Picture Guide to Computer Building and Hardware Installation (56K)

General_X · 2009-08-04 10:00:34

This will be a step by step guide to building a custom computer, I will try to be thorough but different hardware configurations may assemble differently, so only use this guide as a starting point or for supplemental information. If you would like another similar resource with short videos showing how to install the components, check out Bozanimal's guide on his user journal RIGHT HERE! First off, if you don't know the first thing about computers and couldn't tell the difference between a motherboard and a graphics card, then read up on THIS GUIDE which will give you a brief overview about the main components of a computer, what they look like, and what they do. Please provide any suggestions or feedback in your posts. Table of Contents (1) Picking out the parts (2) Basic Computer connections (3) Computer Case Overview (4) Drive installation (5) CPU and RAM installation (6) Motherboard installation (7) Graphics Card installation (8 Power-supply installation and power connections (9) SATA or IDE connections (10) Front panel wiring (11) Operating system and driver installation (1) Picking out the parts The first step to building a custom computer is picking out all the parts you will be using. If you are unsure of what you need or are scared of picking out incompatible components, I highly suggest just making a topic right here on the PC Hardware board with a budget in dollars and allow others to pick out the parts for you. The main thing to keep in mind when picking out parts is that the cpu or motherboard you choose will decide the rest of the parts to get. An AMD socket CPU must be paired with an AMD socket motherboard and the same applies to Intel CPUs and Intel socket motherboards. Parts used in this guide Case - NZXT Apollo ORANGE NP Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 Graphics Card - XFX Radeon HD 4850 512MB Power Supply - Corsair CMPSU 400CX CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X@ 5200 Brisbane 2.7GHz Hard Drive - Western Digital Cavier Green 750GB RAM - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 DVD - Sony DVDRW Drive Operating System - Windows 7 64bit Total ~$635 with shipping A really good budget gaming rig that will be able to max most games out right now (Jul 2009) Here they are (2) Standard Computer connections and slots Overview of the motherboard Motherboard CPU socket RAM Slots (also known as DIMM slots) SATA Data connection Motherboard SATA ports Drive SATA Ports (both hard drive and DVD drive) PCI Express 16x and/or 2.0 slot PCI Express and PCI slots (From top to bottom) Motheboard Sound header(For hooking up the front headphone and mic jacks on a case) Motherboard USB header(For hooking up the front USB ports on a case) Motherboard Front Panel headers(For hooking up the power switch, reset switch, power LED, HDD activity LED, and motherboard speaker) (3) Computer Case Overview Overview of the different drive bays of an empty case (4) Drive Installation This particular computer case, like many today, is designed for a nearly tool-less installation of its components. Some people like this and others do not. Personally I like most of the toolless designs I've gotten to work with, and they usually aren't too hard to figure out. For installing the DVD-ROM drive, you have to pop out the drive cover on the front bezel of the case that will line up with the 5.25in drive bay that you will be putting the DVD drive in. Then all you have to do is slide the drive in the bay and either lock it in with the tooless latch or screw the drive in with screws provided with your case. (Sorry, didn't take pics of popping off the bezel and sliding the drive in) To install the hard drive, this case comes with a tool-less rail system that I've seen on a couple of cases. All you have to do is attach the rails to the hard drive with its drilled in screw holes and slide the hard drive into is position in the hard drive cage. The Rails Put on the drive Slide the drive into the hard drive cage Now you're ready to install the CPU and RAM into the motherboard outside the case. (5) CPU and RAM installation For installing the CPU and RAM, I prefer to do it while the motherboard is outside of the case. This especially makes CPU installation easier. CPU Installation First you need to open up the CPU socket latch, which will allow you to install the CPU Then you need to grab the CPU, making sure not to touch the top of it or bend any pins. And line up the pins with the proper holes on the socket. Many times there will also be an arrow on one corner of the CPU that should line up with an arrow on CPU socket, this will help you get the correct orientation. The CPU should just drop into place, so if you have to push it in with force you probably have it lined up incorrectly. Close the CPU socket latch, securing the CPU into place, this may require a bit of force, so be don't be scared if you have to push down on the latch hard in order to secure it. Now grab the CPU's heat-sink, all retail CPU's come with stock heatsinks. And remove the plastic cover on the bottom, exposing the thermal paste. Now depending on your which CPU manufacturer you went with, installing the heatsink may be a little different. The AM2 Socket CPUs use a latching mechanism to attach the heat sink to the motherboard, but Intel's LGA775 socket uses what are known as push pin latches that, in my opinion, are much more difficult to work with and secure. Line up the up the CPU's latches with the motherboards And lock it into place The heatsink should be attached very tightly, so if it is loose at ...

deactivated-5a9b3f32ef4e9

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#351 deactivated-5a9b3f32ef4e9

Member since 2009 • 7779 Posts

Do I have to buy the latest drivers?free_milk

Yeah, I'll sell them to you if you want.

11 years ago

free_milk

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#352 free_milk

Member since 2011 • 3903 Posts

[QUOTE="free_milk"]Do I have to buy the latest drivers?Postmortem123

Yeah, I'll sell them to you if you want.

I think I can just install for free from Amds website

11 years ago

General_X

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#353 General_X

Member since 2003 • 9137 Posts

[QUOTE="free_milk"]Good guide it's abit confusing but I'm not building it someone else is but I will make sure they read this. I am buying my CPU online it doesn't come with heatsink it comes with CPU cooler do I need a heatsink?

You will need a heatsink, if your processor does not come with one you will need to buy one elsewhere. CPUs do not need drivers unless you are planning on using a chip's integrated graphics capabilities, but if you are buying a separate graphics card I would recommend not using any sort of integrated GPU.

11 years ago

free_milk

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#354 free_milk

Member since 2011 • 3903 Posts

[QUOTE="General_X"][QUOTE="free_milk"]Good guide it's abit confusing but I'm not building it someone else is but I will make sure they read this. I am buying my CPU online it doesn't come with heatsink it comes with CPU cooler do I need a heatsink?

You will need a heatsink, if your processor does not come with one you will need to buy one elsewhere. CPUs do not need drivers unless you are planning on using a chip's integrated graphics capabilities, but if you are buying a separate graphics card I would recommend not using any sort of integrated GPU.

So i shouldnt use my cpu cooler?I should just buy a heat sink instead. When i said drivers i meant for my Graphics card.

11 years ago

General_X

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#355 General_X

Member since 2003 • 9137 Posts

[QUOTE="free_milk"][QUOTE="General_X"][QUOTE="free_milk"] [QUOTE="free_milk"][QUOTE="General_X"][QUOTE="free_milk"]Good guide it's abit confusing but I'm not building it someone else is but I will make sure they read this. I am buying my CPU online it doesn't come with heatsink it comes with CPU cooler do I need a heatsink?

You will need a heatsink, if your processor does not come with one you will need to buy one elsewhere. CPUs do not need drivers unless you are planning on using a chip's integrated graphics capabilities, but if you are buying a separate graphics card I would recommend not using any sort of integrated GPU.

So i shouldnt use my cpu cooler?I should just buy a heat sink instead. When i said drivers i meant for my Graphics card.

Yes you will need to use a CPU Cooler, as a CPU cooler is just a specific type of heatsink. Most processors will come with a CPU cooler, this is known as a "stock cooler". The stock cooler should be fine for general processor usage and gaming, but if you are wanting to overclock your processor to faster speeds then you will need to look for cpu coolers made by 3rd-party companies such as Cooler Master, Corsair, Noctua, Scythe, and more. AMD's website will have the most up-to-date drivers for your card for you to download free of charge. Make sure to check it periodically (once every month or two months) for updates that could improve your card's performance in games and give you extra features for free.

11 years ago

bbkkristian

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#356 bbkkristian

Member since 2008 • 14971 Posts

Can anybody recommend a cheap but effective graphics card?

11 years ago

free_milk

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#357 free_milk

Member since 2011 • 3903 Posts

Can anybody recommend a cheap but effective graphics card?bbkkristian

Whats your budget?Also you should make a thread instead of posting here

11 years ago

bbkkristian

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#358 bbkkristian

Member since 2008 • 14971 Posts

[QUOTE="bbkkristian"]Can anybody recommend a cheap but effective graphics card?free_milk

Whats your budget?Also you should make a thread instead of posting here

Ok. I will. (Makes thread.) I thought recommendations belonged here.

11 years ago

bbkkristian

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#359 bbkkristian

Member since 2008 • 14971 Posts

Hey guys, another question. Where would this go on the motherboard? It's a network wireless adapter. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000085BD8/ref=dp_olp_new/179-6368544-9578057?ie=UTF8&condition=new

11 years ago

free_milk

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#360 free_milk

Member since 2011 • 3903 Posts

Hey guys, another question. Where would this go on the motherboard? It's a network wireless adapter. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000085BD8/ref=dp_olp_new/179-6368544-9578057?ie=UTF8&condition=newbbkkristian

PCI slots

11 years ago

ziggyww

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#363 ziggyww

Member since 2012 • 907 Posts

Cheers for this guide I have just decided to get into PC gaming and currently saving each month to buy a powerful rig at the end of april and will be reading you guide a few times to have a clear picture of what im doing. so cheers once again

11 years ago

ziggyww

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#364 ziggyww

Member since 2012 • 907 Posts

What system would you get with a £1400 budget? I have picked a few things like a i7 3.5ghz and 16gb of dual channel ram over two sticks and a gtx670. As i just got into it I don't know if i could get better or what yourself would buy?

11 years ago

crippledmachine

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#366 crippledmachine

Member since 2013 • 256 Posts

What a fantastic guide. It sure will come handy for 1st time builders.

11 years ago

outworld222

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#367 outworld222

Member since 2004 • 4223 Posts

Got a question. I like your tutorial very much, but what if one wants to know about how to build an actual motherboard itself? And all the other hardware you mentioned? Appriciate any feedback.

11 years ago

General_X

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#368 General_X

Member since 2003 • 9137 Posts

Got a question. I like your tutorial very much, but what if one wants to know about how to build an actual motherboard itself? And all the other hardware you mentioned? Appriciate any feedback.
outworld222

You would probably have to go to college for Electrical Engineering.

11 years ago

jacobjohnson23

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#370 jacobjohnson23

Member since 2013 • 25 Posts

i have notebook at this time and i need to build best computer for games, your guide will help me. thanks.

11 years ago

horgen

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#371 horgen Moderator

Member since 2006 • 127503 Posts

If I get around to change the cooling on my GPU, I might take pictures of it and post them here. Don't hold your breath though. If it happens, it will be this summer.

11 years ago

mkeyou

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#372 mkeyou

Member since 2008 • 995 Posts

so im getting into pc gaming and im a complete noob lol . i plan on spending 700 800 dollars to build a powerful pc to play games on really good settings. , but i noticed this thread is like 3 years old.. do you still recomend using these parts? i just want to make sure. if not, what can you recomend me? ....thanks

11 years ago

horgen

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#373 horgen Moderator

Member since 2006 • 127503 Posts

so im getting into pc gaming and im a complete noob lol . i plan on spending 700 800 dollars to build a powerful pc to play games on really good settings. , but i noticed this thread is like 3 years old.. do you still recomend using these parts? i just want to make sure. if not, what can you recomend me? ....thanks
mkeyou

new parts of course. The essentials for building is the same though. Make a thread for it.

11 years ago

JoeAlfred12

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