What you will need:
1. Choose what is most important to you and build around it. Make sure everything is compatible before you purchase it.
2. Power supply cord
3. Motherboard
4. Processor
5. Cpu cooler
6. Memory module
7. Hard drives and cables (SATA power adapters)
8. Optical drive (CD Rom/Floppy Disk Drive/Tape Drive) w/ data cables and optional audio cables.
9. Card reader and cables optional
10. Chasis Case make sure there is enough room for upgrading
11. Video adapter
12. Display monitor and its cables
13. Audio adapter (optional)
14. Speakers (optional)
15. Keyboard
16. Mouse
17. Network adapter (ethernet card)
18. Modems
19. UPS (power back up supply optional)
Creating the mainstream PC in 50 easy steps:
1. Prepare the case by selecting proper voltage
2. Remove the shipping screws
3. Carefully remove the side panel you may have to press a latch
4. Remove the factory I/O template
5. Snap the custom I/O template into place
6. Install standoffs in each mounting position
7. Verify there are no extra standoffs
8. Remove the plastic posts to release the standard brackets
9. Four mounting holes should be visible
10. Grab the base plate for the fan unit
11. Working from the bottom of the motherboard press into position
12. Drop retaining bracket into place over posts into position
13. Screw bracket and plate into place
14. Lift the socket lever to prepare the socket for the processor
15. Drop the processor into place without forcing it
16. Hold it down with your finger and lock it into place
17. Polish it with a paper towel before you install the fan
18. Apply thermal compound that is provided with the fan
19. Align the fan over the processor and seat it
20. Clamp the fan into place
21. Connect CPU fan cable into the CPU fan connector
22. Unlock the locking tabs of the DIMM memory socket outward
23. Align the first DIMM with the socket and press until it snaps into place (same with the second)
24. Slide the motherboard into place
25. Verify that the back panel connectors fit cleanly
26. Screw the motherboard into place
27. Connect the front panel switch and indicator cables
28. Connect the front panel USB cables
29. Connect the front panel firewire cables
30. Connect the front panel audio parts (optional)
31. Remove internal hard drive bay
32. Screw the drive into the bay and slide it into place until it snaps (depending on what kind)
33. Connect the serial ATA cables from the the hard drive to the motherboard after verifying jumper settings
34. Insert your video adapter and seat it securely
35. Install the mounting rails on the optical drive and verify its jumper settings
36. Connect the serial ATA cables to the optical drive and the motherboard
37. Connect power cables to all drives
38. Connect the main ATX power connector and the ATX12V power connector
39. Connect the supplemental case fan
40. Connect the front panel LED's
41. Dress the cables (move them away from the motherboard)
42. Leave the cover off and check the rocker switch in the back and run a smoke test (turn it on)
43. Check that all the fans work
44. Hard drive should spin and beep once
45. Turn it off and remove the power cord
46. Set the BIOS configuration jumper to configure located on the left front of the motherboard
47. Connect all external cables, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.
48. System will configure itself. On BIOS screen, clear all data and reset the clock, save and exit
49. When the system shuts down, disconnect the power cord move the BIOS set up configure jumper to normal
50. Replace side panel and reconnect the power.
Congratulations! You are now ready to install your operating system.
When it comes to upgrading your computer, please check with your manufacture to see their recommendations. If you have practiced with a junk computer to see what's inside and take it apart, I would recommend doing it yourself. If you are still intimidated, let someone else do it.
Building A Computer
