How to Build a PC

by Jo Escotal on March 10th, 2010

You have made a decision to put your dream computer together let me show what skill sets are needed to do this (gone are the days that only hardcore nerds will be able to do this) If you follow my advice your journey to geekdom will be complete.

First Thing

  1. Pray
  2. Unplug PC
  3. Backup
  4. Ground yourself (ESD strap or Touch the Metal Chassis)
  5. Pray once more to the PC Gods in giving you the strength needed to complete this task

Tool Kits are needed for installing and configuring a computer

A Closer Look of a typical tool kit:

You will need the following to tools to assemble a computer:

  • Flat Blade Screwdriver
  • Phillips Screwdriver
  • Torx Screwdriver
  • Needle-Nose Pliers
  • Flashlight
  • Compressed Air
  • Wire Cutters and Strippers
  • Multimeter
  • Magnifying Glass
  • Cable Tester
  • Wire Crimper
  • Punch down Tool

Hardware needed to install a typical PC

  • Case
  • Power Supply
  • Motherboard
  • CPU
  • Memory (ROM vs. RAM)
  • Hard Drive (PATA or SATA)
  • External Hard Drives (USB or Firewire)
  • CD or DVD Devices
  • Video Adapter and Monitor
  • Sound Card and Speakers
  • Modem and Network Adapter
  • Keyboard, Mouse and Joystick

Case Installation

  1. Open Case (usually screws on the side be careful some PC that are proprietary are a challenge to open)
  2. Connect all the various switches and LEDs t o the motherboard. You will find these connectors in a bank of connectors, usually at the bottom-right of the motherboard. Examples (Power switch, Power LED, HD LED, Speaker, and Reset)

 

Front panel connectors The motherboard User's Manual will contain a layout diagram showing its various components and connectors. In this case, the pin header for electrical connection to the front panel switches and LED’s is identified as J2.
   

The jumper definition is shown in the following table:

GN (Green Switch)

Open: Normal operation Close: Entering green mode

  

GD (Green LED)

Pin 1: LED anode(+) Pin 2: LED cathode(-)

HD (IDE hard disk active LED)

Pin 1: LED anode(+) Pin 2: LED cathode(-)

SPK (Speaker connector)

Pin 1: VCC(+) Pin 2 - Pin 3: NC Pin 4: Data(-)

RE (Reset switch)

Open: Normal operation Close: Reset hardware system

 

P+P-P- (Power LED)

Pin 1: LED anode(+) Pin 2: LED cathode(-) Pin 3: LED cathode(-)

PW (Soft power connector)

Open: Normal operation Close: Power on/off

Power Supply Installation

  1. Slide the Power Supply Unit, using the shelf as a guide in your case
  2. Supporting the Power Supply Unit at the front, screw it to the rear of the case with the supplied screws
  3. Plug the P1 Connector (20 or 24 pin) to the ATX socket (match the notch)
  4. Plug additional connectors (P4 and P8) to the other remaining P4 or P8 socket
  5. Plug the mini or floppy drive power connector to the back of the floppy drive
  6. Plug the Molex to any internal storage devices and optical devices inside your computer
  7. Plug any SATA power connector to SATA hard drives if needed

Motherboard Installation

  1. Remove the retaining screws on the case you are going to use
  2. Remove the cover
  3. Screw the stand-offs in place ready for the motherboard
  4. Screw the motherboard into place

CPU Installation

Installing a CPU Package (PGA or LGA)

  1. Pick up CPU package (PGA or LGA)
  2. Lift the socket-locking lever to the 90 degree position
  3. Align the two triangular corners of the CPU with the corresponding corners of the socket (this will indicate pin 1)
  4. Drop the CPU into the socket gently (remember ZIF Zero Insertion Force)
  5. Close the locking lever

Fitting a Heat Sink and CPU Fan

  1. The first step is to align the heat sink with the CPU. The bottom of the sink has a recess that engages with a corresponding lip in the socket
  2. Now you need to engage the locking lips. Holding the heat sink in place, engage the clip on one side over the plastic lug on the socket. You can do with your finger.
  3. Now engage the clip on the other side of the heat sink. This will require considerably more force you will probably need a flat –head screwdriver to do it.
  4. Finally, connect the fan to the motherboard’s fan power supply. This will be a 3-pin socket labeled “CPU Fan”.

Installing a CPU (SEC) Single Edge Cartridge

  1. Pick up the CPU package (SEC)
  2. Align the CPU (SEC) lining up the notch with the CPU Slot
  3. Drop the CPU into the slot gently
  4. Lock the SEC into the slot
  5. Finally connect the fan to the motherboard’s fan power supply. This will be a 3-pin socket labeled “CPU Fan”.

RAM Desktop Installation

Note RAM Memory Sticks come in the following sizes 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB SIMM – Single Inline Memory Module (30 or 72 pin)

  1. Place SIMM in a 45 degree angle, push it upright to lock with the corresponding notch on the sides
  2. Must be installed in same pairs
  3. Must populate first two slots of the SIMM sockets in order for it to work

DIMM – Dual Inline Memory Module (168, 184 or 240 pin)

  1. The first thing you do is open the plastic retaining clips on each side of slots you are going to use.
  2. Align the cut-out on the module pin connector with the engaging pin on the slot
  3. Holding the module upright press down both ends
  4. When the module is correctly seated, retaining clips should lock automatically.
  5. DIMM’s can be installed as a single pair (unless it states Dual Channel then you must install it in pairs)

RIMM – Rambus Inline Memory Module (184 or 232 pin)

  1. The first thing you do is open the plastic retaining clips on each side of slots you are going to use.
  2. Align the cut-out on the module pin connector with the engaging pin on the slot
  3. Holding the module upright press down both ends
  4. When the module is correctly seated, retaining clips should lock automatically.
  5. Must populate all RIMM slots available
  6. If not unpopulated slots must use CRIMM’s (Continuity Rambus Inline Memory Module)

Parallel ATA Hard Drive Installation

  1. Slide the hard drive along the supporting shelves until the front end is lined up with the front. Screw into place
  2. Set the master, slave or jumper setting of the hard drive
  3. Connect the Molex connector to the back of the hard drive device
  4. Connect the IDE cable to the back of the hard drive (pin 1 colored side, should be closest to the power connector)
  5. Boot up to your BIOS/CMOS setup and set your hard drive to AUTO detect

Serial ATA Hard Drive Installation

  1. Slide the SATA device along the supported shelves until the front end is lined with the front. Screw into place
  2. Connect the 7 pin SATA Power connector to the back of the SATA device
  3. Connect the 15 pin SATA connector to the back of the SATA device
  4. Connect the other end of the SATA cable to the SATA connector on the motherboard
  5. Boot up to your BIOS/CMOS setup and set your SATA device to AUTO detect

Floppy Drive Installation 

 

  1. Slide the floppy drive along the supporting shelves until the front end is lined up with the front. Screw into place
  2. Connect the mini or Floppy Drive Power connector to the socket of the Floppy Drive in the back
  3. Connect the Floppy Drive Ribbon Cable with the twist to the Floppy Drive and match pin 1(usually in cable it is colored)
  4. Connect the other end of the Floppy Drive Ribbon Cable to the Floppy Drive Connector match the corresponding notch
  5. Boot up to your BIOS/CMOS setup and set your Floppy Drive device to enable

 

USB or Firewire External Device Installation

  1. Connect the USB or Firewire connector to back of your USB or Firewire Device
  2. Connect the power to USB or Firewire Device and connect the other end to an AC Outlet
  3. Turn on your computer and since most USB or Firewire Device is PnP it should detect the Device

CD or DVD Installation

  1. Slide the CD or DVD drive along the supported shelves until the front end is lined with front. Screw into place
  2. On the back of the CD or DVD set the appropriate jumper setting to Master, Slave or Cable Select
  3. Connect the Molex connector to the back of the CD or DVD device
  4. Connect the IDE cable to the back of the CD or DVD (pin 1 colored side, should be closest to the power connector)
  5. Connect the audio cable to the back of your CD or DVD and the other end to the sound card or motherboard connector
  6. Boot up to your BIOS/CMOS setup and set your CD or DVD to auto detect

Video Card and Monitor Installation

  1. At the bottom rear of the case, you will see a number of plates adjacent to each slot on the motherboard, Remove the one next to the expansion bus you’re going to use (PCI-e, AGP or PCI)
  2. Install the video card by holding it at the edges (Avoid ESD make sure you are grounding yourself)
  3. Slide the video card into the expansion bus and press it firmly down
  4. Screw the face plate at the edge of the board to the chassis
  5. Load the video card drivers
  6. Take the VGA or DVI cable from the monitor and plug it into the video card’s VGA or DVI port at the rear of the PC

Sound Card and Speaker Installation

  1. At the bottom rear of the case, you will see a number of plates adjacent to each slot on the motherboard; Remove the one next to the PCI slot you’re going to use.
  2. Install the sound card by holding at the edges (Avoid ESD make sure you are grounding yourself)
  3. Slide the sound card into the PCI slot and press it firmly down
  4. Screw the face plate at the edge of the board to the chassis
  5. Load the sound card drivers
  6. Connect the speaker cables to the appropriate sound card port

Modem Card Installation

  1. At the bottom rear of the case, you will see a number of plates adjacent to each slot on the motherboard; Remove the one next to the PCI, ISA or AMR slot you’re going to use.
  2. Install the modem card by holding at the edges (Avoid ESD make sure you are grounding yourself)
  3. Slide the modem card into the expansion slot you’re going to use and press it firmly down
  4. Screw the face plate at the edge of the board to the chassis
  5. Load the modem card drivers

Network Card Installation

 

  1. At the bottom rear of the case, you will see a number of plates adjacent to each slot on the motherboard; Remove the one next to the PCI slot you’re going to use.
  2. Install the network card by holding at the edges (Avoid ESD make sure you are grounding yourself)
  3. Slide the network card into the PCI slot you’re going to use and press it firmly down
  4. Screw the face plate at the edge of the board to the chassis
  5. Load the network card drivers

Mouse, Keyboard and Joystick connection

  1. Connect the mouse to the USB, PS2 or Serial Port
  2. Connect the keyboard to the USB, PS2, or DIN/5 Port
  3. Connect the Joystick to the USB, or Joystick Port
  4. Load the mouse, keyboard and joystick drivers

Lets Recap

Building a PC from Scratch

  1. Prepare work area have appropriate Tool Kits, ESD Ground Strap (if rebuilding a PC unplug PC and then backup information and record settings)
  2. Populate the Motherboard – install CPU, heat sink/fan and install RAM
  3. Open Case and screw Motherboard in case
  4. Install video card in PCI, PCI-e or AGP slot (connect appropriate power and cooling mechanism)
  5. Install Floppy drives, hard drives, CD/DVD R, RW and other internal drives such Zip drives or Tape Drives. Set master/slave, set Molex and mini connectors make sure appropriate cables are match with Pin 1 on the drives and the controllers.
  6. Install PCI or ISA Add on cards such as Soundcard, Modem, Firewire, SCSI, and Modem cards
  7. Connect Power Connector (P1 or P8/P9) to the AT or ATX Socket
  8. Connect Front Panel Connectors (Power switch, Reset, HD led, and Speakers) and other additional cables such as CD ROM or audio cables
  9. Connect Peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, joystick and printers
  10. Power On (turns on on/off switch on back of power supply and turn on PC) finally finalize setting in the BIOS/CMOS listed below

OS Installation and Checklist

  1. Load OS
  2. Load Drivers
  3. Load Antivirus Software
  4. Load Antispyware Software
  5. Install Firewall
  6. Load Utilities and Plug Ins
  7. Load Applications
  8. Load latest Service Packs
  9. Tweak Computer (Security Settings and Hardened your system)
  10. Congratulations

Conclusion

Building a PC from scratch is one of those things that you must do in life. To me it's a rite of passage sore of like running the marathon or getting your first kiss. You will get plenty of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment and the most important become an official member of Geekdom.

Jo Blitz Escotal

CEO Escotal.com

 

 

Raves & Praise

Karine Bucci

Project Management

Great class, loved the interaction and team-building exercises. Plenty of materials and learning tools supplied. Although it was a full week's class, never boring. Donna [Russell] was awesome and gave many supporting examples for better understanding.

Jean S.

PMP Certification Training, Lombard, 2008

I was laid off for many months and not really getting many callbacks for my resume and no job offers. After I put the letters PMP on it, not only did I see an increase in quantity, but also quality of interviews. I had been spinning my wheels for 5 months, and after the PMP went on, I had 2 job offers in 6 weeks. It really was the "golden ticket"

Scott Wilson - Team Bradley

Employer Partner Feedback

Dawn has been a pleasure to work with. She is diligent in her efforts to give MicroTrain’s students the best opportunities to connect and network with various companies and players in the job market. The curriculums and certification programs are in line with today’s current IT needs. It’s good to see that they evolve with what employers are most seeking out there. I would recommend to any employer that hires skilled IT workers that they look into MicroTrain’s career services department as a potential source of candidates. The business of hiring can be quite costly, and Dawn and her staff provide a free service to outside companies. This value-add for MicroTrain’s students aligns with their mission in both training and job assistance to set up a win/win scenario for all involved.

Robert Graf

MCSA

Microtrain presents the course material in an interesting and concise manner. Microtrain gives the student all the resources necessary to pass the certification exams. Both the Chicago and Lombard facilities were excellent, and the staff goes to any length to accommodate any student changes.

Ron Cwik

PMP Certification Training, 2008

Great training facility. Great instructors. Great experience.

Connect with MicroTrain

Begin building a successful long-term career pathway.

(630) 981-0200

Back to Top