Computer Building Guide

Hitman · 20-November-06, 07:26 AM

You have spent months saving money for your first computer build. You have spent weeks picking out computer parts and posting them on 10 different forums only to be criticized by other forum members. You finally decided what to buy and you placed your order.

UPS Santa arrived with all your geeky goodies and you can't wait to get down and dirty and start putting your pride an joy together. You rip open all the boxes like a kid on Christmas morning. Your floor is cover in computer parts and packaging, and then you suddenly feel intimidated. You realize you have never done this before and you don't know what the hell your doing. Relax, putting a computer together is easier then a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle. We will walk you through all the basic steps to get your computer from packaging to a working machine.

To start off you need to find yourself a good spot to build your computer. A desk, or table works best. If you use the Dinning room table make sure your project is complete before dinner time. Also pay attention to static electricity. One little zap and your components are toast. Its best not to build your computer while standing on carpet. Try to find a room with out carpet. Vinyl or hardwood floors are the best. But if your whole house is carpeted you can always get a rubber mat.

For most computer builds you will just need a Phillips Screw Driver. Here are some other items that will make your building a little easier

Phillips Screw Driver
Anti-static wrist band

Marker
Scissors
Flash Light
Grabber
Multitool
Thermal Paste
Zip Ties

The case we will be using has a Motherboard tray. Not all cases have a Motherboard tray. If your case doesn't have one you may find it easier to do some of these steps differently.

On some motherboard trays the holes for the Motherboard Standoffs are marked so its easier to know which holes to put the standoffs in. If your tray isn't marked use a marker to mark which holes fit your motherboard. This is important because a stray standoff could cause a short in your motherboard causing your system not to boot or worse killing your motherboard.

Put the standoffs in the marked holes and install the I/O shield. Don't forget to install the I/O Shield before you install the Motherboard. Otherwise you will be taking your Motherboard back out to put it in. No you can't squeeze it in there.

Put the motherboard in the tray, and line up the holes in the motherboard to the standoffs on the tray. Make sure the I/O ports are inserted into the I/O shield properly to avoid problems later. Start screwing in the motherboard to the tray. Its best to put all the screws in loose at first so you have room to move the motherboard so each hole lines up with its standoff. Once all the screws are in tighten them up. Make sure you put in all the screws to make sure your Motherboard is secure.

Install the CPU into socket. Make sure you put the CPU in the right way. Most CPUs and Sockets are marked with arrows so you know which direction the CPU goes.

Put the thermal paste onto the CPU. Careful not to glob it on. You don't need to cover the whole CPU in gunk. One drop should be enough. Read the directions for the Thermal Paste your using for proper application.

Install the Heat sink and Fan. Make sure you install it the right way. Again refer to the directions for proper placement. Like everything else, not all HSFs are the same.

Installing RAM is probably the easiest part of the build. It only goes in one way, and snaps into place. Check your Motherboard manual for proper placement.

Install your Video Card and any other add in cards, like Sound Cards and Controller Cards if you have them. Then set your Tray to the side.

Prepair your Power Supply for installation. Some Cases have a PSU adapter so your PSU fits securely into the case.

Put in your PSU, and get the cables straight so it's easier to install the rest of the components.

Its easier if you install your drives, and Bay Devices before inserting the Motherboard tray. Some drives won't fit past the motherboard into the drive bays.

Get all the cables out of the way and slide in the Motherboard tray.

Once the Motherboard Tray is in place, connect all the cables and wires. Check with your Motherboard manual to insure you connect the right cables and wires to the right ports on the Motherboard.

Once you get everything connected, you can use zip ties to tidy up the cable management. Using Loom, and Sleeving will help make the insde of your case look more uniform and organized.

Well now that we are done we can fire it up and watch our build come to life. Your now ready to setup the Bios and install your OS.

When building your computer just remember to keep your parts organized. Keep the manuals for all of your parts handy for quick reference. If your using Used parts you can go on the manufactures website and download the manual. If you get to the point where you feel stuck posting on the forums can help you get a solution to your problem.

reflux · 20-November-06, 08:25 AM

Utterly excellent timing, the parts for my first self-built rig are due to arrive today! Can't wait!!!!

Dex · 20-November-06, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reflux


	Utterly excellent timing, the parts for my first self-built rig are due to arrive today! Can't wait!!!!

Yeah but ill be there to make sure you don't plug your RAM into the PCI slots etc etc

SexyPants · 20-November-06, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reflux


	Utterly excellent timing, the parts for my first self-built rig are due to arrive today! Can't wait!!!!

I'm kind of excited for you too. It's a magical moment

. Or more like couple of hours... and on your first build, probably a couple of unmagical "crap, what's wrong?" moments.

Great guide! My only concern is putting the hs/f on first. Sometimes those things can be so honkin' huge that they'll get in your way when you put in the RAM or even PSU.

Hitman · 20-November-06, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Sexy_Pants_


	Great guide! My only concern is putting the hs/f on first. Sometimes those things can be so honkin' huge that they'll get in your way when you put in the RAM or even PSU.

Well every case is diffrent, so you may have to adapt the order of parts installation for your build. This is just the order I do it in, if a diffrent order works for you then thats fine. Depending on the size of your HSF you may have to install it at the end. For example my AC Freezer 64pro wont even fit into the case if you put it on the MoBo tray first. You have to install it after you put the MoBo tray in the case.

20-November-06, 07:26 AM		#1 (permalink)
Hitman Apex Advanced Techie	Computer Building Guide You have spent months saving money for your first computer build. You have spent weeks picking out computer parts and posting them on 10 different forums only to be criticized by other forum members. You finally decided what to buy and you placed your order. UPS Santa arrived with all your geeky goodies and you can't wait to get down and dirty and start putting your pride an joy together. You rip open all the boxes like a kid on Christmas morning. Your floor is cover in computer parts and packaging, and then you suddenly feel intimidated. You realize you have never done this before and you don't know what the hell your doing. Relax, putting a computer together is easier then a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle. We will walk you through all the basic steps to get your computer from packaging to a working machine. To start off you need to find yourself a good spot to build your computer. A desk, or table works best. If you use the Dinning room table make sure your project is complete before dinner time. Also pay attention to static electricity. One little zap and your components are toast. Its best not to build your computer while standing on carpet. Try to find a room with out carpet. Vinyl or hardwood floors are the best. But if your whole house is carpeted you can always get a rubber mat. For most computer builds you will just need a Phillips Screw Driver. Here are some other items that will make your building a little easier Phillips Screw Driver Anti-static wrist band Marker Scissors Flash Light Grabber Multitool Thermal Paste Zip Ties The case we will be using has a Motherboard tray. Not all cases have a Motherboard tray. If your case doesn't have one you may find it easier to do some of these steps differently. On some motherboard trays the holes for the Motherboard Standoffs are marked so its easier to know which holes to put the standoffs in. If your tray isn't marked use a marker to mark which holes fit your motherboard. This is important because a stray standoff could cause a short in your motherboard causing your system not to boot or worse killing your motherboard. Put the standoffs in the marked holes and install the I/O shield. Don't forget to install the I/O Shield before you install the Motherboard. Otherwise you will be taking your Motherboard back out to put it in. No you can't squeeze it in there. Put the motherboard in the tray, and line up the holes in the motherboard to the standoffs on the tray. Make sure the I/O ports are inserted into the I/O shield properly to avoid problems later. Start screwing in the motherboard to the tray. Its best to put all the screws in loose at first so you have room to move the motherboard so each hole lines up with its standoff. Once all the screws are in tighten them up. Make sure you put in all the screws to make sure your Motherboard is secure. Install the CPU into socket. Make sure you put the CPU in the right way. Most CPUs and Sockets are marked with arrows so you know which direction the CPU goes. Put the thermal paste onto the CPU. Careful not to glob it on. You don't need to cover the whole CPU in gunk. One drop should be enough. Read the directions for the Thermal Paste your using for proper application. Install the Heat sink and Fan. Make sure you install it the right way. Again refer to the directions for proper placement. Like everything else, not all HSFs are the same. Installing RAM is probably the easiest part of the build. It only goes in one way, and snaps into place. Check your Motherboard manual for proper placement. Install your Video Card and any other add in cards, like Sound Cards and Controller Cards if you have them. Then set your Tray to the side. Prepair your Power Supply for installation. Some Cases have a PSU adapter so your PSU fits securely into the case. Put in your PSU, and get the cables straight so it's easier to install the rest of the components. Its easier if you install your drives, and Bay Devices before inserting the Motherboard tray. Some drives won't fit past the motherboard into the drive bays. Get all the cables out of the way and slide in the Motherboard tray. Once the Motherboard Tray is in place, connect all the cables and wires. Check with your Motherboard manual to insure you connect the right cables and wires to the right ports on the Motherboard. Once you get everything connected, you can use zip ties to tidy up the cable management. Using Loom, and Sleeving will help make the insde of your case look more uniform and organized. Well now that we are done we can fire it up and watch our build come to life. Your now ready to setup the Bios and install your OS. When building your computer just remember to keep your parts organized. Keep the manuals for all of your parts handy for quick reference. If your using Used parts you can go on the manufactures website and download the manual. If you get to the point where you feel stuck posting on the forums can help you get a solution to your problem.

20-November-06, 08:25 AM		#2 (permalink)
reflux Sempr0n?	Re: Computer Building Guide Utterly excellent timing, the parts for my first self-built rig are due to arrive today! Can't wait!!!!

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