Things You'll Need:
- Screwdrivers
- Flashlight
- PC case
- Motherboard
- Power supply (PSU)
- RAM
- Graphics card (optional)
- Hard disk drive (HDD)
- Optical drive
- Operating system (OS)
- Grounding wristband
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Step 1
Purchase your components. A vast array of PC components are on the market and choosing the right ones can seem almost impossible. To effectively choose your parts, you must decide what function you'd like your computer to serve, whether it be light word processing and Internet use or heavy gaming. A PC's primary job will determine what kinds of parts are used to build it. You can use any number of PC enthusiast websites to help you with your decision.
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Step 2
After you have purchased your components, lay them out on a flat surface and take stock of what you have. Make sure all cables are untied and all packing material is removed from the parts. Put on your static wristband and attach the lead to something metal as this will keep you grounded and prevent electrostatic discharge.
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Step 3
Remove the side of your case. Determine if your case has a motherboard tray. A motherboard tray will easily come out of the case, and you will be able to mount your motherboard directly to it. If your case has no motherboard tray, you will have to place the motherboard inside of the case to mount it.
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Step 4
Mount the motherboard to the case or the tray, making sure the pre-existing brass standoffs line up with the holes drilled in the motherboard. If there aren't enough standoffs, you can add more. Do not overtighten the screws as this can result in cracks in the motherboard itself.
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Step 5
Install the CPU by placing it gently into the socket on the motherboard. Manufacturers have different standards for CPU mounting, but generally they involve securing a retaining clip over the CPU itself. After you've done this, mount the heatsink/fan (HSF) that came with your processor. It should mount easily and snugly. Plug the power lead from the HSF into the appropriate socket on the motherboard.
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Step 6
Mount the power supply, either at the top or bottom, in the rear of the case. Make sure that your PSU cables will be able to reach all of the necessary components in your case. If they can't, you can purchase extension cables online. Plug the proper connectors into the motherboard. These are usually a 20- or 24-pin ATX connector and a 12v ATX connector.
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Step 7
Install the RAM by placing it into the properly colored DIMM slots. Plug each module into the appropriately matching color.
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Step 8
Install your optical drive in the front of the case. You will usually have to remove a plastic placeholder in the front of the case. Don't worry if the plastic snaps off; this is normal. Slide the drive into the case until its face is flush with the exterior of the case. Attach the proper power cable to the back of the drive and connect it to the motherboard via SATA or IDE. Consult your drive's owner's manual to determine which spec you are using.
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Step 9
Mount the HDD in the appropriate place in your case. Cases typically have a hard drive "cage" or rack at the front, underneath the optical drive. Mount your HDD in the cage by attaching (usually four) screws into the sides of the drive. Connect the SATA or IDE cables as well as the appropriate power connectors to the drive.
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Step 10
If you are using a dedicated graphics card instead of your motherboard's onboard graphics, you will need to install your graphics card into the PCI Express slot. Do this by gently pressing down on the card into the slot until you hear a click. The small retaining latch should now be holding the card in place. Attach the appropriate power connectors from your power supply to the rear or side of the card.
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Step 11
After attaching your keyboard, mouse and monitor, power up the computer and place the operating system DVD into the optical drive. The PC should automatically boot from the drive and launch the OS installation setup. Follow the onscreen prompts to install your OS.
