How to Build A Custom Desktop Computer From Scratch

This is a follow up on my past article of buying parts for a desktop computer. Building your own computer system not only saves money, but gives you the power to get EXACTLY what you want

Things You'll Need

• Anti-static guards
• Proper cables to your parts (SATA, IDE, etc)
• Small phillips head screwdriver
• Driver software

Instructions

1. First, open up your tower, and take note whether the case has a motherboard tray, or not. The easiest way to begin building your custom computer system will be to start with the motherboard. I recommend using the anti-static packaging that comes with the motherboard as a workspace, to protect from any possible static. Take the plastic, or brass base screws of the motherboard, and add them to the case. Use as many as you can, with the minimum amount of screws being 6.

2. Now, with your motherboard not yet in the case, add the smaller components before mounting the board in your case. This includes the actual processor, RAM, and any board fans you will be using. Make sure everything is properly seated, including the motherboard, or there's a good chance you will fry your board.

3. With everything properly seated, now is the time to screw your motherboard into the base screws in the case. Make sure not to over tighten. Usually as a good measure, I tighten with a loose grip on the screwdriver.

4. Now is the time to add your drives. The larger bays are for the CD/DVD/Blu-Ray player, while the smaller are for the hard drive. At this point, don't plug them in, simply install them via screws, or if they came with convienient rails, use those.

5. Finally, insert the video card. This should be in your largest PCI-slot. Also, if your case did not come with a power supply, now is the time to install it.

6. Now, with everything properly seated, it's time to plug some power into your system. Generally, you will be using a 20 or 24 pin connection for the general motherboard, 2 - 3 pin connections for system fans, 4 pins for CPU. The manual that came with the motherboard will point this out. The case should also have various 1 to 2 pin connections for the front face of the tower (power button, USB, headphone jacks).

7. With the power cables connected, now is the time to plug in your SATA or IDE cables to your various drives!

8. Now, provided everything is seated properly, you can close your case up, and start running it. A CD should have come with the motherboard. Depending on the board, you may or may not have to configure drives in the BIOS. This CD will install all necessary drivers for the board itself (not your video card yet, it'll be running in a low-res mode)

9. After your drivers are installed, now you can format your hard drive, set up partitions, and install the operating system of your choice. After this completes, your computer will now be functional!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget anti-virus, spyware, and malware programs.

• If you're missing any non-network drivers, you can easily get them from the manufacturer's website, or in most cases, www.filehippo.com

• Watch out for static! This is a big custom desktop killer.

• Always make sure you seat everything properly. If you don't, you may lose the ground, and your components will not work. In a lot of cases, this also voids the warranty.

• Overclock your system at your own risk. Don't try it if you don't know what you're doing. This will void the warranty as well.