| Building your computer from individual
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| | top of the CPU, trying to make an even
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| parts starts by getting a motherboard,
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| | coat, and put the heatsink on. There
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| CPU, RAM and hard drives.
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| | will usually be a spring tension locking
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| The motherboard is the part of the
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| | lever to hold it in; use it. The single
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| computer that everything else connects
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| | largest cause of dead CPUs and
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| to; the CPU is what actually makes your
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| | motherboards is forcing the former into
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| computer a computer, the RAM is where
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| | the motherboard and bending a pin, and
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| your computer does all its work, and the
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| | trying to run it without the heat sink on
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| hard drives are where your data is
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| | it.
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| stored. You'll also need a video card,
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| | Once the CPU is put in, put the RAM into
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| and will want a network card (or wireless
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| | the slots, and plug in the hard drives.
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| networking card), and may need a sound
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| | Make sure, when you buy the hard drives,
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| card if your motherboard doesn't have
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| | that the use the same connectors that
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| onboard sound. You'll also need a
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| | come with the motherboard (which is why
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| monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and you'll
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| | we start from the motherboard and work
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| want a case to put it in and some fans.
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| | our way out). SATA hard drives are
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| Let's assume you have all the parts, and
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| | faster, larger and easier to find than
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| were smart enough to do a bundle buy at a
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| | the older IDE ones. SATA versus IDE is a
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| place like NewEgg.com, where someone else
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| | good reason to choose one hard drive over
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| selected the CPU, RAM and motherboard so
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| | the other. Most hard drive bays have
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| they'd all work together. (For computers
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| | screw mounts so you can mount the hard
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| that are "last generation" stuff, this is
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| | drives in there. If your hard drives
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| often a great way to get a really cheap
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| | come with fans, make sure the fans are
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| computer for a tiny amount of money.)
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| | connected too. Hard drives can get
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| OK, you're going to need a screwdriver, a
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| | pretty hot, and it's not good for them.
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| well lit place, and a magnifying glass
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| | Now, put in the video card, hook up the
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| doesn't hurt. Following the instructions
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| | monitor, and turn on the machine - you
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| for your case and motherboard, mount the
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| | should get a "POST" test, identifying the
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| motherboard into the case. Plug in the
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| | CPU and how much RAM you have, and with
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| leads from the power supply into the
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| | luck, it'll tell you it's found the hard
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| motherboard, and hook all the connectors
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| | drives. If it hasn't, you probably need
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| up to the front plate and backplate.
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| | to look at the motherboard's manual again
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| Power it up - there will be LEDs that
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| | and play with some jumper switches.
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| should light up; if they don't, you may
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| | Finally, plug in all the other components
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| need to talk to whoever sold you the
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| | where they're supposed to go, including
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| motherboard.
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| | that CD-ROM Drive. You'll need the
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| Now, power it down again. Put your CPU
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| | CD-ROM drive to install Windows or Ubuntu
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| into the CPU socket; this can be tricky -
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| | Linux. Leave the case open while you're
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| but don't force it. Eventually,
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| | installing the operating system, just in
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| everything will line up and it'll pop in.
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| | case something needs to be adjusted.
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| Now, practice putting the heatsink/fan
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| | You're well on your way to building your
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| on the motherboard, then take it off,
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| | own computer.
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| smear some of the thermal paste onto the
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