Actually, assembling the system is easy after you have lined up all the components.
In fact, you will find the parts procurement phase, the lengthiest and trying of the entire experience.
Completing the system is basically a matter of screwing everything together, plugging in all the cables
and connectors, and configuring everything to operate properly.
In short order, you will find out whether your system operates as you had planned or whether some incompatibilities
exist between some of the components.
Be careful and pay attention to how you install all your components.
It is easy to forget a jumper switch or cable connection that later causes problems in system operation.
Most people's first reaction when problems occur is to blame defective hardware, but that is usually
not the source.
The problem can typically be traced to some misstep or error made in the assembly process.
Above all, the most crucial rule of assembly in your own system is to save every piece of documentation
and software that comes with every component in your system.
This material can be indispensable in troubleshooting problems you encountered during the assembly process
or later.
You should also retain all the packing materials used to ship order components to you until you are
certain they will not have to be returned.
The process of physically assembling a PC requires only a few basic tools a quarter inch non-driver
or a Philips head screwdriver for the external screws that hold the cover in place.
An HP 16 inch not driver of Philips head screwdriver for all the other screws.
Needle nose pliers can also help in removing motherboard standoffs, jumpers and stubborn cable connectors.
Because of marketplace standardization, only a couple types and sizes of screws, with a few exceptions,
hold a system together.
Also, the physical arrangement of the major components is similar even among different manufacturers.
Other tools you will need are software related.
You will need an operating system, installed disk or ISO, and it is a good idea to have disks handy
with any service packs, drivers or other software.
You will want to install the following sections, cover the assembly and disassembly procedure for these
components.
Motherboard case or cover assembly, power supply drives and adapter boards.
As you prepare to install your systems, motherboard, unpack the motherboard and check to ensure that
you have everything that should be included.
If you purchase a new board, you typically get at least the motherboard, the input output shield,
some IO cables and a manual.
If you are installing one or more video cards that have cooling shrouds, make sure that you have access
to other slots if you need to add additional cards or header cables that use expansion slot brackets.
Many mid-range and high performance cards have cooling shrouds wide enough to prevent the use of the
adjacent expansion slots.
When you are working on the internal components of a computer, you must take the necessary precautions
to prevent accidental static discharges to the components.
At any time your body can hold a large static voltage charge that can easily damage components of your
system.
Before I ever put my hands into an open system, I touch a bare metal grounded portion of the chassis,
such as the internal frame or the power supply keys.
This action serves to equalize the electrical charges, the device and my body might be carrying.
Be sure the system is unplugged during all phases of the assembly process.
Some will claim that you should leave the system plugged in to provide an earth groan through the power
cord and outlet, but that is unnecessary.
If you leave the system plugged in, you open yourself up to other problems, such as accidentally turning
it on or leaving it on when installing a board or device which can damage the motherboard or other devices.
Power supply is used in many systems to deliver a plus five volts currents to the motherboard continuously.
That is whenever they are plugged in.
Bottom line, ensure that any system you are working on is completely unplugged from the wall outlet.
It can take as much as 5 seconds for power to completely drain from the system.
Some motherboards have a small LCD that stays lit as long as power is present in the system.
After you disconnect, power to the motherboard.
Make sure the lid turns off before you start to work with the motherboard or its components.
A more sophisticated way to equalize the charges between you and any of the system components is to
use an electrostatic discharge protection kit.
These kits consist of a wrist strap and mat with growth.
Along the wires for attachments to the system chassis.
When you are going to work on a system, you place the mud next to the system units.
Next, you clip the ground wire to board the mud and an unpainted part of the system chassis tying the
gongs together.
You then put the wrist strap and attach that wire to either the chassis or the mat.
If you are using a wrist strap without a mat, clip the wrist strap wire to the system chassis when
clipping these wires to the chassis.
Be sure to use an area that is free of paint so a good ground contact can be achieved.
As you install or remove drives, adapter cards, and especially delicate items such as the entire motherboard
memory modules or processors.
You should place these components on the static mat.
Sometimes people put their system units on top of the mat, but the unit should be alongside the mat.
So you have room to lay out all the components as you work with them.
If you are going to remove the motherboard from a system, be sure you leave enough room for it on the
mat.
If you do not have such a mat, placed the removed circuits and devices on a clean desk or table always
pick up a loose adapter card by the metal bracket used to secure the card to the system.
This bracket is tied to the growing circuitry of the card, so by touching the bracket first you prevent
a discharge from damaging the components of the card.
If the circuit board has no metal bracket, a motherboard, for example, handle the board carefully
by the edges and try not to touch any of the connectors or components.
If you don't have proper SD equipment such as a wrist strap or MAT.
Be sure to periodically touch the chassis while working inside the system to equalize any charge you
might have built up.