First Time PC Builder - Please Help!

Hi Aastii :]

I'm having some problems building my computer! I've pretty much done most of the building but I've still got the card reader to install. However, it is confusing me alot! I have located the USB slot on the motherboard for it, the audio will be plugged into the back and the e-SATA slot but I have no idea where to slot in the fan controllers and thermal sensors!

I've read up on where to place the sensors and have read mixed views. Some people have said place it inbetween the CPU and heatsink, whilst others have said to place it nearby as the prongs cannot take the pressure.

Where would you recommend I put the sensors? I have 2, shall I put them both near the CPU or shall I place one of the HDD?

Also, do you have any knowledge about how to install the fan controllers?

The instructions are useless with no diagrams! Here is what they say:

- Connect the fan cables connector to your cooling fans
- Connect the DC power cable connector to the PSU 4-pin connector (is that one of the connectors coming from the PSU?)

Also there is a little 4 pin connector that says

VCC
D-
D+
GND

Where do I connect that?

Finally, there are 4 leads for the fans that need to be slotted into the motherboard, but I can't find any room for them! I have one fan space left which is named the PWR Fan as I'm using the CPU and Chassis Fan.

Shall I plug one into there? Theres 2 fan controllers and 2 of the leads for each one (or one of the 1 may just be an extension, who knows!)

This is the Card Reader I've got:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136392

Thanks

Natalie
 
Natalie105 said:
Hi Aastii :]

I'm having some problems building my computer! I've pretty much done most of the building but I've still got the card reader to install. However, it is confusing me alot! I have located the USB slot on the motherboard for it, the audio will be plugged into the back and the e-SATA slot but I have no idea where to slot in the fan controllers and thermal sensors!

I've read up on where to place the sensors and have read mixed views. Some people have said place it inbetween the CPU and heatsink, whilst others have said to place it nearby as the prongs cannot take the pressure.

Where would you recommend I put the sensors? I have 2, shall I put them both near the CPU or shall I place one of the HDD?

Also, do you have any knowledge about how to install the fan controllers?

The instructions are useless with no diagrams! Here is what they say:

- Connect the fan cables connector to your cooling fans
- Connect the DC power cable connector to the PSU 4-pin connector (is that one of the connectors coming from the PSU?)

Also there is a little 4 pin connector that says

VCC
D-
D+
GND

Where do I connect that?

Finally, there are 4 leads for the fans that need to be slotted into the motherboard, but I can't find any room for them! I have one fan space left which is named the PWR Fan as I'm using the CPU and Chassis Fan.

Shall I plug one into there? Theres 2 fan controllers and 2 of the leads for each one (or one of the 1 may just be an extension, who knows!)

This is the Card Reader I've got:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136392

Thanks

Natalie
Click to expand...

Alright, i'll start with what i am certain of first:

Your CPU fan is the only 4 pin fan slot and it is 9 times out of 10 between the cpu and the RAM slots, towards the top of your board. If that is the one that is free, that will be the one that is for the CPU. If it has only 3 pins, it is for any fan.

If you have too many 3 pin fan sockets for your motharboard you can get a splitter. From here:

http://www.revealcable.co.uk/acatalog/Powercables.html#aAA2117

If you look at the 7th one down, Power splitter 5 1/4" male to female and 3 pin case fan, it goes to one of your 4 pin cable from your PSU and splits onto another 3-pin fan adapter and another 4 pin molex, and as you can see it is all of a quid, so not gonna break the bank or anything.

Onto the VCC, D-, D+ and GND.

I'm 99% sure that they are for your internal usb sockets, i've got 2 usb slots on the top of my case and they have wiring similar to it, obviously the card reader does more but it is just universal wiring. When i shut my system down later i'll crack my case open and have a look see, but as i say i am fairly sure that that is what it is for.

See if the card reader came with a little rectangular block that has a few holes on either side and lettering on it that is the same as the wires, so VCC, D- etc. Most stuff with wires like that come with a little block that has the lettering on to make putting the wires in easier because you slot the wires into corresponding holes and then put the block into one of your usb sockets, makes it all easier.

For the sensors put em near to stuff that is improtant, remember that you can move em round later if you think something is overheating and you want to be sure. I would say one on your CPU, on on your graphics card, they tend to get the hottest.

On the topic of heat and sensors, most components come with heat sensors inbuilt, processors have 1 per core, graphics cards do, motherboards do. When your system is up and running then download speedfan, google it and it will come up straight away. It is a free piece of software that lets you change fan speeds and can tap into these temperature sensors to show you their readings. It is more reliable than physical sensors because the air around doesn't change the readings at all and it is exactly what it is running at.

The fan controllers will probably be a go-between for the wires to change voltages and what not, so probably will be the CPU fan connector
 
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