how to begin

[Ruel Smith]

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

firt i put my processor in the socket and place the cooling on it.

but then...should i first put my PSU in the case or should i first build
in my motherboard?

and when do i have to connect my motherboard to the psu??

1-PSU in the case
2-Motherboard risers in case
3-Motherboard in case
4-CPU on motherboard
5-HSF on CPU and fan plugged in
6-Memory on motherboard
7-Front panel and fan wires on motherboard
8-Drives in case
9-Cables on drives
10-Video card in AGP slot (I like to run the sound wires from CD/DVD to
sound ports on motherboard or sound card under the video card to tuck it in
nicely.. ) ) and any other add-in cards into proper slots - don't use
slot 1 if you use the AGP slot.
11-Mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, and power cords in correct ports

12-FIRE YOUR NEW BABY UP!

13-Set BIOS to 'Optimized Defaults'
14-Install OS
15-Get all OS updates and make sure everything still works properly
16-Install 3rd party drivers
17-Make sure all hardware works properly and troubleshoot
18-Install all of your software
19-Play with it a week and make sure everything is smooth sailing
20-Enter BIOS and start overcocking that sucker (for more info, start
another thread)

Steps 14 through 16 and step 18 can be skipped if you're restoring from an
image made from Norton's Ghost, PowerQuest Drive Image, or similar product.

 

[Roy]

hello,

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

firt i put my processor in the socket and place the cooling on it.

but then...should i first put my PSU in the case or should i first build in
my motherboard?

and when do i have to connect my motherboard to the psu??

thanks

 

[Dave C.]

hello,

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

firt i put my processor in the socket and place the cooling on it.

but then...should i first put my PSU in the case or should i first build
in
my motherboard?

and when do i have to connect my motherboard to the psu??

thanks

If your case is properly designed, it shouldn't matter what order you go in.
However, I'd suggest you put the PSU in first. The reason is simple. If
you happen to DROP the PSU while installing it, it can damage your
motherboard or any parts connected to it. I think it's better to have the
PSU firmly bolted in the case before you add the motherboard. The
motherboard connectors from the PSU should be hooked up AFTER both PSU and
motherboard are installed in the case. Basically, bolt the PSU in the case,
and leave all the PSU cables hanging outside the case (to keep them out of
the way). Install the motherboard in the case. Then find the power
connectors for the motherboard and plug them in. -Dave

 

[jaster]

hello,

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

firt i put my processor in the socket and place the cooling on it.

but then...should i first put my PSU in the case or should i first build
in my motherboard?

and when do i have to connect my motherboard to the psu??

thanks

I think psu first, unconnected to power, then install motherboard into
case, then board connectors, then cpu and fans, followed by memory and
video. It would be a good after that to check that the cpu, mem,
video, psu, keyboard and mouse work together and you can setup your bios.
Disconnect power after you've set the bios, then add fd or cd, and hd
reconnect power and reboot. Remove power and add any remaining PCI cards
and go for the OS and software installation.

 

[Jon Danniken]

hello,

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

firt i put my processor in the socket and place the cooling on it.

but then...should i first put my PSU in the case or should i first build in
my motherboard?

I install the PSU as the first thing in the case. Then I install the CPU/HSF on the
mainboard, along with the RAM. Then I install the mainboard in the case.

It's also a good idea, before you install the mainboard into the case, to investigate
all of the headers/jumpers/et cetera, all the while comparing this with what you read
in the manual; it makes it a lot easier down the road, when the mainboard is in the
case.

Jon

 

[Al Smith]

hello,

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

firt i put my processor in the socket and place the cooling on it.

but then...should i first put my PSU in the case or should i first build in
my motherboard?

and when do i have to connect my motherboard to the psu??

thanks

When I built my first computer, waaaay back ... hmmm, let me see,
it was all of three weeks ago ... there were two bits that I found
tricky.

The first was not to short out my motherboard on the brass risers
that attach the motherboard to the case. There are so many screw
holes in the support panel of the case, you can put these little
brass cylinders almost anywhere. If you happen to put one in the
wrong place, and it gets hidden behind your motherboard when you
fit the motherboard, and you *forget* how many risers you
installed, you have a really good chance of shorting out your
motherboard on your case. I *almost* did this, but then I started
to wonder how many risers I had used, and decided to check. Sure
enough, one was hiding behind the motherboard.

All you need to do is make sure that *all* of the risers are used
to attach the motherboard with screws. The risers go into the case
support panel, and the screws go into the risers, holding the
motherboard in place. Remember how many you install on the case
panel and where they are.

The other tricky bit is the wires. There are a humongous number of
wires coming off the front panel of a modern case. You wouldn't
believe how many of them there are! Fortunately for me, my Asus
instruction booklet was very clear about what should be plugged in
where, and the case came with a single sheet of paper showing what
the front mounted wires were. I discovered that the tiny black
plugs at the ends of the wires were labeled, which helped a great
deal, also. Even so, you will very likely get your power
light/harddrive activity light leads installed backwards. You will
know this by the fact that the power and harddrive lights don't
light up (or maybe stay lit all the time). Just turn the frickin'
plug upside down and replug it.

As for sequence, my power supply was already in the case, but if
it hadn't been, I would have installed that first. I put in the
motherboard after mounting the CPU, CPU heatsink and fan, and RAM
chips on the motherboard first. Then I connected everything to the
motherboard that I could connect. Then I installed my boot
harddrive and my DVD burner which also acts as my CD
reader/burner, my video card, and my floppy drive. Somehow a
computer wouldn't be a computer without a floppy drive.

Fired it up, and everything worked perfectly. Installed Windows XP
and everything still worked perfectly. Put in the rest of the
hardware -- second hard drive and a modem. Still worked perfectly.
The third day I found that my video card was defective and I had
to replace it, but otherwise no problems at all.

 

[Robert B. Clark]

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

firt i put my processor in the socket and place the cooling on it.

but then...should i first put my PSU in the case or should i first build in
my motherboard?

I'd install the PSU into the case first.

Then install the CPU and RAM onto the motherboard. This is easier to do
_before_ you install the motherboard into the case.

Install the motherboard into the case. Connect the power leads from the
PSU to the motherboard, and also connect the case switch and LED leads.

Install the video card and your floppy or optical drive.

Power on your system and test for a proper POST. Insure that you can
boot from a bootable floppy or CD-ROM.

If successful, power down and continue installing your HDD, add-in
cards, etc.

Add salt to taste, and bake at 350F for forty-five minutes.

 

[dave]

I install the PSU as the first thing in the case. Then I install the
CPU/HSF on the
mainboard, along with the RAM. Then I install the mainboard in the case.

It's also a good idea, before you install the mainboard into the case, to
investigate
all of the headers/jumpers/et cetera, all the while comparing this with
what you read
in the manual; it makes it a lot easier down the road, when the mainboard
is in the
case.

Jon

I always assemble mine 'dry' first - on a board, desk or coffee table. The
thin pink foam that comes with a new motherboard is ideal to put the mobo on
as it insulates it well. CPU + H/S fan, memory, after that it doesn't matter
as it's all so easily accessible. If there's something wrong when you put it
in the case and it's worked fine dry, then you know it's your installation
that's at fault. As far as the brass risers go, I lay the mobo gently in the
case then lift up several times as I mark the holes that line up with the
mobo with a black cd marker pen. That way I know they'll all line up and
there are the right amount there too. Of course you will have to look in the
manual to see what pins to short momentarily to start it (PWR).


David

 

[Matt]

hello,

i'm going to build my own computer, but how shall i start building??

Some motherboards have the CPU socket oriented so that it is hard to
install the cooler after the mobo is installed.

No single assembly order will work for all sets of parts. You have to
use common sense and think ahead.