Build your own Pc - Part 1

This hub was written with the intention of introducing complete novices to the world of Self Pc Builds. Originally written 2 years ago as an ebook, I decided this would make a useful hub for beginners and others alike. I am hoping this goes into as much detail as possible, without getting too 'techy'. Pretty much all the information in here is still relevant, but I will in due course update parts and add extra snippets of info as I go along.

After deciding to make this a hub, I searched around, and while finding lots of great detailed information, I didn't find anything for beginners, but with an 'edge' ! So hopefully this does the trick.

A lot of people don't realise the benefits of building your own Pc from scratch, or are simply scared by the prospect of getting their hands dirty with all those electronic hardware components. Well this guide is here to make this as easy as possible , with avoiding going into too much technical detail, and getting straight to the point 'layman' terms that will get you on your way in no time at all.

This guide is comprised of 13 sections, running through all the necessary hardware, through to troubleshooting and operating system installation - all with accompanying imagery.I hope it at least helps someone out there. So on to the guide.

So you are now on your first steps towards building your very own PC from scratch! This guide will take you through the first stages of Pc building, will go over what experience you may need, what tools you will need, what precautions you need to take, through the process of purchasing the correct hardware, through installing the hardware, down to the final setup of hardware, with the final chapter including the easy setup of Windows XP.

I will be taking you through the simplest possible way I can, with the minimal of technical jargon, but at the same time making sure you know what items are, what they do, and any specific terms you really need to know. With this guide there will be no more worry as to your technical ability with Pc hardware and builds. All you need is your tools, hardware, and a hint of confidence.

WARNING:

While I am giving this advice in the simplest possible way, to make it easier for you, the new Pc builder, I will not be held responsible for any mistakes or breakages while you go through your new build. Take heed of my advice, listen to what is said, and you cannot go wrong!

One question you may be asking yourself as you read through this guide for the first time, will be “do I really need any experience in Pc hardware, handling and other related experience ?” Well, my answer to that is, not really, you went ahead and purchased this guide didn't you ? The point of this guide is to help the absolute beginner, who is wishing to build their very first Pc from nothing. If there is any advice I can give at all, it would be, stick at it ! You don't need to be a hardware genius to get through your first Pc build. Just follow the guide, listen to the advice and simple guidelines, and you cannot go wrong.

The Advantages

The advantages of building your own Pc can be many. For some its the pleasure of knowing you built your own computer from nothing. For some its the savings that can be had from building your own Pc. One of the main advantages which is mentioned, is the savings that can be had. If you shop carefully, and look around, you can easily build a far superior Pc to a ready built one from a local store, or a larger chain of stores.

Another advantage is being able to choose your components, from the large amount that is available, where as with a ready made Pc, you may get X inside your Pc, but you really needed or wanted Y. If you want more memory, you can add more, if you want a better graphics card, you can choose a better graphics card, the choice is down to you. A lot of these options aren't available with the ready made Pc vendors. Some options yes, but a majority aren't, and this is where you have an advantage over those PC's.

The Disadvantages

There aren't really any disadvantages to speak of. The only one of note I can think of is hardware failure. If you have a problem with your new build, something breaks,dies or simply stops working, then you are the sole person responsible for getting that item replaced or fixed. Usually the former. This isn't something to worry about, as most hardware vendors have various warranty and guarantees in place, that within reason you can get your broken item replaced. This isn't always the case with all hardware, but with most. In the end, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of self building, and I'm sure of which you will find these out as you proceed through your journey.

The first thing we need to go over is the actual components themselves, the hardware 'bits and pieces' that make up your new Pc. Below is a complete list with a description of its functions, and any extra detail.

Atx (Advanced Technology Extended)

Form factor - Case. This is the most common type of 'house' for your new Pc build. The standard was created by Intel in the mid 90's and is the common standard for most motherboards (below). This will mean that all motherboards have the same sockets and connections for the most part, that fit with any ATX case. These also come in 2 forms, desktop or tower version. The one we are using through this guide is a tower, as they are the most popular, although there is little difference between a desktop and tower case.

PSU – Atx Power Supply.

And the form factor again is ATX for the power supply, as the wires and connectors that extend from the main unit, are all made the same on every model and make of power supply. The connections usually comprise of varying amounts of SATA connectors, Power connectors (Molex – white 4 pin), floppy connector and the necessary Atx power connector. Some models also include the older AT form factor connection, but this is not needed here.

Motherboard.

The motherboard is the main part of the computer and is also know as the mainboard also. The motherboard is the piece of hardware that all the other components are either plugged into, or connected by a ribbon cable or other form of cable such as a SATA connector. Motherboards can come in a standard normal size, and also in a mini-Atx size, which can be useful for smaller Cases.

CPU / Processor.

The processor is the component that does all the thinking. Its square, has varying amounts of pins on the underside depending on the make and model. Processors are usually made so that they fit into the motherboard in one particular way only, so you cant go far wrong. Care is needed though so you don't accidentally bend any pins, should you attempt to put it in an incorrect way. Usually a little mark or triangle is shown in one corner to guide you as to which direction you should place the processor. You can also turn it upside down with care, and look for yourself, the order of the pins. All processors once slotted in, have a lever that you pull down, to secure the processor in place.

Heatsink / Fan.

This is the fixture that sits on top of your processor. Processors can get extremely hot, especially under intensive usage, and without correct cooling measures, can actually damage the processor permanently. A correctly placed heatsink and fan, can disperse the heat, and cool the processor down to a normal temperature. There are a few different types of Processor cooling methods you can purchase, including water cooling, and more extreme versions that can cool the processor down like a refrigerator does! But for all your needs, a standard compliant Heatsink with Fan will suffice.

Ram / Memory.

Ram is the component that stores all the computer information as the computer is running, the operating system (Windows XP for example), uses the memory, as do all software programs. Without it, a Pc will not turn on, even with all your other components plugged in. Ram comes in varying types, but the most common are, SD-Ram, DDR Ram, and DDR2 Ram. There is a newer DDR3 ram, but is quite expensive. Ram also comes in different amounts of 'pins' on the Ram itself. This is dependent on which CPU & motherboard you have. When you purchase your CPU and motherboard, the Ram is usually taken into account at the same time, to ensure compatibility.

Hard Drive.

This is the component that stores information about your operating system, all your software, music, pictures, and anything else you wish to store on your Pc. There are 2 common types of hard drive. You have your older IDE type of hard drives, and your newer SATA hard drives, both referring to the type of connection to the motherboard. IDE is a basic flat ribbon cable that connects from the hard drive to the IDE port on the motherboard (of which there is usually at least 2), and SATA is a smaller type of connector, that works like the IDE cable, and transfers the signal. Sizes vary from 20G , all the way up to 250G and 500G (1 Gigabyte = 1000 megabytes). Different speed drives of 5400 and 7200 can be purchased, but there will be little difference in the performance that it is not worth pondering which version to get.

CD/DVD Drive/Writer.

Your optical drive these days can usually play and use regular Cd disks and also Dvd disks, of varying speeds and types. They have that many features on most, that it would be impossible to write them all here. Basically, a regular Cd/Dvd writer can playback Audio Cd's, Dvd Movies, Audio data disks, Dvd data disks, also record to blank Cd and Dvd disks at varying speeds, and some drives can even laser burn 'images' onto the top of your blank disk to save you having to write on with pen. These disks require a special type of blank disk made for this purpose.

Floppy Drive.

This is the old floppy drive, 3.5 inch. These are still used today, but are becoming less and less common as time goes along. Useful to older operating systems up until Windows Xp for booting and troubleshooting purposes, especially if its a boot disk (which has special code on that allows troubleshooting outside of Windows environment). We wont be installing a floppy disk, as they aren't too important these days, and for our intent and purpose, wont be necessary.

Graphics Card.

This is the piece of hardware that produces the image on your monitor screen. Most graphics cards these days include some degree of 3d graphical ability. A general rule is, the more they cost, the better the performance. These can start from just $40/£20 all the way up to $600 / £300 or even higher for the real gaming enthusiast. Cards with this extra amount of 3d processing power usually come with an extra power connector on the rear of the card too. Graphics cards come in 3 particular connection types (on the motherboard). The oldest being Pci. The next being the Agp (Advanced Graphics Port) socket, and more recently Pci-express, the most common in recent years.

Soundcard.

The sound card does exactly as it says, produces your PC's sound. A lot of sound in more basic or cheaper ready made shop PC's tend to come with onboard sound. That is, the motherboard has a sound chip on it, that saves from purchasing an extra sound card. Sound in this form can vary in quality, but as a general rule, a separate soundcard is the best way to go. Most of these soundcards come in Pci socket form, and are relatively cheap, with more expensive cards coming with external extras and more specifically for entertainment systems and those who compose music.

Electro static discharge or more commonly referred to as static electricity. We have all had it where you get a little shock on your fingers or hand when you touch something. This can be a real problem when handling electronic hardware components. If you discharge static electricity onto any internal component, you can damage the item permanently, then its in the bin and ordering a replacement. A solution to this is to purchase an electrostatic discharge wrist strap. This is a little item you wrap around your wrist,and ground yourself with the wires clip so that any charge that maybe in your fingers, gets grounded before it does any damage. Is this completely necessary ? Not everyone uses a wrist strap, and with a little care and attention (and maybe some experience also), a wrist strap isn't always necessary. But seeing as this is your first Self build Pc, it is best to go on the side of caution and purchase a wrist strap. If you DO decide to bypass the cheap wrist strap, and gamble building your internal Pc without one, then follow these additional tips to try and avoid creating static electricity.

• Avoid wearing synthetic material clothes, as these are a playground for creating static electricity.
• Plug your PSU/Power supplies cable into the PSU and into the mains wall socket (but switched in the off position) and grounding yourself on the outer casing of your power supply, remembering to disconnect the socket from the wall when you plug the main power connector to the motherboard.
• Wear a short sleeved top, so your sleeves aren't dangling in and onto components.
• If your PSU/Power supply is already connected in your Case, you can find an area on your Pc case that maybe bare (unpainted), that you can touch to ground yourself.
• Wear shoes while doing internal hardware work.
• When you take out all your components in preparation for assembling your Pc, lay them out on a flat surface such as a table, on top of the Anti static bags that most hardware comes inside. These are the silver smooth bags, or sometimes clear black striped bags. You can lay these on a table surface or similar, and then lay your hardware on the bags themselves, while you are preparing and going through your build process.

Tools

The tools you need should be fairly basic and common around your house. Ideally, you need 2 or 3 different size of Philips screwdriver. A small ended one, a medium ended one, and a larger ended screwdriver. Also a small pair of thin/needle ended pliers would be useful. All necessary screws and parts that you need, should come with your motherboard or more probably the case.

When purchasing your components, its best to start with a good idea of how much you are willing to spend on your whole new PC build. Just jotting down how much your willing to spend, and then begin by looking online at some of the larger online PC hardware stores, just to give you an idea of how much each item will be. Your not looking to buy anything yet, but just scouting for prices and ideas. Once you have your list of prices, this will be a good starting point for the actual purchasing of what you require.

Online or High Street Store

Now that you have your shopping list of items, you will need to decide wether to purchase your items online or if you are going to purchase from a local high street store. Online stores can have better prices than the high street, due to less overheads. But looking through list after list of available hardware can be a little daunting. My recommendation would be to visit a high street store of your choice, preferably one that comes recommended or with a good reputation, then head off to see them, and take your shopping list. Should you get a little confused by anything at all, then having someone there to actually ask will be extremely useful. Prices between online and high street should'nt be that big of a gap, but the difference in having someone there to help you face to face may also be just as useful.

Before you go ahead and purchase your list, I wanted to include a short section on wether you should go the way of Intel processors, or wether you should go with Amd processors. At the beginning (through the 1990's), Intel were the dominant CPU / Processor manufacturer. There were others available through the late 90's by Amd, IBM and a few other CPU manufacturers. The last 8 or so years though has seen Amd crawl up by the early 2000's to be very competitive compared to Intel. At the moment, its down to personal preference more than anything.

Amd offer competitive prices on their whole range of processors, while Intel have competitive prices on the lower end of processors but rise slightly more expensive at the upper end of the range. Amd processor performance is great on the whole, and beat Intel in areas, but in other areas Intel beat Amd for certain types of performance.

When it comes down to it, decide what your willing to pay for a processor, and then go either way. Once you have done this, this will then help you with your motherboard choice, as once you know the CPU you are purchasing , you can then choose a suitable motherboard that accepts the CPU you have chosen. On the whole, you really cant go wrong with whatever you choose!

Which Ram ?

The amount of Ram you choose is completely up to you. For Windows Xp, anything from 512mb upwards will suffice for every day general usage. For Windows Vista, anything from 1Gig upwards is advisable. Due to the relatively cheap cost of Ram at the time of writing, its certainly worthwhile going as high as you possibly can, from 1Gig up to 2 or even 4 at the top end. Another consideration is the type and speed of the Ram you purchase. If you stick to my recommendation in chapter 4, if you purchase your Ram at a local high street store, you shouldn't have a problem selecting the correct type of Ram, to go with your motherboard choice, as help will be there to guide you in the correct direction. For more detailed information, try internet searches for SDram & Ddr-ram.

So you've been shopping and purchased all your new components, and got them home ready to take them all out of their new packaging to have a good look at. But firstly, you need to know about the care needed when handing these new pieces of hardware. All internal components such as Graphics cards, Sound cards, and Add-in cards (other cards that slot inside in a similar fashion to Graphics and Sound), come with a metal plate at one end that, once the card is slotted in place, has a little cut out section at the right angled end, to screw onto your case, to hold it in place. This metal plate, is very useful for handling delicate electronic components. Not forgetting what was said in Chapter 3 regarding the anti static bags that some hardware comes in, these bags are very useful for placing your opened hardware on, while you prepare to build your new Pc.

Larger components such as the hard drive and the optical/Dvd writer drive, just need general care when handling more than anything, but it is still best to hold even these items by their edges, to minimise touching something you shouldn't be touching!

Electro Static Discharge – Again

Even though we covered this subject back in Section 3, I thought I would bring the subject back up again, as its a fairly important one to remember now we are at the stage of opening our newly purchased hardware, and getting to grips with it. Remember, be careful with what clothing you are wearing, wear short sleeves before you start on the building work, and don't forget the anti static wrist band. So please go back up the page and double check the bulleted points before proceeding!

To progress to part 3 - Section 7 - of this guide, please follow the link below.