Step-by-Step Guide to Building a PC

Step Three: Install components on motherboard (outside of case):
In this step you want to get your motherboard ready by installing components that are best install outside of the case; CPU, CPU Heatsink Fan and Memory.

Install CPU

• Remove the CPU from the box/protective covering.

Intel

• Unlock the CPU socket arm. Generally there will be a small plastic or metal arm that lies on the side of the CPU socket. To unlock it, just push it out and then pull it up.
• Remove the CPU socket cover.
• Align the triangle on the top of the CPU to with the corresponding corner on your motherboard's CPU socket and gently lower the CPU into the socket. Be aware, there should be no pushing or snapping involved in this process. The CPU, if correctly aligned, should simply fall (gently!) into place.
• Lower and lock the socket arm, which in turn will lock your CPU into your motherboard.

AMD

• Unlock the CPU socket arm. Generally there will be a small plastic or metal arm that lies on the side of the CPU socket. To unlock it, just push it out and then pull it up.
• Align the triangle on the top of the CPU to with the corresponding corner on your motherboard's CPU socket and gently lower the CPU into the socket. Be aware, there should be no pushing or snapping involved in this process. The CPU, if correctly aligned, should simply fall (gently!) into place.
• Lower and lock the socket arm, which in turn will lock your CPU into your motherboard.

Install Heat Sink – Review your manual for specifics for your heat sink!

• Remove the heat sink from the box/protective covering.
• Prepare the heat sink bracket and screws.
• Install the motherboard mounting bracket on the back of the motherboard.
• Apply proper amount of thermal compound to the bottom of the CPU/heat sink (remember to remove the protective covering on the heat sink first… ). Most common method is to apply a pea size dot to the center of the CPU. With newer HDT coolers, I recommend using this method… Proximon’s guide on to how to apply thermal past to Heatpipe Direct Touch (HDT) coolers
• Apply the heat sink to the top of the CPU.
• Attach the screws to the motherboard mounting bracket to secure the heat sink. Once you have the screws started, slightly twist the heat sink side to side to help with spreading out the thermal compound. I recommend tightening the heat sink down using a cross tightening method (X). Tighten one side down a little, move to the one diagonally cross and move than move the other ones and repeat the same steps, until the heat sink is secured to the motherboard.
• Connect the heat sink fan power connector to the appropriate CPU FAN slot on the motherboard.

Install RAM – Review your motherboard manual for specifics on what slots to use.

• Remove the RAM from the box/protective covering.
• Push back the memory clips on the specific slots you are installing them on
• Place the memory into the slots and push down on the RAM sticks. It may take a little more force than you think to push them fully into the slots. The memory clips should lock when you push the RAM in completely.

Step Four: Install Motherboard into case:
Some builders recommend breadboarding their system prior to installing into the case. If you breadboard, skip down to Step Five and perform the remaining steps with the motherboard outside of the case. Breadboarding ensures that you are installing known good parts in the case. Finish up with this step in breadboarding (Thanks for the reminder jsc!!)

• Line up the motherboard with the Rear I/O panel, so the components are showing through the back side.
• Line up the motherboard to the standoffs you installed in Step Two of the guide.
• Place one motherboard screw on each opposite ends of the motherboard to secure the motherboard to your case.
• Install of the required screws for your motherboard and tighten them down until the board is secured to the case.

Step Seven: Connect Power Supply: Continued

Motherboard 20-pin/24-pin (20+4-pin) Power Cable

• Route the power supply’s 20-pin/24-pin connector through the case for proper cable management.
• Connect the power connector to the motherboard. Make sure to line up the appropriate “shapes” on the connectors to the connectors on the motherboard. It will take a slight force to push the connector in but you shouldn’t have to force it in.

Motherboard 4-pin/8-pin (4+4-pin) Power Cable

• Route the power supply’s 4-pin/8-pin connector through the case for proper cable management.
• Connect the power connector to the motherboard. Make sure to line up the appropriate “shapes” on the connectors to the connectors on the motherboard. It will take a slight force to push the connector in but you shouldn’t have to force it in.

Step Eight: Boot System for First Time:

• Turn the power switch on the PSU on, to provide power to your computer
• Press the power button on the case to start the system up.
• Listen for your Internal PC speaker to beep once, which means you have a successful first boot. If your PC doesn’t post properly, I recommend reviewing shortstuff_mt’s thread on boot issues. This thread provides very good details on trouble shooting when you have boot issues after your build. You can contact technical support from your motherboard manufacturer at this point, as well for additional help.
• During the post session, press your “del” key or the appropriate key to enter into your BIOS.
• Review around your BIOS to make sure it has properly recognized your CPU, RAM, Hard Drive… etc. You may have to manually adjust your RAM timings and voltage at this point to have them set a Manufacturing specifications.
• Set your boot sequence to boot from your CD/DVD drive first and hit the “F10” key to save your updated BIOS.

Step Nine: Install Operating System / Drivers:
Operating System

• During the reboot process after reviewing and updating your BIOS, install your OS disk into your CD/DVD drive.
• When prompted by the post process, hit a key to boot from your OS disk to begin the install process.
• Follow the one screen prompts from your operating system through the complete installation of your operating system. Your PC may restart a few times through this process, so don’t get worried.

Motherboard/Video Card Drivers

• Once the OS installation have been complete, it is time to begin installing your other drivers. I recommend installing updated drivers from the internet, over the CD. I normally download all of the required drivers a head of time onto a flash drive, so I use the current drivers.
• Install all required motherboard drivers; chipset, audio, network… etc.
• Install the required drivers for your video card(s)
• Install your Virus Protection Software to protect your PC before going to the internet for Windows updates
• Log onto the internet and run all the required Windows updated, including any Service Packs required for your operating system.
• After all of the updated have been completed, don’t forget to go back into your BIOS and reset the boot sequence to boot first from your hard drive going forward.

Step Ten: Test System and Have FUN!!
I recommend testing your system after all of the drivers have been installed and the system has been updated to make sure it is running stable.
Download and install the following programs

• SpeedFan
• CPUID's CPU-Z
• CPUID's Hardware Monitor
• Real Temp - CPU Temperature Monitoring
• CoreTemp
• Prime95
• MemTest86
• Futuremark's 3DMark Vantage (Vista / Win7) or 3DMark06 (XP)

Test your system

• Run Prime95’s Blend Test for at least one hour and use one of the following programs to monitor your temps; Real Temp, SpeedFan or Core Temp. This will help determine if you system is running too hot and is unstable.
• Run 3DMark’s Vantage or 3DMark06 to benchmark your system to see how your new build compares to similar systems.

Have Fun!!

• Install all other Office Programs, Games, Music, Videos… etc. you want to put onto your system at this point
• START HAVING FUN with your successful build and new PC!!

Here are some other useful guides in how to build a PC.

• Here is a GOOD step-by-step. If you encounter anything in any other links that contradict this, THIS is the right one. Sadly, no pics: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_T [...] sembly#CPU
• Here is a tutorial with pictures that shows how to put together a cheap PC. All parts are cheap and you should NOT use the PSU they use: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/f [...] s?page=0,1
• This you tube video has some good points, and is done with fairly modern equipment, all new. The case he is using is a micro-ATX case from Antec: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdsUuWlhOvo
• This is a good ariticle about "Building a PC: Step by Step Guide" using current parts by DriverHeaven... http://www.driverheaven.net/articl [...] 2&pageid=1
• This is a good Tom's Hardware article about how to put a PC together... http://www.tomshardware.com/review_print.php?p1=1382

As with all new builds, I highly recommend doing your research before doing any build to determine what your needs are.

I have provided what I find to be useful sites and areas to look for those answers.

• Google - If you can find it there... than you probably won't find it anywhere...
• HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - Guide v1.6.1 - This thread provides a very good guide to overclocking on the LGA 775.
• Sticky: Core i7 and Core 2 Temperature Guid - This thread provides a very good guide on how to monitor and review your temperatures to make sure they are within an acceptable range.
• CPU and Heatsink Lapping Guides - This thread provides information on lapping CPU's and Heatsinks to help improve the thermal transfer between them.
• CPU Buyer's Guide 2.0 - This thread provides good information on the end's & out's on what CPU to buy and related information. [*]FrostyTech - Best Heat Sinks & PC Cooling - The website provides good reviews and rankings on all things heatsinks.
• eXtreme Power Supply Calcuator Lite V2.5 - This site is a very useful site when you are trying to figure out what your power requirements are for your new build, so you get an idea on what PSU waltage you will need.
• AnandTech: - I find this site has very good links to multiple reviews from many different sites you'll see referenced and pretty up-to-date on news.
• techPowerUp! - I find this site has very good links to multiple reviews from many different sites you'll see referenced and pretty up-to-date on news.
• JonnyGuru - The website provides good reivews and rankings on power supplies.
• Mouse Ergonomics Guide from Razer - This is a good guide in providing an understanding the different grip styles for a mouse.

Extras: – These are tools that are useful to have ready for use in your build.

• Internal PC Mini Speaker – Most cases now don’t come with a case speaker, so one is required to help with troubleshooting, if your PC doesn’t boot properly.
• 1ST PC CORP. 12" 8-pin EPS extension cable Model CB-8M-8F - Retail - This is normally needed on full size cases to help with the cable management.
• ICY DOCK MB882SP-1S-1B 2.5" to 3.5" SSD & SATA Hard Drive Converter - Black - Retail - This will be required when you purchase a SSD to convert it to a 3.5" drive for your case.

Thanks for taking the time to read through my step-by-step guide!!

Done...

nice job

+1

Thanks for all that work techmo34! This is a needed sticky in this forum. Well done.

I will PM Randomizer... I have been dealing with 4ryan6 for some technical issues with the thread, since he stickied my other thread.

I'll let you know about OCing. The build is for my daughter (5 years old) as an early X-mas present (Got the itch to build now & not closer to X-mas ). I haven't played with OCing much on this build at this point but will I've seen a few references to 3.1 GHz with no problem. I'll look for around 3.2 GHz when I OC.

I went with the Antec PSU because it was a combo with the Antec 300 Illusion... Good deal price!!!

Great work tecmo. You certainly have a passion for this.

Hey randomizer, how bout getting this guy and proximon some teacher badges!!!!

Nice!!!

1) It is compatible with the AM3 socket per the specifications. See the specification tab... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065
2) It is the best price to performance air cooler you can purchase... IMO

The description says socket 1156 because it was the first specific HSF to hit the market that was compatible with the new socket. It still is designed for the AM3 socket, as well as the other major sockets.

Very nice! I'll be using this guide on monday when I start putting my computer together!

Thanks for the additional links to other guides on how to build a PC..

cool. will come in useful for when I start to build computers after i have bought my holden VX commodore.