PC Building 101, page2

 

     Assembling the components is fairly simple and usually takes about an hour or less, depending on how many problems you encounter. Generally though, hardware installation is quite simple, especially if you aren't making any modifications.

     In days past, configuring the motherboard for IRQs (Interrupt Requests), RAM type and CPU speed was a headache and a time consuming event because each setting was done via "jumpers" on the motherboard. Modern motherboards no longer require these jumper settings, and pretty much configure themselves by sensing the CPU type and speed and RAM type automatically. This makes it much easier for the DIY'ers to assemble their own PC.

    The main thing to remember is to make sure your motherboard, CPU and RAM are compatable. For instance, if you are building a PC with a Pentium4-socket478, make sure you get a motherboard with socket478. If you plan on using DDR memory, make sure the motherboard supports DDR as well. The other components such as hard drive, video and sound card are all pretty much universal. Make sure your video card (if it isn't integrated) is AGP. All modern motherboards have and AGP slot, and it is superior to PCI.

 

Basic Assembly:

1.     Mount motherboard into case

2.     Install CPU

3.     Install RAM

4.     Install video card

5.     Install PCI cards (sound, NIC, modem, etc)

6.     Install hard drive(s)

7.     Install CD/CD-RW/DVD/DVD-R

8.     Install floppy and/or ZIP drive(s)

9.     Connect led/switch leads and power harness

10.  Install OS and software

 

 

Mount the motherboard – Hopefully, your motherboard will fit into the case you selected without any modification. ATX motherboards use 6 screws for mounting. You sould be provided with 6 brass "spacer screws" that are about 1/2" long. These screw into the mounting plate in the case, to raise the motherboard off of the mounting plate thus preventing the board from shorting against the mounting plate.
Once the spacer screws are in place, then you can mount the motherboard. Line up the holes as precisely as possible, and don't tighten the screws all the way until all your add-in cards are in place. This will prevent binding of the add-in cards.

          I can only speak from my own experience, but the best motherboard manufacturers I have dealt with have been ASUS, Abit, and MSI.

 

Install the CPU - Before handling the CPU, be sure to discharge any static electricity in your body by touching a metal that isn't electronic, like a door knob. Carefully align the CPU pins with the socket (be sure not to touch the pins!), and let it drop into the socket under its own weight - never force it. Once it drops into the socket, close the retention latch.
Now you need to attach the heatsink/fan, but before you do, put a thin coat of thermal compound on top of the CPU as well as the bottom of the heatsink. I do not recommend using the thermal tape that usually comes with a heatsink. If yours has thermal tape, carefully remove it with a razor blade or sharp knife, then apply the thermal compound.
Finally, secure the heatsink/fan to the socket with whatever retention mechanism is has. (Refer to your owners manuals if you aren't sure how to do it).

 

Install the RAM – The main thing here is just to make sure the notches in the RAM slot and the RAM module line up correctly. Once you figure out the alignment, insert the RAM module using minimal force until the retention clips "snap" into place. Once they are in place, gently wiggle the RAM module to make sure it is snug.

 

Install the video card - If your video card is of the AGP type (Which hopefully it is), you will insert it into the AGP slot on the motherboard. The AGP slot is the brown slot nearest the CPU. Remove the retention screw from the case (if there is one, it is holding in a cover for the bare slot.), insert the video card, and then put the retention screw back in.

          Follow the same proceedure for all of your PCI cards (sound, modem, NIC, video capture, etc).

 

Install hard drive(s) – There are normally 2 to 6 or more internal hard drive (3 1/2") bays. Mount the hard drive(s) by screwing them to the mounting brackets, and attach the IDE cables. Most IDE cables are at least color coded to indicate proper attachment, and some are keyed so you can't install them improperly. If your cable is not keyed, insert the cable to where the red stripe corrosponds to the #1 pin indicated on the motherboard and hard drive. (As a general rule, the #1 pin is at the bottom of the IDE connector on the motherboard, and the red stripe will face out toward you on the hard drive.)

          If you have 2 hard drives sharing a cable, be sure to set one to "Master" and one to "Slave". If you aren't concerned which one is which, then the "Cable Select" option will do as well.

 

Install CD/CD-RW/DVD/DVD-R – Follow the same proceedure as with installing a hard drive. The only thing worth mentioning here, is that it is a good idea to install your CD/CD-RW/DVD/DVD-R drive on a different IDE channel than your hard drive(s). This will help to avoid problems in CD and DVD burning.

 

Install floppy and/or ZIP drives – pretty much the same as installing hard drives. *Note: if you have a CD burner, you won't need a ZIP drive, unless you just want one for some reason. Also, as a side note, I didn't install a floppy in my lastest PC because my new motherboard updates my BIOS from within WindowsXP (BIOS updates were the last thing I needed a floppy for!).

 

Connect led/switch leads and power harness – most modern cases and motherboards are labled pretty clearly when it comes to connecting the leads for the leds, power switch, PC speaker and so forth. You might need to refer to your motherboard user manual to figure it out though. This is actually the hardest part (for me) of putting a PC together. I really with there were a universal harness for these connections, but they haven't materialized yet.
Finally, plug in the ATX power harness. If you have done everything correctly, you should be able to plug in the power cable, monitor, keyboard and mouse and fire it up!

 

Install OS and software – When you hit the power button, your PC should "Post", that is, tell you the CPU speed and type, amount of RAM, hard drive size, etc.
If this happens, then you are ready to start installing the Operating System (Windows, Linux, etc.). You should be able to boot from the CD to start the installation of your operating system. If not, you may have to go into the BIOS setup and find the boot options, and set it to boot from you CD Rom (Set CD Rom as 1st boot device).

          If you have any comments, suggestions, or something I need to add, please email me.
This was just a really quick guide I wrote upon request of a couple of readers, and I'm sure it could be improved upon.
Thanks!