How to build your own pc !

[Nyarlathotep]

Alright, this is what some of you have been waiting for. I ddin't went into much detail with the photo's. The explanantion will start from the beginning, until the end.

Every step will take up one reply.

Enjoy and if there are any questions, please feel free to ask.

[Nyarlathotep]

For starters, an empty case. As you can see (if you look closely) I already put in the floppy drive, harddrive (2x) and the cdrom). I don't think that needs a lot of explanation.

In the case I have, you are able to slide out the plate on which you install your mother board. If you do not have that possibility, don't worry, it'll be dealt with later ;)

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Empty_case.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

Here's the mother board plate I was talking about. If you have a case where you can't slide it out, you'll have to be more of a mechanic then in case of the picture. A slide out plate is much more easy as it gives you more space (and light) to install the hardware.

Note that on the plate are several gold colored "plugs". You need these to mount your motherboard on (especially if the face plate is flate). There are plates that do not require this, and those have some little "humps" where you can attach your mother board on.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Motherboard_plate.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

Just as a note, make sure you ground yourself !!!!!!!!!!

Those bracelets aren't that expensive and especially if you want to build/maintain your pc yourself, make sure you have one !

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Ground.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

The mother board attached to the plate. Make sure that you don't use extreme force to get the mobo in place. Especially don't use brute force when installing the screws. If the screw driver slides off, you might damage the mobo.

Some minor presure may be needed to get the mother board holes above the screw holes. Due to a lot of connectors onboard (printer, USB, Serial, ect) the motherboard only fits one way. Easy huh ;)

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Motherboard.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

The processor. Specially attention is required here. Please note the black dot on the processor. That's your reference how to place the processor on the motherboard.

On the mother board, you'll notice from distance that the place for the processor is a square. If you look closer, you'll notice that the holes for the processor pins arn't square. In one of the corners (usually where the lever to secure the procesor is attached) some holes are missing. That's where the black hole is supposed to be ! You can confirm that by looking to the processor pins and see if under the black dot pins are "missing". The motherboard manual also gives a good description of how to attach the processor. Hopefully the above will explain things more clear.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Processor.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

Here's the processor and cooler installed. Make sure that the cooler is attached and won't come loose if you "gently wiggel" it. In most cases, there's a pasta delivered with the processor. I suggest to use it. It makes sure the no space is left between the processor and the cooler. The pasta needs to be put on the processor surface before you put on the cooler.

Don't forget to attach the coolers power (green/yellow/green wire in the photo).

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Processor_and_coller_on_mobo.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

Installing the cards. Here's the video card. The cards only fit one way, I seriously doubt someone is able to install a card in any other way then the right way.

Most new video cards are AGP cards. These cards need to be put in the brown slot on the motherboard (like I said, they don't fit in any other).

In this case, the video card takes up two slots, as I'm not able to fit another card next to it (shown later when installing the soundcard).  This is no problem though, as it's always good to leave some room for the cooler on the video cards processor.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Video_card.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

Sound card. Notice that left an extra slot (apart from the one I couldn't use) as room for the video card's processor cooler.

Nothing much more to say actually.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Sound_card.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

The same soundcard, but then with all cables attached. What you see is an Soundblaster audigy II platinum. Platinum means that you have an extra option, which you'll see later on in the front picture (that's where most cables from this sound card run to).

These cables only fit one way. No way on earth is anyone able to install them wrongly.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Sound_card_cables.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

The dimm slots. The Dimms only fit one way. Not even with brute force is one able to install them incorrectly.

As this is a dual memory board, I need to install dimms in pairs (as that will be the fastest way for the memory to operate). If Instal one pair, I need to use the blue slots. With 2 pairs I need to fill the black slots also.

When you use pairs, either 1 or 2, make sure you use the same size of dimms. Preferably also the same brand for the best stability.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Dimm_slots.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

The slots filled. Basicly taken to confirm what I said earlier.

To install, make sure you open those white lefers on the left and right of the dimm slots. Ones opened, gently push in the dimm until those lefers click in the dimm. You may help that process by gently closing those lefers when pushing the dimm in the slot.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Dimm_slots_filled.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

So far so good. Now I need to slide everything in the case, easy as 1, 2, 3 ;D

On the right you can see that my hardrives are installed side ways. This is because there are two fans installedinfront of them. They provide cool air along past the harddrives into the case (case has a total of 6 fans, the power supply pair not included).

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Slide_all_in_case.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

I tried to get as close as possible, without making the photo all to blurry. These cables are attached to the case and need to be installed on the motherboard. The cable are for the power switch, reset switch, pc speaker and harddrive led. I usually use as rule to face the letters on those connectors down to the bottom plate of the case :)

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/onboard_cables.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

Notice the back of the cdrom. You see the small yellow cap ? That's to determine if the drive is master or slave. On the back above that cap are the settings noted, you can't miss it. The large connector is used to attach the cdrom via a IDE flat cable to the mother board. Again in this case, you almost can't install it wrongly. On the IDE cable, there's a colord line at the edge. When conncting that IDE flat cable to the cdrom, make sure it faces the power plug (to the right of the big connector you see on the photo.

The above also applies for hardrives !

To the left of the yellow cab you have the various sound connectors. Depending on your hardware, that's where you connect your sound card to.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Back_cdrom.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

In short, all that's left is to attach power and IDe flat cables and I'm done.

As I haven't received my power supply yet, I can't show that for now. But with the power supply, it all only fits one way. There's no way on earth someone can convince me they connected the power wrongly :)

When all is attached, make sure you read through the manual of the mother board to seeif you haven't forgotten anything. If all is okay, boot up and read the instructions in the mother board manual about the BIOS.

http://www.dune2k.com/image.php?image=/forum/tech/Only_power_left.jpg

[Nyarlathotep]

That's it for so far people. If anything is unclear and want a etter description, please feel free to post in here. I'm happy to explain all.

I hope the above description will help some of you to take the step to buil their own pc. If so, be sure to let me know how it went :)

[number6]

You make it look so easy! ;D

I like the way your case has a sliding out part for the motherboard. I have always bought cheap cases that you had to do all the work on the inside.

Good point about grounding. I always touch something that is metal before handling any static sensitive devices.

Man I need to get some parts and build a new system myself.

[Nyarlathotep]

Well, you have the list of the above equipment ;D

[gryphon]

nice work Doc. :)

The little dark connectors in your blurry picture, are SATA connectors arn't they ?

[ sorry, forgot which MOBO you have bought, you mentioned it in the other topic :-[ ]

I don't ground myself, mayby did it ones I can't remember .. . besides that, great article. ;) :)

[Nyarlathotep]

Yes, they are the SATA connectors. Two for RAID and 2 for single mode.

I bought the Asus P4C800 Deluxe :)

[number6]

Well, you have the list of the above equipment ;D

You forget that I have a limited PC budget. One day I will consult you for my next gaming rig which is probably a year or so off. I am thinking of building a linux only PC for non gaming needs. I can't seem to get my old PC to like the lilo boot up program.

[slaphapy]

i noticed in your picture of the processor that it was an Intel chip ( I assume pentium.. i doubt you would buy a celeron ;) )

but would you recomend Intel Pentium or AMD Athlons?

btw: what is the processor speed you put in? 3.06 GHz?

[Nyarlathotep]

It's indeed an Intel Pentium 4. It's the 3.06Ghz with 800FSB (to match the motherboard I bought).

As recommendation I would go for Intel, but that's a personal opinion. I'm sure there are many others who would go for AMD anytime :) But currently, what I've build in the pictures is the fastest setup one can have (look in the hardware thread at the latest update ;))

[Egeides]

To anyone interested into building a new PC, I'd propose to give a look at what some websites are proposing (such as www.tomshardware.com). They sometimes make "best PC for 2000$" and stuff like this, so you just need to buy and assemble.