You Can Build A PC | Build a Computer

Assembly

June 9th, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

Things You Should Know

The amount of money it takes to build a computer depends on you:

You can make your computer as simple or as complex as you want. It all depends on how much you want to spend, and how quickly you can learn everything. It also depends on where you buy your parts. You can get the same quality parts on eBay as you can in your nearest electronics store. Don’t worry about buying used on eBay, I think of it as buying “Pre-tested” parts.
Not everything will go as planned:

What fun would that be? Building a computer requires patience since the chances of getting a bad part here or there is a reality and can really throw a wrench in your plans. That’s why I’ve included a Message Boards section. There you can post any problems you’ve encountered and other users can help you out in overcoming them. I’ve found that when it comes down to calling the manufacturer or consulting a Message Board online, I’ve found the Message Boards to be 99% more effective because you don’t have to wait on hold and you’re talking to people who have encountered the same or similar problems. Even though I’ve been building computers for 6 years I still encounter problems all the time. With something as complex as a computer with so many parts, the chance of something going bad is higher than it is with most other things. Don’t let this discourage you though. Building your own computer is extremely rewarding and will allow you to understand it better, and thus fix it without the help of the kid next door or some technician that charges $79 per hour!
Be careful with static electricity:

computers contain a lot of small electronic components that are very sensitive to electricity so it is important that you work in a static free environment. What is a static free environment? Simply put, it is the location you are in when building the computer that prevents you from building up static electricity and pass it to the computer. This can be achieved very simply by wearing rubber soled shoes and standing on a surface that does not conduct electricity. Tile, wood, and concrete are perfect surfaces to stand on, carpet is not a good option. If you don’t have access to this kind of area then it may be a good idea to invest in an Anti-Static Wristband. The wristband is connected to a wire that clips to the case of the motherboard. The contact between your skin and the case disperses any built up electricity safely to the case and helps save the components in your computer.
Finally, don’t be afraid to make a mistake:

By doing something that you’ve never done before you are growing as a person and learning a great deal. I’ve always been a firm believer that the best way to learn is to make mistakes. If you tell a kid not to touch the stove while it’s on he’ll wonder why and keep trying to do it. If he finally gets away with it and burns his hand, you can bet he’ll never do it again because he learned from his own mistake. The best way to learn about computers is to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Tools That You Will Need

Believe it or not, the assembly of a computer requires no more than:

A Phillips head screwdriver
Possibly a flashlight
A clean working area
Possibly an Anti-Static Wristband
All your computer parts

Once you believe you’re set, go ahead and visit the Assembly section.

If you haven’t already bought your parts, visit the Where to Buy section first

Assembly

This section will take you step by step in building your own custom computer.

Feel free to go through it all before you actually begin building.

It’s OK to feel overwhelmed.

Just read through all the instructions before beginning, get an idea of what will take place, then just take it step by step. The first time will always be the most challenging, but it gets easier every time after that.

You will encounter problems, I still do to this day, that’s just a natural part of dealing with many parts that have to work together, much like an automobile. Just follow the steps and refer to the Message Boards if you hit a wall, it will pass, you’ll figure it out. Nothing is impossible with a little persistence, and the satisfaction afterwards is more than rewarding.