The Simple Guide To Building Your Very Own Personal Computer By Chris Phillips

1. Build Your Own PC! The Simple Guide To Building Your Very Own Personal Computer By Chris Phillips http://students.uta.edu/cs/csp2009

2. Why Should I? • Its not as hard as you would think • It does not take that long to complete • You get exactly what you want • It saves a good deal of money

3. AT/ATX case Motherboard & CPU Hard-drive Memory CD/DVD-ROM Floppy Drive Video Card Sound Card Modem Monitor Mouse & Keyboard Step 1:Picking The Right Parts

4. AT/ATX case • Now-a-days a case with a 300 Watt (or greater) power supply is needed to supply enough power to all the components of your computer. • Good air ventilation is important • It is very important to purchase a good quality case, because one small defect could ruin your entire computer. • Price range: $100 - $200

5. Motherboard & CPU • This is the heart and soul of the computer. This will determine the computer’s overall performance • My suggestion: just go to Fry’s Electronics and buy a motherboard/CPU combo so you don’t have to manually install the CPU • Price range: $50 - $900

6. Hard-drive • This is the device that stores all of your music, video and game files • It would be smart idea to purchase a 40GB (+) hard-drive • Price range: $50 - $200

7. Memory • Memory is very important hardware that also determines the performance of your computer • Density (MB) & frequency (MHz) are two key things to look for • You can never have enough memory • Price range: $20 - $60 for 128-256MB and $100 - $800 for 512MB-2GB

8. CD/DVD-ROM • This device is good for playing music, movies, games and installing software • Performance is measured by 1x - 52x • Price range: $20 - $100

9. Floppy Drive • This device is optional • Good for storing files under 1.44MB on 3.5 inch hard disks • A thing of the past, but nice to have • Price range: $10 - $20

10. Video Card • This device produces the visuals on screen • This device is optional. Most motherboards now-a-days have built in video processors, but an AGP/PCI card performs better • A 32MB+ card is recommended • Price range: $20 - $500

11. Sound Card • This device is what produces sound via speakers • This device is optional. Most motherboards now-a-days have very good built in sound processors, but PCI cards perform better • If you still plan to buy a sound card their price range is $50 - $300

12. Modem • This device is what connects you to the internet • ISP is required • Price range of 56K modem: $20 - $50 • Price range of DSL/Cable modems: depends on the company you contract with (normally around $100)

13. Monitor • Probably the most important piece of hardware to buy. Without it, your tower is just an oversized paperweight • Two options are available CRT and LCD. Nothing fancy needed. CRTs are cheaper and work just as good • Price range: $100 - $500

14. Mouse & Keyboard • Nothing fancy needed as long as the keyboard has all functioning keys and the mouse has left and right buttons. Both must be compatible with the operating system however • Price range: $10 - $50

15. Step 2: Precautions & Preparations • Use a flat table or floor to work on • Static electricity and its harmfulness • Surround yourself with tools. Don’t use power tools (i.e. power drill) • Keep loose screws in a can • Surround yourself with part manuals

16. Step 3: Assembling The Parts • 1: Installing the CPU onto the motherboard • 2: Installing the memory onto the motherboard • 3: Installing PCI and AGP cards onto the motherboard • 4: Installing the hard drive and CD/DVD-ROM • 5: Installing the motherboard (with components attached) • 6: Giving it power • 7: Double check

17. Step 4: Turning It On • Tweaking the BIOS • Formatting the hard-drive • Installing the operating system • Installing drivers

18. Step 5: Afterthoughts To keep your computer running effectively you might want to: • Avoid downloading harmful viruses • Keep dust out of the tower • Defragment the hard-drive

19. Resources • Tom’s Hardware • Fry’s Electronics • PC World • Newegg - This is the site where I acquired all of my hardware photos except the website logo

20. About I am a junior at The University of Texas at Arlington. My current major is Business Finance. Building computers has been a hobby of mine for 2 years. Some people like to work on their cars, I like to work on computers. If anyone has any questions feel free to e-mail me at csp2009@exchange.uta.edu

21. 1: Installing the CPU onto the motherboard • Lift lever on CPU palette • Correctly place CPU on palette with pins and holes matching up • Lower lever on CPU palette • Correctly place heat sink and fan on top of CPU

22. 2: Installing the memory onto the motherboard • Pull back the 2 levers on DIMM slots • Correctly place the memory in the DIMM slots • Push levers forward on DIMM slots to secure the memory

23. 3: Installing PCI and AGP cards onto the motherboard • Remove metal slots on back of computer case • Put PCI card in the PCI slot and bolt the metal plates down with screws • For AGP cards, first pull back tiny lever near the AGP slot. Put AGP card in and release the lever. Then bolt down metal plate with screws

24. 4: Installing the hard drive and CD/DVD-ROM • Simple step. Just put the hard drive and CD/DVD-ROM in an available bay in the pc case

25. 5: Installing the motherboard (with components attached) • Align the motherboard screw holes with the screw holes provided in the case • Screw in the motherboard. Not to tight • Make sure no part of the screw is touching the circuitry on the motherboard

26. 6: Giving it power • Plug in the AT/ATX plug (should be a 20-pin plug • Plug in the cd-rom, hard drive and floppy drive into the IDE connectors on the motherboard • Plug in the 4-pin Molex plugs into any peripheral device that requires this plug • Plug the CPU fan into the motherboard • Plug into the motherboard the wires coming from the front of the case

27. 7: Double check • It is always a good idea to go back and double check your assembly before turning on the computer for the first time