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Posted 09 January 2010 - 08:38 PM
I recently decided to build myself a new desktop computer for my house, and after talking about it with a number of friends, I realized that most people have no idea what goes into building a computer yourself… so this series will explain the basics of building your own custom PC.
My primary goal with the new computer was to have a quad core machine with lots of memory, and two DVI ports so I can run dual monitors. I didn't have a huge budget, so the configuration I chose was the best I could find for the money I had.
Why Should I Build a Computer Anyway?
Sure, building your own computer is something of a rite of passage for geeks… but that isn't reason enough to build your own computer. Here's a few reasons for you to ponder:
Pick Your Price Point
The first thing you need to do is figure out how much you are willing to spend… whether $500 or $5000.
You should be able to build a very fast computer for less than $1000, just keep in mind that the very latest components are going to be way more expensive than they are worth. If you choose the next edition down for any component, you'll probably save a ton of money.
What Parts Do I Need?
Building your own computer gives you infinite possibilities in the components that you choose… want three hard drives? No problem! But what are the bare minimum parts you need for a computer?
The biggest choice you have when building a computer is the processor… do you want to use AMD or Intel? There's no right answer, but your choice will dictate the motherboards that you can use.
If you are completely unsure, choosing one of the Intel Core 2 CPUs is probably a decent choice.
Once you've chosen the processor, you'll need to examine the specs to figure out what type of motherboard you'll need. For instance, if you look at the processor I chose, you'll see that it has an LGA 775 socket type, and runs at 1066MHz bus:
Using this information, most sites allow you to do a power search by those characteristics:
This will help you make sure that your motherboard is going to match the processor that you chose. You can further refine by other specs, such as whether the board has integrated video, RAID, etc. (Note that if you plan to buy a separate video card you shouldn't get a board with integrated video on it)
You also want to make sure that you choose a motherboard that will fit in the case. For instance, if your case is ATX, you'll need an ATX motherboard:
What about my Graphics Card?
Choosing a video card hinges on the following question: Do you play PC video games?
If you do, then you should spend the money to get a good card. If you don't, then you can pretty much pick up any $50 ATI or NVIDIA DVI video card and it will work perfectly fine for your needs. Just make sure that your motherboard has the correct slot… if you buy a PCI Express x16 card, your motherboard should have that slot (most do).
If you are a gamer, you should think about getting an NVIDIA 8800 GTS card, which is going to be blazing fast. You should note that many of the higher end video cards will require a separate power connector, so you should make sure that your power supply has the right connector.
I don't usually play video games on my PC, so I decided to use an NVIDIA 7600 GT video card that I got from my brother. Even though it's a slightly older card, it's still blazing fast and more than meets my needs.
Note: If you are really not worried at all about video card performance, you could get a motherboard with integrated video, but it will be a lot slower.
How Much Memory Should I Get?
If you are going to run a 32-bit version of Windows or Linux, you should probably only get 3GB of memory since the system is not going to support more than 3.2GB of memory. If you want to use more memory, I'd recommend switching to 64-bit Windows Vista.
When buying memory, make sure that you buy memory that matches the memory standard… if the board only accepts DDR2 1066, 4×240 pin memory, make sure that you get memory that matches.
Note that sometimes the quick specs don't tell the full story… for instance the motherboard that I bought supports DDR2 800 as well as DDR2 1066 memory, so I ended up getting the cheaper memory since I'm on a budget here… having more memory is more important than memory speed.
I wouldn't advise wasting your money on the absolute fastest memory unless you plan to overclock the system.
What About DVD and Hard Drives?
There's one very simple rule: Make sure you buy only SATA drives, for both hard drives and DVD drives. The SATA bus runs at 3.0Gb/second, which makes it much faster than the ancient IDE bus. This will also protect you for the future… someday there won't be IDE ports on motherboards.
Your hard drive is the most likely component to have a failure, so the key things you want to look at are: good reviews from other buyers, and a good warranty. I recently had a hard drive come in the mail DOA… so being able to return it easily is very important.
Should I Get an Expensive Case?
When looking up cases you'll quickly notice that some of them are very expensive, and some of them are very cheap. The more expensive cases will usually run quieter or cooler than the cheap ones, and they will give you easier access to the components. You'll also find that the cheap cases come with cheap power supplies… which will not last as long and you'll end up replacing them.
If you are building a computer for your basement, you don't plan to open it often, and don't really care what it looks like, you can get by with a fairly cheap case, but you might want to buy a decent power supply.
If you are building a computer for your bedroom that you'll leave on… you should probably spend the money on a decent case that dampens the sound coming from the computer.
Final Configuration
Here's the hardware that I chose, note that the prices were as of the time I bought them. I'm not necessarily recommending this exact configuration, if I had to choose the parts again I would have bought a better case / power supply.
So you've picked out and purchased the hardware for your new computer, and you've already completed the most difficult step: Waiting for the parts to come in the mail. The next step is putting all of the pieces together, which we'll cover here.
Note: This is meant to be an overview, to explain the basics… each configuration will be somewhat different, and you should always read the manuals carefully. If you missed Part 1 of the series, we covered picking out the hardware.
Putting the Computer Together
Tools required: Screwdriver, free time, patience, some cable ties or electrical tape, and maybe an anti-static band.
The first thing to do is start carefully removing the packaging from everything and enjoying the geek moment… be very careful when unwrapping the processor, and don't drop it on the floor like I did.
I usually put the processor on the board before putting the board into the case, which makes it a little easier. Open up the latches on the processor socket…
…making sure to remove the little piece of plastic that protects the pins, of course. Note that these instructions are for an Intel processor, and might be slightly different for AMD.
Now very carefully insert the processor, making sure to align it correctly with the notches. Close the hatch carefully when you are done. You should wait to attach the fan until the motherboard is securely in place.
Your motherboard should come with a little metal cover for the back, where the ports will go. You should put that in before trying to stick the motherboard into the case.
Note: Before putting in the motherboard, make sure that the case has the right "pegs" in place for the motherboard to stand on. Some cases have the pegs built-in, but you might have to add a few. Check your manual.
Now you can carefully put the motherboard with the processor into the case, matching up the holes with the pegs.
Make sure that the motherboard lines up correctly with the holes in the port hole cover… you might end up having to bend some of the metal tabs on the inside if they were bent during shipment. The key is that all the ports should be unobstructed… make absolutely certain before screwing in the motherboard!
Now you can finally screw in the motherboard. Most motherboards have 9 screws, but that could vary. The key thing is that you should be putting the screws into the pegs so that the motherboard sits slightly above the case… and don't fasten these screws too tightly… just snug enough that the board won't be moving.
Next you'll need to start plugging in some cables… most motherboards have a 4-pin power cable that needs to be plugged in near the processor. It's important to plug this cable in first before adding the processor fan, otherwise it's usually very difficult to reach.
Tip: When putting a computer together, you should think ahead… if you connect one cable or add in a new piece, is it going to block you from putting in the next one?
Now you can add the processor fan, carefully matching up the holes and making sure that you have enough slack in the cable to plug in the power. Notice how difficult it would have been to plug in the 4-pin power cable with the fan in the way!
Tip: It would be wise to use some thermal compound between the CPU and the fan, as it helps keep the temperature down. It's pretty simple, just follow the directions on the back of the package. It's not technically required, however.
Make sure to adjust the four fasteners so that they are positioned correctly according to the manual. If you are using a stock cooler, the bigger part of the groove needs to be pointed inwards.
Once you have the fan in place, you need to push down on each of the four fasteners in a diagonal pattern. For instance, I'd push down the upper left one in this picture first, since it's crammed in the corner. Then I'd push down the one on the lower right next, and then the other two. (This is usually the most difficult step in the whole build process. Everything else is easy from here)
Next you'll want to connect the motherboard wires to the wires coming from the case for the power and reset buttons. This will be completely different based on your motherboard, so you need to check the manual. My motherboard came with a little plastic piece that made it really easy to match them up…
This was then easily plugged into the motherboard (in the lower right on this picture). You'll also need to connect your audio, USB, and any other cables coming from the case at this point, including the main motherboard power connectors. (Check your manual)
Now we're getting somewhere… slide the DVD drive in place…
And make sure to align it with the front panel in place so that it fits correctly before adding the four screws on the side (it's pretty simple). Make sure to fasten those tightly… remember that the DVD drive is a moving part and you don't want it rattling.
Now you can add the hard drive to the case. I like to put mine so that the case fan is drawing air across the hard drive. You probably want to connect the SATA cables first before putting it into place. Make sure to securely screw in the four screws, because your hard drive can make a whole lot of rattling noises if you don't.
At this point you should have most of the major pieces in place… but your cables are probably dangling all over. You should be able to use some of the included zip ties or some electrical tape to neatly tie the cables up so they aren't dangling.
Something more like this… although I'll admit I didn't do the best job of making them look nice. The point is to make sure that the cables aren't hanging around and hitting the fans if you move the machine. Making them look "pretty" is up to you. =)
I'm sure you probably thought I forgot about adding the RAM… well I didn't. I've found that on many cases adding the ram first will block you from being able to insert the hard drive, so I wait to add it until we're almost done.
First, consult your manual to figure out which memory slot you need to use. Next, make sure that the fasteners on either side are pushed Out, like you can see below:
You'll notice that the notch in the memory indicates that you can only put it in facing one direction. Line up the notches, and simply push down on the memory stick, and the fasteners should snap into place magically like this
Now you can add in your video card and any other add-on cards. Make sure that you knock the slot cover off the back first, and screw it into place securely. Remember that you'll be connecting things to the back, so take a look to make sure you lined them up to make it easy to connect the cables later.
Checklist Before Closing Up the Computer
Before you go to the trouble of putting the case back together, you should check through this list to make sure you got everything. (Note that depending on your config you might need to plug in extra items… remember to read the manual)
And you are done! That was rather fun, wasn't it?
Plug in a monitor and turn your new machine on, and hopefully it will work immediately like mine did… success!
If It Doesn't Turn On or Start Up
If the computer doesn't turn on or work right away, don't panic… the problem is most likely that something isn't connected correctly. Go back through and verify that every single cable is connected exactly as the manual says it should be.
So you've picked out the parts you want, and put the computer together… so now we need to power it on and start setting things up. Sure, you could drop your install cd in the drive, but you'll have better luck if you check a few BIOS settings and run some tests first, both of which we'll cover here.
When the computer first powers on, you'll be prompted to hit a key to enter setup (usually the Delete key). The settings you'll find in here will be different for each motherboard and BIOS version, so I'll try to be somewhat general in explaining the available options.
Setting Up the BIOS Options
Some people might be quick to point out that you can likely install an operating system with the BIOS defaults, but I think it's best to understand the important options and set them correctly before you do anything else. (Note: If you flash your BIOS to a newer version, the settings will often be wiped and you'll have to redo them)
The first screen usually lets you set your clock to the correct time, as well as disable the floppy drive (note Legacy Diskette A is disabled below).
The System Information screen will show you the current BIOS version (more on that later), and you can verify that the CPU and memory are detected correctly. If you don't see the correct numbers here, you need to verify that you installed the memory correctly. (check the manual if necessary)
The SATA Configuration screen has an option that is critically important: Do you want SATA to function as IDE or AHCI?
Here's what you need to know:
The USB Configuration screen will let you disable/enable USB… the important setting here is that USB mode should be set to use HiSpeed (480Mbps), which is usually the default setting anyway.
There is usually also a screen that will allow you to do a couple of important things… for instance disabling the serial ports or the regular IDE controller. I recommend disabling the ports that you aren't using, to keep Windows from loading unnecessary drivers for hardware you aren't using.
The Power Management screen will let you choose the power management options. If you are running Windows Vista, you'll want to make sure ACPI 2.0 is enabled.
And in the APM Configuration screen you can set a couple more important options:
Here's what you need to know:
The Boot section is also very important: You want to make sure to set the CD/DVD drive as the first boot device so you can easily boot off the installation disc. You could also choose Removable Device here if you want to boot off a USB flash drive.
Note: After you are completely finished installing, you can set the hard drive as the first boot device to speed up boot time.
You can also choose whether you want a quick boot, and whether numlock is on by default. If you are building a computer that won't have a keyboard attached (like a server), you might want to disable the "Wait For F1 If Error" option, which will allow the computer to boot even if there's a keyboard error.
Most motherboards will have a System Performance and advanced chipset configuration screens, where you can configure various overclocking scenarios, which we might cover in a future article, but for now you should probably leave everything set to Auto and not really touch those settings.
Finally, there's usually a section under Security or Boot that will allow you to set a supervisor or user password.
Usually you can set one password to prevent access to the BIOS, and another to prevent booting the system without the password. It's very important to make sure that if you do use this, you don't forget the password, because it's typically a royal pain to reset it.
Note: If there are any other BIOS settings that you feel are important, feel free to mention them in the comments.
Updating Your BIOS
Depending on the hardware you've installed in your computer, you might need to upgrade the BIOS on the motherboard before things will work correctly. (For instance, the computer I built last year didn't properly support the new Core 2 Duo processor until after I flashed it with the latest BIOS version)
In general, it's best to be running the latest BIOS version, especially if you are buying a motherboard that has been sitting on a shelf for a while. You should check the manufacturer's website for a new BIOS version (remember where we noticed the version earlier). Make sure to get the right version for your motherboard!
Unfortunately I can't give you specifics on exactly how to flash the BIOS, since it's going to be different for each motherboard. It's very important to check that chapter in your motherboard manual and follow the directions exactly.
Some motherboards might have a flash utility built into the BIOS screen that will let you update the BIOS from a file saved on a flash drive:
Others may have software that you can use from within Windows once you've already gotten everything installed:
Still others might require you to boot from a floppy, bootable cd, or usb flash drive, usually running some version of DOS or FreeDOS.
Important: Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when updating the BIOS. I've not had a bad BIOS update in many, many years… but if it happens the motherboard would probably need to be replaced. The most important thing to prevent problems is to not power the system off during the BIOS update.
Testing the Computer Before Installation
Now that you've setup all the BIOS options, it's a good idea to test the computer to make sure everything is functioning correctly. The last thing you want to do is install Windows and use it for a week, only to find out that you have a bad memory stick causing all sorts of problems.
There are a couple of options for testing… I always use an Ubuntu live cd to test out a computer first, because you can quickly boot and test out the general working operations of the computer:
For instance, within a few minutes after putting the computer together and setting up the BIOS, I was online:
The only problem with using the live cd is that you won't be testing the hard drive at all… but it's still a worthy test and it feels great to have your new computer online almost immediately.
Ultimate Boot CD
There are also a number of boot cds which you can download that contain testing tools. If you have a favorite, then be sure to let us know in the comments, otherwise you can always use the Ultimate Boot CD, which contains dozens of testing tools you can use.
Once you boot off the cd, you'll be nearly instantly prompted with the menu of tools.
If you look under Mainboard Tools, you'll find the Memory Tests section, where you can choose from a number of memory tests.
I highly recommend at least running a memory test, since RAM problems can be extremely tricky to diagnose later, and can cause everything from corrupted files to complete system crashes. It's better to know that you have a problem right away than to waste countless hours troubleshooting problems that end up being memory related.
You'll also find CPU tests and Hard drive tests, although I'll warn you that most of the generic hard drive tests won't work for SATA drives. There's a lot more options to look through if you want.
Note that I'm not necessarily recommending this boot cd over others, it's just the one that I'm most familiar with. Hopefully our great readers will suggest some good pre-installation testing tools in the comments.
The Best Test
Installing Windows on your computer is the best test of how well everything is running, which is what we'll cover in the next article. I was originally going to try and cover that here as well, but it really deserves an article by itself.
Now all you have to do is Install any OS for example:
* Ubuntu Linux.
* Windows XP.
* Windows Vista.
* Mac OS X.
* Widnows 7.
Dont forget to protect your computer with Anti Virus Programmes:
* AVG Anti-Virus.
* ESET Nod 32.
* ESET Smart Security.
* Avira AntiVir.
* KasperSky AV.
* BitDefender.
My primary goal with the new computer was to have a quad core machine with lots of memory, and two DVI ports so I can run dual monitors. I didn't have a huge budget, so the configuration I chose was the best I could find for the money I had.
Why Should I Build a Computer Anyway?
Sure, building your own computer is something of a rite of passage for geeks… but that isn't reason enough to build your own computer. Here's a few reasons for you to ponder:
- You can more easily upgrade a custom-built computer.
- By hand-picking the components, you'll end up with a much faster computer than buying a low-end Dell, which uses somewhat inferior components in order to keep the costs down.
- You can overclock the computer to get a lot more speed than the components are spec'd for.
Pick Your Price Point
The first thing you need to do is figure out how much you are willing to spend… whether $500 or $5000.
You should be able to build a very fast computer for less than $1000, just keep in mind that the very latest components are going to be way more expensive than they are worth. If you choose the next edition down for any component, you'll probably save a ton of money.
What Parts Do I Need?
Building your own computer gives you infinite possibilities in the components that you choose… want three hard drives? No problem! But what are the bare minimum parts you need for a computer?
- Case with a Power Supply
- Motherboard – Note: some motherboards come with integrated video, most have integrated sound and network.
- Processor
- Memory (RAM)
- Hard Drive
- Video Card
- DVD/CD drive – Not technically necessary, but important for installing the OS.
- LCD Monitor - If you don't already have one.
- Keyboard/Mouse – If you don't already have them.
- Speakers – If you don't already have them, and want sound.
- Etc – There are many other optional components you could add, but we won't cover them all.
The biggest choice you have when building a computer is the processor… do you want to use AMD or Intel? There's no right answer, but your choice will dictate the motherboards that you can use.
If you are completely unsure, choosing one of the Intel Core 2 CPUs is probably a decent choice.
Once you've chosen the processor, you'll need to examine the specs to figure out what type of motherboard you'll need. For instance, if you look at the processor I chose, you'll see that it has an LGA 775 socket type, and runs at 1066MHz bus:
Using this information, most sites allow you to do a power search by those characteristics:
This will help you make sure that your motherboard is going to match the processor that you chose. You can further refine by other specs, such as whether the board has integrated video, RAID, etc. (Note that if you plan to buy a separate video card you shouldn't get a board with integrated video on it)
You also want to make sure that you choose a motherboard that will fit in the case. For instance, if your case is ATX, you'll need an ATX motherboard:
What about my Graphics Card?
Choosing a video card hinges on the following question: Do you play PC video games?
If you do, then you should spend the money to get a good card. If you don't, then you can pretty much pick up any $50 ATI or NVIDIA DVI video card and it will work perfectly fine for your needs. Just make sure that your motherboard has the correct slot… if you buy a PCI Express x16 card, your motherboard should have that slot (most do).
If you are a gamer, you should think about getting an NVIDIA 8800 GTS card, which is going to be blazing fast. You should note that many of the higher end video cards will require a separate power connector, so you should make sure that your power supply has the right connector.
I don't usually play video games on my PC, so I decided to use an NVIDIA 7600 GT video card that I got from my brother. Even though it's a slightly older card, it's still blazing fast and more than meets my needs.
Note: If you are really not worried at all about video card performance, you could get a motherboard with integrated video, but it will be a lot slower.
How Much Memory Should I Get?
If you are going to run a 32-bit version of Windows or Linux, you should probably only get 3GB of memory since the system is not going to support more than 3.2GB of memory. If you want to use more memory, I'd recommend switching to 64-bit Windows Vista.
When buying memory, make sure that you buy memory that matches the memory standard… if the board only accepts DDR2 1066, 4×240 pin memory, make sure that you get memory that matches.
Note that sometimes the quick specs don't tell the full story… for instance the motherboard that I bought supports DDR2 800 as well as DDR2 1066 memory, so I ended up getting the cheaper memory since I'm on a budget here… having more memory is more important than memory speed.
I wouldn't advise wasting your money on the absolute fastest memory unless you plan to overclock the system.
What About DVD and Hard Drives?
There's one very simple rule: Make sure you buy only SATA drives, for both hard drives and DVD drives. The SATA bus runs at 3.0Gb/second, which makes it much faster than the ancient IDE bus. This will also protect you for the future… someday there won't be IDE ports on motherboards.
Your hard drive is the most likely component to have a failure, so the key things you want to look at are: good reviews from other buyers, and a good warranty. I recently had a hard drive come in the mail DOA… so being able to return it easily is very important.
Should I Get an Expensive Case?
When looking up cases you'll quickly notice that some of them are very expensive, and some of them are very cheap. The more expensive cases will usually run quieter or cooler than the cheap ones, and they will give you easier access to the components. You'll also find that the cheap cases come with cheap power supplies… which will not last as long and you'll end up replacing them.
If you are building a computer for your basement, you don't plan to open it often, and don't really care what it looks like, you can get by with a fairly cheap case, but you might want to buy a decent power supply.
If you are building a computer for your bedroom that you'll leave on… you should probably spend the money on a decent case that dampens the sound coming from the computer.
Final Configuration
Here's the hardware that I chose, note that the prices were as of the time I bought them. I'm not necessarily recommending this exact configuration, if I had to choose the parts again I would have bought a better case / power supply.
So you've picked out and purchased the hardware for your new computer, and you've already completed the most difficult step: Waiting for the parts to come in the mail. The next step is putting all of the pieces together, which we'll cover here.
Note: This is meant to be an overview, to explain the basics… each configuration will be somewhat different, and you should always read the manuals carefully. If you missed Part 1 of the series, we covered picking out the hardware.
Putting the Computer Together
Tools required: Screwdriver, free time, patience, some cable ties or electrical tape, and maybe an anti-static band.
The first thing to do is start carefully removing the packaging from everything and enjoying the geek moment… be very careful when unwrapping the processor, and don't drop it on the floor like I did.
I usually put the processor on the board before putting the board into the case, which makes it a little easier. Open up the latches on the processor socket…
…making sure to remove the little piece of plastic that protects the pins, of course. Note that these instructions are for an Intel processor, and might be slightly different for AMD.
Now very carefully insert the processor, making sure to align it correctly with the notches. Close the hatch carefully when you are done. You should wait to attach the fan until the motherboard is securely in place.
Your motherboard should come with a little metal cover for the back, where the ports will go. You should put that in before trying to stick the motherboard into the case.
Note: Before putting in the motherboard, make sure that the case has the right "pegs" in place for the motherboard to stand on. Some cases have the pegs built-in, but you might have to add a few. Check your manual.
Now you can carefully put the motherboard with the processor into the case, matching up the holes with the pegs.
Make sure that the motherboard lines up correctly with the holes in the port hole cover… you might end up having to bend some of the metal tabs on the inside if they were bent during shipment. The key is that all the ports should be unobstructed… make absolutely certain before screwing in the motherboard!
Now you can finally screw in the motherboard. Most motherboards have 9 screws, but that could vary. The key thing is that you should be putting the screws into the pegs so that the motherboard sits slightly above the case… and don't fasten these screws too tightly… just snug enough that the board won't be moving.
Next you'll need to start plugging in some cables… most motherboards have a 4-pin power cable that needs to be plugged in near the processor. It's important to plug this cable in first before adding the processor fan, otherwise it's usually very difficult to reach.
Tip: When putting a computer together, you should think ahead… if you connect one cable or add in a new piece, is it going to block you from putting in the next one?
Now you can add the processor fan, carefully matching up the holes and making sure that you have enough slack in the cable to plug in the power. Notice how difficult it would have been to plug in the 4-pin power cable with the fan in the way!
Tip: It would be wise to use some thermal compound between the CPU and the fan, as it helps keep the temperature down. It's pretty simple, just follow the directions on the back of the package. It's not technically required, however.
Make sure to adjust the four fasteners so that they are positioned correctly according to the manual. If you are using a stock cooler, the bigger part of the groove needs to be pointed inwards.
Once you have the fan in place, you need to push down on each of the four fasteners in a diagonal pattern. For instance, I'd push down the upper left one in this picture first, since it's crammed in the corner. Then I'd push down the one on the lower right next, and then the other two. (This is usually the most difficult step in the whole build process. Everything else is easy from here)
Next you'll want to connect the motherboard wires to the wires coming from the case for the power and reset buttons. This will be completely different based on your motherboard, so you need to check the manual. My motherboard came with a little plastic piece that made it really easy to match them up…
This was then easily plugged into the motherboard (in the lower right on this picture). You'll also need to connect your audio, USB, and any other cables coming from the case at this point, including the main motherboard power connectors. (Check your manual)
Now we're getting somewhere… slide the DVD drive in place…
And make sure to align it with the front panel in place so that it fits correctly before adding the four screws on the side (it's pretty simple). Make sure to fasten those tightly… remember that the DVD drive is a moving part and you don't want it rattling.
Now you can add the hard drive to the case. I like to put mine so that the case fan is drawing air across the hard drive. You probably want to connect the SATA cables first before putting it into place. Make sure to securely screw in the four screws, because your hard drive can make a whole lot of rattling noises if you don't.
At this point you should have most of the major pieces in place… but your cables are probably dangling all over. You should be able to use some of the included zip ties or some electrical tape to neatly tie the cables up so they aren't dangling.
Something more like this… although I'll admit I didn't do the best job of making them look nice. The point is to make sure that the cables aren't hanging around and hitting the fans if you move the machine. Making them look "pretty" is up to you. =)
I'm sure you probably thought I forgot about adding the RAM… well I didn't. I've found that on many cases adding the ram first will block you from being able to insert the hard drive, so I wait to add it until we're almost done.
First, consult your manual to figure out which memory slot you need to use. Next, make sure that the fasteners on either side are pushed Out, like you can see below:
You'll notice that the notch in the memory indicates that you can only put it in facing one direction. Line up the notches, and simply push down on the memory stick, and the fasteners should snap into place magically like this
Now you can add in your video card and any other add-on cards. Make sure that you knock the slot cover off the back first, and screw it into place securely. Remember that you'll be connecting things to the back, so take a look to make sure you lined them up to make it easy to connect the cables later.
Checklist Before Closing Up the Computer
Before you go to the trouble of putting the case back together, you should check through this list to make sure you got everything. (Note that depending on your config you might need to plug in extra items… remember to read the manual)
- Did you plug in the power cables to the motherboard? There's usually a 24-pin connector and a 4-pin one.
- Did you add the CPU with the fan… and did you plug in the fan power cable?
- Did you plug in the memory (RAM) securely?
- Did you plug in power cables to each of the drives (hard disk and DVD). What about the SATA cables?
- Did you remember to put four screws in each of the hard drives or DVD drives?
- Did you remember to screw in the motherboard?
- Did you plug in all the wires coming from the case into the motherboard?
- Are any cables dangling that might get caught in a fan?
And you are done! That was rather fun, wasn't it?
Plug in a monitor and turn your new machine on, and hopefully it will work immediately like mine did… success!
If It Doesn't Turn On or Start Up
If the computer doesn't turn on or work right away, don't panic… the problem is most likely that something isn't connected correctly. Go back through and verify that every single cable is connected exactly as the manual says it should be.
So you've picked out the parts you want, and put the computer together… so now we need to power it on and start setting things up. Sure, you could drop your install cd in the drive, but you'll have better luck if you check a few BIOS settings and run some tests first, both of which we'll cover here.
When the computer first powers on, you'll be prompted to hit a key to enter setup (usually the Delete key). The settings you'll find in here will be different for each motherboard and BIOS version, so I'll try to be somewhat general in explaining the available options.
Setting Up the BIOS Options
Some people might be quick to point out that you can likely install an operating system with the BIOS defaults, but I think it's best to understand the important options and set them correctly before you do anything else. (Note: If you flash your BIOS to a newer version, the settings will often be wiped and you'll have to redo them)
The first screen usually lets you set your clock to the correct time, as well as disable the floppy drive (note Legacy Diskette A is disabled below).
The System Information screen will show you the current BIOS version (more on that later), and you can verify that the CPU and memory are detected correctly. If you don't see the correct numbers here, you need to verify that you installed the memory correctly. (check the manual if necessary)
The SATA Configuration screen has an option that is critically important: Do you want SATA to function as IDE or AHCI?
Here's what you need to know:
- AHCI mode allows the computer to use the more advanced SATA functions, and will give you better performance.
- Windows XP does not natively support SATA mode. You must either create a slip-streamed install disc or use IDE mode here in order to install.
- Windows Vista or current versions of Linux will function perfectly in AHCI mode.
- Note: If you install in IDE mode and then want to switch to ACHI mode, you should follow these instructions.
The USB Configuration screen will let you disable/enable USB… the important setting here is that USB mode should be set to use HiSpeed (480Mbps), which is usually the default setting anyway.
There is usually also a screen that will allow you to do a couple of important things… for instance disabling the serial ports or the regular IDE controller. I recommend disabling the ports that you aren't using, to keep Windows from loading unnecessary drivers for hardware you aren't using.
The Power Management screen will let you choose the power management options. If you are running Windows Vista, you'll want to make sure ACPI 2.0 is enabled.
And in the APM Configuration screen you can set a couple more important options:
Here's what you need to know:
- If you want to be able to wake the computer from sleep mode using the USB mouse or keyboard, you should enable that option.
- If you want the computer to restart automatically after a power outage, set the "Restore on AC Power Loss" option.
- If your BIOS has a "Wake on LAN" function, you should decide whether to enable or disable it… sometimes enabling it will cause the computer to wake up when you aren't expecting it.
The Boot section is also very important: You want to make sure to set the CD/DVD drive as the first boot device so you can easily boot off the installation disc. You could also choose Removable Device here if you want to boot off a USB flash drive.
Note: After you are completely finished installing, you can set the hard drive as the first boot device to speed up boot time.
You can also choose whether you want a quick boot, and whether numlock is on by default. If you are building a computer that won't have a keyboard attached (like a server), you might want to disable the "Wait For F1 If Error" option, which will allow the computer to boot even if there's a keyboard error.
Most motherboards will have a System Performance and advanced chipset configuration screens, where you can configure various overclocking scenarios, which we might cover in a future article, but for now you should probably leave everything set to Auto and not really touch those settings.
Finally, there's usually a section under Security or Boot that will allow you to set a supervisor or user password.
Usually you can set one password to prevent access to the BIOS, and another to prevent booting the system without the password. It's very important to make sure that if you do use this, you don't forget the password, because it's typically a royal pain to reset it.
Note: If there are any other BIOS settings that you feel are important, feel free to mention them in the comments.
Updating Your BIOS
Depending on the hardware you've installed in your computer, you might need to upgrade the BIOS on the motherboard before things will work correctly. (For instance, the computer I built last year didn't properly support the new Core 2 Duo processor until after I flashed it with the latest BIOS version)
In general, it's best to be running the latest BIOS version, especially if you are buying a motherboard that has been sitting on a shelf for a while. You should check the manufacturer's website for a new BIOS version (remember where we noticed the version earlier). Make sure to get the right version for your motherboard!
Unfortunately I can't give you specifics on exactly how to flash the BIOS, since it's going to be different for each motherboard. It's very important to check that chapter in your motherboard manual and follow the directions exactly.
Some motherboards might have a flash utility built into the BIOS screen that will let you update the BIOS from a file saved on a flash drive:
Others may have software that you can use from within Windows once you've already gotten everything installed:
Still others might require you to boot from a floppy, bootable cd, or usb flash drive, usually running some version of DOS or FreeDOS.
Important: Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when updating the BIOS. I've not had a bad BIOS update in many, many years… but if it happens the motherboard would probably need to be replaced. The most important thing to prevent problems is to not power the system off during the BIOS update.
Testing the Computer Before Installation
Now that you've setup all the BIOS options, it's a good idea to test the computer to make sure everything is functioning correctly. The last thing you want to do is install Windows and use it for a week, only to find out that you have a bad memory stick causing all sorts of problems.
There are a couple of options for testing… I always use an Ubuntu live cd to test out a computer first, because you can quickly boot and test out the general working operations of the computer:
For instance, within a few minutes after putting the computer together and setting up the BIOS, I was online:
The only problem with using the live cd is that you won't be testing the hard drive at all… but it's still a worthy test and it feels great to have your new computer online almost immediately.
Ultimate Boot CD
There are also a number of boot cds which you can download that contain testing tools. If you have a favorite, then be sure to let us know in the comments, otherwise you can always use the Ultimate Boot CD, which contains dozens of testing tools you can use.
Once you boot off the cd, you'll be nearly instantly prompted with the menu of tools.
If you look under Mainboard Tools, you'll find the Memory Tests section, where you can choose from a number of memory tests.
I highly recommend at least running a memory test, since RAM problems can be extremely tricky to diagnose later, and can cause everything from corrupted files to complete system crashes. It's better to know that you have a problem right away than to waste countless hours troubleshooting problems that end up being memory related.
You'll also find CPU tests and Hard drive tests, although I'll warn you that most of the generic hard drive tests won't work for SATA drives. There's a lot more options to look through if you want.
Note that I'm not necessarily recommending this boot cd over others, it's just the one that I'm most familiar with. Hopefully our great readers will suggest some good pre-installation testing tools in the comments.
The Best Test
Installing Windows on your computer is the best test of how well everything is running, which is what we'll cover in the next article. I was originally going to try and cover that here as well, but it really deserves an article by itself.
Now all you have to do is Install any OS for example:
* Ubuntu Linux.
* Windows XP.
* Windows Vista.
* Mac OS X.
* Widnows 7.
Dont forget to protect your computer with Anti Virus Programmes:
* AVG Anti-Virus.
* ESET Nod 32.
* ESET Smart Security.
* Avira AntiVir.
* KasperSky AV.
* BitDefender.
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