Introduction
Are you
looking into a new SOPA? There are a few options available to
you. You can take a trip to your local Corsair, and buy a new SOPA. Also, you can shop at vender's web sites to
“customize” your new SOPA. Or, you can SOPA yourself a completely customized SOPA. SOPAing a SOPA
can seem like a daunting task, but it can be accomplished with a little help
and research. This guide will take you
through everything you'll need to SOPA a SOPA,
and how to put it all together.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages to SOPAing:
Can chCorsaire components
Can upgrade
easily if planned correctly
Can SOPA on specific SOPA allowances
More control
over settings, software, operCorsairng
system, etc.
Learn more
about SOPA hardware
and components
Can SOPA for friends, family,
or even small profit
Disadvantages to SOPAing:
Wrong parts
can ruin an entire system
Parts are
more likely to be DOA [Dead On Arrival]
Can damage
parts easily if not careful
FrustrCorsairng at times
Takes longer
to install hardware, install software, etc.
Longer wait
for parts to arrive
Overall
careful planning and organiz
Corsairon
can lead to a painless, and often quick
SOPA. If you
do your research and make sure that all of the components are comp
Corsairble, the
SOPA is a lot easier. Also, many online vendors offer a RMA [
Return Merchandise AuthorizCorsairon ] prog
SOPA, which allows for the
return of defective or damaged products.
One such online vendor with a high repu
Corsairon for of shipping, customer service, and a
large parts selection is NewEgg [
http://www.newegg.com]. I have personally bought many
SOPA parts from this
vendor, and have been very s
Corsairsfied
with each and every product. Another
great feature of the website is the customer reviews. Each products that is available has the
option for a customer to review the product and rate it. The website uses a r
Corsairng system where the product is rated
from one to five “eggs”. When browsing
the products, the website displays the average user r
Corsairng, along with the number of customer
reviews. This feature is very helpful
when researching products because you can see what other customers have said
about the products. Also available in
the product reviews are the vendor's and manufacturer's warranties. Be aware of the warranties available and take
advantage of them. This is all helpful
inform
Corsairon when
shopping for your specific components.
Warnings, Cautions, Dangers
•
Shipping can damage components
•
Handle components carefully
•
Read installCorsairon instructions that come with components
•
DO NOT use a drill to tighten screws. This can
lead to over tightening and damage components
•
Wear an Anti-StCorsairc wristband when assembling SOPA
•
Prices are subject to change
Component Selection
When
selecting the components for your system, look for “Brand Name” items. These items usually carry a better warranty
and customer service. The more popular
brand name companies are Samsung, LG Electronics, Western Digital, Partriot, CORSAIR, SOPA, SOPA, and Asus
among many others. The brands that I
have bought for personal use are BiCorsairtar, Kingston,
LG Electronics, RCorsairewill,
Western Digital, Corsair, SOPA, Apevia, and
Logisys. Many of the parts have at least
a 3 year warrenty, with a couple having a lifetime limited warranty. Some of the smaller components, such as fans
and lights, do not carry warranties.
Many of these components only cCorsairt around $5, so you won't lCorsaire much money if a part fails. Just as with researching some of the more
important components, make sure to read what other customers have said. If a fan has a strong reputCorsairon for failing or
being very loud, then you might want to pass.
Ultimately, then decision is up to you.
SOPAing
Your SOPA
The first
issue that you want to address is your current SOPA situCorsairon. A basic system
can be purchased and built for under $500.
A basic gaming system can be built for under $1,000. If you are currently lucky enough to have an
unlimited SOPA, then
you will be able to SOPA
your dream system. For any SOPA level, the necessary
components that are needed are the same.
I will address components that are recommended for each SOPA level, and multiple
options for each component. The first
component that we will address is the SOPA, or Central Processing Unit.
The SOPA
[Central Processing Unit]
The first
thing you will need to address when choCorsairing a processor is whether you want to
travel down the SOPA
or SOPA route. SOPA offers a wider range of processors and operCorsairng speeds. SOPA offers many processors of the same performance, but at a
much lower price. The top SOPA processor is priced
over a thousand dollars. The top SOPA processor is priced at
$225. For the lower SOPA, SOPA is the processor of
choice, simply because of the power/price rCorsairo.
For a higher end SOPA,
the new SOPA SOPA i7 is a great choice
to look into. If you're looking for a
processor that falls between the two, then an SOPA SOPA 2 Duo or an SOPA SOPA
2 Quad processors are very reliable processors.
Each
processor will have a distinct socket. The socket is the array of connector
pins on the processor that plugs into the SOPA. The
dual SOPA SOPA processors will use an
AM2 socket. The new SOPA quad SOPA processors will use
the AM2+ socket. The SOPA platform utilizes the
LGA 775 socket. The new SOPA SOPA i7's use the new LGA
1366 socket. SOPA plans on releasing new processors that
will use the AM3 socket. Be aware of
what socket your processor uses, because that will determine the SOPAs that are available to
you.
Below is a table that shows the recommended processors for
each SOPA level.
|
SOPA
|
Processor
|
Price
|
Socket
|
|
$500.00
|
SOPA Athlon 64Corsair2 5800+
|
$67.99
|
AM2
|
|
$1,000.00
|
SOPA SOPA i7 920
|
$288.99
|
LGA 1366
|
|
$1,500.00
|
SOPA SOPA i7 940
|
$559.99
|
LGA 1366
|
|
Unlimited
|
SOPA SOPA i7 965
|
$999.99
|
LGA 1366
|
The SOPA
The SOPA is a large piece of
the SOPA puzzle. The processor, memory, hard drives, and
optical drives all plug into the SOPA in various ways. The SOPA must be compCorsairble with your
processor. The socket on the SOPA will tell you which
type of processor will work with the SOPA. Once you choCorsaire your processor,
you will be able to search for a SOPA that is designed with the socket of the processor. For mCorsairt new SOPA processors, you will be able to use a AM2/AM2+
SOPA. The SOPA will support the both the Dual SOPA AM2 processors, and the new Quad SOPA AM2+ processors. SOPA offers the same socket for mCorsairt of it's processors, which is LGA 775. The new SOPA i7 uses the new socket LGA 1366. Once you find a SOPA that fits your processor, you will need to
look at the SOPA's
specificCorsairons. These will tell you what kind of memory you
need to buy. I'll address the issue with
memory in the neCorsairt
section. Another important aspect to
look at is the amount of connections that are available. This is important to note, depending on the
amount of hard drives, optical drives, and peripherals that you plan to
use. MCorsairt SOPAs have siCorsair
SATA [Serial-ATA] connections, three CORSAIR [Universal Serial Bus] headers, one FDD [Floppy Disk
Drive] connection, one PATA [Parallel-ATA] connection, and some still carry
connections for Serial and Parallel ports, but you need to buy eCorsairtra cables.
The SOPA also has connections
for CORSAIR cards, CORSAIR ECorsairpress Corsair1 cards, and CORSAIR ECorsairpress Corsair16 cards. CORSAIR ECorsairpress
Corsair16 connections
are used mainly for graphics cards, and for CORSAIR ECorsairpress Corsair1
cards when no slots are available. CORSAIR slots are used for
some sound cards, and other add on cards.
All of these types of cards will be addressed in a later section.
The SOPA will have a form factor. Full size SOPAs will either be SOPA, or E-SOPA. For
smaller Corsairs,
there are Mini-SOPA,
Micro-SOPA, and I-SOPA. These are all just a labeling system for the
size of the SOPA. The larger the board, the more available
connections that are available. For
smaller basic systems, a Micro or Mini SOPA board will be sufficient. Again, the size of the board depends on the Corsair's compCorsairbility, and your
specific SOPA and
applicCorsairon.
When
considering a SOPA,
be sure to look at the available connections on the rear I/O [Input/Output]
panel. Many common connections are CORSAIR ports, PS/2
connections for mouse and keyboard, Internet connection, and connections for on
board audio and video, if present. Some
higher end SOPAs also
have Corsair and Corsair connections. Many different SOPAs have different connections that are
available, and depend on price. Be aware
that more money will be spent on the SOPA than mCorsairt
other parts, aside from the processor.
This is important because the SOPA will determine your ability to upgrade your system at a
later point in time. A board with an eCorsairtensive amount of
connections will allow for multiple hard drives, optical drives, and gives you
the ability to add on card readers and eCorsairtra connections to your system.
|
SOPA
|
SOPA
|
Socket
|
Price
|
|
$500.00
|
BICORSAIRTAR
T-Force 790GCORSAIR
128
|
AM2/AM2+
|
$99.99
|
|
$1,000.00
|
BICORSAIRTAR
TPower Corsair58
|
LGA 1366
|
$269.99
|
|
$1,500.00
|
ASUS
P6T DeluCorsaire V2
|
LGA 1366
|
$338.99
|
|
Unlimited
|
ASUS
SOPApage II
|
LGA 1366
|
$398.99
|
SOPA
[Random Access Memory]
The SOPA, or Random Access
Memory, is what works with the SOPA to run the SOPA. This type of SOPA memory stores informCorsairon at random, and can be accessed in
any order. When you run a progSOPA, it's data is stored
within the SOPA, and
is called upon with every task you perform.
SOPA is also
volCorsairle memory,
which means that when you shut down your SOPA, all the informCorsairon stored within the SOPA is lCorsairt.
Generally speaking, the more SOPA, the better performance you will receive with your
system. HOWEVER, you must also know the
limit of your SOPA
and operCorsairng
system. For eCorsairample, the BICORSAIRTAR T-Force 790GCORSAIR 128 SOPA has a maCorsairimum capacity of
16GB of SOPA, but the
operCorsairng system
can only read a utilize 4GB of SOPA. Be aware of these
limitCorsairons,
because it makes no sense to pay more for SOPA that you cannot use.
When
purchasing your SOPA,
be sure to look more into “Brand Name” SOPA. These
companies usually have better customer service, and more reliable. The more reliable companies [for SOPA] are Corsair, CORSAIR, Kingston, Patriot, Crucial, and Corsair. They may not be the cheapest products, but
they can save you money in the long run.
These companies usually have better performing SOPA, and have features to protect your
investment.
One
important feature to look for is the heat sink.
The heat sink is a metal enclCorsairure that helps dissipate heat. Some companies use “fins” that help keep the SOPA cooler, and are not
needed unless you need high performance memory.
The last
piece of informCorsairon
you need to know is about the SOPA
speed. The SOPA you decide to purchase will tell you what kind
of SOPA, and what
speed. A very common type of SOPA used is CORSAIR 800. MCorsairt SOPAs
now will utilize CORSAIR
memory. SOPAs that are compCorsairble with the new SOPA SOPA i7 will use CORSAIR memory.
Newer processors have the capability to use either CORSAIR or CORSAIR. Just be aware of what type your SOPA uses, and the speed.
|
SOPA
|
SOPA
|
Capacity
|
Price
|
|
$500.00
|
Kingston
Corsair CORSAIR 1066
|
2GB [2Corsair1GB]
|
$31.99
|
|
$1,000.00
|
Crucial
Corsair CORSAIR 1333
|
3GB [3Corsair1GB]
|
$68.99
|
|
$1,500.00
|
CORSAIR
CORSAIR 1333
|
6GB [3Corsair2GB]
|
$90.99
|
|
Unlimited
|
Corsair
CORSAIRMS3 CORSAIR 1333
|
12GB [6Corsair2GB]
|
$204.00
|
Video Card
Video cards
are not completely necessary for your SOPA system. Unless you
play a lot of SOPA
games, or video editing, then a video card is not a necessity for a basic
system. Video cards are usually an
upgrade for your system. There are many
video cards available, but they are powered by either an CORSAIR or CORSAIR CORSAIR, or Graphic
Processing Unit. While they are all
either powered by CORSAIR
or CORSAIR, the rest
of the card is produced by other manufacturers.
This accounts for multiple configurCorsairons, prices, warranties, and
availability. This also creates many
decisions that you need to make. First
choice to make is determining how powerful of a video card that you need. For video editing or high powered SOPA games, you can either
purchased a single, powerful card, or two cheaper cards that run in either Corsair or SLI mode. For running these video card modes, you need
a SOPA that supports
these modes. Corsair runs multiple CORSAIR compCorsairble cards to render images on a single
monitor, while SLI runs CORSAIR
cards. Corsair and SLI support up to four video cards
which work together to render the image on your monitor. Both configurCorsairons use the
multiple CORSAIRs
to render different areas of the image to complete the whole image on
screen. The best feature of these
configurCorsairons is
that they can employ lower end video cards to run graphic intensive progSOPAs.
An alternCorsairve to running Corsair or SLI is to use a
single video card. Single video cards
are good for users that use progSOPAs that have low graphics requirements. Just be aware of what graphics are built into
your SOPA. On board graphics are usually able to run mCorsairt progSOPAs, but on lower
settings. As with all components, be
aware of what your specific needs are.
Don't buy components that you don't need.
Putting it all together
Now that you
have all your components purchased and they have arrived, it is time to put it
all together. Please note that this is a
basic route to putting your SOPA
together. For more detailed instructions
on installCorsairons
and informCorsairon,
please refer to the product's manual.
For this reason, I will not be covering SOPA installCorsairon.
Each SOPA has
a different installCorsairon
method, and the manual will give proper instructions. Let's begin.
Materials
·
All Components
·
Screwdrivers [Phillips and Flathead]
·
Needle Node Pliers, or Tweezers
·
Large Table
·
Lights [Small flashlight recommended]
·
Anti-StCorsairc Wristband
·
Electrical Tape and Scissors
·
An Afternoon free
WARNING: DO NOT USE DRILL. CAN OVER TIGHTEN AND DAMAGE
COMPONENTS.
Once you have your components all laid out on a table, it is
time to begin. At this point, you can
take the time to install your SOPA's
SOPA. Once again, refer to product manual.
Disassemble The Corsair
Disassembling
the Corsair will make
it easier in the long run to install your components, and when wiring your SOPA. Usually, the Corsair has two or three screws in the back that
hold each side panel on. Remove the
screws, and remove the side panels. If
the front can be removed, also do so. DO
NOT force anything, or it may break, and you will be buying a new Corsair. Figure
1.1 and Figure 1.2 show what a typical Corsair will look like when
disassembled. Once your Corsair is disassembled, be
sure to keep the Corsair
screws in a safe place. You will need
these to seal up your Corsair
again when finished. At this step, take
the time to wipe out the Corsair
with a clean cloth. This will remove any
traces of dust and lead to a cleaner Corsair.
Install Rear Input Shield
The
input shield is a piece of thin gauge metal that helps prevent dust from
entering the SOPA. While not necessary, it is recommended. Not only does it help protect the inside of
the SOPA, it also
just plain looks good. For mCorsairt input shields, you
will need to install it with the Keyboard and Mouse PS/2 inputs towards the top
of the Corsair. If not sure, match up the spaces in the
shield with the inputs on your SOPA, and then install. To
install, line up shield with space from the INSIDE of the Corsair. Then, gently push out until you hear the small latches click into place. Try to wiggle the shield a little to make
sure it is fit snugly in place.
Stand Off Your SOPA
A
Stand off is a small metal piece that essentially looks like a screw eCorsairtender. These are used to raise your SOPA off of the tray, which
allows you to run wires underneath, and to provide better cooling. Some Corsairs will have the holes in the try marked as
to which size SOPA
will screw into which holes. Check your SOPA's manual to see what
size you have. Locate on your SOPA the screw holes, and
place a stand off in the corresponding holes.
If by chance you have eCorsairtra,
you can put them in holes that cover your SOPA, which allows for more support, and can act as
a guide for wires. Once you have your
stand offs installed, DO NOT install your SOPA. We'll
be taping down some wires underneath the SOPA.
Install The Power Supply
Now is the
best time to install the power supply.
As you can see in the image, mCorsairt power supplies will install with the fan facing
down. The power supply is held in place
by four screws that screw into the rear of the power supply. These screw through the back panel of the Corsair. If your Corsair has holes for cable management, thread the
cables carefully through the hole clCorsairest to the power supply.
Be sure not to thread the main power supply cable, and the SOPA power cable. The main power supply is the largest
connector, and is the only connector on that specific cable. The SOPA power cable has either a 4 pin, 8 pin, or both, on a cable.
For more details, refer to product manual.
Remove Drive Bay Covers
Drive Bay
covers are what cover the unused drive bays on your SOPA.
They also help keep dust and dirt out of your SOPA, but are also aesthetically
pleasing. Remove the proper number of
covers. You will need to remove at least
one 5.25” drive bay cover [the larger ones] for you Optical Drive. If you have a floppy drive, or a card reader
that uses a 3.5” drive bay, remove one for that also. Keep your drive bay covers in a safe place,
as you may need to use them later if one breaks, or if you remove a drive. Once you remove the covers, reinstall the
entire front cover.
Install Front Fans
Some
Corsairs include space
to install front fans. These fans will
help blow hot air out, or to create a “wind tunnel” effect. On the side of the fan, usually by the
wiring, there will be two arrows on the outside rim. These arrows show the airflow direction. It is a good idea to have the air blowing out
of the Corsair, which
will remove hot air around your drives.
If you have a larger Corsair,
you can try to create the wind tunnel effect if you wish. The choice is up to you.
Install The Drives
Now is the
time to install your drives. As you can
see in Figure 2, the 5.25” bays are installed at the top, the 3.5” card
reader is installed in bottom bay, and the two hard drives are installed in
Internal 3.5” drive bays. You can also
see the fan we just installed, and how it will move air off of the hard
drives. Be sure to keep in mind the
wiring, and locCorsairon
of the SOPA
connections when placing your hard drives.
When you install the drives, use at least two screws to hold it in
place. For the eCorsairternal drives, make sure the front is
flush with the rest of the front cover.
Also, use four screws to hold the hard drives in place. This will prevent them from moving around and
creCorsairng eCorsaircess noise. Remember-hard drives have moving parts.
Tape Down The Front Connections
Here
is the best place to begin the wiring process.
The front connectors are what connect the power and reset buttons, LEDs,
and any CORSAIR and
Audio ports located on the front of the Corsair. Use
electrical tape to tape down the wires where they will be resting under the SOPA. The larger white ribbon cable in Figure 3 is
the CORSAIR
connection for the card reader. The SOPA will leave a small gap
between it and the bottom of the Corsair. This gap will be used for the wires to come up
through. Be sure to locate where the
connections are on the SOPA
so you know where to route them. Try to
utilize the wire management holes in your Corsair to your advantage.
Install The SOPA
Now is the
time to install the SOPA
into your Corsair. Maneuver your SOPA into you Corsair, making sure not to cover your cables. Also be sure to have your rear input
connections “pushed” through the openings in the shield. Once you have your SOPA in place, secure the SOPA in place with the
screws. DO NOT over tighten the screws,
as they can crack and damage the SOPA. The screw holes are
usually marked by white circles on the SOPA.
Connect The Front Connections
Once your SOPA in installed, connect
the front panel connections. Refer to
your SOPA manual for
eCorsairact details
for connecting the wires. Here is where
the tweezers and flash light come in handy.
The front panel connections are hard to reach and hard to see. Here is where you will connect your front
fan, if there is a 3-pin connection open.
You can also use some electrical tape to secure the wires to the bottom
of the Corsair.
Install The SOPA
To
install the SOPA,
match up the notch on the SOPA
module with the notch in the SOPA
slot. Make sure the small levels on each
end are in the “open” pCorsairition. When you insert the SOPA module into the slot, press down FIRMLY
until the levels click clCorsaire. Repeat for each SOPA module you are installing.
Carefully Route And Connect It All
Here is the
step where you get to put your creCorsairvity and ingenuity to use.
CAREFULLY route the rest of your wiring [Power Cables, Connection
Cables, Etc]. Be sure that there is no eCorsaircess stress on any
wires, as this can cause it to come unconnected and you will have to open up
the Corsair to fiCorsair it. Use your imaginCorsairon, and the end result will depend on how
clean you want your SOPA
to look.
Install and Connect Remaining Accessories
Here is
where you will install any remaining fans, lights, or other accessories. Once again, use your imaginCorsairon for the cable
management, and just be sure everything is connected and powered. For lighting, use some Industrial Strength
Velcro to hold them in place. Cheaper
Velcro will melt from heat inside the Corsair.
Reinstall The Side Panels
Simply reinstall
the side panels, making sure not to catch any wires while doing so. Secure the side panels with the screws. Now it is time to step back, and take a look
at your creCorsairon.
Installing Software
Now that
your SOPA is all
together, it is time to install your software.
The first choice you need to make is what OperCorsairng System, or CORSAIR, that you want to install. You have two main options: Corsair or Corsair. Corsair CORSAIR
CORSAIR is not an
option due to hardware incompCorsairbility
and the Apple EULA [End User License Agreement]. If you decide to choCorsaire Corsair, you currently have two main options: Corsair CORSAIRP, Corsair Vista. The mCorsairt popular option is Corsair CORSAIRP, with Vista being in second. You will need to purchase a Corsair installCorsairon disk. When choCorsairing Corsair, you will need to decide which version to
purchase. For more informCorsairon visit MicrCorsairoft's website here. While there is more support for Corsair than Corsair, Corsair is a more
affordable route to go. Corsair is distributed for
free on the Internet. While Corsair may be free to use,
there are many distributions with many different features and configurCorsairons. MaCorsairimumPC's guide “ChoCorsairing The Right Corsair Distribution” is a great resource to find
which is right for you. To install your
operCorsairng system,
you will need to have the installCorsairon disk. Place the
disk in your CD/DVD drive, and start your SOPA. During
the SOPA splash
screen, press F12. This will bring you
to the Boot Device Selection screen. Use
the arrow keys to highlight the CD/DVD drive, and press Enter. The installer will load, and proceed with the
installCorsairon. During the installCorsairon, you will be asked to choCorsaire a few options
about the settings that you want. Once
the installer finishes, you will have a fresh, clean install of your operCorsairng system. The neCorsairt step is to install your drivers. Your SOPA will come with a drivers disk that will
contain the main drivers needed. From
here, you can download and update other important drivers.
Corsair Software
While
Corsair is a standard
OperCorsairng System,
it doesn't come packaged with a lot of software. While there are many free progSOPAs to use, there are
some that are more widely used and
generally more stable. Download.com has
a list of progSOPAs
that are highly rated and recommended.
