Steps to Build a Computer

You have done your research and you are convinced as to what computer parts to use to build a computer. You have bought the parts; the next thing is to learn how to put them all together.

Tools Needed

-Motherboard manual
-Needle nose pliers (Not needed, but recommended)
-Philips head screwdriver
-Anti-static wrist strap or grounding mat
-flashlight

It is recommended to have a second computer so you can view look for further help online and possibly even download drivers.

Before you start putting all the parts together, you will need:

-A well lit room
-A space without carpet to help eliminate static energy.
-Put on your anti-static wrist trap
-Place all the parts on the anti-static bags they came in

As a safety precaution, do not plug in your computer until all the parts are in place and the case is closed up. Put your computer case on the work surface. Open up the case with the Philips screwdriver. Some cases come with a power supply. If you already bought a power supply, then you may want to remove the power supply that came with the case to retrofit the new one.

Next, screw the motherboard to the case. Now that the motherboard is in, you can now start to put other parts in place.

Plug in the CPU. Make sure you follow the manufacturer manual religiously. You can use the second computer to get tips on how your particular CPU is installed. Generally, you will need to place the CPU into the motherboard first. Then you will need to apply thermal paste, usually just a dab, to the top of the CPU. Last, you will need to install the heat sink on top of the CPU.

Now is time to add your RAM. The memory is pretty simple to install. It just snaps in. Check the motherboard manual for instructions on which DIMMs to install the memory into.

Next, if you purchased a video card, install your video card into position by placing the video card into the socket. This will either be a pci-express socket. However, older motherboards may still have an AGP slot. Most video cards will also need a connection from the power supply as well.

Next, install the hard drive and optical drive. These will both need a connection to both the motherboard and to the power supply.

It is time to add PCI cards. PCI cards are network cards, video cards, TV tuners, and sound cards. You may or may not have any of these to install.

Last, you will need to hook up your motherboard to the computer case power on, reset, etc buttons. You will need to consult your motherboard manual to see how these all connect to your particular motherboard.

Now, we can close up the computer case, plug it in, and boot up your computer. Listen for any beep sound; if there is any, turn off the computer, and check your motherboard manual for troubleshooting tips.

If everything starts up ok, you may want to configure your Computer's BIOS. You can do this by pressing the Del or F1 key almost immediately after you boot your computer. Check your motherboard documentation to learn how to configure computer BIOS. The default setting should be fine but you can configure using your motherboard manual as guide.

Finally, you can go ahead and install your operating system, Windows Office, drivers, and security software. Keep in mind that all hardware on your computer needs a driver to function.