How to Build a Dual Core Processor PC

When you build your own personal computer, you know the quality of its components and all the functions they can perform. Assembling a dual core processor PC is a challenge, but it's also well-worth the effort. Most people can accomplish this, too, with some guidance.

Things You'll Need

• Computer case
• Dual core processor
• Dual core processor-compatible motherboard
• Hard drive
• Keyboard
• ATX power supply rated at 650 watts or higher
• Heat sink/fan
• Thermal paste
• Monitor
• Screwdriver

Instructions

Installing the Power Supply

1. Remove the computer case's side access panel. This may require removing two thumb screws at the rear face of the case.

2. Slide the ATX power supply into the docking cradle located at the top rear of the case, with the electrical cord plug facing outside. The power supply should slide right in and snap into place.

3. Take the four mounting screws that came with the power supply and secure them through the rear face of the case into the power supply's four mounting holes.

4. Do not connect the electrical cord at this time; this will be done last.

Installing the Motherboard

1. Place the motherboard into the computer case, lining up its rear access ports with the large rear access panel in the back of the case.

2. Locate the mounting holes in the motherboard. Beneath them will be mounting holes in the case. Note of which mounting holes the motherboard aligns with, and remove motherboard for now.

3. Thread the riser pins on one side to screw into the case, and repeat on the other side.

4. Install a riser screw at every case mounting hole.

5. Re-insert the motherboard into the computer case, making sure there is a riser screw beneath every motherboard mounting hole. Tighten all screws.

Adding Devices

1. In the front section of the case there will be a hard drive cage. Slide the hard drive into this cage with the data and power pins facing the motherboard.

2. Secure the drive to the computer case's drive cage with the four screws that came with the hard drive.

3. Connect the data cable to the output pins facing the rear of the drive. SATA drives use the wide flat end of the cable, and EIDE drives use either of the connectors that are on the side of the cable.

Inserting the CPU

1. Locate the CPU socket in the upper-left of the motherboard. This socket is square and has several dozen indentations in it for CPU pins.

2. Find the small lever on the side of CPU socket. Using light pressure, hold the lever and pull it toward you. This will open the socket, allowing the CPU to be inserted.

3. Align the pin pattern on the bottom of the CPU with the indention pattern on the socket. The CPU should sink slightly into the socket.

4. Very gently push the CPU down into the socket. Do not force it in. If it is not going in easily, check the CPU socket/CPU pin alignment and retry.

5. Once the CPU is in place, move the socket lever back to its original position. This may require applying a bit of pressure since the lever is spring-loaded.

Installing the Heat Sink/Fan

1. Apply a pea-sized amount of thermal paste to the center of the processor.

2. Align the heat sink/fan's mounting holes with the four holes surrounding the CPU socket.

3. Using very light pressure, press the heat sink/fan combo against the CPU, and insert one screw into each mounting hole.

4. To ensure steady pressure across the CPU surface, tighten the heat sink/fan screws from top left, bottom right, top right and finally bottom left.

5. Plug the three-pin female power connectors coming off the fan into an available male three-pin fan connector. This three-pin connector will be clearly marked on the motherboard as a fan power connector.

Connecting Internal Wires

1. The power supply will be a large 24-pin wide power connector. Attach it to the 24-pin female motherboard power connector on the right. There is only one 24-pin power connector on a motherboard, and it is keyed to connect only in one way.

2. Find the four-pin power connector labeled "P4" on the internal face of the power supply. There will be only one four-pin female connector on the motherboard and it will be located near the CPU itself. This connection is also keyed, and will connect in one direction only.

3. Find three two-wire connectors labeled "Power," "Reset," and "HD" or "Hard Drive" that end in female pin receptacles. In the very bottom right-hand corner of the motherboard there will be a two-pin connector for each of these cables. The motherboard will be labeled to show which cable goes into which set of pins. Connect them to their respective power pins.

4. Now find the computer device power connectors; they will be thin black ones for SATA hard drives and thick white ones for EIDE hard drives. Attach the appropriate power connector to the power connector located on the back of the hard drive, next to the data cable.

5. Secure the free end of the hard drive data cable to its respective data connection on the motherboard. This will be a rectangular connector for either EIDE or SATA hard drives; the EIDE connector is about four times as wide as the SATA connector. The connectors will be clearly marked on the right side of the motherboard.

6. The case has a fan at connected to the rear face above the PC Card expansion slots. This fan will have a three-pin female power connector. Connect this to three-pin fan power connector on your motherboard. The location of these case fan power connectors on the motherboard varies, but it should be near the rear face of the computer case and look exactly like the CPU fan's mounting connector.

7. Plug the computer monitor into an electrical outlet and connect its data cable to the matching blue 15-pin connector on the back of the computer case. This will be the only other cable connected to the monitor besides the power cable.

8. Connect the keyboard to either a USB port in the back of the case, or the port labeled "Keyboard" if you're using a non-USB keyboard.

9. Plug the power supply into an electrical source and prepare to power the system for the first time.

Powering Up

1. Review every step in this guide to make sure you haven't missed any.

2. Press the case's power button, and listen to for the system to power up.

3. The monitor will display a screen that says press F1 or "Delete" to enter setup.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the hardware install is complete, choose an operating system and install it per the manufacturer's instructions.

• Do not plug in the power supply before completing the system setup. Doing so could damage the hardware.

Resources

• Your DIY 4 GHz Dual Core Gaming Rig
• Specifying and Building a Dual Core Desktop PC