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FINDING COMPONENTS

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The first stage of custom building a desktop computer is deciding on the need for the system.

Will it just be intended for basic usage (such as web browsing, emailing, etc)? Or will it be used for high performance software and games?

This determines what grade of components will be used. The higher the grade of components, the higher the performance output will be.

When selecting components is important to ensure that they will be compatible together. It is particularly vital that the motherboard is compatible with everything that is to be connected to it.

The following is a list of the essential components required and links to where the components can be purchased from. Use this as a checklist. When you have ensured that all the components are ready, continue to the next section.

NOTE: This guide will not go into detail for the selection of the components, the main focus will be the actual construction.

MOTHERBOARD

The base unit in which all other components are connected to.

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CPU

The central processing unit is the ‘brains’ of the computer. It is responsible for executing programs.

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MEMORY / RAM

The temporary, quick access storage location when handling data and processes.

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GRAPHICS CARD

Controls, processes and enhances how graphics are displayed on the screen.

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POWER SUPPLY

Converts mains AC power into low-voltage regulated DC power for the internal components of the computer.

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STORAGE DRIVE

Location where all data is stored, such as documents, photos, videos, software and even the operating system.

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CASE / CHASSIS

The enclosure containing all of the components for the computer, excluding external peripherals.

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SoUND CARD

The sound card allows the computer to send audio information to an audio device like speakers or a pair of headphones.

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NETWORK CARD

A network card is the interface between a computer and a network cable. The network card prepares, sends, and controls data on the network.

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COOLING SYSTEM

The cooling system ensures that the computer does not overheat, which can be harmful to the components. This includes fans, liquid cooling and CPU heat sinks with thermal paste.

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OPTICAL DRIVE

The optical drive, more commonly known as a disc drive, allows for optical discs (software, music CDs, etc.) to be read by the computer.

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PERIPHERALS / ACCESSORIES

Peripherals are essential in order to use the computer. This includes a keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, the operating system, etc.

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MOUNTING THE CPU

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Mount the CPU in the socket of the motherboard. You must choose the correct CPU for your motherboard, and install it according to its instructions. Be careful not to install the CPU in the wrong way. Not only would your computer not work, it could short-circuit and damage your motherboard. Commonly this socket is covered and will require the lifting of a lever to access.
Connect the CPU cooler to the CPU, applying thermal paste between the connection of surfaces. Coolers for the CPU generally consist of a heat sink with a fan, but a liquid cooling system is also an effective alternative. The motherboard will have holes in which the cooler can be screwed onto.

INSERTING THE RAM

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Insert the RAM (memory) modules in the corresponding slots. The motherboard should have rows of slots that have 2 or 3 sections that are different lengths. Make sure the pins on the RAM cards line up with the pins on the motherboard connector.

NOTE: Make sure you don't get the RAM slots mixed up with PCI slots. The PCI slots are usually wider.

MOUNTING THE POWER SUPPLY

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Open the case and find the location where the power supply should be placed. Mount the power supply to the case as per the instructions provided by the case and/or power supply product. Ensure that the cables are free to move and not stuck, as they will be required later to connect to all other components that require a power source.

ATTACHING THE MOTHERBOARD

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The motherboard will come with a plate with a series of cutouts. This is where the interface input connects are placed so that they are accessible externally. This must first be attached onto the case.
Position and screw in the motherboard inside the case according to the location of the interface connections so that they match up with the holes in the previously attached plate.

MOUNTING THE DRIVES

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The storage drive can now be mounted within the case.

Generally only a single hard drive is used, though it is possible to utilise multiple storage drives. A common combination involves the use of a standard hard disk drive for mass storage of files, and a solid state drive used for storing programs and the operating system to deliver faster performance.

Mount the drive in the designated location in the case, securing it with screws.

Connect the drive to the power supply (using the cables already connected to the supply).

Connect the SATA cable into the in the drive. This will be used to connect to the motherboard to the drive, explained further in the next stage.

CONNECTING THE CABLES

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Connect the SATA cable that is plugged into the storage drive into the motherboard.

Connect the the USB connectors, case switches and case LED cables to the motherboard.

The motherboard's instructions should tell where to connect each of the cables.
Connect the 20 or 24 pin ATX connector and the 4-pin power supply control connector to the motherboard.

Both of these cables are connections between the power supply and the motherboard.

INSERTING THE OPTICAL DRIVE

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Insert the optical drive into the slot in the case and secure it by screwing it in.

Connect the ATA cable to the optical drive and plug the other end into the motherboard.

Connect the power supply to the optical drive.

CONFIGURING THE BIOS

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Ensure all of the above steps are completed correctly.

Once checked, connect the computer to a mains power supply and connect all of the external peripherals (keyboard, mouse and monitor are the essentials).

The computer can now be turned on. In order to utilise it properly, it will need the operating system installed. This is the software system that makes use of all the components and provides the graphical user interface.

To install the operating system, the BIOS must first be configured correctly. The BIOS is the basic system built into the motherboard which loads the hardware and allows for configuration of basic functions and settings hardware related. The configuration for each motherboard's BIOS will be different for each motherboard, there should be included instructions with the motherboard, but the process should be similar to what is explained in this guide.

Upon startup, there will be an indication to press any key for setup. Pressing this should allow for entry into the BIOS.
First, make sure that everything has been installed correctly. If there is a System Information page in your BIOS, check this and make sure the amount of RAM listed is the same amount you put in. If it isn't detecting all of your RAM, some of it might not be inserted correctly, so go back and fix that before continuing.

Find the SATA configuration option, and make sure its configured as AHCI.
Lastly, find the "Boot Order" or "Boot Priority" page. Make sure the optical drive is the first drive on the list (or the USB drive if you're installing the operating system from a flash drive), and that the hard drive you'll be installing to is second. This allows for the computer to detect the install disk before attempting to run anything on the hard drive (since there is no operating system on it yet).

INSTALLING THE OPERATING SYSTEM

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There are several options when it comes to selecting an operating system, the most common are Windows and Mac OS X. Linux is also another alternative, though more commonly used for experienced tech enthusiasts. Mac OS X can generally only be used with an Apple manufactured computer, and would not usually be suitable for a custom built computer. This leaves Windows as the best choice of operating system for the basic user or gamer building their own desktop computer.

It is recommended to install the latest version of the operating system. This can be obtained through purchasing a retail disk copy of the operating system in a store. Included is the required installation media disk and a personal product key.

NOTE: There are two architecture types for Windows, 64-bit and 32-bit. If you have more than 4GB of RAM, it is best to use 64-bit Windows instead of the standard 32-bit. This allows the operating system to take advantage of all of the available RAM. However the version of Windows that can be used also depends on whether the CPU is capable of running the selected version.

Insert the installation DVD (or flash drive) into the computer.

Start up the computer and it should automatically boot into the Windows installer. Follow the onscreen instructions until the installation is finished successfully.
Remove the installation disk.

Congratulations! The computer should now be in a fully functional state and the process of building your own desktop computer is complete.

ANY QUESTIONS?

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