Build Your Own PC Pt. 3: Putting It Together

Our previous articles addressed two vital parts of building your own PC. In this final article of the series, we will take a look into the actual process of putting the PC together. We will review the principles of safety, protecting your investment (parts), remaining patient, and placing the hardware together one piece at a time. At this point of the series, you’re probably anxious in finishing the project to get back to gaming or creating videos for your family. Consider the importance of taking your time to make sure everything is right. If you rush this aspect, all of your hard work can go up in smoke.

Safety Facts - ESD

Have you ever felt a small shock from the static sent from one person through your system? Imagine this happening to your motherboard, hard drive, or RAM before installation. It can cause the equipment to lose its initial charge by Electrical Static Discharge. Electrical Static Discharge (ESD) is a deadly shock that can occur from working on PC equipment without purchasing an anti-static set which include an anti-static wrist wrap, bags, and surfaces. These are available online and in electronic retail stores; purchase one before you begin putting your PC parts together so you can protect your investments.
 
Protect Your Investment

Please keep your kids away from your work area. In fact, place the PC parts in the appropriate anti-static bags to prevent ESD transfers between your office and the parts. If you find that certain parts need cleaning, purchase a blower to remove the debris from the surface of the equipment. Do not touch anything open such as RAM, hard drives, and motherboards because it can cause an issue with the makeup of the device. The majority of the protection is basic maintenance tips to ensure the safe transport of all of your PC parts without damage.

Remain Patient

Are you ready to get to work? The excitement circulating this project probably has created goose bumps up your arm. Do not rush through the installation process involving the parts of your PC. Be careful not to push too hard, brush too hard, or leave equipment without anti-static protection. Anything can happen in a split second that can damage your investment completely. The majority of today’s first-time builders make minor mistakes, but you can overcome this issue by taking your time to build the PC the right way.

One Piece at a Time

It takes patience to put a PC together one piece at a time. The motherboard is the most important aspect of the PC because it functions as the mainframe. If you understand the basics of the motherboard, you can build a great PC in as little as a week (with all of the parts available).

Remember, the case is a primary concern in building a functional PC. Your case is the definition of the kind of PC you can build because it’s the mainframe of the whole process. The processor, RAM, hard drive, floppy disk (if applicable), sound card, and video graphic card falls in line with the main pieces of the PC. You will feel, notice, and appreciate a sense of achievement once you start building the PC from the inside out.

FPARC5

For more information about computer repairs, visit Netwind Learning Center.