How to Assemble a Computer
by MichaelH715 in Circuits > Computers
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How to Assemble a Computer
What you will need:
A Computer Case
A Motherboard
A CPU
A Heatsink that is compatible with the CPU
Thermal compound
Hard Drive
A Sata Data Cable for each of the Hard Drives and Optical Drives you have
RAM
Any expansion cards that you want to install
Power Supply
Optical drive(optional)
Case Fans(if you need them)
Anti-static Mat or Anti-static Wristband
Make sure that all you computer components are compatible
Install Standoffs and the I/O Plate to the Case
The Standoffs are these small screws that lift the Motherboard off the case so that all the currents that are going through it don't short circuit with the case just line up your Motherboard to the case to see where to put the standoffs. The I/O Plate should come with the Motherboard it just pops in the empty slot and it's just to protect dust from getting through in between the ports.
Insert the CPU Onto the Motherboard and Attach the RAM to the Motherboard
These next steps are easier to do when you don't have the Motherboard in the case yet, first you put in the CPU in to the CPU slot, Make sure you have little Golden corner on the CPU and the little indent on the slot lined up. Do not force it in, It should just drop right in and then you can find the lever that locks it into place and pull that down and latch it under the hook. The RAM is Easy to put in just line up the notch in the ram slot and the hole in the ram and press down firmly until it clicks.
Step 3:Apply Thermal Paste, Attach the Heat Sink and Plug It in the The Motherboard
When applying thermal paste remember that all you need in between you CPU and Heat sink is about as much thermal paste as a grain of rice then just smear it a bit and place the heat sink on top of the CPU and lock the lever down after you fit the square hole in the slots to lock down then If you have a Heat sink that is also a fan there should be a slot on the motherboard labeled cpu fan to plug it into
Step 4: Secure the Motherboard to the Case
Screw the Screws in the Standoffs but don't tighten to much it's a breakable motherboard
Power Supply, Case Fans, Hard Drive(s), Optical Drive(s) and Adapter Cards
For the Power Supply just line up it in the corner with the hole and screw it in firmly and then for the case fans find a good place for it and screw it in, you can look up optimal air flow for computers to get a idea how to set it up the air flow depending on how many fans you have. the Hard Drives and Optical Drives are almost the same in installation the only thing different is you want to insert the optical drive from the outside of the case, Just line up the screw holes on both the slot and the Drive and screw the screws in or you will have some other type of thing to lock them in. There are many different Adapter cards and many different Expansion slots such as PCI and the PCIe x2, x4, x8 and x16 but attaching anything to them all is basically the same its kinda like putting in the ram just line up the nocth and the hole on the adapter card and press firmly until it clicks into place
Attach the Cables
So for the Cables, It's not as hard as you would think trying to attach them all. First Attach the 4-pin connector and the 24 pin connector those are the most obvious to find where they go just look at the images for more information, Then it's time to attach the cables for the Hard drive(s)/Optical Drive(s) Which are the two Sata Connectors one of them is separate and one of them is in the mess of power supply cables the one in the power supply cables should look like a bigger version or the other one and say sata on it, Then for the fans, then for the front panel connectors Look at the the motherboard and each cable and match up the labels