How to Assemble Your New Computer

Your new computer parts just arrived, but you're dumbfounded by the instructions on the case and motherboard, and you really don't know where to start or what to do. Putting together a computer can be an arduous task, and doing it right can take a couple hours, especially if it's your first time doing it. It is also one of the most rewarding things you can do - nothing beats turning on the power button for the first time on a new computer that you built yourself.

If you did just order all the parts, you're probably looking at the case and wondering where to go from there. A good place to start would be to remove the side and front panel(s). The front is usually clipped on, and the sides are generally secured by screws or tool-less knobs. Some computer cases will only let you remove one of the side panels. Don't fret if you can't figure out how to remove the other one. After you've removed all the panels, you're going to want to remove the face plate(s) over where the disc drive(s) go. Some cases will only take the drives if they are pushed in from the front, while others will only take them if they are pushed into place from inside the computer. If your drive isn't sliding in one way, try the other. If it's still not working, then check the manual on the case. Each one is different, so I can't detail exactly how to do it. Your drive will be supported by either rails or screws. Figure out which one and make sure it's snuggly in place before installing the HDDs.

The HDDs are also relatively simply to install; just make sure you put them in the right slot. Most computers have the bays for the HDDs near the bottom. You'll see if they'll fit. Just make sure the parts face the inside of the computer and that they're not coming into direct contact with eachother. After the HDDs are installed, check to see if your case has a removable motherboard tray. If it does, remove the tray and secure the motherboard to it using the screws that came with your case. Unless your case was custom designed for the motherboard it comes with, you'll have to use the screws that can accept other screws from the top. You place these ones in holes on the case/tray that correspond with the holes on the motherboard, then place the motherboard on top, and screw the other screws into the bottom ones to keep the board elevated correctly and in place.

Before installing the motherboard, make sure you change the I/O panel on the back where the USB ports go so that it corresponds with your motherboard.

If your case did have a removable motherboard tray, then I would recommend placing the power supply where it belongs first. This is pretty self-explanatory; just make sure that the fan is facing down into the computer and not that the psu isn't upside down so the fan is blowing nothing out of the top of the case. If the case didn't have a tray, then I'd recommend installing the motherboard first and then the power supply. Either way, once both are installed and securely fastened, it's time to add all the parts to the motherboard and then connect the power supply to it.

The CPU should be pretty easy to install - on AM2 motherboards, just lift up the metal pole, place the CPU in the corresponding pins, and then push the pole back down to secure it. Now place the fan on top of it, and secure it with the two fasteners. I don't have much experience with Intel boards, but I assume they are at least similar to the AMD ones when it comes to CPU installation. Also make sure to plug the CPU fan into the motherboard. After the CPU is installed, you can place the graphics card in place. You will have to remove some metal plates from the back of the case in order to place the graphics card into the PCI-E 16X slot. Some graphics cards take up two PCI spaces, so be prepared to remove two plates. Installing the RAM should be pretty self-explanatory.

Next, you want to connect your drives to the motherboard with the SATA or IDE cables they came with. You'll also want to connect the LED and power on-off wires to the motherboard. There should be a section on the board labeled "front panel" that has the connections for all the LEDs and the power / reset buttons. If your case has front USB ports, there should also be a section on your motherboard dedicated to that. Check the manual that it came with if you can't find it.

After you're done with that, it's time to connect the PSU to the motherboard and drives. First connect the PSU to any fans the case might have, and then put the big 20/24 pin connector to the corresponding end on the motherboard. It should be pretty easy to locate. The CPU will either take an 8 pin connector or a 4 pin; most take a 4. The graphics card will require a 6-pin PCI-E connector. The drives will either need SATA or standard 4-pin molex connectors. If you don't have enough SATA connectors, you can find converters online for about $5.

Once all the wires are connected, plug your monitor into the DVI or VGA slot on the graphics card, put the panels back on, flip on the switch on the back of the power supply, and turn the computer on. Your motherboard probably came with some software that you'll want to install to make sure the on-board audio is working alright, and if you didn't buy a new graphics card, that the onboard video is also properly installed. It'll also help windows recognize the USB ports.