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Loading ...CMOS Clear Switch
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So I’ve finally gotten around to adding my CMOS Clear Switch to the side panel of my new computer. I purchased a 5×2 DIL socket which is suitable for connection to all pinouts on my motherboard. I also purchased a Key Operated DPDT switch. An SPDT would have served the same purpose, but the electronic suppliers had none so I was forced to settle for the DPDT version, and a packet of 1.5mm heat shrink.
I used 2 pair communications cable to connect the switch to the DIL socket. I stripped one end and added three small pieces of heat shrink to the three wires I intended to use, noting which colours would be connected to which pins on the DIL. Soldering the wires to the tiny contacts was extremely difficult, but with a little patience and a vice I managed to make a somewhat neat job of it. I then slid the pieces of heat shrink up over the connections and heated them with a blowtorch. I then estimated the length of wire I’d require, cut it to length, stripped the wires and soldered the wire connected to the centre pin of the the DIL socket to the common terminal on the switch, connecting the other two wires to the two poles of the switch. Using a digital multimeter I worked out which direction connected to which pole and set it to the “Keep” side. Finally, I applied some hot glue to the connections on the switch. The computer POSTed and booted with the switch installed. I then shut it down switched to the “Clear” side, left it for about 10 seconds, the switched back and again powered on the PC. On POST I was presented with the screen telling me the BIOS had been reset, giving options for continuing with default values or entering the BIOS menu.
Knowing that everything worked I then drilled the side panel, attached the Key Switch and closed the case.
Since my last post I’ve purchased a TV tuner, a Hauppauge HVR-1100, and I’m having some fun playing with that at the moment. I also added the old 56k modem from my last PC, a Dell Dimension 2300, as I’m still on a dial-up connection, living in the middle of nowhere. I hope to upgrade to real internet soon, possibly over satellite or WiMax.
My plans now include doing away with the power button, and using a touch sensitive switch attached to the case to turn on and off the computer, tidying up the wiring inside the case and finally invest in an LCD TFT. Hopefuly I’ll get started with the new Power on/off system within the next week, and I’ll update the blog as soon as there’s any progress.
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Loading ...Basic build
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I received all the components for my new PC over the weekend and completed the basic build. I used an anti-static wristband throughout the assembly. Didn’t really feel like frying any new components on my first build, it’d be the kind of thing that would really destroy my confidence.
The first task was to get the PSU installed. This was made a bit more difficult by the fact that none of the holes on th PSU lined up with those on the case, so a small amount of drilling (of the case, not the PSU) was in order, after which the PSU was firmly fixed in place.
I installed the two hard drives before placing the motherboard in the case. In hindsight this may not have been the best idea, as it forced me to insert the motherboard at an awkward angle. I kept the two hard drives out of the way of the front intake fan, being fairly confident that they wouldn’t need much cooling.
After that I followed the standard procedure for assembling the computer, installing the CPU and RAM, and attaching the HSF before inserting the motherboard into the case. Removing the HSF from its box was quite a surprise, it was huge, or bigger than I expected at least, this being my first build. It absolutely dwarfed the AMD reference cooler. I removed the pre-applied TIM from the base plate of the HSF, replacing it with a tiny amount of Artic Silver 5 on the CPU. All went according to plan, with the processor sliding into place nicely and Akasa’s mounting mechanism making the HSF installation very simple. I placed the memory modules in slots 3 and 4 ( 2 and 3 in the BIOS, starting from 0 ), allowing them to operate in dual channel mode without the HSF being too close to them.
The next major task was installing the motherboard, and, as I mentioned earlier, this was made more complicated by my decision to install the hard drives before the motherboard. A bit of complex maneuvring later though and it was securely in place.
Next, I began connecting up as many cables as possible, those that wouldn’t interfere with other components that had yet to be installed. As you can see I wasn’t too careful with my cable routing because my main concern was getting it to POST and ensuring everything was working.
The last major component to be installed was the graphics card. This was a simple process, involving removing the correct backplate, lining up the card, slotting it in and screwing it down. I also installed the USB and Firewire backplate that was bundled with the motherboard, ’cause you can never have too many USB ports, though I’ve yet to find a use for Firewire. I then completed any necessary wiring, however I forgot to connect the extra Molex required for overclocking the graphics card, though that can be added to the list of tasks for next weekend.
Next came the moment of truth. I powered on the computer and it POSTed first time. Installing Vista was another matter though, with multiple crashes and BSODs, almost all of which were due to the RAID driver. The system crashed every time the SATA optical drive was opened. This seemed to be because I had set up the RAID in two different menus, the BIOS and the RAID setup, and changing the BIOS option to IDE seemed to rectify the problem, with Vista still just showing the single drive while Device Manager shows both. Many install attempts later ( so many I now know my 25 character Vista product key by heart, literally ), and the system is fully operational.
Unfortunately, not living at home during the week, I had to leave for college before I got to run any games on it, though I did get a few installed, and the rest of my family get to play with it and report any bugs. I did get to see AMD Overdrive in operation, and it seems sweet, with tons of options laid out far clearer than they could ever be in any BIOS. The system appears to run very cool, rarely breaking 35 degrees C, with the CPU remaining under 30 degrees C, though this could change when I check it with CoreTemp.
If anyone happens upon this blog and knows the purpose of AMD’s RAIDxpert, could you please comment on it, as I’m completely in the dark, being presented with a login screen in Internet Explorer every time I try to start it. Any further advice or feedback would also be greatly appreciated.
A quick thanks to my father for his help with the assembly, and to all my family for putting up with me during my moments of extreme frustration.
My tasks to be completed next weekend, in time for next weeks post, include making a CMOS clear switch from a DIL socket and a 2-way toggle switch, swapping the graphics card and the USB and Firewire backplate, and hopefully fixing the wiring situation.
So until then…
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Loading ...Ordered the components.
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This is my first post to my project blog, which is less of a mod and more of a first build, which may, in time, develop into a mod.
I’ve opted to go the Spider route, due to a bit of curiosity, some fanboy symptoms, and an interest in their angle on the multicore problem.
I’ve been advised a million times that I should go with Intel, who have some very nice processors at the moment ( 45nm would be fun ), but where’s the challenge in that?
Here a quick run down of what my new PC will be comprised of:
Akasa Zen Mid-Tower Case
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
MSI K9A2 Platinum V2
AMD Phenom 9600
2GB GeIL Ultra PC2-8000 4-4-4-12
Gigabyte Radeon HD3870
2 Samsung Spinpoint T166 500GB (RAID 1)
Samsung DVD-RW DL drive
Akasa AK-876
The order’s shipped so advice on what to change is a bit late, though any comments regarding assembly from those with a bit more experience would be greatly appreciated.
Should have the bits by the weekend, so that’s when the photos will start flowing in, along with my next post.
Until then…