This tutorial is intended to assist you in building a basic PC. There are obviously a plethora of possible PC configurations and hardware that you could put into your new PC if you choose. But, what we are trying to do here is help you put together a basic PC. For this reason, we are only requiring the basic components and tools to get you up and running.
Tools Required
- Screwdriver – A Phillips-head (cross-point) screwdriver is what is used in most PCs.
- Screw Extractor – If you have surgeon’s fingers you may not need this. But, if you’re human, it is likely you might drop a screw into your PC during this procedure and be too big-thumbed to get it out. A screw extractor can help you grab those screws and get them out without messing with the hardware. You definitely do not want to run your PC with loose screws in there. It could cause a short circuit.
- Flashlight – Unless you are in a fantastic lighting situation, you will likely need a flashlight to get a look of the landscape in your PC while you’re working.
- Tweezers – May be helpful for you in switching jumpers later in the tutorial.
Hardware Required
- PC Case
- Floppy Disk Drive
- Hard Drive
- CD-ROM Drive
- Processor
- Processor Cooling Fan
- Motherboard
- Memory Modules
- Power Supply
- Video Card
- Keyboard & Mouse
To build a basic PC, you will need at least a motherboard, a memory module, a processor with cooling fan, a power supply, a hard drive, a floppy drive, a video card and a CD-ROM.
Most electrically sensitive hardware comes in a static bag which is designed to protect the electronics from static electricity shock. Leave your hardware in these bags until you are ready to install them.
Software Required
- System Disk
- Device Drivers (these usually come with the hardware above)
- Operating System (for the purposes of this tutorial, we will assume you are choosing Microsoft Windows as your operating system – PC Mechanic has lots of great information on Linux and other alternatives)
Cables and Miscellaneous
- Drive cables
- Motherboard spacers (usually come with the motherboard, but are used to space the motherboard up off the mounting plate)
- Screws (usually a whole pile of screws will come with your PC’s case, but if you are using a case you happened to have around, you will need to collect some screws)
- Power cords (for both your PC and your monitor. They usually come with the hardware when you buy it, of course)
- CPU Cooling Compound
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Co0L R@5Ta
18. Jan, 2010
Hi Guys!!!
I am looking for a great website to order all components to build my PC and for delivery in england?
Thank for your help.
ronald metsjoe
31. Jan, 2010
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Search/Components/?source=googleppc&gclid=CK_rytLgzp8CFcpb4wodNHnJzg
by the way im only 12 and gonna build my own pc and ive been looking at this site hope it helps…..
ewfweew
01. Feb, 2010
newegg.com
greatest website. ever.
Chris
20. Jan, 2010
Try Maxim integrated products, or microchip. They should have everything you need.
Chris
20. Jan, 2010
Sorry, forgot to add something. You can also try amazon or ebay if you want to try get stuff cheap.
john thomas
21. Jan, 2010
newegg is teh best place for all your computer needs!!
rick
21. Jan, 2010
Frys.com is another good place for electronic components
Blah
24. Jan, 2010
Here’s my setup, will this work?:
MSI Red Motherboard (it supports my processor, I Checked)
AMD Athlon 64 x2 3.0GHz Windsor Processor
1 GB Ram
120 GB Hard Drive w/ windows XP Home edition
DVD-RW and Blu-Ray Drive
115/230w Antec Power Supply
Antec 85mm case fan w/ blue LED’s
Thermaltake CPU fan w/ Heatsink
Ben
26. Jan, 2010
Dont ya need more Ram Then that to keepit at a stedy speed, as i am useing an laptop, with 1.6GHz intel atom and it runs at i good speed with 1gb, and I knw our family pc, has a 2Ghz (err i forgot the make) but it runs on half a gb of ram, and that is prity slow, so i would of fort an 1.5gb ram up words would work a bit better.
Jenn
28. Jan, 2010
You won’t be able to watch blu-ray unless you have at the very least 2GBs of ram.
ronald metsjoe
31. Jan, 2010
will this work
1.Maxtor 1TB hard disk drive
2.Crucial memory 2GB DDR3 PC3-10600 Ballistix 1333MHz RAM 6-6-6-20 Unbuffered
3.Gigabyte motherboard P55A-UD4 P55 LGA1156 core i5 i7 DDR3 SATA3
4.Antec case Nine Hundred Gaming case
5.Gainward Geforce GT220 1024MB DDR3 PCI-E HDMI DVI VGA
6.Atrix HE 800W Black 80+ PSU Quad 12v 800T
7.Akasa AK-861CU AMD COOLER Lo-Noise 92mm Fan Copper BaseSocket 754, 939, 940
8.Akasa 13.9cm Silent Blue fan adjustable fitting for 13, 13.5, 14cm inc anti-vib
9.Zalman RC1000 Memory Cooler Titanium
10.Samsung SH-B083L/BSBP Blu-Ray Combi (BD-ROM/DVD±RW) 8x read OEM
11.Intel CPU Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz 1333FSB LGA775 6MB cache Retail inc.Fan
i got all of these from http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Search/Components/
ATNK
03. Feb, 2010
this is the best information i’ve got so far for my ist project
this stuff is cool
DC7
07. Feb, 2010
@ronald metsjoe
your motherboard seems to support only the bracket LGA1156 used in the newer core i3/i5 and for the i7-870, however your intel core2duo is of the older technology and uses the LGA775 bracket, the motherboard will not support it unless its LGA775 compatible, either get a intel i5 which i highly recommend over a core 2 duo beign the new technology and will have support for a few more years, as the support for the LGA775 is coming to an end with the new line of processors, and if you really want your setup to last a little longer, look for an intel core i7-920 D0 stepping w/ bracket LGA1366 as all the new processors that will come out in the next few months (years maybe?) will be compatible with that bracket and not the LGA1156, the last thing you want is having to upgrade your motherboard and cpu each time, and the i7 920 is much more performant than all of the other intel-based chips.