PC Building Workshop, Part IIBuilding Process & Assembly Demo

September 2012

University of Lethbridge Department of New Media

Tools, Equipment and Tips #2 sized Philips screwdriver Needle-nose pliers Anti-static wristband (important in our

climate!) Large, level and non-conductive workspace Other tools:

Electrical tape, nylon ties, hands free flashlight, extra (working) computer, compressed air, sandpaper, wire snips or X-acto knife…

Safety precautions

Static electricity is not your friend Never remove components while the

computer is powered-on or plugged in Never cut-off/snap-off the grounding pin Watch out for sharp edges inside the case Do not dismantle PSU, monitors or anything

that may retain an electrical charge take your time, ensure you can safely leave

your 'mess' for a day (or two) if needed

Set-up & Planning

Unpack & inspect all components (retain boxes until all parts are tested)

Look over manuals for the case, motherboard, PSU, drives, etc.

Try to plan out the assembly process for your specific case and components

Make notes if necessary... conduct research online

Another PC or smartphone with web access is helpful to have around

Prepare the case & mobo Open case and set down on level work

space Locate standoffs and holes that correspond

with your motherboard Screw standoff into each one (by hand) Do not apply too much pressure Remove generic I-O shield from back of case

and replace with one that came with your mobo

Optical, HDDs, and PSU Depending on your case and components, it

may be easier to install drives and power supply before installing the motherboard

Install optical drive(s) and card readers, etc. Install hard disk drives... 2.5” drives such as

SSDs may require a bracket Install power supply (consult case manual) Make sure PSU cables will reach but do not

attach cables yet

Install motherboard if you haven't done so, install the I-O shield

that came with your motherboard gently place the motherboard into place,

lining up ports with the I-O shield and standoffs with mobo holes

look for any problems (like pinched wires from case fans or inaccessible case cables)

insert screws to mount mobo to case and gently tighten screws (gentle hand tightening only)

CPU & heat-sink installation The most difficult step! Read the documentation for the CPU and

motherboard... and take your time Compare and orient CPU to socket, take note of

proper alignment Open socket and insert CPU fully into the socket (it

should just fall into place with little to no pressure) Close ZIF socket Do not attempt powering the computer at this

stage

CPU & heat-sink (cont.) Again, do not power-on the computer at this stage If using the stock heat-sink/fan, attach following

manufacturer's instructions If using third-party heat-sink, apply the thermal

paste on the processor* and attach heat-sink and cooling unit following manufacturer's instructions

Visually inspect CPU-heat-sink assembly, it should be level and firmly seated and no thermal paste should be oozing onto mobo

After this, everything is a breeze

*consult various online videos for different methods and procedures relating to the art of thermal paste application

RAM installation Check RAM manual for the proper sockets to

use (dual/tri channel, etc.) according to the number of RAM modules being used

Push clips to the side to allow insertion of the memory modules

Line up notch on RAM with proper area on the slot

Push RAM in with a bit of force; clips should snap closed & the RAM should be level

Graphics card installation Consult manuals for mobo and graphics

card, locate the proper socket for your graphics card

Remove the necessary expansion-card cover(s) and push the card into the slot so it’s securely seated

If necessary, attach any required power cable (usually labelled 'PCI-e')

If using multiple cards, connect them together using SLI or Crossfire bridge (if supported by mobo)

Other connections Plan how remaining cables will be placed

and tied down (good cable management aids air flow)

Connect remaining power cables to mobo Connect front panel header to mobo (audio,

USB, FW, front power and reset switches) Connect remaining fans to either molex

connectors (PSU) or available fan headers on mobo

Prepare for power up! Double check to make sure everything is

connected and seated correctly Attach keyboard/mouse, monitor, etc. Check mobo manual for normal post 'beeps'

and/or warning 'beeps' during power-up Take a breath... press the power button Watch for the CPU fan to start spinning

If it doesn’t, immediately shut off power Watch/listen for components to start up and

anything that may sound “wrong”

(Cont.) If you are greeted by proper beeps and the

MOBO manufacturer's splash screen you’re ready to enter the BIOS and install an OS

If you aren’t… Unplug the computer right away and double

check connectionsRestart and look for LEDs warning lightsListen for different beep sequences and... consult

manual or search for what these mean on the manufacturer's website

consult the 'troubleshooting' section in the Guide

BIOS Optional step When mobo's splash screen appears, it will

indicate a key to access the BIOS or the boot sequence (check manual for this too)

Press button (usually 'F12' or 'DEL') repeatedly to enter BIOS menus

You can check/change date/time, check that all HDDs and optical drives are recognized, check fan speeds are consistent (rpms), and CPU temperature... save and then exit.

Installation of the OS if prompted, insert operating system CD or

DVD... if there is no specific prompting, insert CD/DVD when computer is on and restart the computer

follow on-screen instructions and input necessary information

when OS installation is complete, check for updated drivers for graphics card at manufacturer's website

If using Windows, 'authenticate' Windows and create a restore point

Install cards & peripherals Shut down the computer and install any

other expansion cards such as sound cards, capture cards, etc.

Install any software for expansion cards and check for updated drivers

Install any input-output devices (specialized mice, joysticks, tablets) or other peripherals

Install any software packages If using Windows, create another restore

point

Final testing & set-up Test input-output ports (USB, USB 3.0,

Firewire, eSata, TB, etc.) If you installed additional HDDs, these drives

will need to be mounted and formatted Make sure the SMART utility is enabled in

the BIOS (check mobo manual) Install any monitoring software like Speccy

(Windows) or Disk Utility (Linux) If using Windows, create final restore point

and perhaps back up the HDD with the OS installed

Q&A Thank you for coming! Watch out for the PC Planning & Design

Workshop in the Spring Suggestions and comments are welcome

Kris Caldwell

David Clearwater

Matthew Fulton