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HOW TO BUILD A PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC)
Below are the steps for build personal computer by yourself :
- Determine your computing needs and budget.
- Figure your budget for external components, too: keyboard, mouse, monitor,
printer, surge suppressor, speakers and additional hardware.
- Buy the case and internal components you plan to include: power supply (if
not included in the case), motherboard, processor (if not included with the
motherboard), RAM, hard drive, floppy drive, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, optional
additional drives (such as a CD recorder or Zip drive), modem, sound card,
video card, Windows XP or a Linux operating system, and software.
- Buy cables and screws, if not included with the components. Beaware and
expect odd conflicts and compatibility issues. Your computer will have no
manufacturer’s warranty or technical support. You will have to diagnose
your hardware problems successfully and rely on manufacturers’ warranties
for the individual components. Expect manufacturers to be reluctant to honor
a warranty for a home-installed component.
These general instructions are intended to supplement or simplify some of the
information in your motherboard manual :
- Make sure to read the manual that came with the motherboard - instructions
differ for each one.
- Ground yourself with any professional grounding equipment you have. Otherwise,
ground yourself by touching the computer power supply.
- Place motherboard on its anti-static bag.
- Configure motherboard: Set jumpers or DIP switches for CPU, voltage(s),
and bus speed, if necessary. If your motherboard is configured by software,
you will need to configure it after you complete the physical installation.
- Position motherboard in case. Line up holes in board with holes in case.
- Insert spacers, plastic stand-offs, washers and screws, as necessary. Tighten
screws carefully, but securely.
- Make sure motherboard is not touching metal anywhere.
- Make sure slots and connectors fit into openings on back of case.
- Connect motherboard to power supply.
- Connect CPU fan, if you have one, to power supply.
- Connect reset and power switches to power supply.
- Connect LED indicators to power supply.
- Connect case speaker to motherboard.
- Check all connections.
- Test motherboard (and configure in CMOS if necessary) before installing
other components of computer system.
Tips: If possible, do installation in an uncarpeted area. Warnings: Be careful
not to touch any chips. Handle board by its edges. Static damage (and even oil
damage) may cause a failure months after the incident. If you do not understand
these instructions or you lack good manual dexterity, have a qualified technician
install the motherboard for you.
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