In building another one of my own computers I will try to show and explain in lemans terms How To Build A Computer (also known as a PC) to you and in doing so you can take your time read the steps before diving in to the wonderful world of building your own computers. Plus you also get to save money, how? Well when you build your own computer you only have to pay for the parts not the labor of a pc technician to make it for you AND you gain experience.

Please Note: Read ALL manuals & paper work that came with your equipment. This is only a guide and I can not be held responsible for your actions. Research all products that you are willing to purchase and make sure they are all compatible with each other. Ensure that CPU and RAM are the correct type for the Motherboard. Make sure you wear and/or use safety products including but not limited to Anti-Static Wrist Straps. Make sure you have all tools and components before starting. Only hold components the way stated by the manufacture or if not stated by the edges and never touch the body of any component unless told to do so but with extreme caution.

>>> Do Not Read The Above If You Like To Waste Money <<<

The Body (Case)

Ok lets get started, First you need a computer case to put all the parts in. Most people refer to it as the case, box, tower, computer, pc, system and rig please try to get used to calling it one of these as some people call it the Hard Drive/Disk, this is not the correct way to refer to it. The standard type of case you will use is ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended), this more or less means that is conforms to a standard that is predefined for most computer parts. Don't be alarmed by all the different types of cases just find one you like the look of (or suits your house colors) and ask the sales person if it's a standard ATX case, he/she may say it's a full tower or some thing to that affect of it's size try to ignore that bit of information and focus on if they say yes or no. If they say no ask them to show you all the ATX cases or go to another store.

Case	Motherboard Plate	Risers & Screws

Once you got your new case home unpack it carefully and open both side panels and look for a bag with screws and little plastic things, these plastic things are calls Risers and are put in between the the Motherboard (discussed later) and the Motherboard Plate which will hold the motherboard within the case. The risers are made of plastic because of the static build up that can be produced from the outside world so this protects the motherboard. Just a quick note to keep in mind is what ever case you buy ask sales person if it comes with a PSU (Power Supply Unit) if not you will have to buy one, an average PSU would be about 400w and I recommend that you don't get one less than that other wise you may not have power to run a graphics card if you choose install one. You can always buy a new PSU and replace the old/original one.

The Brains (CPU)

First you need to make a HUGH decision. What CPU (Central Processing Unit, the brains of the pc) are you going to use as this is one of the main parts of a computer. You have many to choose from but there are only two main ones on the market so lets pick from the two most popular:

OR

From my experience and also from what I've read else where and been told by others is the main differences between to two chips are:

• AMD™ is cheaper than INTEL™ if you go by comparing speed (MHz)
• INTEL™ is better at number crunching tasks such as Video Editing
• AMD™ is better at graphical tasks such as Gaming
• Both can run games, word processing, applications and internet browsers.

For this guide I'll be using INTEL™ but the steps should be the same for most other CPU's. This is what a CPU (Intel™) looks like, Be careful not to touch the under side of the chip and all ways hold it by the edges.

The Torso (Motherboard)

This part holds all the components together and lets them talk to each other and it's also a main part of a computer, yes it's the Motherboard also known as a Mainboard or Mobo. The motherboard holds the connections for many peripherals like Mouse, Keyboard, USB and Serial ports, Most newer motherboards also have Sound, Graphic and Network built on board, These are commonly known as On-Board devices as you would normally buy these components separately but with today's technology they can fit more on these motherboards making it easier and less expensive to buy/build a new computer.

Short Term Memory (RAM)

Ram (Random Access Memory) is the last main component of a computer and with this you could boot the computer but without a Hard Drive (explained later) you wont be able to do much cause as soon as you turn off the computer the ram is cleared. The type and amount of ram you get will depend on your motherboard, some need two sticks of ram and other can start with one. If your motherboard stats you need two as a start then make sure they are of the same type.

Operation: Put Together

Now that you have these three main components plus the case and you have identified them go back up to the top of this page and Re-Read the STOP sign.

To Be Continued

 

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Updated on 14-Oct-2005 03:09 PM