| SafetyThe first thing you should do before | | | | Use that little flashlight of yours to |
| beginning any project is to be safe. | | | | locate on the motherboard(usually close to |
| | | | the front and bottom |
| When dealing with electricity is dangerous. | | | | |
| By now your probably telling me | | | | of the case)the jumper panel usually labeled |
| | | | 1. |
| that I'm stating the obvious, but many | | | | |
| people try building their own PC and | | | | It is arranged as a selection of pins. |
| | | | |
| burn up their hardware, or worse, their | | | | Due to the variety of different |
| home.First Things FirstTo start with, you | | | | configurations it is easier to refer to the |
| need some basic tools: | | | | manual on this. |
| | | | |
| Phillips screwdrivers | | | | In the manual you will also find out what to |
| | | | do with all of the other USB and Audio ribbon |
| antistatic grounding straps | | | | cables inside |
| | | | |
| small flashlight(I use the light on my cell | | | | your case.Plug In Your Mother boardDo not |
| phone) | | | | plug the computer in to the wall outlet yet. |
| | | | We are simply plugging in the power supply to |
| And most importantly: YOUR HEAD.Now We | | | | the motherboard. |
| Begin1. Locating the components for your | | | | |
| project can be a lengthy task. | | | | Refer to the manual for proper fit. ATX has |
| | | | at least two variation of plugs the small |
| Compatibility is the most important. The | | | | type from the |
| parts must fit both, electrically and | | | | |
| | | | power supply is compatible to the large type |
| physically.2. Locate a case be sure to | | | | on the motherboard if plugged up |
| balance cost with quality. Note the power | | | | properly.Plug in Your DrivesHard disks and |
| | | | CD-ROM drives use slavery. I know your |
| supply wattage, the number of drive bays and | | | | thinking I'm pulling your leg but I'm not. |
| board compatibility.3. Locate a motherboard | | | | |
| scalability is key. You want to be able to | | | | If your using only one hard drive set it to |
| upgrade. | | | | "master" by moving the jumper on the drive to |
| | | | master. |
| You also want to count expansion slots, note | | | | |
| the type of slots(PCI, PCI Express, AGP and | | | | It is usually labeled on the drive itself. |
| so on). | | | | Plug in the IDE cable from the hard disc |
| | | | |
| You need to note all data concerning memory | | | | to the "primary" IDE port on the |
| speed, type, max capacity and so on. | | | | motherboard. It is usually labeled |
| | | | too(sometimes it is colored blue). |
| You need to know the BIOS(read the manual | | | | |
| that comes with your board) | | | | Since there is only one disk it is |
| | | | master(you really only need one disk 320gb is |
| Warning: Overclocking is risky. I don't | | | | more than enough) |
| recommend it You could loose valuable data, | | | | |
| | | | If you wish to connect more than one CD-ROM |
| Or worse, you could fry your system!.4. | | | | "type"(DVD, CDR, DVDR ect..) Drive then use a |
| Locate a processor. Note the socket type that | | | | dual |
| your mother board supports(LGA775, socket A | | | | |
| ect...) | | | | IDE cable and set one of the drives to |
| | | | master and one to slave Then connect the |
| Try to find a bundle kit with heat-sink and | | | | cable from the two drives |
| fan to insure compatibility. Avoid OEM, OEM | | | | |
| | | | to the secondary IDE port on the |
| Stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer | | | | motherboard. Be sure to fully install all the |
| These products come with Logo labels. | | | | |
| | | | |
| You have to obtain a license to use them.5. | | | | drives in the case before hooking up the |
| Locate RAM(system memory). Note the type of | | | | plugs and IDE cables. Use screws supplied. |
| memory supported by your mother board. Match | | | | |
| the same type to insure compatibility(some | | | | Plug in all the power plugs in all the |
| type are reverse compatible).6. Locate a hard | | | | drives from the power supply. |
| drive. The more storage space and the higher | | | | |
| the speed the better. | | | | After installing the floppy or card reader |
| | | | plug in the special IDE and/or the Internal |
| I.E. 320GB at 7200RPM. Note the type as | | | | USB to the |
| well(ATA, SATA, Internal or external).7. | | | | |
| Locate floppy, CD, CDR., CDRW, DVD, DVDR, | | | | Motherboard The IDE has a special twist in |
| DVDRW drives of your choice. | | | | it so be sure to connect it properly(usually |
| | | | labeled) |
| Note the number of bays in your case and the | | | | |
| max allowable IDE devices for your | | | | Its smaller than the rest so plug it in to |
| motherboard. | | | | the "floppy IDE" port on the motherboard. |
| | | | |
| You may use USB or SATA if your board | | | | If its a card reader or a combo floppy card |
| supports it.8. Locate a video card. Note slot | | | | reader then plug in the internal USB to an |
| type. It must match your mother board.9. | | | | available |
| Locate a sound card PCI is standard I | | | | |
| recommend Sound Blaster for compatibility. | | | | USB Jumper Panel(refer to the manual for |
| | | | your mother board). |
| If your board already has integrated video | | | | |
| and sound, you can ignore the last two | | | | Plug in the special power plug into the |
| statements | | | | floppy drive.Plug In your RAMWhen installing |
| | | | the RAM be sure to slide each card in the |
| Unless you wish to bypass them. You then | | | | correct direction and facing the right way. |
| need to do that in BIOS(read the manual).Put | | | | |
| It All TogetherFirst, use that grounding | | | | They can really only go in one way but this |
| strap. It will keep your delicate components | | | | keeps you from damaging them by trying to |
| safe from ESD | | | | force them.Install The ProcessorBe sure to |
| | | | install the processor in the correct |
| (Electro-Static Discharge) AKA static. ESD | | | | direction. Apply Heat-sink Grease to the top |
| is the No.1 killer of computer systems in | | | | of the |
| general. | | | | |
| | | | processor and install the heat-sink and fan |
| Lightening generates it in phone lines.Its | | | | according to the instructions that came with |
| time to use that screwdriver. Begin by | | | | your heat-sink |
| opening the case. It should come with all | | | | |
| | | | or motherboard.Plug In Your Expansion |
| the screws and fasteners you need. | | | | CardsTo plug in the expansion cards IE. video |
| | | | cards, network cards, sound cards ect. |
| Start by inspecting the case. Be sure it | | | | |
| comes with a power supply if it does not then | | | | Match slot type(PCI to PCI; AGP to AGP; PCI |
| buy one. | | | | express to PCI express). |
| | | | |
| Remove the I/0 plate on the back of the case | | | | Be sure to remove the slot cover for the |
| and install the one that comes with your | | | | selected slot then install the card. |
| motherboard. | | | | |
| | | | Be sure to place a screw to hold the |
| This is to insure a perfect fit. | | | | expansion card so it does not come |
| | | | |
| Inspect the screw holes on the motherboard | | | | out of place. |
| and note their locations. | | | | |
| | | | All card basically follow the same |
| Install the screw extensions(usually | | | | installation instructions.The Final CheckTake |
| brass)that came with your case (in the same | | | | the time to look over the system and be sure |
| pattern of the mother board). | | | | all plugs are properly installed. If you have |
| | | | any doubts |
| Be sure to read the installation | | | | |
| instructions of your processor. Some socket | | | | ask don't be afraid to ask someone in the |
| types require you to install | | | | field of computers to help you or you can |
| | | | contact me.Connect The External StuffYou can |
| a backing plate underneath the board to | | | | now connect your monitor, keyboard, mouse and |
| support the heat-sink prior to board | | | | install your operating system. |
| installation. | | | | |
| | | | After your operating system is installed be |
| Install the motherboard carefully. Use | | | | sure to install all the software provided |
| supplied screws(match Thread).Wiring The | | | | with your motherboard, |
| Motherboard To the CaseI felt that this | | | | |
| subject needed its own title because of the | | | | video card, sound card, disk drives, |
| complexity. | | | | monitor, and other input devices.Your |
| | | | DoneWell you did it. Was it tough? It gets |
| You will find al sorts of wires inside the | | | | easier every time you do it. |
| case with black plugs at the ends. | | | | |
| | | | I hope you did not have any serious |
| They are labeled. Usually one colored wire | | | | problems. |
| twisted around a white wire. | | | | |
| | | | Problems crop up almost every time you build |
| The colored wire is usually the positive and | | | | a PC. |
| the white negative. | | | | |
| | | | Its how you solve those problems that |
| Polarity matters so be sure to read the | | | | matters. Well Good luck!I was born in |
| manual that came with your mother board. | | | | Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was always |
| | | | fascinated with computers and electronics as |
| The plugs are labeled as followed HDDLED; | | | | a child. I completed the Cisco Networking |
| PWRLED; PWRSW; RESETSW; SPEAKER. These plugs | | | | Academy course in At Mary G. Montgomery High |
| | | | School and attended the University of South |
| are for the lights and switches on the case | | | | Alabama majoring in computer engineering but |
| and are in some variation of the above. | | | | never completed. I'm mostly self taught. |
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