Build a PC With Wireless PCMCIA Slot Cards
The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) has established a standard for wireless access cards used in many laptop computers. PCMCIA cards are much less frequently used in desktops because of their small size. If you are building a new computer and want to use a PCMCIA card instead of a normal wireless network card you will need to purchase either a specialized PCI card or a drive bay that has a housing unit to hold the smaller wireless card.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide what port or slot you want to use for your PCMCIA wireless card. Choose between a PCI to PCMCIA converter, which will take up one of your computer's PCI card slots, or a PCMCIA drive bay slot, which will take up one of the drive bays that could be used for a CD or DVD drive.
-
2
Choose a motherboard for the computer that has the number of card slots and drive bays you will need for the other components. Verify what type of socket it uses to connect to a central processing unit and then purchase a processor that corresponds to that same socket. Buy a computer case that fits the motherboard and has the correct number of slots and drive bays. Check the manuals for the processor and motherboard to find out what power wattage they require to run properly and then buy a power supply that doesn't exceed that wattage amount. Pick a hard drive based on the amount of space you will require for your files and how much you want to spend for speed increases when accessing those files.
-
-
3
Buy a video and audio card that match the type of card slots your motherboard has, such as AGP, PCI or PCI-Express. See how much RAM the motherboard can handle and if it requires a specific type. Buy a set of corresponding RAM modules. Check what type of connector the video card uses and then buy a monitor with the same connector. Purchase a mouse and keyboard and then decide on the operating system that you want to use. Buy the drive bays you want to use, such as a DVD rewritable drive or a standard CD-ROM drive.
-
4
Open the computer case you purchased either by removing the case screws and pulling off the left side panel or by pulling the metal pin and sliding the panel to the left if it doesn't use screws. Place the four motherboard mounting screws, which will usually be much larger than the other screws and a different color, in the mounting slots located in each of the case's four corners. Set the motherboard onto the mounting screws and then attach the remaining case screws to hold it in place.
-
5
Set the processor down onto the motherboard's socket until it snaps into place. Set the cooling fan that came with the processor on top and screw it into place or snap on the plastic side holders if it has any. Press the RAM modules into the memory slots. Put the power supply into the largest drive bay of the case and attach the screws that came with it. Plug the first SATA cable coming out of the power supply into the corresponding SATA connector on the motherboard.
-
6
Push the audio and video cards into their slots and attach the screws if they have any. Place the PCMCIA card into the correct area for the type that you bought. Either snap the card into its proper slot if you bought a card converter or instead slide the drive into an open drive bay if you went with a full drive. Put the hard drive into an open drive bay slot and connect it to one of the power supply's SATA cables. Plug any remaining cables coming from the motherboard, such as for LED lights or case fans, into their corresponding sockets and then put the side panel back on the case.
-
7
Plug in all of the cables for the power supply, keyboard, monitor and mouse. Turn on the power to the computer and wait for it boot up. Put the installation disc for the operating system into the DVD or CD-ROM drive. Wait for the disc to load and then follow the instructions on the screen to finish putting together your computer.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
A card slot is easier to access than a drive bay if there is a problem with the PCMCIA unit, so you may want to go that route unless your motherboard won't have any available slots after installing the audio and video cards.
Don't forget about static electricity when you are building your computer. Touch a metal object set on the ground to discharge any electricity built up in your body before you touch any components.
Resources
- Photo Credit Amalgamate2000
