How to Build a Custom PC

Buying standard computers from stores limit users from upgrading their systems later. Home-built PCs, however, give them the features they need within their budgets. Assembling such custom machines may not be the most affordable of activities, but the personalized systems will be guaranteed to last longer as their creators, already familiarized with their productions, can diagnose each hardware- and software-related error.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer case
• Motherboard
• Processor
• RAM modules
• Graphics card
• Sound card
• Floppy drive
• Hard drive
• Optical drive
• Modem
• Firewire card

Covering the Basic Factors

1. Open up the front, sides and top consoles of the case and lay out all the pieces for the computer assembly on a table. Read the manual as well.

2. Install the motherboard after first replacing the case's stock plate with a custom one that came with the part. Screw in the basic connectors that include the power LED, case speaker, hard-disk activity light and the reset switch.

3. Mount the CPU into the motherboard socket. Then attach the cooling fan and the heat sink into the CPU bracket securely.

4. Insert RAM modules into the memory slots. Proper installation means hearing a click as each piece is added.

5. Put in an AGP graphics card correctly in its motherboard slot. Press it firmly in place so as not to have computer problems in the future.

6. Check that the I/O panel connector is placed well in the motherboard header. Disable the built-in sound prior to adding a sound card to the system.

7. Inspect that a network adapter exists in the included motherboard. Make sure to update it after starting the operating system.

Adding the Final Touches

8. Connect the ribbon cable from the floppy drive to the motherboard. Verify the settings are correct by noting that the floppy drive light does not stay on continuously while the power is on.

9. Hook up the 7200-rpm master hard drive to the motherboard's first IDE channel. Make a floppy disk with the updated drivers to flash on the operating system after the latter's installation.

10. Position the master optical drive into the second IDE channel of the motherboard. Secure and keep it from the hard drives.

11. Furnish in a V.92 standard modem. This utility ensures lightning-quick connection times and serves as a backup tool for broadband users.

12. Fasten a Firewire card into a PCI slot with a screw. Such device acts as an alternative to USB 2.0 connections.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid overtightening the screws that mount the motherboard to the computer case as they may cause cracks or breakage.