BUILD A HOME COMPUTER FOR GAMING OR MULTIMEDIA

HOW TO BUILD A PC

Don’t be put off with the idea of building your own pc. It really is very easy.

First lets have a look at a list of hardware you will have to buy assuming you have no hardware from an old pc that you can use.

1. Case Inc Power Pack
2. Motherboard
3. Memory (I suggest ddr2 RAM)
4. Processor
5. Hard Drive
6. DVD RW
7. Floppy Drive (Optional)
8. Graphics Card (Optional)
9. Sound Card (Optional)
10. Monitor
11. Keyboard
12. Mouse

Lets look at items 8 and 9 on the list. The reason I have marked them optional is because you can buy a relatively cheap motherboard with an inbuilt graphics and sound card. I would suggest if you wanted to build a high end games machine then you would really want to buy a separate graphics and sound card.

Ok now you have bought all your hardware. Set yourself about an hour or so to build the pc just follow these steps.

STEP 1.

Open the case

STEP 2.

Screw the motherboard in to the case using approx 6 screws. Once you have looked inside the empty case and the motherboard this will become apparent. It can only go in one way.

STEP 3.

Click in the RAM in to the motherboard. The RAM is keyed so it can only fit in one way.

STEP 4.

Insert the processor. You will notice on the top corner of the processor a little gold arrow this will match up with the motherboard. Lift the lever drop in the processor and snap the lever back down.

STEP 5.

Put the heat sink on top of the processor this is the big silver block with a fan on top. Click one side of the silver lever on one side of the processor and push down on the other side once it clicks in the job is done. This step can be a little awkward.

STEP 6.

Screw the hard drive in to one of the bays in the case using 4 screws. Then attach the cables one from the power pack and one cable from the hard drive to the motherboard that will be marked IDE 1.

STEP 7.

Screw in the DVD RW with 4 screws in to another bay in the case. Then attach the cables the same way you have done with the hard drive. With the DVD you will also have a sound cable that plugs in to the motherboard. If you look at the motherboard over view that is in the instructions with the motherboard you will see were this is.

STEP 8.

If you bought a floppy drive the steps for installing the hardware are the same as they are for the hard drive. Take a close look at the overview of the motherboard and you will see were all the cables are to be plugged in.

STEP 9.

If you bought a separate sound and graphics cards simply click them in to the motherboard. Again these items of hardware are keyed so they can only be plugged in one way. Easy.

STEP 10.

Now all the hardware is installed it is time to hook up all the leads. You have a lead from the power pack to the motherboard you will also have leads from the case that plug in to the motherboard which are the HDD power LED the reset button ect. All these leads are marked so you just simply match them up to the motherboard. Again take a look at the motherboard overview.

STEP 11.

You have now built your pc. Attach the side of the case, plug in your monitor, mouse, keyboard and speakers if you have them.

STEP 12.

Switch on your pc with a copy of your operating system in the DVD Drive lets assume you are using Windows XP. First thing to do when the setup screen is loaded quickly format the hard drive. Once the hard drive is formatted install Windows XP.

STEP 13.

Now it is time to install the software (drivers) install the motherboard drivers first. When you have done this you can easily install all the other drivers you have. Shut down the pc and restart and your pc is ready to be enjoyed.

This may look like a lot of hassle especially nowadays when pc’s are so cheap to buy. But trust me it is well worth doing and it wont take long.

Just follow it step by step and you will be fine.

I hope this HUB helps you and inspires you to give it a go. Please feel free to leave any comments or anything you want.

Until the next time thanks for reading.