How to Build a Computer

Here are the main steps in Building a computer according to James Burton.

Main thing to remember is be careful computer Part manufactureers will not refund your computer part if it has physical damage

STEP 1

Gather all materials that will be needed and put the all together on a flat clean area. Some people use desk's others choose the floor I prefer the bed, because it is big and soft, less chance of a computer part to be damaged. The main Materials needed are Computer case and power supply, motherboard, Processor, heat sink, Graphics cards, Ram, Screw drivers, Hard drive, floppy, CD-Rom, Power cable and a monitor to make sure it works.

a couple of reminders, remember to make sure your motherboard matches your case and power supply if it a newer case, power supply, and motherboard then no problem most likely their all ATX. However if your using your old case make sure it matches up with your motherboard it might not fit.

Step 2

Grab your case make sure the sides are off so you see right into and lay it gently on its right side. Then grab your motherboard and insert it so the ports go right into the designed areas.

Then properly secure your motherboard on the designated brackets make sure your motherboard matches up with them if not remove them and put them in the correct spot so it supports your motherboard well. You don't want yo just cover anyof these up if there isn't a hole on your motherboard for it. It might short out your system.

Step 3 Grab you Processor for installation, then make sure it is poperly alignrd. Most proccessors only go in one direction, they either have an arrow at on of the corner I always just look at the bottom of processor to see where the missing pin is and then look at the board for the same missing pinhole . Pull the lever up then put the proccessor into place It should just gently fall into place. Don't force it, you don't want to brake or bend any of those pins.

Once into place bring down the lever. Now that the processor is insalled we have to put on the heatsink. Before you do this next step check to see if your processor needs heatsink silicon. Some proceesors don't require it. And some heatsinks have the compund on a small square already installed. If not grab your silicon and gently with yourr finger apply a thin layer onto the processor.

Then Install the hea sink. The heat sink is very important without it your processor would overheat and turn off your system, Depending on how it happens it might also fry your chip. So make sure it on securly and plugged in. The processor socket has built in pegs that the heatsink secres to one side you just set it in place the other side you need a screwdriver to put in the firsthole where it has a notch for a regular screwdriver where you can use to push  down and secure it into place. There are more then one size, and type of heatsink make sure it can handle your processor heat effectivly.

Step 4

Now we install the ram. First make sure your ram is made for your motherboard in speed and size. Then locate the memory slots. Make sure you touch something metal to discharge any static electricity becasue memory is very easily damaged by it.  The grab the memory and insert them into the slots make sure the slits fit into the memory perfectly the firmly push it into place. If it does not fit in the slots perfectly make sure it the right type of ram. If your installing only 1 ram chip make sure its in slot 1 they should be labeled.

Step 5

Now plug in the cables. Start of with the power switch, reset switch, the speakers, and the LEDs. The plug in the power supply  into the motherboard. But don't plug the power supply into an outlet yet.

Step 6

For this step we should remember our motherboard to see if there was onboard video. If not grab a videocar, either ISA, PCI, orAGP and install it in the proper port.

Because this motherboard also did not have onboard sound we need to install one. Grab it and install it the same way we did the graphics card. Then screw them both into place

Step 7

Is installed the drives. You might have to remove the face plate of your case to install a cdrom or floppy. The the just slide into place. Once you have them where you want insert screws and tighten them firmly.

Then Plug them in you need to plug in the IDE Cable to both the assigned motherboard areas then the drive.

It is not needed but installing a fan can be good to help circulate air to keep your computer running cooler. Your system is now assembled. Put the sides back on but don't screw them in yet incase it dosn't turn on you might have to troubleshoot.