How to build pc?

[krumm]

^ theres a problem though, some motherboards only runs when a slot is populated as a pair, i.e. black-to-black or blue-to-blue but black-to-blue wont work, some even prioritize a certain pair like black-to-black first then blue-to-blue but not blue-to-blue first.

to give you a rough idea of the difference from a single-channel to a dual-channel is like comparing CL9 1600 to a CL9 1800, nothing much difference at all on most scenarios.

ya like 10 years ago.  If you have a new mobo like that you got ripped off and got some no name crap.  I've not even heard of that problem since ddr was released.

[kitamesume]

^ nope, because i've been using 2slot boards from either asus or gigabyte so i've yet to encounter the issue.

Edit: why else do you think manuals still has that "only place the sticks on the black slots first and not the blue slots." or "only place the sticks on black or blues as a pair." instruction? =P

(click to show/hide)

Do note thats an asus X79 board.

[NaRu]

Ram is cheap...full that bitch up

[kitamesume]

yaaaaa 20$ a pair of 4gbs thats about 40$ for 4slots, or or 80$ for 8slots(on that X79) XD yesh its cheap, wish the HDDs are equally cheap as well =/

[Freedom Kira]

I guess ill explain what I was talking about in my post questioning the logic of filling the black slots first.  First ill start off with a different question.  Why if I have 2 dimms and 4 slots would I use a solution that gives lower performance, when the higher performance solution has no adverse effects?

There is really no reason to not use dual channels.  If I had a 4GB dimm and 2 2GB dimms of the same speed and placed the 4GB dimm in the first black slot like in the picture from clannad, I would get the same performence from putting the 2 2GB dimms into both black slots.  But, if I was to put one of the 2GB dimms in the first black slot and the other dimm in the first blue slot I would get more performance at no sacrifice.  There is no reason to go out of the way to pick up another ram stick and place it in the same channel.  If you want more ram on the other hand go for it, but at least put it in the other ram channel(the blue slot).

Ill end with acknowledging this.  Does it really matter?  Probably not for most people.  You may only get 1-2 seconds faster decompression of your pirated Photoshop, but ill take it.

I think the issue here is a misunderstanding of what the colors mean. If I understand correctly, you believe that each color denotes a particular channel, while I think that each chunk of two denotes a particular channel, where the colors denote what slots run in parallel in separate channels. In this situation, putting one stick in a black slot and one stick in the blue slot next to it will mean that they end up running in the same channel, while putting them both in black slots would mean they run in parallel in separate channels. I hope that made sense.

Your logic makes perfect sense. There is absolutely no reason why you should not dual channel your RAM when given the option. That, along with the common instructions for users to fill in like-colored slots first, is why I believe you are incorrect in how you think channels are denoted.

For some further proof, take a look at the colors on any six-DIMM LGA1366 motherboard. As you probably know, LGA1366 is known for being triple channel. I have never seen an LGA1366 board with three colors for their RAM slots. There is also no reason for mobo manufacturers to break convention just for a particular socket.

[NaRu]

I guess ill explain what I was talking about in my post questioning the logic of filling the black slots first.  First ill start off with a different question.  Why if I have 2 dimms and 4 slots would I use a solution that gives lower performance, when the higher performance solution has no adverse effects?

There is really no reason to not use dual channels.  If I had a 4GB dimm and 2 2GB dimms of the same speed and placed the 4GB dimm in the first black slot like in the picture from clannad, I would get the same performence from putting the 2 2GB dimms into both black slots.  But, if I was to put one of the 2GB dimms in the first black slot and the other dimm in the first blue slot I would get more performance at no sacrifice.  There is no reason to go out of the way to pick up another ram stick and place it in the same channel.  If you want more ram on the other hand go for it, but at least put it in the other ram channel(the blue slot).

Ill end with acknowledging this.  Does it really matter?  Probably not for most people.  You may only get 1-2 seconds faster decompression of your pirated Photoshop, but ill take it.

I think the issue here is a misunderstanding of what the colors mean. If I understand correctly, you believe that each color denotes a particular channel, while I think that each chunk of two denotes a particular channel, where the colors denote what slots run in parallel in separate channels. In this situation, putting one stick in a black slot and one stick in the blue slot next to it will mean that they end up running in the same channel, while putting them both in black slots would mean they run in parallel in separate channels. I hope that made sense.

Your logic makes perfect sense. There is absolutely no reason why you should not dual channel your RAM when given the option. That, along with the common instructions for users to fill in like-colored slots first, is why I believe you are incorrect in how you think channels are denoted.

For some further proof, take a look at the colors on any six-DIMM LGA1366 motherboard. As you probably know, LGA1366 is known for being triple channel. I have never seen an LGA1366 board with three colors for their RAM slots. There is also no reason for mobo manufacturers to break convention just for a particular socket.

The point of the colors is show you which slot to use for dual channels. Example: you have 2 1GB sticks (same speed) and you have 4 slots for ram. The first slot is blue, second is black, third is blue, fourth is black. If you want dual channel you need to put your 2 sticks in the blue slots. If you put it in the first 2 slots it will still work but it will be in single channel.

With newer boards they took away the colors because now if you want triple channel you need to fill up 3 slots. The 1st slot, 3rd slot, and the 5th slot. The 2nd, 4th, and 6th slot is there for you to add even more ram for that channel. 1st and 2nd slot is channel 1, 3rd and 4th slot is channel 2, 5th and 6th slot is channel 3.

[Freedom Kira]

^ Yep, we have the same idea. I hope my post was not that poorly worded.

They still have the same color scheme AFAIK. For a six-DIMM board, it's usually color/black/color/black/color/black, where color can be blue, red, yellow, or whatever.

[krumm]

Ignore what I said about slots to put it in, but not the dual channel part.  My mix up is my fault do to working on too many amd computers.  It is vary rare for me to see a computer with more then 2 slots, and they are usually amd with more slots.  I pulled out a couple mobo manuals(5amd, 2intel) to check and the intel ones do skip slots in my small sample.  Following the colors does seem to be correct.  I guess the lessen for me is don't assume brands follow the same standard.  I always look at the manual anyway for best compatibility(I got a amd mobo that likes slots 3 and 4 more). 

Sorry for the misinformation, but I was corrected so no harm done.

[Freedom Kira]

AMD has a different convention, huh? I'll have to keep that in mind. At the same time I wonder if your particular board is just special like that.

It's really weird though, since motherboards are typically not manufactured by Intel or AMD, and most board manufacturers produce for both companies.

v That's really odd. Looks like I'll have to keep my eyes open. Did they at least all have the colors representing the same thing (i.e. it's better to fill in like-colored slots first)?

[krumm]

AMD has a different convention, huh? I'll have to keep that in mind. At the same time I wonder if your particular board is just special like that.

It's really weird though, since motherboards are typically not manufactured by Intel or AMD, and most board manufacturers produce for both companies.

It's not just my board but, all 5 AMD boards I happened to have manuals still for.  On all of them slot 1 and 3 were a channel and slot 2 and 4 were a channel.  So for dual channel they all used slots 1 and 2 except one that ran better with slots 3 and 4.  These boards range in age and manufacture.  a biostar with DDR ram, a ASUS and DFI with DDR2 ram, and 2 MSIs with DDR3 ram.  The 2 intel boards I looked at are like you guys were taking where slot 1 and 2 are the same channel.

I looked at some other boards on newegg and looked at the slot colors.  It turns out that not all AMD boards are like this, if what you guys tell me about the colors is true.  Some have 2 same color slots side by side and others alternate.  The intel boards all seem to alternate color or are all the same color.

I have no clue why this seems to be, but im too lazy to research further.

[Clannad_92]

As for cable management, the most important thing to keep in mind is to avoid blocking airflow. The three key areas are the fan in the back, the CPU fan, and the vents on the front of the case in front of the hard drive area (looks like there's a fan there).

Your power supply should have a couple of cable ties that would help you with the cable management. While some may disagree, bundling up your cables into a huge ball and tying them together with a tie is perfectly fine, as long as it doesn't block airflow.

so this is no good (mentioning the cable between the hdd and psu)?
fyi, i cant do anything about the 2 cable going upward (dunno the name), its short...

and the cable holder thinggy i mention earlier is in the blue circle...

what is this cable tie for? can i cut it? what is your best solution? leave it or cut it?

[kitamesume]

uhhhh, i wish i get to manage that wiring, i'd f**king love to manage it for you.

anyway leave the holder for now, so heres the deal:

unplug everything and separate four stuffs for me please, separate the 24pin , 4pin P4, 1x Molex and 3x Sata power.

i can see that one wire has two of each sata power, thats good.

now on to step one, move the wires away and plug the 24pin.

now step two is curl the 4pin P4 around the 24pin's wire, now circle it around the rams and above the CPU's heatsink, not over it. possibly tuck it beside/under the motherboard.

now the molex should be used for the case fans, hide it under the 24pin's wires.

the sata power cables should be free and coil it and tie it, but long enough to reach the drives. the other sata power cable goes waaaay up to the disc drive, though tuck it under the 24pin's wire.

now get a long screw driver and get those sata cables, hold one end over the screw driver's stock on with your right hand, now point the screw driver to you and curl the cable clockwise, just enough to make it look like a phone cable, dont worry it wont snap. the wire's end you're holding with your right hand goes to the drives.


any remainder wires gets coiled and tied nice.

[Freedom Kira]

so this is no good (mentioning the cable between the hdd and psu)?
fyi, i cant do anything about the 2 cable going upward (dunno the name), its short...

and the cable holder thinggy i mention earlier is in the blue circle...

what is this cable tie for? can i cut it? what is your best solution? leave it or cut it?

Let's see... First off, that 4-pin CPU connector (yellow and black wires) doesn't need to go through that cable holder. Best thing to do with it is to run it straight up just under the motherboard on the right side, then curl it around the top, pop it out, and then put it into the socket. It looks like it should be just long enough for that.

There seems to be a gray wire that runs out of the case, and connects to a plug just above your lower blue circle. What is that?

Anyway, honestly, it doesn't look so bad right now from an airflow point of view, aside from the aforementioned connector that you should move away from the CPU fan. It doesn't look very pretty, but it doesn't really block much airflow.

As for what that cable tie is for, I was starting to think that you put it there yourself, which would have been a pretty dumb move. Looks like the PSU manufacturer put it there, though, so you can leave it. It doesn't hurt. Actually, it looks like you can slide that tie back and forth, so you can choose where the cables initially fork without using up a cable tie.

[Clannad_92]

There seems to be a gray wire that runs out of the case, and connects to a plug just above your lower blue circle. What is that?

hehe, that wire is for a fan underneath a modem...fyi, my modem run 24 hours a day non-stop~

Anyway, honestly, it doesn't look so bad right now from an airflow point of view, aside from the aforementioned connector that you should move away from the CPU fan. It doesn't look very pretty, but it doesn't really block much airflow

hmmm, though you say that, im still unsatisfied with the way the cable are now...well, gonna follow your advice and gonna post the new pic this weekend

Your power supply should have a couple of cable ties that would help you with the cable management. While some may disagree, bundling up your cables into a huge ball and tying them together with a tie is perfectly fine, as long as it doesn't block airflow

As for what that cable tie is for, I was starting to think that you put it there yourself, which would have been a pretty dumb move. Looks like the PSU manufacturer put it there, though, so you can leave it. It doesn't hurt. Actually, it looks like you can slide that tie back and forth, so you can choose where the cables initially fork without using up a cable tie.

yup, its the manufacturer's...well, if you say so, gonna leave it alone...

[Freedom Kira]

Modems don't usually need extra fans. Mine runs 24/7 as well, and it's perfectly fine just sitting there lonely on the floor.

As for your cabling, just make it look the way you want it to. I'm one who doesn't usually care how the cables look inside. If you're someone who wants everything to look super nice, you might not want to go with the huge ball idea. =)

I don't think you quite understood what I said about the tie that's there. It seems like you can slide it back and forth along the cables, so that all the cables between it and the power supply are bundled together. This way, you don't have to use up a cable tie for your initial bundle.

[Clannad_92]

Modems don't usually need extra fans. Mine runs 24/7 as well, and it's perfectly fine just sitting there lonely on the floor

let me guess, your in an air-conditioned room...thats why no need fan under modem...

As for your cabling, just make it look the way you want it to. I'm one who doesn't usually care how the cables look inside. If you're someone who wants everything to look super nice, you might not want to go with the huge ball idea. =)

like i said in last post, im gonna follow your advice on "huge ball"...
i dont want my new rig getting hot inside...

[Freedom Kira]

let me guess, your in an air-conditioned room...thats why no need fan under modem...

Well, yes and no. It can still get pretty hot in here if I leave the door closed long enough, as the vent in my room kinda sucks. It's particularly bad in the summer.

I'm pretty sure most people don't have fans for their modems.

[Clannad_92]

will post the newly-arrange cable (hope so)...

okay, this may sound silly but is there any sound card for desktop?
because my old desktop integrated one is malfunction...

EDIT : and is there any disk drive bay for hdd?

[kitamesume]

wut? you mean you just bought your new rig and it doesn't have an integrated audio? you must've been scammed.

[Clannad_92]

wut? you mean you just bought your new rig and it doesn't have an integrated audio? you must've been scammed.

nope...now i have 2 desktop...one old one new...the old one doesnt have any audio and that gave me the chance to buy new rig...

the old one, as its name, is pretty old got single core processor, malfunction integrated audio and others i dont care about...