How to Build A How to Build A ComputerComputer

By By

John A. SaizJohn A. Saiz

Materials RequiredMaterials Required

ToolsTools Screw driverScrew driver TweezersTweezers FlashlightFlashlight

HardwareHardware PC Case PC Case Floppy Disk Floppy Disk Hard Drive Hard Drive CD-ROM Drive CD-ROM Drive Processor Processor Processor Cooling Fan Processor Cooling Fan Motherboard Motherboard Memory Modules Memory Modules Power Supply Power Supply Video Card Video Card Keyboard & Mouse Keyboard & Mouse

Removing Case CoverRemoving Case Cover

This step you need This step you need to remove the to remove the screws from the screws from the back edges of the back edges of the case depending on case depending on how many there how many there are. Once the are. Once the screws are done the screws are done the covers should slide covers should slide off easily.off easily.

Installing Power Installing Power SupplySupply

Take the power supply Take the power supply unit and line it up to unit and line it up to place it into the case. place it into the case. The fan should face The fan should face toward the rear and the toward the rear and the wires should be forward. wires should be forward. Once in place the holes Once in place the holes on the rear of the power on the rear of the power supply should line up supply should line up with the holes on the with the holes on the case. Next tighten the case. Next tighten the power supply down power supply down using a screwdriver.using a screwdriver.

Installing the CPUInstalling the CPU

In this step check the In this step check the pins to see if they are pins to see if they are bent in anyway. Open bent in anyway. Open the ZIF socket by the ZIF socket by grabbing the lever on grabbing the lever on one side of the socket one side of the socket and open it. Find pin1 and open it. Find pin1 which is marked by a which is marked by a dot. Insert the processor dot. Insert the processor and press down so that and press down so that the processor pins are the processor pins are connected with the ZIF connected with the ZIF then close the lever to then close the lever to secure the processor.secure the processor.

Install Heat Sink/FanInstall Heat Sink/Fan

Make sure the top of the Make sure the top of the processor is clean. processor is clean. Apply the Heat sink Apply the Heat sink Compound and attach it. Compound and attach it. Make very sure that it is Make very sure that it is secure when installing.secure when installing.

Installing MemoryInstalling Memory

In Installing the memory In Installing the memory make sure you are make sure you are grounded and pick up grounded and pick up the memory by its the memory by its edges. Then insert the edges. Then insert the memory module into the memory module into the Slots which you want to Slots which you want to use and make sure use and make sure everything lines up. everything lines up. Lock the module into Lock the module into place once they are place once they are secured. secured.

Install MotherboardInstall Motherboard

Turn the pc over on its side Turn the pc over on its side and move anything that and move anything that will be in the way. Gather will be in the way. Gather the standoffs and screw the standoffs and screw them into the holes on the them into the holes on the case and line up with the case and line up with the holes on the motherboard. holes on the motherboard. Insert the motherboard into Insert the motherboard into the pc case and set it on the pc case and set it on the standoffs. Tighten the the standoffs. Tighten the board down and make sure board down and make sure there are screw in each of there are screw in each of the standoffs underneath. the standoffs underneath. Then make sure the board Then make sure the board is secure to the case.is secure to the case.

Connect MotherboardConnect Motherboard

Connect the power to the Connect the power to the motherboard. motherboard. Connect the CPU fan to the power. Connect the CPU fan to the power. The fan connects to one of the power The fan connects to one of the power supply leads. It will plug into the supply leads. It will plug into the motherboard. The connector is usually motherboard. The connector is usually labeled FAN1. The case connectors on labeled FAN1. The case connectors on the motherboard will match up with the motherboard will match up with the case connectors. Connect the the case connectors. Connect the power switch Connect to the reset power switch Connect to the reset switch. It can be plugged in any way, switch. It can be plugged in any way, just make sure you connect it to the just make sure you connect it to the right pins. The pins may be labeled right pins. The pins may be labeled RST or RESET, but it is best to also RST or RESET, but it is best to also consult the manual. Connect Power consult the manual. Connect Power LED/ Key lock Switch. The LED/ Key lock Switch. The motherboard will probably be labeled motherboard will probably be labeled accordingly. If your system has accordingly. If your system has separate plugs for each, connect them separate plugs for each, connect them separately. separately. Connect the hard drive activity LED, It Connect the hard drive activity LED, It is usually labeled HDD, HDD_LED. If is usually labeled HDD, HDD_LED. If this is attached wrongly, the light may this is attached wrongly, the light may either never come on later or will stay either never come on later or will stay on all the time when the PC is running. on all the time when the PC is running. Connect the PC speaker. Plug it in to Connect the PC speaker. Plug it in to the 4 pins on the motherboard. the 4 pins on the motherboard.

Installing Floppy DriveInstalling Floppy Drive

First choose which drive bay you want to install the First choose which drive bay you want to install the drive and remove the face plate. Slide the drive into drive and remove the face plate. Slide the drive into the bay from the front. Make sure the front if the the bay from the front. Make sure the front if the drive is flush with the front of the PC. Secure the drive is flush with the front of the PC. Secure the floppy drive using the screws and screwdriver. Next floppy drive using the screws and screwdriver. Next connect the power supply to the floppy drive. Then connect the power supply to the floppy drive. Then attach the Ribbon Cable which have a twist in the attach the Ribbon Cable which have a twist in the cable.cable.

Installing DriveInstalling Drive

Choose the drive bay to installChoose the drive bay to install

the hard drive into. Then slidethe hard drive into. Then slide

the hard drive into the bay.the hard drive into the bay.

Fasten the hard drive intoFasten the hard drive into

Place by using the screws Place by using the screws

given. Tighten down the given. Tighten down the

screws on the far side if thescrews on the far side if the

hard drive. Attach the power hard drive. Attach the power

cable and ribbon cables to the cable and ribbon cables to the

hard drive.hard drive.

Installing CD-RomInstalling CD-Rom

Find an empty drive bay once Find an empty drive bay once

again. Slide the drive in again. Slide the drive in

position using the drive rails position using the drive rails

provided. Next tighten the provided. Next tighten the

drive sown make sure the drive sown make sure the

front of the drive is flush with front of the drive is flush with

the front of the case. Attach the front of the case. Attach

the power supply and the the power supply and the

ribbon cable to the drive. Last ribbon cable to the drive. Last

connect the Audio cable.connect the Audio cable.

Installing Video CardInstalling Video Card

Insert the video card in the Insert the video card in the

expansion slot on the expansion slot on the

motherboard With the motherboard With the video video

card inserted into the card inserted into the correct correct

slot tighten the outside slot tighten the outside end of end of

the card to the case with the card to the case with

screws to support it. screws to support it.