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