How to Build a PC: a Step-by-Step Guide

What I have done here is build a custom PC with specific parts to my liking. When I decided on owning a PC, I wanted to have complete control what specifications I wanted for a computer, such as for gaming and school use. Through research, I found out that it could be cost effective to build one rather than buy a prebuilt and can achieve a better performance .

Building a PC allows you free range to select your components and optimize your build. You can choose to allocate the money you have, whether you're on a budget or going all out, into the parts that are more important to you and save money that aren't a priority for now. It also allows you to have the flexibility to upgrade individual components in the later future, rather than replacing the entire system. It can extend the lifespan of your PC and save you money in the long run.

1. PC case
2. A motherboard
3. CPU (Central Processing Unit)
4. Graphics card
5. CPU fan cooler
6. RAM (Random Access Memory)
7. SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
8. PSU (Power Supply Unit)

Probably the first step to even consider when you're planning on building a PC is your budget. Your budget determines the components and overall performance of your PC. If you have more money to spend, the better components you can afford and the faster and powerful your computer will be. If you have a limited budget, you may need to prioritize certain components over other, such as getting a more affordable CPU and graphics card or considering purchasing a CPU with integrated graphics, so that you don't need to buy a graphics card.

All in all, having a budget can help you stay on track and avoid overspending. It can also help you make informed decisions and keep your expenses under control.

After you've gathered the necessary components for your PC, you'll want to find a clean, well-lit, large enough workspace to accommodate all your components, tools, and manuals. Avoid working on a surface that is too small and/ or unstable, as it can increase the risk of dropping or damaging your components. Make sure you have all the necessary tools and parts within easy reach to save you time and prevent you from misplacing parts.

(Optional) Tools you might need include:

1. Philips screw driver: Used for the very small screws many components come with.
2. Flashlight: Light up areas difficult to see.
3. Thermal paste: Substance you apply on CPU before installing cooler.

As you have found your stable, flat surface, you may begin by taking out the motherboard from the box it came from.

Carefully take out the plastic cover from the motherboard and set the motherboard on top of the box it came from for a more stable surface.

Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard. It is sometimes located in the center and is identified by the small little pins inside a square socket.

Open the CPU socket by lifting a small lever or sliding a latch, depending on the socket type.

Before inserting the CPU, inspect the pins on the back for any damages or bent pins. Make sure to hold the processor by the edges and avoid touching the pins on the bottom.

Align the CPU with markings on them to align it on the socket properly.

Carefully place the processor on the socket aligned properly. It should drop into place easily. Do not apply excessive force. Once it is in place, close the socket lever or latch. This will lock the CPU into place and ensure good contact between the CPU and socket.

Most CPUs will come with its own cooler. Depending on what type of cooler you have, it may come with different parts such as a heatsink, a fan, a backplate, mounting brackets, and thermal paste.

Before installing the CPU cooler, you might need apply thermal paste on the surface of the CPU. While some coolers come with pre-applied thermal paste on the cooler, it's sometimes better to apply just a tiny bit more paste so that the cooler sticks to the CPU and sticks to the motherboard.

Some CPU fan coolers come with a backplate that needs to be installed on the back of the motherboard. Align the backplate with the holes on the motherboard, and secure it with the provided screws.

Depending on the CPU fan cooler, you may need to install mounting brackets onto the heatsink. Refer to the manual of your CPU fan cooler for specific instructions.

Carefully align the heatsink onto the CPU, making sure that the mounting screws or brackets line up with the holes on the motherboard or backplate. Gently press down on the heatsink to evenly spread the thermal paste. Tighten the mounting screws or brackets in a diagonal pattern to ensure even pressure.

Before installing the RAM, you should know how much RAM you want, depending on your specific needs for your PC. If you mainly use your computer for basic tasks such as web browsing, email, and word processing, 8GB of RAM should be sufficient. If you plan to play modern games, you should consider getting 16GB of RAM. Some newer games require 16GB or more to run smoothly.

Locate the RAM slots on your motherboard. These are long slots usually located near the CPU socket. The number of RAM slots can vary depending on the motherboard, but most commonly you'll find two or four slots.

To install the RAM, align the notch on the RAM module with the notch in the slot. Make sure the pins on the RAM module are aligned with the holes in the slot. Do not force the RAM module into the slot; it should slide in easily.

Hold the RAM module by its edges and insert it into the slot at a 45-degree angle. Push down firmly until you hear a click or until the retention clips on the slot snap into place.

There are three possible ways to install the storage onto your PC, depending what kind of storage you want or have.

In the case of an SSD:

Case 1: In this case we are going to install an NVMe M.2 SSD, which are considered much faster than SATA SSDs.

Locate the M.2 slot on the motherboard. It's usually labeled on the motherboard itself, or in the motherboard manual.

Remove the screw securing the M.2 shield or heat sink, if there is one. Some motherboards come with a thermal pad or heat sink to dissipate heat from the M.2 SSD, which can affect its performance.

Insert the M.2 SSD into the slot at an angle, then press it down gently but firmly until it clicks into place. Make sure the notch on the SSD matches the key on the slot to ensure proper alignment. If the motherboard comes with a shield or heat sink, screw it back into place to secure the SSD. Make sure not to over-tighten the screws.

Case 2: In this case we are going to install a SATA SSD.

Choose a suitable location to mount the SSD in the PC case. SSDs are notably smaller and lighter than HDDs, so they can be mounted in various locations such as the drive bay, the back of the motherboard tray(after we have installed the motherboard into the PC case), or with a specialized SSD bracket.

Once you have chosen the location, mount the SSD in place. If the location requires screws, attach the SSD to the case with screws. If the location has a bracket or clip, slide the SSD into place and lock it in with the bracket or clip. Connect the data cable from the SSD to the motherboard. Most modern motherboards have multiple SATA ports, so choose an available one and connect the cable from the SSD to the corresponding port.

Connect the power cable from the PSU(to be installed later) to the SSD. Most SSDs require only one power cable from the PSU, which is usually a SATA power cable with a L-shaped connector.

In the case of an HDD:

Choose a suitable location to mount the HDD in the PC case. Most PC cases have dedicated drive bays for HDDs, which are usually located in the front or bottom of the case. Once you have chosen the location, mount the HDD in place. Most HDDs require screws to attach to the case. Depending on the case design, you may need to use special brackets or caddies to secure the HDD.

Connect the data cable from the HDD to the motherboard. Most modern motherboards have multiple SATA ports, so choose an available one and connect the cable from the HDD to the corresponding port. Connect the power cable from the PSU to the HDD. Most HDDs require two cables: a SATA power cable and a Molex power cable.

Locate the PCIe slot on the motherboard where the graphics card will be installed. PCIe slots are usually located towards the bottom of the motherboard, near the expansion card slots on the back of the case.

Remove any expansion slot covers that may be blocking the PCIe slot where the graphics card will be installed. Expansion slot covers are metal brackets covering unused slots on the back of the case. They can usually be removed by unscrewing them from the back of the case.

Align the graphics card with the PCIe slot on the motherboard. The PCIe slot is usually longer than the graphics card, so make sure to align the card with the correct end of the slot. Gently push the graphics card into the PCIe slot until it clicks into place. Make sure the card is fully seated in the slot.

Secure the graphics card to the case. Depending on your case, you may need to screw the graphics card into place using the screws provided with the card. Some cases have a locking mechanism to secure the card in place.

Connect power cables to the graphics card, if necessary. High-performance graphics cards often require additional power beyond what the PCIe slot can provide. They may have one or two 6-pin or 8-pin power connectors on the side of the card. Connect the necessary power cables from the PSU to the graphics card. Close the PC case: Slide the side panel back onto the case, and secure it with screws or clips.

Once the graphics card is installed, you can connect your monitor to the card's video output ports and install the necessary drivers to start using it( After we install the motherboard and power supply into the case).

Look for the power supply mounting area in the PC case. Most cases have a bottom-mounted PSU location, but some may have it mounted at the top or side. Choose the location that best fits your case and the length of your PSU cables(They can get really bulky).

Place the PSU into the desired area and align it with the screw holes in the case. Make sure the fan faces downward if the PSU is bottom-mounted, or upward if it is top-mounted. Use the screws that come with the case to secure the PSU onto the mounting area. Screw the PSU into place tightly, but not too tight as to strip the screws or damage the case.

Connect the necessary cables from the PSU to the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, storage drives, and other components after we install the motherboard into the case. Refer to the manuals of each component for specific cable connections. Tidy up the cables and make sure they are not blocking the airflow in the case. Use cable ties or other cable management tools to keep the cables organized and out of the way(After we install the motherboard).

Before installing the motherboard, make sure there are standoffs already installed in the case. Standoffs are small brass or plastic screws that keep the motherboard elevated and prevent it from touching the metal of the case, which could cause electrical shorts.

Carefully align the motherboard with the standoffs in the case. The I/O shield, which is a metal plate with holes that match the ports on the motherboard, should be flush against the back of the case. Once the motherboard is aligned with the standoffs, screw it in place using the screws that came with the case. Make sure you use the correct size screws and don't overtighten them.

Next, connect the necessary cables from the case to the motherboard. This includes the power switch, reset switch, power LED, and any front USB or audio ports. Refer to the motherboard manual for specific instructions on where to connect these cables.

Connect the necessary cables from the PSU to the motherboard. This includes the 24-pin ATX power connector, the 8-pin EPS power connector for the CPU, and any additional power connectors for PCIe slots or other components. Before closing up the case, double-check that everything is connected properly and securely. You don't want to have to take everything apart again because you forgot to connect a cable.

Now that you've got all the pieces connected, its time to connect the peripherals and power on

a. Connect your monitor to the graphics card using the appropriate cable (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI). Make sure to connect it to the graphics card and not to the motherboard, as the graphics card will be responsible for displaying images. If you have a CPU installed with integrated graphics and not a graphics card, there is no need to do this step, since you do not have one installed yet.

b. Connect your keyboard and mouse to the appropriate USB ports on the PC.

c. Connect other accessories such as a webcam or a headset or microphone to the appropriate ports on the PC

d. Double-check all the connections to ensure everything is properly plugged in and secured.

e. Once everything is connected, plug the power cable into the PSU and then into a power outlet.

f. Press the power button on the PC to turn it on.

g. If everything is working properly, you should see the motherboard manufacturer's logo or the BIOS screen on your monitor.

h. Follow the instructions on the screen to set up the BIOS and configure any necessary settings, such as boot order and memory frequency.

i. Finally, install your operating system and any necessary drivers and software.

And that's it! Your PC should now be up and running. If you encounter any issues during the process, consult the manuals of your components or seek help from online forums or support channels.

1. Know Your Budget
2. Prepare A Workspace
3. Begin With The Motherboard
4. Install The CPU
5. Installing CPU Cooler
6. Installing The RAM
7. Installing Storage: SSD or HDD
8. Installing Graphics Card (AKA GPU)
9. Installing The PSU
10. Installing The Motherboard
11. Connect Accessories And Power On

It's important to have all the necessary supplies, and to be aware of your budget and needs when selecting components. Follow the steps carefully, ensuring that all components are securely and correctly installed, and that all cables are properly connected. Double-check everything before powering on the PC for the first time.

Additional Resources:

Hardware for build a PC

Better to build or buy?

AMD guide

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