Build Your Own Computer - Complete Set of Video Tutorials
| Date: 19 April 2011, 15:30
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The components of a computer are very sensitive to electrostatic discharge. That is the normal build up of an electrical charge in your body that you cannot feel. It is discharged into metal or your computer parts when you touch it. You can fry/damage your parts from it and then you will need to buy replacements. You cannot tell when the electrostatic discharge will happen.
Buy a anti-static wrist strap to wear while working inside your system.
You can also discharge yourself by touching the metal case of your power supply inside your system.
Always leave your parts inside the anti-static bag they come in until your ready for them. If you must place them down lay them down on the anti-static bag.
* Tools needed:
o Flashlight-Even with the best lighting I have found you still need one.
o Screwdriver-Phillips head-looks like a cross on the end.
o A screw extractor- unless you are able to grab little things quite easily. A dropped screw that is not removed could end up shorting out your system.
o Tweezers-For moving jumpers if your motherboard has them.
* Hardware:
You must decide if you want a desktop or tower or one of the new small cases. You will want to allow for expandability unless you are building a small form case. Make sure you get a case that will fit the space where you plan to put it. Make sure the case has at least one intake fan or a place to install one in the front. Bottom front is best. A place for an exhaust fan in the back near the middle to just below the power supply unit (psu). Make sure all the cables that are suppose to come with the case are present and all the screws and motherboard standoffs are there also.
* Power supply:
Buy a brand name power supply (psu). A power supply is the 2nd most important item to a computer. A cheap psu can cause you lots of problems as it goes up and down with supplying power to your unit. I have fixed many a problem for clients that were caused by the psu. Buy at least a 350-watt unit. I recommend at least 400 watts. I use Enermax PSU myself but there are plenty of other makers of psu’s out there. Make sure all cables are presents that should be.
* Floppy Drive:
I still recommend a floppy drive (3.5). They still have their place or so I believe they do. The choice is up to you. Make sure the ribbon cable is present if it is suppose to come with it. Usually they don’t include them.
* Hard Drive:
I recommend at least an 80-gig drive. Get the ones with 8 Meg of cache if you can but a standard 2meg of cache will work just find. The 8 Meg of cache will speed of your system by it being able to put more things in the bigger cache. Make sure all cables are present that is said to come with it.
* CD-ROM/BURNER Drive:
These are quite useful and now days they do not cost much at all. Make sure all cables are present that is said to come with it.
* Motherboard:
Here you will have to decide if you want a motherboard with everything built on the board or if you want one where you add the stuff to it. Also you will need to decide if you want to use an Intel or AMD CPU.
Buy the best board you can. Also you can check out the motherboard and CPU combos for sale. You should get a collection of ribbon cables with your motherboard. Make sure all cables are present that is said to come with it.
* Processor:
You need to decide if you want Intel or AMD. They both are excellent units. They usually come with a heatsink and fan and they work fine for the basic setup. I recommend that you buy a heatsink and fan unit that is a couple steps up from the stock unit. Make sure you have the cooling compound that comes with the CPU or buy the compound you want to use instead.
* Memory:
I recommend you buy good quality memory. There is plenty out there. Make sure you buy what your system can use. I also recommend you get at least 512meg of memory. WinXP can use and will use if it can 256 Meg of memory for it’s self. If you can afford it and your motherboard will use more than 512 Meg I recommend you get at least 768 to 1 gig of memory. Memory is the best upgrade and can make or break a system in my opinion.
* Video Card:
There are plenty of video cards out there. The 2 biggest names are ATI and NiVida. What you choose is up to you. Buy the best you can afford. Make sure it will work with your motherboard. Since newer motherboards have the PCI EXPRESS SLOTS NOW.
* Keyboard and Mouse:
Choose from standard ones to wireless ones. It depends on what you want.
* Software:
Choose what operating system you want to use. WinXP is the standard now but you can use Win2000 or Win98 if you so choose. Have the disk from your dives and add on cards handy for installing their drivers.
* Start to build the computer:
Open the case. If you have a case that doesn’t use thumbscrews or is screwless then use the screwdriver to remove the 4 to 6 screws from the back and place them where you will not lose them. Clean out the case with a lint free rag or a can of compressed air. Then install the case feet if it uses them. Install your case fans if your case came without them. Remember you want the front case fan to suck air into the case. There is usually an arrow showing which way the air flows thru it. Have the arrow point into the case. Install the exhaust case fan. Have the arrow pointing out of the case. Install the ATX plate into the back of the case. The cases come with these plates so it can use different motherboards. Most motherboards come with these plates if it is different from the standard plate.
* Install the power supply:
Install the power supply so that the fan faces out the rear of the case and the wires face the front of the case. Make sure the holes on the case match up to the screw holes on the psu. If they do not then you will need to turn the psu upside down. Install the 4 to 6 screws to hold the psu in place. Now make sure the voltage switch on the back of the psu is set to 120 volts for USA and 220 volts for countries overseas.
* Before installing the motherboard:
While the motherboard is sitting out of the case would be the best time to install the CPU and heatsink and fan. There is more room outside the case and much easier to do it. Most motherboard have the zero insertion force socket. The socket opens and closes with a small lever. The lever up is the open position and down is the close position. Intel and AMD use different sockets and amount of pins. Turn your CPU over and make sure that none of the pins are bent. With the socket open match up the number 1 pin on the CPU with the number 1 pinhole in the socket. They are usually marked by either a notched corner or a big number 1. When you insert the CPU it should just about fall into the socket. It it doesn’t then you need to recheck the orientation of the number 1 pin and pin hole. Once inserted move the socket lever down to lock the CPU in place. Use some isopropyl alcohol and clean the CPU and the heatsink base. If the heatsink has a pad remove it and use the paste. Now take the CPU cooling paste and put a light film on the CPU. Then install the heatsink and fan according the instructions that came with them. Usually there is a 2 to 4 clips to hold it in place. Now take the CPU fan lead (wires) with its plug and slid it onto the 3-pin power outlet on the motherboard. The motherboard manual will point this out. But it is usually by the CPU socket somewhere. Next you should install your memory modules or memory sticks as most call them. The memory stick will have a off set notch in the bottom where you stick it into the memory slot which will have a little off set bridge or solid piece that lines up with the one in the memory stick. That way the memory is in proper alignment.
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