BUILD YOUR OWN PC
2016
GUIDE
A comprehensive step by step guide on how to build your own personal computer.
HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN PC
by Floyd Bolocan Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved
- Kindle Edition -
INDEX Author’s Note..................................................................................................... 4 What You Need...................................................................................................5 • Tools • Main Components / Peripherals / Software • Optional
Good To Know.....................................................................................................6 • Phillips Screwdriver • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Anti-static wrist strap or gloves Well lit room Motherboard CPU RAM HDD Computer Case PSU Keyboard Mouse Monitor Speakers OS SSD GPU DVD Writer Blu-ray unit Card Reader WIFI Antivirus Software
Choosing The Right Components......................................................................11 Other things to be aware of, when choosing components.................................12 Building The PC.................................................................................................13
AUTHOR’S NOTE This is an educational guide and the author is not responsible for any damage or fault dealt to any personal equipment used by the reader before, during or after the assembly process. This guide is intended to educate anyone on how to build a Personal Computer step by step. All the instructions, pictures, and information are products of the author’s experience. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this guide via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. If you are looking to build your own computer from scratch and save some money during the process, then this is the right guide for you. The guide is most effective during the year of its creation and possible 1 or 2 years after (depending on the changing technologies). We have listed most of the components available out there, the most used during 2016, however there are items that are not listed for the sole purpose of time saving.
WHAT YOU NEED Tools Phillips head screwdriver Anti-static wrist strap or gloves * Recommended Well lit room * Recommended Main Components / Peripherals / Software 1. Motherboard (Mainboard) 2. CPU (Central Processing Unit, Processor) 3. RAM (Random-Access Memory) 4. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 5. Computer Case (Mid Tower, ATX, Slim Line etc.) 6. PSU (Power Supply Unit) 7. Keyboard (Wired or wireless) 8. Mouse (Wired or wireless) 9. Monitor (LCD, OLED) 10. Speakers / Headphones 11. OS (Operating System, Windows, Linux) Optional SDD (Solid State Drive) * Optional GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) * Optional DVD Writer (Internal or external) * Optional Blu-ray Unit (Internal or external) * Optional Card Reader (Internal or external, SD, CF I, SDHC etc.) * Optional WIFI (Wireless Card for internet connection) * Optional AV (Antivirus, Nod32, Kaspersky, McAfee etc.) * Recommended
All the components under the Main section are needed in order to build a functional PC. In the Optional section we have components that are not mandatory for the full functionality of the PC however they are great enhancements that can extend the performance and the functionality of your computer.
GOOD TO KNOW Phillips Screwdriver To assemble the unit, you will need one of these screwdrivers. We will use the same tool from the beginning to the completion stage of this project. Anti-static wrist strap or gloves When working with electronic sensitive components it is indicated that you use anti-static gloves or an anti-static wrist strap to prevent the buildup of static electricity thus protecting against electrostatic discharge (ESD). Well lit room Having your environment well lit is great as this helps you put together your components accurately and prevents you from making mistakes, such as plugging stuff in the wrong place. Motherboard This is the main component of your PC. It allows communication between all of the other electronic components, such as the GPU, CPU, memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals. As you will see in the buying guide, choosing the right motherboard is crucial as this will determine what type of PC you will build. CPU The processor handles all instructions received from the running hardware and software. It performs basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of a computer system. Having a fast CPU allows the instructions to be carried out very fast, having a fast computer will speed up your workflow.
RAM This is the temporary memory of the computer; programs use it to perform their tasks. The functionality of certain applications depends on the amount of RAM your PC has, the higher the better. After you shut down your PC all the data stored here will be cleared. HDD The hard disk drive is the permanent memory of your computer. This is where all your information is stored, pictures, music, files, programs, etc. The greater capacity your HDD has the more stuff you can store on it. Computer Case This is where the motherboard and all the other components go, it’s the protective shell of your computer. A good computer case will provide good ventilation to the PC components, keeping the heat and the dust away. PSU The power supply pulls the required amount of electricity and converts the AC current to DC current thus powering all the components in the computer. A good PSU also regulates the voltage to eliminate spikes and surges common in most electrical systems. Keyboard The keyboard enables you to enter data into the computer and other devices. It’s basically the tool of communication between you and the PC. You will need a keyboard to install an operating system on your PC.
Mouse The computer mouse is a small device that sends information to the computer allowing users to point to a place on the display screen and select one or more actions to take from that position. The computer mouse offers an alternative way to interact with the computer beside a keyboard. Monitor A computer monitor is an electronic visual display, used to display information provided by computers. The most common type of display used today for PC’s is the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). They come in different sizes and different resolutions. Speakers They are the main source of sound for your PC. If your motherboard has an integrated sound card, you can plug your speakers right into the back and you will have sound. Alternatively, for superior sound quality you can get a sound blaster. OS The operating system is the actual brain of your computer. It tells your computer what to do, how and when to do it through your actions. You wouldn’t be able to use your computer without and operating system.
SSD Unlike the HDD the solid state drive has no moving parts, making it a better alternative to your usual storage device. The SSD’s offer great speed but they are priceyer than the HDD’s. If you are building a performance PC, you will need to have one of these to put your OS on.
GPU The graphic processing unit offers unprecedented application performance by taking on compute-intensive tasks from the CPU. If you are a hardcore gamer or a professional video / 3D editor, a graphic card will enhance your gaming experience and open new horizons for your editing software. DVD Writer Nowadays we rarely write DVD’s and Cd’s as Memory Sticks have become the new physical transfer medium. However, if you still want this functionality it won’t hurt to have one of these on your PC, especially as they are very cheap. Blu-ray Unit This is the fancy version of the traditional DVD, Blu-ray offers great storage capacity allowing you to write 25 GB on a single-layer disc and 50 GB on a dual-layer disc. Soon the IT companies will expand the recording capacity from 300GB, to 500GB and eventually 1TB.
Card Reader This unit is very useful when you have devices that use memory cards to store information, such as photo / video cameras etc. It can read multiple formats and it can transfer data from the cards onto your PC quite fast. WIFI The wireless card will allow your PC unit to connect to the internet without having to use an Ethernet cable, just like laptops do. If you do have a cable, it’s recommended to use it in order to benefit for the full speed of your internet connection.
Antivirus Software It is highly recommended to have some sort of protection on your computer at all times as the internet is a dangerous place to browse without being secure. Very important when you use an antivirus, always install only one of these as having multiple will mess up your operating system. If you are not happy to invest in this area, you can always get free antivirus software that will protect you, one of the free AV’s out there is Avast Antivirus which is available to download for free at www.avast.com I hope the information provided will help you understand better, what each component does and how it can be useful for your own needs. In this guide, we will be building one PC unit intended for general use. The next section is about how to be careful when you buy components that don’t match or are incompatible with each other. For other instructions, you can check out: How to build your own Gaming PC and How to install your Operating system, both in eBook format.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT COMPONENTS When you put together a PC you need to make sure that all the components are compatible with each other before you buy them. Here’s how it works:
INCORRECT CONFIGURATION Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M, Socket AM3+, Up to 32GB DDR3, uATX CPU: Intel Core i5 4690K, Socket LGA1150, 3.5 GHz, 6 MB Cache RAM: Corsair Vengeance Pro Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 2400Mhz HDD: Seagate Barracuda 3.5 inch, 2TB, 7200 RPM, 64MB, 6GB/s Computer Case: Thermaltake Versa H15 M-ATX Gaming Case PSU: Corsair VS550 ATX/EPS Vs Series 550 W Keyboard: Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 - Black Mouse: Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse - Red So what’s wrong with this configuration? As you can see above, I have highlighted with red the incompatibility issues. The motherboard was designed to work only with AMD processors such as the AMD FX4300 Black Edition, whereas we have chosen an Intel processor for this configuration. This means that the Intel CPU we chose, will not fit into the AM3+ socket, as they both have a different architecture. Let me illustrate:
As show in this illustration, the Intel processor will not fit into the AM3+ socket. This is just one example to show how important it is to choose the right components when building a computer.
IMPORTANT! Other things to be aware of, when choosing components: - If you are using a 3rd party CPU fan, you will have to buy some thermal paste to apply on the heat sink. - Make sure the computer case has the same form factor as the motherboard (in the example above, uATX, u = micro is the common form factor that both the case and the motherboard have). Micro ATX is a smaller version of the most commonly used ATX. If you order and ATX motherboard and get a uATX case, the motherboard will not fit into the case. - When choosing a motherboard, make sure it has audio and video cards integrated, to be able to connect your PC to a monitor and to your speakers. If you are going for a high performance configuration, you don’t have to worry about these as you will have to get them separately. - If possible, check with the seller if they provide screws and standoffs which should be included with the case, preventively you can order these when ordering the other components. - Make sure the RAM memory is compatible with your motherboard. For instance, if your motherboard is DDR3 compatible you need to get DDR3 memory for it, otherwise if you get DDR4 for instance, it won’t fit in the available slots of your motherboard. Here you should check the maximum capacity of RAM the motherboard supports, today you can go as high as 64Gb of RAM for an ultimate computer. - When choosing the HDD, make sure you get the 3.5 inch and not the 2.5 inch which is for laptops. If you are going for a SSD, most modern cases will accommodate this, otherwise you will need to get a SSD to HDD Mounting Bracket. - Never buy second hand hard drives as these will have bad sectors on them and will make you lose information stored on your HDD and cause many other problems. Avoid at all costs. - When you choose the PSU, I highly recommend you go for a reputable brand rather and a very cheap one that will let you down after a few months. Corsair make great PSU’s, if you go for any other brand, make sure it has over-voltage, under-voltage, over-current, and short circuit protection to keep your components safe from power surges. - When getting the CPU, make sure it comes with its own Cooler. In most cases, you get the Cooler inside the box with the CPU, however some of the newer models might not have a Cooler, so just be aware of that. Always do your research before purchasing components. - If you buy a printer for your PC, make sure you get a USB cable as they don’t come with the printer. Now let’s go shopping, in the next section we will create a list with all the components we need to build the PC.
BUILDING THE PC In the previous section we saw how NOT to choose components for your PC. In this section we will build an Intel configuration, for a general use computer. The budget for this unit, depending where you buy the components from, should be reasonably low.
CORRECT CONFIGURATION | Example 1 | General use computer Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97-D3H, Socket LGA1150, ATX Motherboard (4x DDR3, 4x USB3.0, 10x USB2.0, GBE, LAN, HDMI, DVI-I, DSUB) CPU: Intel Core i3 4170, Socket LGA1150 (3.7 GHz, 3 MB Cache, ) RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB), DDR3, 1600 Mhz HDD: Western Digital Blue 1TB 7200 RPM, 64MB Cache, SATA 6.0Gb/s, 3.5-Inch, Internal Hard Drive Computer Case: NSK-4100, 3 Bay, ATX, Solid Metal Case - Black PSU: Antec 380W Power Supply Unit with 80 mm Low Noise Cooling Fan Keyboard: Logitech Keyboard K120 for Business Mouse: Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse - Red DVD Writer: Samsung SH-224FB/RSMS 24X, Internal DVD Writer with SATA Monitor: Asus VS228DE 21.5 inch, Widescreen 1080p Full HD, LED Monitor (1920x1080, 5ms, VGA) Speakers: Logitech Z213 Multimedia Speakers OS: Ubuntu 15.10 Desktop (64-bit) You can simply check if your motherboard has video and audio cards integrated by looking at it’s picture, see illustrated example below:
We will use Ubuntu as the operating system for this PC as it’s free. Ubuntu comes with everything you need to run your organisation, school, home or enterprise. All the essential applications, like an office suite, browsers, email and media apps come pre-installed and thousands more games and applications are available in the Ubuntu software centre. To acquire this for free visit www.ubuntu.com/desktop
Assuming that you have checked the market and bought the components you need for this project, now let’s go straight to putting everything together step by step, to build the longawaited computer. Let’s put on our anti-static gloves, grab our screw driver and begin:
1.Let’s open the case Unscrew the four screws at the back of the case and remove both side panels by sliding them back, careful on the edges, sometimes they can be a bit sharp.
If you are using an anti-static wrist strap, this is a good time for you to connect the clip on the PC case, as shown in the example image.
Clip here
2.Make room for the DVD drive Usually on the inside of the case, at the top, there is a thin aluminum plate that needs to be removed in order to make room for the optical unit. While doing this, be careful not to cut yourself, as some of the metal bits are quite sharp. Using the screw driver, push in the top side of the plate until it bends a bit, then you can use your hand to jiggle it forward and backward until it snaps and comes off. After this we can remove the front lid of the top bay. To do this, look for 2 clips on the left and on the right of the lid. Push these and the lid should come out. 3.Installing the input / output shield Inside the box that came with the motherboard, you should have an I/O shield, that looks similar to this:
We have to remove the wrap and place this shield at the back of the case. From the inside push the shield in the slot until it clicks, as illustrated here:
The shield should be fitted in tight as the motherboard will be inserted here in the next stage of the process.
4.Installing the PSU It’s easier to put in the PSU before the motherboard so that you have room to manoeuvre components in there. Inside your PSU box you should have a small bag of screws. Let’s take the PSU and lower it into the case at the top and fix in the screws as in the image shown below:
5.Placing the standoffs Inside the case you should have a small bag containing screws and standoffs. Let’s take the standoffs out and put them inside the case as shown below:
6.Installing the motherboard Now let’s install the motherboard. Lower the motherboard inside the case and align it with the I/O Shield so that it fits perfectly. You should have something that looks like this: You can use these screws to fit the motherboard, the DVD drive and the card reader.
After the motherboard is in its place, let’s put on the screws. Each standoff that you have placed before, needs to have a screw to hold the motherboard in its place.
7.Installing optical drive In step 2 we removed the lid for the top bay, so now we can slide in the DVD Writer. Having the case front facing you, push the DVD drive inside and then fix it with screws on both sides:
Left side
Right side
8.Installing the HDD Just like the DVD drive, this time from inside the case, let’s slide in the HDD, and fix it with screws, again on both sides:
9.Installing the CPU WARNING! During this step, let’s be extra careful with the processor as it’s quite easy to damage it. Every socket and processor have an arrow in one of the corners, pointing outwards. Both arrows need to be alligned in order to do this correctly. If the processor doesn’t go in, don’t force it, or you could bend the pins.
Some sockets have a plastic cover, if so let’s remove it. Let’s lift up the metal rod next to the socket, open the metal lid and making sure the CPU is aligned properly, gently drop it in, do not push. If done correctly it should fit in like a glove. Close the lid, pull the rod down and the processor should be in its place.
10.Installing the RAM Each module has a cut in the circuit that allows it to fit perfectly in the socket. Open the 2 lock tabs on each black socket and make sure the modules are aligned correctly. Since our motherboard has 4 x DDR3 DIMM sockets with Dual channel memory architecture, we have to use each of our 2 modules to run in dual channel. We do this by placing each of the modules in either the black or the grey sockets, but not mixed. For this example, we will place them in the black sockets:
Lock Tab After the 2 modules have been placed in the black sockets, make sure you lock them by pulling the lock tabs inwards. 11.Installing the CPU Fan If your fan came inside the processor box, which is how they usually come, you do not need to apply thermal paste as the fan already has one or multiple stripes of thermal paste. If your fan does not have any paste at all, you will have to apply this so that the heat will be transferred from the processor to the heat sink. When applying thermal paste, it is very important not to overdo it. The thermal paste should be applied thinly. If the thermal paste layer is too thick, it will decrease the thermal conductivity and the excess will bleed along the edges, reaching the socket of the CPU. You don’t want this to happen, so be careful with the amount of thermal paste applied.
The fan type differs for each socket, as we are using an Intel LGA1150 socket, you should have a locking mechanism with 4 plastic pins at the bottom of fan. The way we do this is, we align the pins with the holes on the motherboard:
After which we make sure that all the plastic arrow heads are turned to the right (clockwise) and then apply force on opposite corners 2 at the same time until they click:
Push
It is important the fan is fitted in tightly to provide heat dissipation to the CPU. After installation, try moving the fan gently, if it wobbles you need to push one or more of the pins in better. We now have to untuck the CPU fan cable and plug it in to the fan socket on the motherboard.
12.Plugging in the wires
With all the components in place, it’s time to plug in the wires. At this stage, your motherboard’s manual will come in handy as it has all the diagrams you need to connect the wires. Inside the case you will find all the power cables and connectors. They might be tied together with a plastic brace; you need to cut this with sharp pliers or a knife to let the wires loose. The data cables will be in the motherboard box.
As we will see in the examples below, we have 2 types of connectors: 1.Power connectors and 2.Data connectors. Let’s get started and plug in the ATX connector. This powers your motherboard.
The latest ATX standard uses a 24-pin connector but most motherboards don’t require all 24 pins. The ATX socket is designed to work with either 20-pin or 24-pin plugs. So if your PSU has only 20 pins, it will work fine. Next we will plug in the CPU power connector which looks like this: Some motherboards such as the one we have, utilize an eight-pin +12 V CPU power connector. These 8 pin connectors are intended for processors that draw more power than a four-pin connector can supply. The CPU we have will just work fine with a 4 pin connector, so if your PSU does not have a 8 pin connector you don’t have to worry.
Next let’s connect the power supply for the DVD drive and the HDD:
Connect the case fan with the 4 pin MOLEX cable provided:
Connect the power SW, reset SW, HDD LED, power LED and speaker cables to the motherboard. Here is where your motherboard manual comes in handy as it shows you a diagram on exactly how to connect all these cables. Please note that the plugs have + and - polarity and they need to be positioned correctly for them to work. Next we will have to refer to the manual as each motherboard is different, to plug in the audio cable for your speakers and the USB ports.
Connect the SATA data cables to the HDD and the DVD drive. You will find the SATA cables in the same box as the motherboard:
Time to tidy the cables; you can use some Velcro straps to tie the cables together so they don’t hang about or touch other components such as the fan. 13.Attaching the monitor Get your monitor set up, plug in the power cable and the VGA cable, connect the VGA cable to the motherboard’s integrated graphic card. Since we are here we can also connect the mouse and the keyboard through the USB ports.
Now that everything is in place, we can attach the power cord to the PSU and plug it into the power socket. Make sure the PSU power button is turned on and then press the power button in front of your computer. If your screen turns on and displays information, your PC is ready. Let’s put back both covers on the computer case and fix them with the screws that we removed at the beginning of this tutorial. You can now insert your OS DVD, restart your PC and follow the instructions on screen to install it.
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