How to Build a Computer--Josh

I first started using a computer when I was four years. My dad would take me to computer shows to buy parts and later show me how they go together. Since then my passion for computers has grown and I've become more knowledgeable about how all the components of a computer coincide with each other. To get started there are a few things you need to know to start building a computer. First, you need to familiarize yourself with the materials needed. Then once you have a brief understanding of the components you are ready to go.
Materials:
● Screwdriver (Phillips Head)
○ Used to screw components into case

• ●  CPU
  
  • ○  Central Processing Unit
    
  • ○  Must match motherboard socket
    
• ●  Motherboard
  
  • ○  Must match CPU socket type
    
  • ○  Connects all components to the CPU
    
• ●  RAM
  
  • ○  Random Access Memory
    
  • ○  Check motherboard manual for compatibility
    
  • ○  Holds memory that needs to be accessed as fast as possible
    

● GPU
○ Graphics Processing Unit
● Other PCIe Card (optional)
○ Peripheral Component Interconnect Express

(optional)

• ●  Power Supply
  
  • ○  80 PLUS Certified or higher suggested for reliable power draw
    
  • ○  Must be specific to your system’s hardware component’s power draw
    
  • ○  Supply's power to entire computer
    
• ●  SSD (optional)
  
  • ○  Solid State Drive
    
  • ○  For optimal boot times
    
  • ○  For faster speeds than a HDD
    
  • ○  Holds operating system and applications that usually take longer to load
    
• ●  HDD
  
  • ○  Hard Drive Disk
    
  • ○  Needs to have at least 20GB to run Windows
    
  • ○  If no SSD is present it holds operating system and system data
    
• ●  CPU Cooler (optional, may use cooler that came with CPU)
  
  • ○  Most come with pre-applied thermal compound or in a tube/syringe
    
  • ○  Cools CPU
    
• ●  Case & Fans
  
  • ○  Case must fit motherboard size
    
  • ○  Fans correspond to the type of airflow desired
    
  • ○  Fans relieve the case of heat
    

1. First, start off by taking out your motherboard and place it on a non-conductive surface, preferably on top of the box that your motherboard came in. (Note: Do not place the motherboard on top of the anti-static bag because the bag could be conductive on the outer layer.) Then lift the retention arm up (marked in yellow). Now take out the CPU and place it in the motherboard socket by matching the triangle on the CPU with the triangle on the motherboard, but do not push the CPU down into the socket because it could lead to damaged pins on the CPU (marked in red). Next push the retention arm down to secure the CPU in place.

2. Now take out your CPU cooler and its manual. Follow the instructions based on the type of socket that pertains to your CPU and motherboard. In my case I will be following the manual's AMD FM2+ CPU socket instructions. First, take your syringe of thermal compound and press it out in the middle of the CPU ensuring that there is enough to spread out once you attach the cooler. Take your cooler, place it directly over the four screw holes on the motherboard, press it down over the CPU (located by the red arrows), and secure it on by screwing the backplate in a cross pattern.
   
3. Now take your case out and take off the front and side panels. Take your motherboard’s IO-Shield and snap it in the inside of your case facing back (located in red). Next adjust the motherboard standoffs in the case to your specific motherboard. In my case I have an ATX motherboard that is secured by six standoffs that were already in the correct position upon installation. Now take motherboard with your CPU and cooler attached and align it with the six standoffs and secure the motherboard by screwing in the 6 screws (indicated by the six red arrows). Next take your power supply and slide it into the top slot on top of the motherboard. Now secure it in with the four screw holes on the back of the case (located in yellow). Take the 24-pin and 8-pin connectors from the power supply and plug them into their counterparts on the motherboard (located in blue). Note that some motherboards may not have an 8-pin connectors, but have either a 4-pin connector, 8-pin connector and 4-pin connector , or two 8-pin connectors for extra overclocking voltage.
   

4. Every motherboard has PCIe slots, but each slot is not the same speed. To determine where to place your GPU, look in your motherboard manual to find out which is the preferred slot for one graphics card. Next, get your GPU and any other PCIe you may have, which in my case includes a wifi card. Now take off your PCIe back covers on the case to the slots that correspond to your cards. Since my wifi card goes in the first slot, it will be first. Take the wifi card/other PCIe card and insert it by lining it up with the PCIe slot and the slot that the outputs line up with (located in red). Now follow the same exact steps for the GPU. Now secure each card by screwing two screws in from the back panel with the metal bar that holds them in (located in blue).
   
5. Installing your HDD and SSD is different in my particular case than it is in new cases today. Start by taking your HDD and facing the side with the SATA connection and sliding it into your desired drive bay. Then secure it in with at least one of the four screw holes (located in red). Follow the same process for the SSD, but you must first mount it inside a tray to fit into the drive bay that screws in with four screws (located in yellow). Now take your SATA power supply cables and plug them into the drives, followed by the SATA cables that connect to the motherboard (located in blue).
   

6. Get out your case fans and decide what you want your fan layout to be for maximum airflow. Since I have an older case my layout will be slightly different than the norm. Now place your fans in the desired locations in the case and secure them with four screws each to ensure they will stay in place, then plug them into the motherboard headers specified in your motherboard manual (located in red). Then take your front panel of your case, making sure it snaps into place. Next route USB, audio and power button cables down the back of the case and to the bottom of the motherboard (located in green). Then plug them into the motherboard, but refer to your motherboard’s instruction manual to ensure you insert them into the correct connectors.
   
7. Clean up any loose power supply cables by organizing them behind the drive bays. You are now done building your computer and can screw on the side panels of your case, plug in your peripherals, and start up your computer.