How to Build a Computer {STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE}

We built a entry level computer system to help teach others and learn about how to build a computer

Parts and tools needed/used in this computer build:

• Screwdriver (not shown)
• Intel Motherboard
• Power Supply (ATX)
• Computer Case (ATX)
• Intel CPU
• CPU cooler
• RAM (DDR4)
• Motherboard and power supply installation screws
• Thermal Paste (If not already applied to CPU cooler)
• Antistatic wrist strap

The first step to building any computer it to gather the hardware and and make sure you have everything listed above, you do not need the same hardware that we are using but I would make sure that the parts you are buying is compatible and will work with the other parts in your system well, you can use sites such as https://pcpartpicker.com/ to help make sure that all the parts you are buying are compatible. Make sure that your workstation stays clean throughout the building process and avoids clutter so nothing gets broken or lost.

The second step to building a computer is to install the power supply. Open up the case by removing the screws holding glass, plexiglass, or metal left side of the case, also remove the back panel on the right side of the case by removing the 2 screws in the back of the case. next make sure all the cables that come with you power supply are plugged in to the power supply, if your power supply is non modular this will not be an issue for you, if it is modular or semi modular make sure that the necessary cable are plugged into it. You will need to know what kind of hardware needs certain power to do this, if you have and SSD, hard drive, or any cd player of some sort you will need to make sure you have a SATA power cable plugged in, this looks like a long L shaped connector. If you are using a GPU you need to make sure that you have a 6/8 pin cable connected. The necessary cable that should always be used in a pc is your 20/24 pin and your 4/8 pin for your motherboard and your CPU. Once you have done so, you want to slide you power supply in towards the back of the case through the right side. there should be an opening at the back of the case that has a cut out and 4 screw holes, one screw hole being off centered, make sure when you put in the power supply this lines up. This cut out may also be at the top of the case in some pc's. next grab the 4 power supply screws included with you power supply or your pc case, and screw in the power supply to the case.

The third step to building your computer is to install your CPU. Place the motherboard on a surface, (preferably on the box it came placing it on a desk will work) and locate the CPU socket, this is a good chance to make sure you got a compatible CPU. If you got and Intel CPU the pins should be on the motherboard, (we will be using Intel) the pins look like thousands gold pins surrounded by a silver metal bracket, Ryzen CPU's have those pins on the already on the CPU. next the the silver metal bracket there should be a lever about the length of the metal bracket, lift this around the ledge it is under and up, this should unlock the bracket so you can lift it up. pick up your CPU making sure to only handle by the sides, don't touch the bottom of the CPU (the gold contacts). Locate the gold triangle on the corner on the CPU, this will line up with the indented tringle on the motherboard, make sure you have found both of these things before continuing because if you install your CPU incorrectly it could ruin the CPU forcing you to replace it. Once you have found both of these things gently lay the CPU onto the gold pins making sure it fits snug, you will not need to apply any pressure to install, simply place it into the socket, wiggle the CPU a slight bit to make sure it is sung. Once you have the CPU in the socket lay the metal bracket on top of the CPU, making sure that it lays flat on top of the CPU. Pull the lever down and under the metal bracket to lock the CPU in place, this may take some force so don't worry.

The forth step is to install the RAM. Locate the long slots on the motherboard and normally next to the CPU slot, some motherboards have 2, some have 4, some have 8. depending on how many you have, it will determine what slots to put your ram in. The amount of RAM you have will also determine this. If you have 1 RAM stick you are going to need to install the RAM into first slot, if you have 2 RAM sticks you want to install them into the 2nd and 4th slot on your motherboard if you have 4 slots for RAM. if you have 2 slots you install them in the first 2 filling up both slots. In our case we have 2 slots with 1 RAM stick which means we are going to install our RAM into the first slot on our motherboard. Locate the little notch in your RAM stick that will fit in with the notch on your motherboard slot, different versions of RAM such as DDR5 or DDR3. may have this notch in a different spot, make sure this aligns when installing the RAM. push down the levers on both sides of the RAM slot, some motherboards may only have one lever to push down, if so, only push down the one side. Place the RAM slot into the slot with the correct orientation. If installed correctly you should be able to simple push down evenly on both sides of the RAM stick and hear and audibly clicking sound as it clicks into place, you should hear 2 clicks.

The fifth step to building a computer is to install the CPU cooler. Depending on which version/ how old your cooler is, there will be a different installation method. Most modern day coolers will require you to screw down the cooler to the motherboard while others may have you simple lock it down. If you have a screw down one your gonna want to make sure that you have a back plate to put behind your motherboard, this will look like a big metal plate that will fit in the correct holes if orientated correctly, when you have pushed the plate through the 4 big holes around the CPU socket you will want to line up you cooler so that it will fit over top the CPU. Once all the holes line up with each other place the CPU cooler on top of the CPU. Screw down the cooler into the metal plate evenly, screwing a couple times on each screw. Screw until relatively tight, tight enough that it shouldn't wiggle. Locate the 3 or 4 pin fan connector and Locate the CPU fan header on your motherboard and plug it in, make sure it is not interfering with the fan its self.

Step 6 is to Install the storage. The first thing you want to do is figure out what type of storage device you have. there are 3 different kinds of storage devices, there is HDD's, SSD's, and NVME SSD's. we used a NVME SSD, so I will give instructions on that. First Locate 4 things, your NVME SSD, your standoff screws for the storage, and installation screw for the storage and the socket the storage goes in on you motherboard. Once all of these have been found you need to slide the storage with the gold contacts going in first, it should only go in one way. After that you need to grab your SSD standoff and put it into the correct length of your NVME SSD, push the SSD on top of the standoff and screw it in with the SSD screw.

The seventh step is to the case on the side. Then pick up the motherboard by the heatsink and the metal CPU brace. You want to put the motherboard on the left side of the case. When putting the motherboard in make sure you put it in at an angle so you don't scrape the bottom of the motherboard. When you have set it down in the right place on the stand offs you then need to screw it into the stand offs. Once you have the motherboard screw in you want to start purging in wiser. I start with the 4-8 pin which powers the CPU and then the 20-24 pin which powers the motherboard. Then you plug in the USB 3.0 cord to the USD 3.0 connector on the motherboard. We did not use a SATA cord but if you were to have a hard drive you would need one and you plug it in to the hard drive and the SATA connector on the motherboard for storage. Then you need to plug in the front audio connector and plug the fans in to the 3 pins connector. You then need to plug in a front panel connector that gives power to the power button on the front. After everything is plugged in reinstall the case panels and plug in the computer into the wall, press the power button and mash del, f2, etc. to access the bios, make sure all your parts are showing up correctly.vs