need build help frustrated

[breadisfunny]

so i have the nzxt s340 case. when i first got it i hated the design hated how it was laid out but stuck with it. now i realize it has no optical drive. i have several games that are no longer sold anywhere at all. i refuse to pirate them. an optical drive is the ONLY WAY i can play them since either the dev team have gone bankrupt or just don't sell them anymore. i have everything ALREADY installed in it save for the hard drive and os and some cables. not only that but i can't seem to find several important cables like the ones for the bios so it makes the beeping noise. i did not find some of the cables with the packaging. everything that has happened when i put this build together all comes down to this crappy case that i HATE.

should i just take everything apart and reassemble it in my old case and just sell this one or return it and cut my losses? I AM NOT COMPROMISING ON AN OPTICAL DRIVE AND I DO NOT HAVE ROOM IN MY BUDGET FOR ANY MORE EXPENSES for an external optical drive. fyi reason i bought a new case was because the front jacks on my current one don't work properly.

also almost everything was from newegg save for the os and ram. this whole build feels like a gigantic waste of my money at this point.
also why the hell is this case so popular? seriously it has one the dumbest layouts i've ever seen.
sorry if i sound standoffish but i can already see what kind of replies im going to get concerning the optical drive that i should embrace downloadable games etc etc.
some of the stuff is past the 30 day return period so if this doesn't work out i'm screwed.

[Fascinate]

Just hook the drive up temporarily with the side of the case off? Not like you are going to need it once you get the games installed.

And the case is popular because it looks fantastic and the build quality is the best you can get at that price point.

[breadisfunny]

Just hook the drive up temporarily with the side of the case off? Not like you are going to need it once you get the games installed.

And the case is popular because it looks fantastic and the build quality is the best you can get at that price point.

wouldn't that be dangerous for the disks or drive? what would i prop it on? also i need it to run certain games that require a cd to be inserted or they won't run. basically a cd checker.

[chazus]

i can't seem to find several important cables like the ones for the bios so it makes the beeping noise

Not sure what 'bios cables' are. Explain more?

I DO NOT HAVE ROOM IN MY BUDGET FOR ANY MORE EXPENSES

I know you said this but... really? You can get a USB dvd drive for like $6.

also why the hell is this case so popular? seriously it has one the dumbest layouts i've ever seen.

A lot of cases are like that, largely because nobody uses optical drives anymore, as you said you were expecting to hear. Thats the truth of it. The only reason you need it is for really, really old stuff.

So you have a few choices

1) Downloading something you already own is not pirating.
2) You can spend $6-10 on a USB dvd drive
3) Spend an hour, hook up your old dvd drive to the system with the side off, put all your CD/DVD games into it and copy them into a digital format so you have them forever (this is the cheapest, most ethical solution)

[breadisfunny]

well if you had actually read my post vegas instead of looking for a way to passive aggressively insult me you would realize i don't have any more money in my budget. the rest of it is going towards living expenses for the month.

[chazus]

wouldn't that be dangerous for the disks or drive? what would i prop it on? also i need it to run certain games that require a cd to be inserted or they won't run. basically a cd checker.

Just put a box or something flat underneath it. It's just a one time deal anyway.

You can convert all the games to ISO format and use a virtual drive for the games that require a CD.

[Fascinate]

wouldn't that be dangerous for the disks or drive? what would i prop it on? also i need it to run certain games that require a cd to be inserted or they won't run. basically a cd checker.

No its fine, just do it on the kitchen table. And ive never had a game require me to install a CD for it to run after the initial install, ive only ever heard of that on xbox.

[chazus]

No its fine, just do it on the kitchen table. And ive never had a game require me to install a CD for it to run after the initial install, ive only ever heard of that on xbox.

Reeeally old games (~late 90s) required it, but there was often a crack or patch to get around it.

[breadisfunny]

Not sure what 'bios cables' are. Explain more?


I know you said this but... really? You can get a USB dvd drive for like $6.


A lot of cases are like that, largely because nobody uses optical drives anymore, as you said you were expecting to hear. Thats the truth of it. The only reason you need it is for really, really old stuff.

So you have a few choices

1) Downloading something you already own is not pirating.
2) You can spend $6-10 on a USB dvd drive
3) Spend an hour, hook up your old dvd drive to the system with the side off, put all your CD/DVD games into it and copy them into a digital format so you have them forever (this is the cheapest, most ethical solution)

well i can afford the usb dvd drive. have not heard of that before. will try that.
the bios cables are the cables that connect to the motherboard that enable the beeping sound when you start up the computer. (probably called something else but that's the first thing i could think of to desrcibe them.) i'm also missing a couple others but i can't seem to narrow it down all i know is the that when i tried to get it to power up just to see if the computer would do so it doesn't start up when properly connected. i also don't seem to have the system fan cable either....

[Fascinate]

Must be nice to be so young. Plenty of games require the disc as a form of pirating protection as the play discs didn't easily clone at the time.

35 is young i guess, all i know is ive never had to have a CD in the drive to play it....ive been PC gaming since the first unreal tourney.

[chazus]

the bios cables are the cables that connect to the motherboard that enable the beeping sound when you start up the computer.

This? If so, it's not needed.

i'm also missing a couple others but i can't seem to narrow it down all i know is the that when i tried to get it to power up just to see if the computer would do so it doesn't start up when properly connected.

You shouldnt' be missing anything. It sounds like you just aren't sure as to what goes where. if you can provide some pictures of the current setup maybe we can help.

Honestly though, it sounds like the system not booting up is a bigger problem than the CD game situation. You said this stuff is all outside the return period.. Has it all just been sitting around for a month?

i also don't seem to have the system fan cable either

There is no 'system fan cable'. If there's a case fan, it has a cable that gets plugged in. If there isn't, then nothing gets plugged in.

[breadisfunny]

also forgot to ask how are the mechanical hard drives supposed to be inserted into the nzxt s340?

[Fascinate]

The drive cage is in the basement, install your hdd before the PSU you need to have that room to get a screwdriver in there.

[breadisfunny]

This? If so, it's not needed.


You shouldnt' be missing anything. It sounds like you just aren't sure as to what goes where. if you can provide some pictures of the current setup maybe we can help.

Honestly though, it sounds like the system not booting up is a bigger problem than the CD game situation. You said this stuff is all outside the return period.. Has it all just been sitting around for a month?


There is no 'system fan cable'. If there's a case fan, it has a cable that gets plugged in. If there isn't, then nothing gets plugged in.

there is a slot on the motherboard that says sys_fan so i assume thats what it's for is the case fans.
im going out to eat in a litte bit so i can provide some pics later on when i have more time.
the stuff was sitting around for awhile as i still live with my parents and sister who has children so the only usable table for building is the kitchen. one dresser i have is in a room which is fully carpeted and catches a LOT of static electricity since it's so old so couldn't use that. ordered the parts in august but had to wait till they went back to school to start building it. i ordered the parts in increments. so some are outside the 30 day windows some are not. i think the case is still inside it.
as for the no power situation i think either i don't have the cables hooked up properly or i have a doa power supply. my fault for not testing it before i installed it.
the motherboard is this one:
http://www.gigabyte.com/fileupload/product/2/5589/20150911154651_big.png



- - - Updated - - -

The drive cage is in the basement, install your hdd before the PSU you need to have that room to get a screwdriver in there.

sorry if this sounds stupid but why the need for a screwdriver to install a hdd into it? my last tower just used plastic clip on strips that clipped onto holes in the side of the mechanical hdd and it would just slide right in. i couldn't find any detailed videos on how they are installed into it.

- - - Updated - - -

Reeeally old games (~late 90s) required it, but there was often a crack or patch to get around it.

will the conversion thing work for cd-roms? i have a couple games (less than 6) that are actually cd-roms. one is warcraft 2 other is diablo 2 another is warcraft 3....i don't think you can actually purchase that anymore since blizzard refuses to rerelease it. i'm assuming the usb dvd thing will read the cd's as well?
looking at various usb dvd drives would this one work for dvd and cd drives for my case? https://www.amazon.com/DLPIN%C2%AE-U...=usb+dvd+drive

[chazus]

there is a slot on the motherboard that says sys_fan so i assume thats what it's for is the case fans

Yes, but the cable is attached to the fan. No fan, no cable. If you don't have the fan/cable, it's nothing to worry about.

sorry if this sounds stupid but why the need for a screwdriver to install a hdd into it? my last tower just used plastic clip on strips that clipped onto holes in the side of the mechanical hdd and it would just slide right in.

Some use it, some don't. Depends on the case.

will the conversion thing work for cd-roms? i have a couple games (less than 6) that are actually cd-roms. one is warcraft 2 other is diablo 2 another is warcraft 3....i don't think you can actually purchase that anymore since blizzard refuses to rerelease it. i'm assuming the usb dvd thing will read the cd's as well?

Converting to ISO works for all CD/DVD pretty much. It just puts them into a digital format, as a sort of virtual CD.

While Warcraft 2 is not available... D2, WC3 (and SC1) can all be added to your battle.net account and downloaded. you just gotta pop the CD key into the website.

looking at various usb dvd drives would this one work https://www.amazon.com/DLPIN%C2%AE-U...=usb+dvd+drive

I was personally looking at this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-USB-2-...AAAOSwFdtXyO-K which may take a week or so to ship.. But either will work. usb is usb is usb.

[Deleted]

just download and crack the games you own.
you already own it, so it is just a poor mans steam.

[breadisfunny]

Yes, but the cable is attached to the fan. No fan, no cable. If you don't have the fan/cable, it's nothing to worry about.


Some use it, some don't. Depends on the case.


Converting to ISO works for all CD/DVD pretty much. It just puts them into a digital format, as a sort of virtual CD.

While Warcraft 2 is not available... D2, WC3 (and SC1) can all be added to your battle.net account and downloaded. you just gotta pop the CD key into the website.

I was personally looking at this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-USB-2-...AAAOSwFdtXyO-K which may take a week or so to ship.. But either will work. usb is usb is usb.

estimated delivery october 5 and nov 9......i don't think i can wait that long. also are there any models like that from amazon? i ask because i don't use paypal and am not comfortable with using them. much prefer amazon. or newegg works too. what is the cheapest i can expect from them? i see some are refurbished are those a no go or more of a crapshoot like refurbished stuff sometimes is?

- - - Updated - - -

just download and crack the games you own.
you already own it, so it is just a poor mans steam.

I AM NOT CRACKING ANYTHING. sorry but i am not comfortable with pirating games. yes i know technically i should be allowed but i just don't want to risk anything.
@chazus
images are up and here they are. what cables am i missing? is everything plugged in properly in the below image or is their a cable i forgot? aside from the hdd one isn't in yet.
http://imgur.com/a/lakT9

[Deleted]

If you're adamant your Case didn't come with a mobo buzzer you can pick them up for absolute peanuts...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Ma...C3MX28S454PA5Q

[breadisfunny]

ok so i got my hard drive installed i still seem to be missing a few plugs the one for the f_usb, sys_fan, tpm plug, the manual that came with it explains very little just basically confirms where the different slots are and where the ram and cpu goes and thats it. nothing on where to insert the cables or anything. also just lists the cables that come with which is just 2 satas and thats it. my power supply came with some molex cables and another molex with a wierd end on it that looks like it might go on the f_usb but it doesn't quite match. the case itself came with the front led lights and i can't seem to find any front usb cables.
if i have a dvd version of windows 7 can i write that to the usb dvd rw/cd rw drive reader if that is the case?
for the virtual drive is there some sort of program that i'm supposed to have to be able to access or use it? i don't see the disk management tool in my windows 7 os.(one i'm currently using not the new one. doing a sort of dry run so i know what to do when i get everything running.)
also if i'm reading this right maximum file size is 16gb....this might be an issue with my oblivion copy which has tons of mods on it.
and it will definitely be a problem with my skyrim which is 25gb+ and medieval total war 2. i don't have the steam edition. mine's physical.
i think it's close to or just over 16gb.
it also seems to look like kind of complicated stuff.

[Deleted]

ok so i got my hard drive installed i still seem to be missing a few plugs the one for the f_usb, sys_fan, tpm plug, the manual that came with it explains very little just basically confirms where the different slots are and where the ram and cpu goes and thats it. nothing on where to insert the cables or anything. also just lists the cables that come with which is just 2 satas and thats it. my power supply came with some molex cables and another molex with a wierd end on it that looks like it might go on the f_usb but it doesn't quite match. the case itself came with the front led lights and i can't seem to find any front usb cables.
if i have a dvd version of windows 7 can i write that to the usb dvd rw/cd rw drive reader if that is the case?
for the virtual drive is there some sort of program that i'm supposed to have to be able to access or use it? i don't see the disk management tool in my windows 7 copy.

Plug in whatever comes wired in from your case and don't worry if there's empty slots. The USB slots on the front should slot into the USB_01 socket on your mobo, depending what mobo you have. There are sys_fan sockets dotted all over your mobo to add extra fans in the case so don't worry.

I don't know much about Windows but afaik you can make the USB drive a bootable
Disk and load it up from startup