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