Gservo
2nd June 2002, 02:41 PM
(As requested)
Building you own computer can be an entertaining, satisfying, and educational experience. It can even save you money, if you buy a motherboard with built-in sound card and modem, for example. However, building your own PC is not recommended if you want a PC fast; be prepared to spend several hours sitting in a confined space; and, if things go wrong later on, you're on your own... there is no technical support for Do-It-Yourselfers. It might help to have a spare computer on which to test individual components if things don't work out.
Getting the Parts
Decide what you will be using your PC for - will it be for playing games, or are you going to use it for the Internet? If you decide that you will be using it purely for email and 'surfing', then don't buy a huge hard drive. Bear in mind that a full installation of Windows 200 requires only 650 MB and i suggest at minimum 256 megs of ram. Similarly, if you won't be playing games all day, then a top-of-the-range sound/graphics card isn't necessary either.
Shopping for computer parts is like shopping for anything; you'll find that ordering direct from the manufacturer won't always get you the cheapest hardware. Generally, it helps to do a search with popular online stockists. Stick with well known brand names with good reputations.
Hardware
Keyboard and mouse
Monitor
Case (make it a big one, so that you have enough room for everything)
Motherboard (it is very important to check that the motherboard supports the kind of processor you've decided to go for. Check details like slot type and make sure they match)
RAM
Hard drive
Graphics Card
Processor... and fan/heat-sync if it doesn't come with one
CD-Rom and/or Floppy Drive
Software, including an Operating System for your computer. Be very careful here. Make sure the OS you go for supports your needs (gaming, communications, networking, stability).
Installation tools, such as a non-magnetic screwdriver
Getting Started
Before touching any of the equipment, make sure the power is switched off and that your case is earthed to prevent the build up of static charges; you could even invest in an anti-static wristband to minimize the risk of static. Also, make sure nothing has any power going to it. Don't plug anything into the mains.
Lay the case flat on the floor and add the motherboard. To do this you must screw in some elevating screws, which raise the motherboard off the case and thus prevent short circuiting.
Slot in the other components; the manual, which comes with the motherboard, will tell you where everything goes. You'll find that you'll have to start playing with things called 'jumpers'. A list of settings should be listed in the manual.
Do a quick check to make sure none of the equipment is touching anything it shouldn't. It sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how often the last minute check turns up something.
Plug in all the power cables and turn on the monitor to give it a chance to heat up, so that you'll catch any initial messages that flash up. Check on the back of the case, where the power cord plugs in; there should be a flick switch between 2xxV and 1xxV. Make sure you have it correct or the power supply will break. In the UK, this should be set to the 2xx option.
Don't close the case at this point, as the chances are you'll need to check some cables or something; and there's nothing more annoying than having to unscrew all those screws!
Testing
It is time to prepare for switch on. At the moment, you have a PC, but it has no software to run. If the hard drive you bought came pre-formatted, then carry right on. If it didn't, check to see if during the OS's installation process it formats the drives for you; it probably will if the OS is Linux-based. If it doesn't then you will have to make a bootable floppy and run a utility like fdisk. Certain hard drive manufacturers provide such disks. Chances are that the OS comes on some form of bootable medium. This means that when you put the set-up disk in the drive it will automatically start the installation process, either a floppy disk or CD. Either way you may find that you'll have to play with some BIOS settings and sort out the boot sequence.
Cross your fingers and press the 'on' button. If all goes well you should be taken to the install menu from the CD or floppy, which you inserted in the previous step. Once you've finished installing the OS, it may be worth going online (assuming you have the means to) and downloading any available driver updates. Install additional software like Anti Virus or some office solution like Microsoft Office.
Congratulations, you should now have a fully working PC, which you can show off to your friends!
Building you own computer can be an entertaining, satisfying, and educational experience. It can even save you money, if you buy a motherboard with built-in sound card and modem, for example. However, building your own PC is not recommended if you want a PC fast; be prepared to spend several hours sitting in a confined space; and, if things go wrong later on, you're on your own... there is no technical support for Do-It-Yourselfers. It might help to have a spare computer on which to test individual components if things don't work out.
Getting the Parts
Decide what you will be using your PC for - will it be for playing games, or are you going to use it for the Internet? If you decide that you will be using it purely for email and 'surfing', then don't buy a huge hard drive. Bear in mind that a full installation of Windows 200 requires only 650 MB and i suggest at minimum 256 megs of ram. Similarly, if you won't be playing games all day, then a top-of-the-range sound/graphics card isn't necessary either.
Shopping for computer parts is like shopping for anything; you'll find that ordering direct from the manufacturer won't always get you the cheapest hardware. Generally, it helps to do a search with popular online stockists. Stick with well known brand names with good reputations.
Hardware
Keyboard and mouse
Monitor
Case (make it a big one, so that you have enough room for everything)
Motherboard (it is very important to check that the motherboard supports the kind of processor you've decided to go for. Check details like slot type and make sure they match)
RAM
Hard drive
Graphics Card
Processor... and fan/heat-sync if it doesn't come with one
CD-Rom and/or Floppy Drive
Software, including an Operating System for your computer. Be very careful here. Make sure the OS you go for supports your needs (gaming, communications, networking, stability).
Installation tools, such as a non-magnetic screwdriver
Getting Started
Before touching any of the equipment, make sure the power is switched off and that your case is earthed to prevent the build up of static charges; you could even invest in an anti-static wristband to minimize the risk of static. Also, make sure nothing has any power going to it. Don't plug anything into the mains.
Lay the case flat on the floor and add the motherboard. To do this you must screw in some elevating screws, which raise the motherboard off the case and thus prevent short circuiting.
Slot in the other components; the manual, which comes with the motherboard, will tell you where everything goes. You'll find that you'll have to start playing with things called 'jumpers'. A list of settings should be listed in the manual.
Do a quick check to make sure none of the equipment is touching anything it shouldn't. It sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how often the last minute check turns up something.
Plug in all the power cables and turn on the monitor to give it a chance to heat up, so that you'll catch any initial messages that flash up. Check on the back of the case, where the power cord plugs in; there should be a flick switch between 2xxV and 1xxV. Make sure you have it correct or the power supply will break. In the UK, this should be set to the 2xx option.
Don't close the case at this point, as the chances are you'll need to check some cables or something; and there's nothing more annoying than having to unscrew all those screws!
Testing
It is time to prepare for switch on. At the moment, you have a PC, but it has no software to run. If the hard drive you bought came pre-formatted, then carry right on. If it didn't, check to see if during the OS's installation process it formats the drives for you; it probably will if the OS is Linux-based. If it doesn't then you will have to make a bootable floppy and run a utility like fdisk. Certain hard drive manufacturers provide such disks. Chances are that the OS comes on some form of bootable medium. This means that when you put the set-up disk in the drive it will automatically start the installation process, either a floppy disk or CD. Either way you may find that you'll have to play with some BIOS settings and sort out the boot sequence.
Cross your fingers and press the 'on' button. If all goes well you should be taken to the install menu from the CD or floppy, which you inserted in the previous step. Once you've finished installing the OS, it may be worth going online (assuming you have the means to) and downloading any available driver updates. Install additional software like Anti Virus or some office solution like Microsoft Office.
Congratulations, you should now have a fully working PC, which you can show off to your friends!