Is it possible to assemble a computer from components. How to build a home computer and save a lot of money. Connecting Front Panel Cables to Motherboard

If you decide to assemble a computer from components yourself, but the assembly process itself scares you off because of the likelihood of making a mistake or accidentally breaking something, then there is no need to worry, in fact it is no more difficult than a LEGO constructor.

Having minimal skills in working with a screwdriver, you can do everything yourself without involving a specialist and avoid extra costs. It is also an exciting creative process. The article will help you go through all the stages, take into account all the pitfalls and other rakes.

Installing the processor, cooling and memory

Let's start with the installation of the processor (CPU), as this requires the greatest concentration of your attention.

For the correct location of the CPU, there is a mark on one of its corners, which must be oriented to the same mark on the processor socket.

The processor should fit into the socket easily, without effort or distortion. If this does not happen, then you have chosen the wrong processor position. The main thing is not to press too hard, otherwise there is a chance to jam the contact legs - for the Intel platform on the socket, for AMD directly on the CPU. Moreover, if on the second leg you can most often straighten it, then in most cases with Intel this is fatal. Only replacement of the socket in the service center will help, and for a fee, since this is a non-warranty case.

It is best to do this on a horizontal motherboard outside the hull. It remains only to fix the processor with a special clamp, and you're done.

We install a cooling system on the processor. There are many mounting options, more often these are either clips inserted into holes on the motherboard (Intel platform) or spring-loaded latches (AMD platform). As well as various options for fixing screws and nuts. Be sure to study the illustrated instructions for a specific cooler model.

Before installing, make sure you remove the protective film from the base of the cooler, then apply thermal paste to the CPU cover. It can also be already applied to the very base of the radiator or attached in a tube or sachet. The layer should be as thin and uniform as possible.

To avoid distortion, smoothly tighten the screws one by one in a criss-cross pattern.

Some large tower coolers may block the slots random access memory and mounting screws, so you will have to mount the cooling after installing the motherboard in the case and connecting the memory sticks. You should also mount the fan on a similar cooler after installing the RAM modules. Don't forget to connect the fan to the CPU_FAN header on the motherboard.

The strips are fixed with clamps on both sides, and in some boards the movable latches are only on one side - in this case, first insert the memory strip into the fixed latch.

Installing accessories in the case

We remove the side walls from the case and first install the power supply. It is usually located on the bottom of the case. We orient it with the fan down and fasten it with four screws from the back. It is possible to install the PSU with the fan up - this position is recommended for semi-passive cooling mode, as well as if its RGB backlight is used to visually design the case. We pass the cables from the PSU through the motherboard tray into the existing holes.

Before installing the motherboard, you will need to remove the CPU power cable from the pallet and thread it into the appropriate hole, and only then screw the board.

Next, screw the motherboard. Do not forget to install the complete plug on the interface panel - it snaps into the cutout on the rear panel of the case. The main thing is to orient it correctly depending on the connectors.

On the pallet, racks for the motherboard are usually already screwed. Their number and position can be changed depending on the form factor of the motherboard.

Then we will deal with the main 24-pin motherboard power cable. You need to focus on which side the latch on the block and connector is located. We insert with effort, until it clicks.

If the case is cramped, then at this stage it is already possible to connect the wires coming from the interface panel of the case to the motherboard. The user manual from the motherboard kit and the markings next to the contacts will help you decide on the connectors.

Installing drives and expansion cards

Drives are usually fixed into bays with screws or pre-installed in removable cages. They can be oriented both vertically and horizontally.

For hard drives It is advisable to use anti-vibration pads. If they are not included in the package, you can make them yourself from pieces of rubber.

solid state SSD drives, especially high-speed ones, are demanding on cooling, so it is desirable that the baskets with drives be blown by a fan.

We connect SATA cables to the drives last, after connecting and laying all the power cables. There is a possibility for inaccurate actions to break off the contact pad.

As an exception, M.2 form factor drives are installed in slots on the motherboard, and it is more convenient to do this at the first stage of assembly, outside the case.

We install the video card into the PCI-E slot until it clicks. We fasten it with screws in the expansion slots of the case. In this place of the case there are plugs - one-time or removable. Before breaking out one-time ones, try on where the video card will be inserted so as not to remove the extra one, otherwise a hole will remain in this place. Loosen the plug carefully. To prevent damage to the elements on the motherboard, rotate outward of the case.

Connecting and managing other power cables

We connect PCI-E cables to the video card. They are most often collapsible: 6 + 2 pins. It is important not to confuse the CPU and PCI-E cables when using a modular PSU. As a rule, the connectors on the power supply panel are signed, the connectors are marked. There may also be a difference in color.

Together with the SATA cable, we connect power to the drives. Connectors they can be straight or angled. Use one or the other depending on the orientation of the connectors on the motherboard and the location of the drives in the case.

If there is a backlight or reobass of the case, we use both SATA connectors and 4-pin Molex connectors. The latter are often used for case fans as well.

After connecting the cables, carefully lay them behind the motherboard tray and fix them with cable ties.

In budget models, sometimes it is not possible to run cables behind the back wall. In this case, they will have to be collected in bundles and laid so that they do not interfere with air flow. Unused cables can be placed behind the hard drive cage.

Chassis cooling organization

The case is equipped with a different number of fans. Minimum set: one fan per intake, mounted on front panel, and one for blowing, mounted on the rear or top panel of the case. If the case is not equipped with fans out of the box, be sure to purchase additional ones.

If there are an odd number of fans, then large quantity we focus on blowing, thereby creating increased pressure in the body. If you do the opposite, then the air will be sucked in from all the slots, bypassing the dust filters, and its flow will be suboptimal.

It is advisable to use speed control systems (reobas) in order to optimally adjust the speed of the fans for the best combination of temperature / noise. 4-pin fans with auto-adjustment are also suitable - the motherboard will independently control the number of revolutions depending on the heating of the components.

After that, you can install the side walls, connect power and peripherals, and turn on the computer. If everything is done correctly, and the components are working, then your new computer should start with one short speaker signal. The next step is to install the operating system.

In case of problems with the assembly, you can assemble the components outside the case, installing only a processor with cooling and one stick of RAM, connecting everything to the power supply. With a successful start, we alternately connect the drive and the video card.

Conclusion

Do not be afraid to learn new things, many operations are quite simple. In a PC, almost all connectors and slots are made in such a way that it is almost impossible to insert and connect something wrong. In the instructions for the components, usually all the stages of assembly and connection are described and illustrated in detail. The main thing is not to rush and be careful and attentive. Successful experiments!

It is worth noting the following point. Budget motherboards are equipped with a 4-pin CPU power connector. So with our hands we divide the existing 8-pin cable into two 4-pin ones and connect to the board. Expensive motherboards, on the contrary, in addition to the 8-pin connector, are equipped with an additional connector. The trick is that in this case everything will work from one 8-pin wire. An additional port is needed if, for example, you will overclock very seriously CPU. But then you will also need an accompanying power supply, or an adapter.

Step #5: Install Drives and Optical Drive

For a desktop PC, there are two most common drive form factors: 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch. Plus, M.2 SSDs are gaining popularity. As for the latter, everything is simple with this form factor: the device is installed directly into the port soldered on the motherboard. But 2.5- and 3.5-inch drives must first be fixed in the case.

In 99% of cases, the case is equipped with a special basket with skids. The manufacturer also indicates in the characteristics the number of slots for 2.5- and 3.5-inch drives, as well as 5.25-inch devices. In the case of the Fractal Design Define R5, two metal baskets are used. The first (top) can accommodate five 3.5-inch or as many 2.5-inch drives. The second (lower) - three. In some cases, these baskets may be removable. Plus, this case specifically has two seats for 2.5-inch drives behind the chassis.

Not all computer cases support the installation of 2.5-inch drives as an option. True, many SSD manufacturers complete their products with special adapters for 3.5-inch sleds. Usually they are packed in cardboard boxes, but not sealed in a blister.

More and more people are wondering every day how to assemble a computer from components from scratch. Assembling a computer on your own and with your own hands is a rather fascinating and informative process. Self-assembly and configuration of a computer costs an average of 30% cheaper than buying an already assembled, ready-to-use machine.

Some people mean a system unit by a computer, but I hasten to remind you that a system unit without a monitor, keyboard and mouse is useless. Only with these peripherals does it become a full-fledged functioning personal computer.

What do you need to assemble a computer?

To start the assembly, you need to pick up a new set of parts. Parts that were in use are undesirable to buy, since in the absence of experience in setting up a PC, difficulties may arise.

So what do you need to build a computer? The points:

1. computer case,
2. power unit,
3. motherboard,
4. CPU,
5. RAM,
6. graphics card,
7. sound card,
8. dvd drive,
9. HDD,
10. monitor,
11. keyboard,
12. computer mouse.

Which computer case to choose?

Choose a good computer case. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that in stores there are cases made in China, which are made of very thin tin and are easily deformed under mechanical stress.

The computer case includes a power supply and network cable. Sometimes the case and power supply are sold separately.

How to choose a motherboard?

Motherboards come with integrated cards for processing video information and sound. These motherboards are easier to assemble and have average technical parameters.

If you need to equip your computer with more powerful means of playing sound and video information, then you need to use a motherboard that is equipped with slots for a video card and a sound card.

When choosing a motherboard, you need to determine the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe main use of the computer.

How to choose a video card?

It makes no sense to use an expensive video card to view news and video information on the Internet. But if you are a fan of computer games with cool video effects or plan to work in powerful video editing programs, then you cannot do without a good video card.

When choosing, always start from the purpose for which you purchase a video card. The power and price of the video card will depend on this.

Tell the seller in the store why you need a video card. He can help you choose the right model.

How to choose a sound card?

The question is how to choose sound card, is quite extensive, so I will limit myself to the basic theses.

Sound cards integrated into the motherboard basically have two channels. If you plan to listen to music through an amplifier or receiver, then buy a multi-channel sound card. There are those that support 5.1 and 7.1 sound systems when there are several speakers and a subwoofer in the system.

Sound cards can be internal, which plug into a slot on the motherboard, and external, which can be connected to a computer via a USB or Firewire connector. Although the latter are already more of a professional level of sound cards that are used by sound engineers, DJs and electronic musicians.

First of all, to answer the question of how to choose a sound card, ask yourself why you need a sound card in general, and then look for a model that meets your criteria.

How to choose RAM?

To buy the right RAM, you first need to decide on its volume. For normal modern computer 4 GB is enough. For gaming computer you need at least 8 GB.

It is also important to know the type of memory slots on your motherboard. Recently, you can find, basically, only DDR3, but in general you can find the following types of connectors:

The type of RAM connector is usually indicated in the description of the motherboard. In any case, check with the store if they can exchange the memory you buy for another type of memory of the same capacity if you make a mistake with the choice of memory type.

RAM boards are sensitive to static charges, so it is not recommended to unpack them and keep them open until installation. Before installation, it is recommended to touch the metal case in order to remove a possible accumulated static charge on you.

HDD

The information that is on the hard drive also requires a certain amount of space. Depending on your goals, you may need additional memory.

A 500 GB hard drive is the best option for work. If you are going to play games or download Blu-ray movies to your hard drive, and there will be a lot of them, then you can safely take a hard drive from 1 terabyte. I prefer to take hard drives Seagate Barracuda.

DVD drives

DVD drives differ by manufacturer and price, otherwise they are standard. They are mainly needed to install programs and drivers for equipment at the initial stage of setting up a computer. Further, if you connect high-speed Internet, most likely you will rarely use the DVD drive.

How to choose a processor?

Processor power used to depend only on the clock frequency. The higher the frequency, the more powerful the processor. But now such a factor as the number of processor cores has been added. The more powerful the processor, the faster the computer will run. The motherboard must support the platform or socket of the processor you have chosen. Therefore, it is better to choose them together and in advance.

The answer to the question of how to choose a processor depends, again, on what you are going to use the computer for.

Monitor, keyboard, mouse

I have had a Phillips widescreen monitor, a wireless Logitech MX Performance Mouse, and the most regular USB keyboard.

But the choice of these peripherals I leave to your personal taste. The number of opinions and options here is huge. I recommend taking simple but reliable ones.

Assembling a computer with your own hands: How to assemble a computer yourself?

Important Tip:

It is not recommended to wear synthetic clothing, which condenses electrostatic charge, while assembling the computer yourself. Electrostatic voltage is detrimental to microcircuits. Therefore, cotton clothing should be used.

So, how to build a computer yourself? Assembling a PC begins with installing the processor and heatsink with a fan on the motherboard. The processor is installed in the socket and fixed with a lever. Thermal paste is evenly applied to the surface of the processor and the heat sink is fixed, as shown in the figure in the instructions. The cable connector from the fan must be connected to the power socket, which is located next to the processor panel.

You can immediately install a RAM card on the motherboard. It is necessary to be extremely careful and not to make great mechanical efforts so as not to damage the neighboring elements of the board. I already wrote detailed with pictures. Detailed description The processor installation guide is supplied with the motherboard.

The next stage of assembly is installation in a PC case hard drive and DVD drive. Then the motherboard is installed and fixed. Wires with connectors that come from the power supply must be connected to the corresponding sockets on the motherboard, DVD drive and hard drive. Then connect all the wires that come from the front panel of the computer case to the corresponding motherboard connectors, following the connection instructions.

Now you can proceed to install the operating system. After full setup software computer, you can close the case cover.

In general, assembling a computer with your own hands takes place in this order. The nuances of how to assemble a computer yourself are not intentionally described, since in each case they are different. Leave questions about assembling a computer in the comments.

Probably every more or less advanced user thought about how to assemble a computer himself. And it comes out cheaper at a price, and it turns out more reliably. And every second one drove this thought away from himself, because he thought that the process of self-assembly of a computer was very complicated. But do not be afraid of difficulties, especially step-by-step instruction described in the article will help overcome fear. Moreover, modern computer components are equipped with a protection system. Each component can be installed in the only correct way, it will not work in a different way. As the saying goes: "Fear has big eyes." So let the eyes be afraid, but the hands do.

First, let's talk about the benefits of self-assembly of a computer. The most important thing is that you will know for sure that your computer has absolutely new, high-quality components, you will know everything about the characteristics of the computer and at any time you can increase the memory or computer performance. Not all sellers are clean-handed, there are also those who are ready to pass off a single-core computer as a dual-core one, to hide some shortcomings of the computer. Moreover, when buying a ready-made computer, you agree that you will not open it yourself (during the warranty period). This means you won't be able to make any changes. Otherwise, you will void your warranty. Also, in the event of a breakdown of a self-assembled computer, you will be able to identify and replace the weak link yourself. While the store purchase will need to be taken to the service and wait first for the diagnostic results, then for the repair.

We hope that all of the above has overcome your fears, and now you can get down to business. To assemble a computer yourself, you must have:

• CPU;
• motherboard;
• Case with power supply;
• CPU cooler;
• Video card;
• HDD;
• RAM;
• Drive.
• Cross screwdriver.

And not just to have all of the above in stock, but also to try to make all the components fit together.

So, the first question that needs to be solved right now is: “What do you need a computer for?”.

For all users, the computer performs different tasks: someone plays all day long, someone works on the Internet, someone works with 3D programs according to the specifics of their specialty, etc. Naturally, they all need computers with different capabilities. Let's try to figure it out.

For solutions simple tasks the following computer components are suitable: a 512 MB video card, two 2 GB DDR-1333 RAM modules, a 512 GB hard drive (7200 rpm, 16 MB cache buffer), an Intel Pentium G620 or AMD Athlon II x3 440 processor , H61 Express motherboard for Intel processor or AMD 770 for Athlon, 400W power supply. The price is about $400.

Medium computer accessories price category: two 2 GB DDR 1600 RAM modules, 512 MB video card (for example, GeForce GTS 450 512Mb), 1TB hard drive (7200 rpm, 16 MB cache buffer), processor Intel Core i3 2100 or AMD Phenom II x4 955, Z68 motherboard for Intel processor or AMD 870 for Phenom, 450W power supply. The price is about $600. The result is a computer capable of performing many tasks, including supporting a bunch of modern games.

To solve tasks that require huge resources, the following components are needed: two 4GB DDR-1866 RAM modules, a 1GB video card (for example, GeForce GTX 560Ti), a hard SSD drive 60GB + 2TB 7200 rpm, 16MB cache buffer, Intel Core i5 2500K or AMD Phenom II x4 965 processor, Z68 motherboard for Intel processor or AMD 990FX for Phenom, 550W power supply. The price is about $1200.

Decided on the purpose of your computer? It's time to pick up a case with a power supply.

The housing can be selected according to several parameters: size, material, ease of installation.

It is recommended to purchase aluminum cases, which are distinguished by their lightness and thermal conductivity. In addition, steel cases appeared, the advantages over aluminum cases of which are in resistance to deformation.

There is a wide range of enclosures on the market. There are surprisingly compact Barebone cases, mid-sized MiniTowers, MidiTowers, and huge BigTowers.

Surprisingly compact Barebone cases are suitable for connoisseurs of minimalism. Barebones also have the advantage that they come with motherboard, video card and processor. You will only need to install RAM and a hard drive. It is also important that the assembled computer in the Barebone case works almost silently.

It is not recommended to buy medium-sized MiniTower cases, as the ventilation system in them leaves much to be desired. And some components are generally hard to pick up, because they simply do not fit into the case. But, for example, MiniTower is perfect for office use.

MidiTower cases are the most common. They have a good ventilation system and ease of installation.

The largest BigTower cases for the most powerful computers.

It happens that the cases are not equipped with a power supply and you need to select and install it yourself.

Choosing and installing a power supply

Don't skimp on the power supply. Since the stability of your finished computer depends on it. It is recommended to buy a power supply unit at an average price of 1500 rubles. When buying, pay attention to the weight of the device. The power supply must be heavy. If it's lightweight, it probably has a bad cooling system. Next, you should decide on the power of the power supply.

Computers designed for gaming and working with 3D graphics require a power supply unit of 500,550,600 watts. A case with a similar power supply will set you back $50 or more.

Computers designed to work with office applications, work on the Internet do not require such a lot of power. You can get by with a 400.450 W power supply. A case with this power supply will set you back $30 and up.

The required power of the power supply can also be calculated. Link to the calculator for calculating the power of the power supply

To do this, simply follow the link, select the components of your computer and their quantity from the drop-down lists. Then click the "Calculate" button. The calculator will give the power value with a small margin (30%). All that remains is to choose a power supply with a power close to the calculated one.

The power supply usually has a place in the case in the upper rear corner. To install it, you just need to screw the unit to the rear wall of the case with screws.

Here the case with the power supply is selected and now it is worth choosing and installing

A processor, RAM, I/O controllers are installed on the motherboard. The motherboard coordinates the work of these components.

The figure shows the motherboard. 1-power supply for the processor, 2-socket for the processor, 3-north bridge, 4-PCI-EXPRESS slot for video card,5-PCI slot for expansion cards, 6 slots for RAM, 7-connector for power supply, 8- IDE connectors for hard drives and optical drives, 9 - southbridge, 10 - SATA connectors for hard drives and optical drives, 11 - USB connectors.

• The southbridge is responsible for supporting the optical drive, hard drive, audio adapter, etc.
• The northbridge is needed to control the video card, RAM.

When choosing a motherboard, you should consider the number of memory slots for the possibility of a subsequent upgrade.

Let's start installing the motherboard:

• We unscrew the front cover of the system unit, take a closer look at where to put the motherboard;
• We get rid of the plug on the case. We replace it with a plug that comes with the motherboard;
• We screw the bolts into the system unit, into the places where the motherboard is supposed to be fixed (the bolts usually come with the case);

• We insert the motherboard, fasten the screws;

• Connect power to the motherboard. We connect the four-pin power connector from the system unit to the ATX_12V motherboard connector. We connect the twenty-four-pin power connector from the system unit to the ATX motherboard connector.

• We connect the PWR-LED, PWR-SW, RESET-SW, SPEAKER, HDD-LED case wires to the F_PANEL connector to turn on, reboot, diagnose a computer malfunction, respectively.

1. HDD LED- a red diode on the front side of the case (the color scheme for designating wires is mainly used, red-white)
2. PWR LED– green diode, network indicator (green-white)
3. PWR-SW– on/off button (orange-white)
4. RESET SW– PC reset button (black-white) has reversed polarity.
5. SPEAKER– system speaker (red-white, often yellow-white)

We connect the white wire to the minus, the colored wire to the plus. Read your motherboard manual. The boards are different - the connection of these wires is also different.

If you still do not understand what is at stake and think that you simply cannot cope with these tasks, then I would recommend calling a computer repair wizard at home.
The motherboard is installed, it's time to move on to installing the processor.

Processor installation

The processor performs all the basic calculations in the computer and processes information.

Decide which processor you will install: Intel, AMD and others.

You should also decide on the number of cores. For a home computer, a medium-power dual-core processor is suitable. An engineer's or designer's processor needs a quad-core processor.

Whichever processor you choose, make sure it is compatible with your motherboard socket. Socket - a place to install the processor on the motherboard. This information can be found on the motherboard box.

For example, Intel processors compatible with the following sockets: Socket LGA775, Socket LGA1156, Socket LGA1155, Socket LGA1366.

AMD processors are compatible with the following sockets: Socket939, SocketAM3, SocketFM1, SocketAM3 plus, SocketG34.

Almost all modern processors of this company are based on socket 755 (Socket LGA775). The advantage is already noticeable in the absence of legs on the processor. Therefore, the risk of breakage and inaccurate installation of the processor on the motherboard is minimal.

Let's do the installation. To do this, you need to open and lift the socket lever - a metal rod parallel to the slot. Remove the processor from the package without touching the bottom of the processor. Remove the black protective plate. Set it to a socket. For convenience, there are arrows on the motherboard and on the processor itself, they indicate which side the processor should be placed in the socket. Make sure that the directions of the arrows match.

Close the fixing plate, lower the socket fixing lever.

Installing AMD Processors

The installation principle is the same. The only difference is that the processor has legs. The yellow arrow on the processor and on the motherboard, again simplify the installation process.

Processor installed.

Installing a cpu cooler

The cooler is necessary for cooling the processor during operation. It is also important that the cooler produces as little noise as possible while operating. The fan noise of a good cooler should fall within the range of (20-40) dB. Moreover, in the specification it is necessary to look at the processor of what power it is capable of cooling.

Before proceeding directly to the installation, make sure that the cooler is compatible with the motherboard socket. Some processors are sold complete with a cooler (cooling system).

At the corners of the socket on the motherboard there are four holes for the cooler legs.

But before you install it, make sure you have thermal paste on the cooler (in the figure - a white spot in the center). The cooler consists of a heatsink and a fan. The heatsink touches the processor directly and draws heat, while the fan drives the heat away from the heatsink itself. This cooling scheme requires fast heat transfer from the processor to the heatsink. For this purpose, thermal paste is applied to the radiator. It provides a tight connection between the heatsink and the processor and has good thermal conductivity. If there is no thermal paste, it is necessary to apply the thinnest layer of 1 mm.

Install the four cooler legs into the holes on the motherboard. Alternately press the legs, until a characteristic click. Make sure the cooler is securely fastened. The switch will indicate this. If the switch is in the closed position, the leg is securely fixed; in the open position, it is not fixed. Connect the wire to the CPU_FAN connector.

Everything on this cooler installation is over.

Let's move on to installing RAM

RAM is rewritable memory. Program and application data is temporarily stored there.

The connector slot on the motherboard must match the type of RAM module (DDR, DDR2, DDR3). To increase the performance, speed of the computer, it is recommended to install two RAM modules. It is worth remembering that in this case the manufacturer of the modules must be the same. And yes, they should be the same. The bandwidth of the motherboard, processor and memory module must match.

The value of the clock frequency of the RAM module must be commensurate with the frequency of the system bus of the motherboard. Even if the module frequency is higher than the bus frequency, the real memory frequency will still be equal to the bus frequency.

We proceed directly to the installation. Push the latches to the sides on the motherboard slot:

Place the memory in the slot. Press lightly on the edges until the latches click into place.

The slot on the motherboard has a baffle that matches the notch on the memory module. It is impossible to make a mistake with the installation.

Installing a graphics card

A video card is needed to convert the data array into an image displayed on the screen. Moreover, modern video cards are also needed for processing and storing graphic data. The speed and quality of the displayed image depends on the parameters of the video card. This is very important during the game or video processing.

The power of the video card must match or be slightly less than the power of the power supply.

The video card is inserted into the slot PCI Express 16x (under the processor). Install and press until it clicks.

The "skeleton" of the computer is assembled.

Installing the hard drive

The hard disk stores the operating system, user information, and programs.

The connectors of the hard drive and the motherboard must match. For example, Serial SATA 6Gb/s. The bandwidth of a hard drive with a Serial SATA 6Gb/s connector is 6Gb/s.

1. Connect the SerialATA cable to the motherboard SATA connector.
2. We connect the SATA adapter to the hard drive, then connect the Molex power cable from the power supply to the adapter.

The hard drive installation is complete. Let's move on to installing the optical drive.

An optical drive is a device for reading information from discs or writing information to discs. The following types of drives are currently sold on the market: CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW and Blu-Ray.

• The CD-ROM drive is designed to read CDs only.
• The CD-RW drive allows you to both read and write to CDs.
• The DVD-ROM drive is designed to read CDs, DVD discs.
• The DVD-RW drive allows you to read information from CDs, DVDs and write information to CDs, DVDs.
• Blu-ray drives are designed for high capacity discs. Such disks, and the drives themselves, cost a lot of money.

It is preferable to choose a DVD-RW drive so as not to limit yourself in actions.

The drive is necessary in the computer, even if you have long since switched to flash media. After all WINDOWS installation comes from disk. In addition, you can free up computer memory by dropping necessary files on disk, for the time being, for the time being. Download distributions for games. And yes, you can watch the movie.

When choosing an optical drive, pay attention to its speed of reading and writing discs. For the drive to be able to read and write to all disks, a speed of 48x is required.

We put the drive in the place allotted for it in the power supply case. We fix with screws to reduce the effect of vibration and noise. We connect the power of the optical drive. Next, we connect the drive directly to the motherboard with a cable.

Close the case cover

All that remains is to connect the monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers to the system unit, connect the power cords to the monitor and system unit.

When you connect your computer to the network for the first time, you should hear a squeak, symbolizing the correct connection of all components. Information about clock frequency processor, the amount of RAM, operating modes and storage capacity. Nothing else can appear, because the operating room WINDOWS system not installed yet.

If after reading the article you still have questions about how to assemble a computer yourself, the video will explain everything to you in detail:

We are already assembling a computer ourselves, overcoming all fears and doubts and figuring out why it is more profitable to assemble a computer ourselves. Having previously figured out why each of us needs a computer. We learned how to select components, calculate the required power of the power supply. Deal with the purpose of the components of the computer. We chose the best components in each price category. And let the computer, assembled with your own hands, be your useful assistant at work or at home.

We assemble a computer with our own hands- each of us at least once faced with a situation when, having trusted a sales assistant, he chose a ready-made Personal Computer. But after a few months I realized that for the same money I could buy a much more productive version. In order to prevent such a story from happening to any of our readers in the future, we have prepared instructions on how to assemble a computer yourself.

This process actually turns out to be much simpler than many users far from technology suggest, but still has a number of nuances, which we want to dwell on in our material. And we will start with a brief reminder of what a computer consists of and how not to make a mistake in choosing components.

System unit - how to choose components?

When a customer walks into a computer hardware store and sees the wide range of motherboards, processors, video cards and other components, it seems to him that in order to connect all these devices together, you need to have at least a doctorate in technical sciences. But not everything is so bad, computer hardware manufacturers took care of us and many years ago adopted a single standard - Advanced Technology Extended, which unifies the entire hardware of a computer. So we are now free.

The choice of components is the most difficult task when assembling a PC, much more laborious than connecting them together, but this material is devoted to the last task, and you can find a comparison of the characteristics of video cards and processors in our other publications.

The basis of our entire future system is the motherboard, as follows from its name. It practically does not affect performance, but is responsible for the proper operation of all components of our computer.

The whole process of assembling a PC essentially consists in connecting components using connectors and wires to the board, and therefore you should first evaluate what kind of computer you would like to have as an output and, based on this, choose a motherboard with one or another number of cells for RAM, suitable for the desired processor socket, and so on.

The form factor is also an important characteristic of the motherboard - it depends on what dimensions you need the case, so be careful right away and when purchasing a large E-ATX format motherboard, do not expect to fit it into a compact case. The main thing is not to worry we assemble a computer with our own hands- everything should work out.

Installation of the processor, RAM and cooling system.

To assemble a computer at home, we suggest starting with an “open bench” rather than immediately installing your components in a case without knowing whether the system works or not. The process is as follows: we connect all our parts to the motherboard, update the board firmware, install operating system and test the resulting assembly for errors and conflicts. If they are not identified, then we are happy to install all this in the case.

Let's start the process by installing the heart of our future PC - the processor. It must be remembered that the two market leaders in the production of processors - AMD and Intel, fundamentally use different socket designs, the first ones have contact legs on the processor, while the second preferred to place them in the socket.

For installation AMD processor it is necessary to lift the metal lever, insert the legs into the holes provided for them, and then return the lever to its original position. Thus, we will close the processor contacts with the socket contacts and securely fix this position.

When installing the Intel, lift the lever and hold down cover, and reverse these steps after installing the processor. Both types of processors should be installed in a strictly defined position, which is indicated by arrows on the processor itself and the motherboard socket.

As far as CPU cooling is concerned, you need to remember that they are all installed differently and the only reasonable thing to do is to strictly follow the instructions. For example, AMD has a passion for fasteners with plastic eyelets, while Intel basically does not use such a design solution. In general, most CPU coolers are quite universal, and therefore can work with chipsets from both companies, but be careful when choosing - there are models that are loyal to only one brand.

Do not forget that many coolers can be installed in two positions, which determines through which wall the heated air will exit - the back or top. Therefore, before installing, weigh the potency of both options and your body and choose the most productive.

After we fixed the radiator and installed a fan on it, it remains only to connect the power connector to the corresponding connector on the board, called CPU_FAN. More expensive motherboards can provide two similar connectors designed for two coolers at once.

So, to complete the initial work, we just have to install the RAM modules in the DIMM slots. Each stick has a security key that makes it impossible for you to insert it the wrong way, and you will not be able to insert one type of memory, such as DDR3, into a socket on the motherboard that is not provided for it. Thus, installing RAM is the simplest process in the algorithm for assembling a personal computer.

Most processors have a dual-channel set of RAM, and therefore it is recommended to insert an even number of sticks. It must be remembered that a sufficiently large processor cooler can block the RAM slots on some motherboards, and therefore it is worthwhile to thoroughly study their compatibility before purchasing.
Applying thermal paste to the processor

Many beginners make a common mistake and think that the assembly consists solely in assembling parts a la the designer. No less important for the performance of the processor than itself and the cooling system is thermal paste, which helps their tandem to demonstrate maximum performance. As a rule, a small layer is already applied to the sole of the fan, so this does not have to be done during the first assembly.

However, if it is not available, just add a couple of drops of the composition and spread them evenly over the area of ​​​​the heat-distributing cover of the CPU. Excess, on the contrary, will reduce the thermal conductivity between the processor and the cooler, which will negatively affect the performance of the computer. If you have already decided to assemble a computer with your own hands, then at least do not harm it.

Installing the motherboard in the case

The main line when choosing a case for you should be the one that is responsible for the supported form factors of motherboards. The following are the maximum possible dimensions of the installed components - believe me, when the time comes for wiring, you will thank yourself for choosing the most comfortable case in which you can install all the desired hardware without unnecessary manipulation.

To install the motherboard, you first need to fasten the fixing nuts with external and internal threads. As a rule, all bolts and nuts come with the body, they are standardized, so it is unlikely that you will need to look for something unique to install your assembly. Having fixed the plugs and screwed the nuts, you can move on.

Connecting the Chassis Controls to the Motherboard

The panel of a standard case, as a rule, is equipped with on / off buttons, as well as USB ports and a headphone jack. As a rule, these interfaces are located at the bottom of the motherboard, and therefore we find them and connect them to the case.

The set of wires is very standard:

• PWR_SW is responsible for the on/off button;
• RESET_SW activates the reset key;
• HDD_LED ("plus" and "minus") activates the drive activity indicator;
• PWR_LED ("plus" and "minus") is responsible for the operation of the computer status indicator.

Installing the power supply

It's time to install the power supply and connect the cables to the motherboard. All connectors have keys that will prevent incorrect connection, so an inexperienced user can handle it. Each connector speaks for itself, and if SATA is written on it, then it is probably intended for a device with the same interface.

Recently, the power supply bay has been placed at the bottom of the case for better ventilation, so make sure that the wires are long enough for components located in the part of the video card that is farthest from the block. After installing the unit, we stretch two main cables - 24-pin to the motherboard itself and 8-pin to the processor. We advise you to immediately purchase a bundle of nylon ties when purchasing a PSU so that your bundle does not get confused between the parts of the PC.

Installing Drives

There are several drive form factors: 2.5-inch, 3.5-inch, and M2 SSDs. The latter are installed on the motherboard itself, but the first two must first be installed in the case.

Installing a drive in a slot with a sled is as simple as installing RAM, and therefore we will not dwell on this point in detail. It remains only to bring cables to them from the motherboard and PSU, which have a SATA connector.

If you want to install an optical drive, then the algorithm is the same - we fix it in a 5.25-inch bay, remove the front plug and supply power.

Installing a graphics card

Since we set out to properly assemble a PC, we cannot do without an item dedicated to the video card. It is installed last and the power cables are pre-wired for it. The graphics accelerator must be installed in the very first PCI Express x16 port, but modern video cards occupy two or even three slots, so access to the downstream port will be blocked.

After these procedures, it remains only to remove the two plugs on which the radiator will be displayed, as well as tightly screw the video card to the motherboard and back cover corps. The number of power cables will depend on the power of the video card and in extreme cases you will have to get cables to the PSU or use adapters.
Cable laying and completion

The entire list of components is combined into a single system, and therefore it is time to put the finishing touches. If the assembly is standard, then you just need to choose what to connect the coolers to: motherboard, reobas or PSU. After that, you just need to carefully lay the remaining cables and tighten them with nylon ties, and then close the case cover.

After that, we connect a monitor and other peripherals to the system unit, install the operating system and use a brand new assembled computer.

How to build a computer yourself. Instruction

We hope that our material on how to assemble a computer yourself will help you save money and choose the most successful combination of elements, ignoring the tricks of computer equipment sellers!