Building your first personal computer is very interesting. I remember when I build my very first computer I was very happy because I build it with my own hands.
Assembling your own PC takes time, skills and research, but it can be a great learning experience. You might even want to consider it you “rite of passage” toward being a PC Technician. All the skills needed to be a PC technician are tested: research, knowledge of user needs and the computer market, planning, organization, patience, confidence, problem solving, and extensive knowledge of both hardware and software. If you intend to become a corporate-it level technician, you most certainly should put together at least one whole PC before starting your first job, and set up a small home network as well.
However, don’t build your PC to save money, because you probably won’t . The total price of all parts usually about equals the price of a comparable clone PC that is prebuilt.
Here are a few good reasons to assemble your own PC:
- The whole process can be quite fun.
- Knowledge is power. The knowledge and experience gained in researching the parts to buy, studying the documentation, and finally assembling the PC cannot be overermphasized.
- When you buy all the parts and software for a PC individually, you also get the documentation for each hardware components. This is most likely not the case when you buy a preassembled PC. If you plan to upgrade you PC later, having this documentation can be very valuable.
- Many prebuilt PCs come with preloaded software. You may not receive the original CDs or disks or the documentation for these programs. That can be a problem when you try to maintain your system, and most likely indicates that the software is distributed illegally. (Don’t accept preinstalled software unless it also includes the installation disks and documentation.) When you buy each software package individually, you are assured that the distribution is legal, and you have the installation disks, CDs, and documentation.
- When you purchase each computer part individually, you are more likely to understand exactly what you are buying, and you can be more particular about the selection of each component. You have control over the brand and features of each component in the PC.
Here are a few reasons why you might not want to build your own PC:
- If you are in a rush to get a PC up and running, assembling your own is probably not a good idea, especially if you are a first-time builder. The process takes time and requires patience, and the first you do it, you most likely will make a few mistakes that will need to be resolved.
- Individual parts may be warrantied, but if you build your own PC, there is no overall warranty on you PC. If a warranty or a service agreement is important, then look for a ready-built PC with these services included.
- Clone PCs have been tested to ensure that individual components are compatible. When building your own PC, you might select incompatible component. For this reason, buy high-quality mainstream components to best ensure compability.
- Don’t plan to assemble a PC for the first time unless you have access to an experienced technician or a technical service center you can consult if you encounter a problem you cannot resolve. For example, you might buy all the parts from a store that has a service service center. The store might offer to assemble the PC for you for a charge ($50 to $75 is about right). If you find you cannot resolve a problem, you can always go back to the store for this service.
- Remember, you probably won’t save money assembling the PC.
Ok now let’s check all parts needed to build you new PC
Step 1: Verify That You Have All the Parts
- Motherboard with CPU
- CPU Cooler Unit – Sometimes comes included with the CPU
- Video card – Unless you buy a motherboard with an Intergrated Video Adapter
- Case Exhaust Fan
- 40-pin IDE Cable – Most of the times is included with the motherboard
- Floppy Drive Cable – Most of the times is included with the motherboard
- Serial ATA Cable – Most of the times is included with the motherboard
- DIMMs Memory Stick – Or the latest memories
- Modem Card
- Hard Drive
- Netword Card – Most motherboads intergrates this card
- Windows XP Operating System or Windows Vista and Devices Drivers
- Floppy Drive – You don’t have to install it if you don’t want
- Ground Bracelet – To protect you and the internal computer parts from ESD Static Electricity
- CD-RW or DVD-RW
- Computer Monitor
- Keyboard, Mice
Step 2: Prepare the Case
- Check and open the Wide Drive Ways as necessary – This is where the CD-RW or DVD will be inserted.
- Check the Narrow Drive Bayes – This is where the Hard Drive will be inserted
- Check the Computer Case Front Vent – This is for the Fan Ventilation
- Check if the computer case has a Power Supply
- Remove the Faceplates on the back of the computer case as necessary – This is where the Adapter Output will show. Let say the Modem, Lan Adapter
- Install the I/O Shield on back of the Computer Case – This is where the mouse, keyboard etc will be connected
- Intall the Spacer in the Computer Case – These spacer will hold the Motherboard in place
Note: Before touching the motherboard make sure you wear a ground bracelet to avoid static electricity
Step 3: Install Motherboard and Drives
- Insert the Motherboard inside the computer case, make sure the motherboard sit on top of the spacers you installed in the case and tight the screws. Remember don’t tight to much or you will crack the motherboard.
- Make sure the Hard Drive jumpers are configure as Master for IDE1 and the CD-RW or DVD-RW as Master for IDE2
- Install the DVD-RW or CD-RW into the case and tight the screws, then connect the IDE cable to the DVD-RW or CD-RW end and the other end to IDE2
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Install the Hard Drive into the case and tight the screws, then connect the IDE cable to the hard Drive end and the other end to IDE1
- Insert the DIMMs memory, in the memory slot like this picture
- Connect the IDE cables to the Hard Drive and DVD-RW or CD-RW, in case you haven’t done yet
- Install the Central Unit Processor (CPU) in to the motherboard socket, remember the CPU has only one way of insertion look at one of the corners to find the matching corner of the socket
- Install the Cooling Fan on top of the CPU, make sure to connect the Cooling Fan power connection on the motherboard next to the cooler
- Connect the 4-pin auxiliary power cord coming from the power supply to the motherboard. This is for Pentium 4 Only
- Connect the 20-pin ATX P1 power cord from the power supply to the motherboard
- Connect the regular 4-pin power cord to the CD-RW or DVD-RW drive and connect the minaiture 4-pin power cord to the Floppy Drive, just in case you install a Floppy Drive
Ok let’s review what you have done until now, you’ve prepared the case by installing the exhaust fan and the spacers, installed drives, and attached the processor, cooling assembly, and memory modules to the motherboard. Let’s continue then.
- After the power cords are connected, locate the front leads to the switches, speaker, and lights on the front of the case that each front lead is labeled: HHD LED, RESET SW, POWER SW, POWER LED etc.. To connect front leads cables follow the manual instructions that came with the motherboard
- Install now the Video Card into the Brown Slot called AGP
- Install now the 56K Modem into the White Slot called PCI
- Install now the Network Adapter next the the 56K Modem
Now that the computer has booted, Check Settings, and Verify Operation. Before booting your new computer make sure to close the compute case. The final step is to install the Operating System, Peripheral Devices and Application.
Also don’t forget to connect the monitor to the computer, the monitor will be connected on the blue female connector back of your computer and the power cord to the wall outlet.
After building a custom PC sometimes problems arises during the booting process, make sure all devices are recongnized by the BIOS.
Here are 2 videos explaining “How to build your own computer” in details. Enjoy!
Video #1
Video #2
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