Introduction

Are you a PC building virgin? Don't worry we all had our first time and it really isn't the black art you might think it is. Today Driver Heaven shows you how to pop your electronic cherry and by following our step by step guide you will no longer be a slave to overpriced OEM PC systems. Combine this with the ultimate satisfaction you can get from building your own machine and it is a guide well worth reading!

Getting started

Before assembling a PC you’ll obviously need all the PC components. To build a basic system you’re going to need the following:
- a computer case,
- a motherboard,
- memory sticks,
- a CPU and a CPU cooler,
- a hard drive,
- an optical drive (CD/DVD-Rom) and
- a Power Supply Unit.

You’ll also need screwdrivers. Usually a Philips type screwdriver is all that is needed to get the job done. Having some cable ties ready will also come in handy towards the end of the building process. We would also recommend having some thermal grease ready, though you can avoid using it when building a PC with a brand new CPU and CPU fan.

Before building your new PC you might want to get acquainted with the motherboard first, especially if this is your first attempt at building your own rig.

1- CPU socket
2- PCI-E slot
3- PCI slots
4- Floppy drive connector
5- SATA connectors
6- System panel connector
7- IDE connector
8- 24 pin power connector
9- DIMM slots
10 -12V power connector

You can get more information about what the rest of the connectors on your motherboard are in the manual you received with it, but the list above should cover all the basics. Once you are familiar with what is what on the board it is time to get the show on the road.

Preparing the case

Before you can start installing the various PC components into the case, it is usually a good idea to make some preparations. The first step you should take here is to dismantle the case so you’ll have access to everything. Removing the side covers is a must and you should also remove the front cover if possible. The case we will be using in this guide has a removable front cover, which will be important later when installing the optical drives.

The above pictures show our case with every possible cover removed. The cables that can be seen in the first and third picture are the front panel connectors, the case fan cables and the front USB and audio jack cables. Most if not all newer computer cases come with at least one case fan as part of the package (installing these fans takes only a few seconds). Depending on the layout of your case you might want to install the fans before you insert anything else into the case, avoiding the risk of damaging something during the fan installation. On the other hand you might have an easier time installing the motherboard if the back fan isn’t in place, as you will have more room to position the board.

Once your case is ready it is time to install the copper mounting screws. They are an integral part of the whole setup, as they are the only thing that separates your brand new motherboard from the cold metallic embrace of the case. Failing to install the mounting screws correctly will ensure that your motherboard will get fried the moment you start up your system.

So how to decide how many screws to use and where to put them? Have a look at your motherboard. You should see 6 to 9 holes positioned around the motherboard, usually 3 in a line from one side of the board to the other. As always, reading the manual to find the exact number and location of these holes is recommended. Once you know how many screws you will need and where to put them it’s time to get to work.

To help you figure out which holes in the case you should use for the screws (sometimes there are as many as 20 holes available) you should put the motherboard in its place, holding it an inch or so above the case. Make a mental image of which holes in the case match the holes in the board and put the motherboard back into a safe place. Using the mental image you just made, screw in all the mounting screws into the appropriate spots. Once done you should once again place the motherboard into the case and double check that all of the mounting screws match the board holes. You have to be very careful here, as just one screw in the wrong place can lead to an untimely death of your motherboard. That said, don’t panic, just take it slowly, this isn’t a speed building competition.