Mixing memory types
All modern PC architectures use multiple
memory channels to improve performance. Socket 1155 and AMD-based systems use
dual-channel memory controllers, whereas Socket 1366 CPUs increase this to
three memory channels. The latest flagship Socket 2011 boards have a
quad-channel memory controller for amazing performance. When populating memory
across the same channel, it’s critically important that all the modules are
exactly the same. The easiest way to ensure this is to buy a multi-channel kit
from Corsair or another high-end memory manufacturer. That way you know all the
modules will be from the same batch with exactly the same SPD settings and
specification.
Memory types
You should avoid buying the bare minimum
amount of memory to get your system up and running with a view to buying more
later, as there is a very good chance that even if you buy the same brand and
the same model they will use totally different PCBs (the boards onto which
memory chips are attached), and totally different chips. Memory manufacturers
are at the mercy of the few companies that actually produce the integrated
circuits that make up the modules, the specifications of which are continually
tweaked to improve performance or yield.
Motherboards are designed to be a lot more
accommodating when you add a second set of memory that uses a different channel
to the first. For instance, if you have two memory modules installed in a board
with four slots and want to add another two 12 months down the line, you should
be alright as long as you choose modules with the same operating voltage, the
same clock speed and the same latency. Never mix and match specifications or
you’re bound to run into instability while the board tries to find a compromise
between two inherently incompatible specifications of memory. Nevertheless, you
should aim to buy a memory kit that is as close to being a perfect match for
what you already have as possible, even if that means scouring the second-hand
market on auction sites or our own classifieds section.
Don’t force it!
A Modern PSUs
When you’re installing add-in cards, PSU
cables and processors into a motherboard, always use care and don’t force
things into slots unless they fit perfectly. If something doesn’t seem to be
fitting as it should, don’t use brute force to push it in regardless. For
example, if you can’t get your CPU to fit in the socket, make sure you have it
at the right orientation. All chips have notches built into the edges of the
chip or banks of missing pins to ensure they can’t easily be installed in the
wrong orientation.
The same rule goes for graphics cards. If
it doesn’t slide in smoothly first go, don’t use the full force of your arm to
push it in. Normally, all that will accomplish is a broken PCI-Express
connector. Instead, check that the back plate (where you plug in the monitor
cable) is sliding smoothly into the chassis aperture cut specifically for it,
and if it isn’t, gently bend it until it does. Push the card in until you can
no longer see the straight gold connectors and it feels ‘fully in’.
Modern PSUs have additional new types of
connection compared to older models, so if you haven’t built a system for a
while, you may see a few that are unfamiliar. Eight-pin PCI-Express power leads
look alarmingly similar to the 12V auxiliary CPU connections in the
motherboard, but have a different pin layout. They don’t fit together properly,
but can be forced in if you push hard enough. Turn a PC on with the cables
jammed in like this and all you will achieve is a ruined motherboard.
Static electricity
Discharging Static Electricity for
Safe Computer
If you rub your shoes on a nylon carpet and
touch a radiator, you will get an electric shock large enough to sting.
Unsurprisingly, if you were to rub your feet on nylon carpet and then touch a
sensitive piece of electronic equipment, it won’t work even again. It’s very
important to take at least some precautions when building PCs; after all, the
parts come shipped in antistatic bags for good reason. Many professional
builders use antistatic wrist straps, which provide a constant grounding source
and effectively annual any risk from static shocks. However, these are no
always convenient to use. You can effectively ground yourself before handing
components by touching any earthed metal object, e.g. a radiator or the PC
chassis you’re installing the components into.
Even after you’ve grounded yourself either
via a strap or whatever else works for you, you should still handle components
with care. Hold memory modules and add-in cards as you would a photograph: by
the edges.
Have a plan of action
Building a new PC is exciting, so the
temptation is always to get stuck straight in without any plan of action. This
will often mean you install items in a sub-optimal order. Install your video
card before you’ve plugged in the front-panel switches and connections, for
example, and you’ll have a lot less space to play with, resulting in
frustration and wasted time. Install your optical drive before you’ve fitted
your motherboard and it might overhang the top-right mounting screw. You get
the idea: take a few moments to examine the nuances of your particular case and
plan your build accordingly. Spending an extra minute at the start of your
build can easily save half an hour of frustrating fiddling later!
