Split off "hardware" notes

Into bona-fide hardware notes, and notes specific to desktop
maintenance that bear increasingly little relation to "hard"ware.

1 files changed, 43 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/guides/sysadmin/machines/amdahl30/assembly.org b/guides/sysadmin/machines/amdahl30/assembly.org
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+Lots of impedance mismatches between "documentation" and actual
+hardware:
+- CPU cooler (fan) has spring screws; diagrams show retention clips.
+  Had to dig into the [[https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/cpu-7][AMD knowledge base]] to find that some
+  motherboards come with "speculative" clips, which must be unscrewed
+  and removed in order to install the spring-screw cooler.
+- Diagrams say to add thermal paste, but the fan already comes with a
+  pre-applied layer.
+- Documentation shows RAM clips for both ends of the sticks; the
+  motherboard seems to only have clips for one end.
+- =SYS_FAN1= header has 4 pins; front fan plug has 3 holes.  The
+  Internet says it's fine ([[https://old.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/4139k8/3_pin_sys_fan2_vs_4_pin_sys_fan1/][[1]​]], [[https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/sys_fan1-and-sys_fan2.3195778/][[2]​]]).
+- Motherboard has [[https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B550M-A-PRO/Specification]["8 mounting holes"]] but covers only 6 of the case's
+  standoffs; none of the diagrams in the case's manual match the
+  format of the motherboard.
+- The diagram for inserting the power supply unit leaves a lot to the
+  imagination.
+- The [[https://www.snia.org/forums/cmsi/knowledge/formfactors#U2][SSD dimension nomenclature]] is weird as hell.  The SSD's user
+  manual seems to imply that I have a 2.5″ model, but my measuring
+  tape says the drive is 2.75″×3.875″ (diagonal 4.625″).
+- The link to the LDLC guide for mounting the SSD is dead; the page is
+  [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170901191800/http://www.ldlc.com/guides/AL00000817/comment-installer-un-ssd-dans-un-pc/][archived]], and merely contains a link to a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1dHVb6VuWU][video]].  No matter though,
+  since it does not describe how to mount the drive on a 2.5″ bay.
+- The case user manual says to use specific screws for the SSD drive;
+  the SSD comes with its own set of screws.  Are they meant for the
+  3.5″ adapter?  🤷
+
+For novices, some steps range from "not very reassuring" to "downright
+hostile":
+- The amount of force needed to connect the CPU fan's first two
+  diagonal screws is terrifying.
+- The fan's case is asymmetric: one side has a small bump featuring
+  the maker's brand.  If one does not attention when mounting the fan,
+  there is a 50% chance that this bump will get in the way of a RAM
+  stick.
+- No instruction on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAWNzd-gc3Q&t=74s][how to force that I/O shield in]].
+- No instruction on how to snap the motherboard into the I/O shield.
+- Holy =$DEITY= that power supply unit has a *lot* of cables.  And of
+  course I enthusiastically passed most of the small-headed ones
+  through the designated case hole, and had to pass them back out
+  because there was no room left to pass the 20-pin ATX connector.
+- Power supply user manual was taped to the bubble wrap, so part of
+  the "warnings" section got torn off.