Assembling the Components

How to Build a Computer Part 1: Choosing your Components Part 2: Assembling the Components Part 3:Installing the OS and Drivers

    Step by Step Instructions: Hardware

  • Step One: Choosing your components.

    • CPU, Motherboard, RAM, HDD/SSD, GPU, PSU, Optical Drive, and Case.

  • Step Two: Setting up the build.

Remove both side panels off of the case. Determine how to route your case wires to provide good cable management. Install components that don't directly connect to the motherboard like the PSU and HDD/SSD and Optical Drive.

  • Step Three:Install components on motherboard (outside of case).

In this step you want to get your motherboard ready by installing components that are best install outside of the case like the CPU and Memory.

  • Step Four:Install Motherboard into case.

Put in the standoffs so that the motherboard doesn't short-circuit when the system turns on. Then put in the screws where the standoffs are located to secure the motherboard.

  • Step Five: Conect the system wires.

Route the wires through the case to provide good cable management. Attach the case connectors to the specific connectors on the motherboard.

  • Step Six: Install Videocards.

Remove the case expansion slot bracket, on the slot the video card is to be installed. Install your video card in the first slot, which is the one closest to your CPU. Press down on the video card, until it is fully seated. Screw your video card down to the case by placing a screw through the card into the case expansion slot bracket and tighten it securely down.

  • Step Seven: Connect the Power Supply.

Connect the cables from the power supply to the motherboard to provide power to it and to the components that are not directly on the motherboard like the optical drive, to the HDD/SSD and the GPU.

  • Step Eight: Boot up system for the first time.

Plug the monitor cable into your graphics output source (on-board video or dedicated GPU).Turn the power switch on the PSU on. Press the power button on the case to start the system up. Listen for your Internal PC speaker to beep once, which means you have a successful first boot. If your PC doesn't post properly, I recommend rechecking if all you cable are connected properly. During the post session, press your "del" key or the appropriate key to enter into your BIOS. Review around your BIOS to make sure it has properly recognized your CPU, RAM, Hard Drive… etc. Set your boot sequence to boot from your CD/DVD drive first and hit the "F10" key to save your updated BIOS.