How to Custom Build a Workstation

Building a custom workstation gives the you the opportunity to make sure all of the components you want and need are included. You control every aspect of the machine from the cost to the power. If you have a limited budget, you will find many decisions must be made to create a workable computer with the money you have. It is possible to custom build a very powerful workstation for under $600. Plan on spending 15 to 20 hours in total to select parts, purchase parts and build the custom workstation.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Processor cooling fan/heatsink
• Video card
• Disk drive(s): floppy, CD or DVD
• Keyboard
• Flashlight
• Processor thermal transfer paste
• Tweezers
• Hard drive(s)
• Processor (CPU)
• Audio card (can purchase a motherboard with built-in audio)
• Drive cables
• Speakers
• Motherboard
• Mouse
• Monitor
• Power supply
• Memory
• Operating system disk
• Case
• Screwdriver

Build a Custom Workstation

1. Purchase all of the components you need to build the workstation, including a motherboard, CPU, hard drive, cables, keyboard and monitor.

2. Make sure the motherboard, processor and memory are all compatible. The memory must match the bus speed and slots on the motherboard. The processor must match the pins and speeds the motherboard needs.

3. Open the case.

4. Attach the power supply with the fans facing the back opening of the case and the wires facing forward for use in the computer. Select the proper voltage setting (120 or 220) for your electrical supply.

5. Attach the CPU and memory to the motherboard. Press each piece down firmly, with pressure across the whole component.

6. Apply a thin amount of thermal paste to the top of the processor and attach the heatsink/fan.

7. Configure the motherboard to match the processor, power supply and memory. Read the motherboard's manual to find and manipulate jumpers/switches on the board to match the components.

8. Attach the motherboard to the motherboard plate on the side of the case by using the standoffs (which keep the motherboard from actually contacting the case) and screws with the matching holes. Don't attach standoffs until you find holes matching the board and case.

9. Configure the various drives as either a master or slave by adjusting jumpers, if using more than 2 drives of any type. The master is read first and the slave second. The primary hard drive must be the master.

10. Install each of the drives into the various bays on the case and use the accompanying screws to secure the drives in place. You may have to remove face plates to install the floppy/disk drives.

11. Place the video card into the proper PCI slot by applying pressure along the edge of the card and sliding it straight into the slot.

12. Install the audio card if the motherboard does not have an audio system built in.

13. Attach drive cables to the motherboard and the various drives. Attach IDE cable 1 to the primary hard drive and a second drive if needed. Use IDE cable 2 for other drives.

14. Connect the power cables from the power supply to the motherboard and all of the drives.

15. Attach the mouse, keyboard, monitor, speakers and power cable to the computer.

16. Turn on the monitor and allow it to power up before moving on.

17. Power up the computer and listen for the fans and hard drives to start spinning.

18. Set your BIOS preferences.

19. Edit the CMOS on the BIOS screen to set the order in which the drives are used to start the machine. Place the drive the system disk will be in as number 1.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time building the computer to make sure you do everything right the first time.
• Make sure the power supply can provide enough power to the computer. The more drives and cards added to the workstation, the more power is needed.

[ircmate]

on 5/24/2009 If you've decided that you may want someone else to do a custom build for your workstation check out this company. They build day trading computers, multiple monitor displays, gaming computers, and can even do custom builds. They've got some pretty cool stuff!1) www.multiplexpc.com 2) http://www.multiplexpc.com/multiple-monitor-computers-s/24.htm 3) http://www.multiplexpc.com/multiple-monitor-arrays-s/1.htm