be petting any cats so I should be okay. I've assembled my tools:
I've got a pocketknife for opening boxes and cutting packaging. A big screwdriver with adjustable bits for bigger stuff, a mag-lite for seeing into the case once things get in there, a small screwdriver for little screws, and a Guybrush Threepwood serving dish for holding screws so they don't get lost and for moral support. I also have the laptop out for recording this and looking stuff up.
I've already run into my first problem. I uploaded some photos from my normal camera yesterday and forgot to turn it off after the upload, so no battery for awhile until that recharges and I'm stuck with the phone camera. Let's get started.
First, the motherboard:
This is the Sabertooth Z77 from Asus. It doesn't look like the normal mobo because it has all those black plates on it that make it look like the frikkin' Batmobile. This is Thermalguard armor and it's something Asus cooked up to direct airflow around stuff. Note that I've put the mobo on top of the bag it came in to protect all the stuff on the back until I get it in the case. Before we do that we're going to put in the CPU. I'm just following the instructions that come in the mobo manual now.
And we've already come to our first conflict of instructions. My mobo says install the CPU, heat sink, and RAM before putting the mobo in the case, and the CPU instructions say put the mobo in the case before putting the CPU in. I think for the sake of accessibility, I'm going to put the CPU and stuff in first before putting it in the case. I can always take them out and start over if I can't reach something because they're there.
There are all sorts of warnings about what to touch on the processor and what not to touch. Also you're supposed to install the processor first, then remove the plastic cover. The pictures make it look like it will pop off, but it doesn't. The processor also has a couple of niches cut out so you put it in the right way. I drop it in (only touching the sides, and close the cover. I think it's alright. It seems okay.
And the next problem. The mobo says this is the time to apply the thermal paste. The CPU doesn't come with thermal paste, and those instructions don't say anything about thermal paste. On the other hand, I'm not going to install the heatsink that came with the CPU because I got this:
So let's open it up and hope there are tie-breaking instructions in that box.
Ruh roh, this is kind of scary. It comes with only pictorial instructions, and the first one is to mount the big fan on the case, along with the big heatsink, then put a bracket on the bottom of the mobo and attach the "Corsair" labeled box to the top of the CPU via the bracket you just mounted. Good thing I didn't put the mobo in the case, or I'd be taking it out right now. Still no word on thermal paste though. To the internet!
This article says the chip runs hot and I should put thermal paste on. This article tells me how to do it. The last time I did it, I had to spread it myself and make sure I got a thin layer on everything. Now you don't have to do that? Hmmm. Okay, next question, will the five year old arctic blue from my last PC build still be viable for this? I didn't buy thermal paste this time around.
Actually, the bigger question is can I find my five year old thermal paste. It doesn't seem to be in the box where I kept all my post build stuff from last time. Hrrm. To thermal paste or not? To the internet! Now waiting for an answer...
Looking at the liquid cooling system I see a gray square where the heat sink will touch the CPU, I'm pretty sure that's thermal paste and I'll be alright.
While I'm waiting I'm going to open the case and install the fan.
Ooh, baby baby, you are the black monolith of my dreams.
Ah, I see on the box that the thermal past is pre-applied. All is good. My next snafu, according to the instructions I'm supposed to put a bracket on the mobo, but the dimensions are wrong. The bracket doesn't fit the holes. Looks like my first RMA and I'm back to the thermal sink that came with the CPU.
But no! After watching the installation video from Corsair, I see that the bracket is adjustable! I am back into liquid cooling!
Oh, and I put the mobo into the chassis because I'm a dumbass and this chassis is designed to give you access to everything you need.
I put the screws in the bracket, but the bracket is still kind of loose. I can't tighten it anymore, and the only other possible mounting screws don't fit, so I guess I have it okay.
I take the fan that comes with the case out, to replace it with the one that comes with the liquid cooler.
The one in the bag is the new one. This case comes with places to mount extra fans, so I guess I can use the old case fan in one of the other places you can mount one. Okay, time to mount the new fan and heat sink.
Fuckers! This fan and heat sink are made by the same company (Corsair) as my case. My case is all "low noise" so there are rubber nubbins around my fan screw holes. This means that the screws that come with the liquid cooling system aren't quite long enough, but if I line it all up, and squish those nubbins, then it just barely fits. It's wrestling with the screw, the fan, and the heat sink while trying to work a screwdriver. I finally get it.
Then I put the liquid cooled part on the CPU, and plug the big fan and the pump in. The instructions for the pump are to plug it into any 3-pin fan header on the motherboard. So I have to go look one of those up, but I get it.
1. Mobo is intalled in the case
2. CPU is on the mobo
3. Heat sink is on the CPU
Time: 3 hours.
I'm breaking for lunch.
Go to Part 2
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