Can I really build my own computer?

The first time I built a computer I had very litle idea what I was doing, but I was just careful and read the motherboard manual. Now I can do it with my eyes closed (although setting the jumpers is a bit tricky blindfolded ). Just be patient and take your time.

Tom's article left out two important things: Static electricity and installing heatsinks. Static electricity can fry a board without you even realizing it. Don't wear rubber soled shoes and ground yourself to the metal case often. You might even want to get a anti-static wrist strap. The second point only applies to AMD socket A processors. They are very fragile. Make sure you get a heatsink that is designed for it, be very careful when putting it on, and make sure it is seated correctly before you turn the computer on. Destroying socket A CPUs is very easy.

Sorry to ask another foolish question, but my main fear is one of constantly having to buy more stuff just to put the computer together. Imagine me:

"Oops, not enough screws."
"Oops, I don't have any of this thermal compound. What IS thermal compound?"
"Oops, I left my brain in my other pants."

Delay, delay, delay. Any simple kit I can purchase that has necessary tools, screws, thermal compound, etc.? I'm trying to see around corners, so I don't get defeated (or delayed) in detail once I have all the parts Tom lists.

Once again, a million thanks. In advance.

all the screws you need should come with your components, so unless you loose some in the process you'll be fine...

phillips screwdriver and grounding strap are useful, lots of room (I usually do it on my floor actually, we don't have carpets

any other common tools may be useful if frustration increases in the process (sledge-hammer, chain-saw, etc)

When I was 11 my parents bought a 486SX running at 25 Mhz. When I was 13 I had learnt which card was the video-card, and so on... When I was 14 I was able to "unbuild" a computer, without knowing what I was doing. Now I can mount a new computer in half an hour. I'm 18 now and I have screwed a 80 meg HD, a HD controller card, a 1.6 gig HD, and enough said... I think the first two screwed themselves anyway. If you want to learn how to build a computer, just do it, if it doesn't work, try again...

Err.... yeah, nice story - You can buy thermal compound at any medium sized hardware or electronics shop. The other parts will likely come with the case, or the spare components, you don't need any special screwdriver. Try and tell us.

Maybe you would want to see ifyou had a nut driver around, or at least a pliers for the mobo mounting screws, that is what I use.


-=-Sean-=-
I hate picking fights... but it's so fun

I believe he is refering to the posts that screw into the case.
And Bael I first started building computers a couple of years ago. It is a great learning experiance. After a while it becomes fun. Now I build and fix systems for a living.
Just have fun and don't get yourself stressed if things don't work right at first.
Let us know how things work out.
OH Ya,
You two play nice now. No name calling.



<A HREF="http://www.seti.tomshardware.com" target="_new">Join The Tom's Hardware SETI@Home Team</A>

I have just built my first PC - 850T-bird on a Abit KT7A with lots of other bits. Dead simple (apart from a motherboard percific problem but thats another story). This is a list of what I used -

pliers - to remove bits of metal from my cheapo case
sissors - to open packets
small flat screwdriver - with magnetic tip to rescue dropped screws
small blade - to scrape pink gunge off heat sink
accetone + cotton wool- to clean up resulting mess from last item
Arctic Silver - to replace pink gunge
medical tweezers - to change jumpers which turn out to be wrong after you have installed motherboard, power cables, ribbon cables ect
small torch - to see what you are doing when you attempt above

everything else I need came with the components. (apart from 4 boot disks motherboard problem)

I also spent a lot of time on line looking at problems other people had with simular setups, this found the solution to my motherboard problem

Ian

PS sorry about the spelling