How to assemble a computer from components. How to quickly and correctly assemble a computer from components yourself

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I talked about why I always prefer to order a new computer in the form of separate components. In the comments to this article, I was asked to show, for those who have never encountered anything like this, exactly how the assembly process works: how complicated it all is, and well, maybe If you are not too advanced of a user, assemble a computer yourself. And then I thought that if I filmed and demonstrated this process, it could become a useful article for the “Educational Education” section. After all, in fact, there is nothing impossible in assembling a computer yourself. Mastering all this is no more difficult than assembling a cabinet from IKEA, and even then - in my opinion, assembling a cabinet from IKEA is noticeably more difficult. And if you more or less understand what components a computer consists of and how these components need to select, then, of course, you new computer It’s better to assemble it yourself - from those components that you yourself select for your tasks and your financial capabilities. Well, let’s see how I assembled my computer: what goes into what, what complications and subtleties there may be. Here is a prepared set of components (what these components are and why I chose them is in the article). (All photos are clickable so you can see all the details.)

At home, it is better to assemble on a table if it is of sufficient size, but even better on a bed - this is the most convenient: you don’t have to bend over too much, and there is plenty of space. I take the case out of the box. Handsome, isn't he? Remove both side covers.

The case contains wires with connectors for connecting various ports, coolers and switches. There are also bags with all kinds of fasteners and clamps.

The front door opens to reveal four five-inch seats, for example, for DVDs and all sorts of additional panels.

Left to top cover buildings - two USB port 3.0, two USB 2.0 ports, headphone and microphone outputs.

On the right - power button, reset button, on/off button for the backlight of the case, three-position button for switching blowing modes, indicator work hard disks, blowing mode indicator.

Rear end housings.

First we install the power supply. In the article I wrote that I decided to take the V550 model - 550 W. However, after thinking about it, I decided that I would still take a more powerful power supply. And the point is not that I want to have a power reserve: you never know what I can think of to put in the computer. The fact is that more powerful block power supply, the cooler will turn on much less often for airflow, and it is extremely important for me that the computer is practically silent.

This is what I call a smartly packaged power supply. It's really nice to hold it in your hands.

The power supply itself, complete wires and a set of clamps.

We install the power supply into the power supply compartment of the case. It is installed with the fan down - there is a corresponding ventilation window with a dust filter on the computer case.

We fasten the power supply with bolts.

Now it's the motherboard's turn. By the way, before you pick it up, make sure that there is no static electricity on your hands, otherwise if you discharge directly into your mother, it may end badly. The same applies to other computer boards.

We take out the motherboard.

It comes with a large set of fasteners, wiring, adapters, and so on.

Port block.

It must be installed in the corresponding slot in the computer case: carefully bring it to the slot inside the case and insert it evenly until it clicks lightly. Check that the block is seated correctly on all sides.

Slot for installing a processor. Release the clamping handle, open the clamping frame, and remove the plastic plug.

We take the processor out of the box.

We install it in the mounting socket. The triangle in the corner of the processor should face the triangle drawn on the motherboard under the socket. There are also two guides there, so it’s simply impossible to install the processor incorrectly.

Cover the processor with a clamping frame and secure the handle under the protrusion.

Now we install a cooling system on the motherboard with the processor, in simple terms - a cooler.

We take the cooler out of the box. It consists of a radiator and a removable fan.

Two types of fasteners - for Intel processors and AMD processors.

Fasteners for Intel processors.

Remove the fan from the radiator so that it does not interfere.

The black frame is installed on the bottom of the motherboard under the processor, and its posts pass through special holes.

Holders are installed on these racks from the top. They can be installed like mine, or they can be rotated 90 degrees.

Before installing the radiator top part The processor must be lubricated with a special heat-conducting paste, which will increase the contact area of the radiator pad with the processor and improve heat dissipation. If the paste is not used or applied incorrectly, then it is quite possible that the processor will overheat, which can lead to very serious problems in the operation of the computer. A special syringe with paste is included with the cooler. There you need to unscrew the cap, squeeze out the required amount onto the upper surface of the processor and spread this paste very evenly in a thin layer. Before doing this, do not touch the surfaces of the processor and the radiator landing pad with your fingers to prevent grease stains from appearing.

After this, you need to install the radiator and secure it properly so that it is pressed against the surface of the processor as tightly as possible.

The fan was supplied with special double plastic buffers, with which it was supposed to work even quieter - I installed them.

After that, I installed the fan on the radiator and connected its power to the corresponding connector on motherboard. This connector is located next to the processor, and there you can set the cooler rotation speed through the BIOS or special programs.

Next, you need to install the motherboard into the case. But first, one note about installing the cooler. I have it installed opposite the case fan that supplies air inside the case. However, it would be best to rotate the radiator and fan 90 degrees counterclockwise so that it supplies heated air to the exhaust fan, which is installed on the rear end (both of these fans are clearly visible in the photo). But I was prevented from installing it this way by the location of the memory card slots on the motherboard - in this case, the fan would rest against the memory cards, which is undesirable. That's why I installed it exactly as in the photo - so it doesn't interfere with anything. And I thought that even with this arrangement I would not have any problems with cooling the processor: after all, this is a very effective cooler. (I’ll say right away that this is how it turned out - there were no problems.)

The ports and outputs of the motherboard should be in their places in the already installed block. First, we check that everything is in its place, and then we attach the motherboard, without missing a single fastening point.

Maternal board installed, now we begin to connect the wires.

In modern cases, special holes are always made with rubber nozzles, through which cables and wires can be laid not from above. motherboard, and through the back wall. It’s more convenient, and then everything looks much neater.

If necessary, connect cables to power supply, we pass them through the back wall and connect them to the pads on the motherboard. The connectors clearly correspond to the heads of the power supply cables, so it’s simply impossible to mix something up.

We connect the power to the main block of the motherboard, bringing the cable out of the hole closest to the block.

We connect the rest of the cables in the same way - audio, USB, power supply for coolers, and so on.

We pass all the cables through the back wall, take them out of the nearest hole and connect them. Later, when we assemble everything, we will remove the extra sections of cables under the back wall.

From the case comes a bundle of wires with heads that connect to a group of contacts on the motherboard - this is the power button (two contacts are simply closed there), the power indicator, Reset, indicator hard drives.Theoretically, the names and polarity of the contacts are written on the board and in the instructions, but in practice, advanced motherboards usually come with a special block, to which you can easily and simply connect the wires, and the block is then placed on a group of contacts. This block is here.

We insert the wires (it says what it is on the head of each wire).

We insert the block onto the contacts.

For ease of use, I purchased this universal card reader with additional USB ports. It installs in a five-inch slot in the case.

The set includes two front panels in other colors - white and gray.

My case is white, so I installed the socket white.

A plug is pulled out of the five-inch mounting socket, the card reader is placed there and secured. Its cables connect to the USB pins on the motherboard.

Now let's install the memory. Before doing this, you should look at the instructions, just in case: if only two of the four slots are used (and this is exactly what I have), then the memory plates must be installed through the slot - this is the so-called dual-channel memory configuration. The instructions clearly state how to install this memory: either in the 1st and 3rd slots, or in the 2nd and 4th.

Here are two memory strips.

Installation: in the memory slot there is a special protrusion that shows exactly how to unfold the memory board so that the recess on it coincides with this protrusion and the board is installed in the desired position. The board should be placed in the desired position, and then press lightly from the edges so that the board fits into the slot and the plastic levers snap into place along the edges.

Now we install a terabyte SSD in M.2 format - here it is, handsome.

The motherboard has two slots for M.2. We install it in one of them and secure the board with a screw.

Despite the presence of a terabyte SSD, I still decided to put a quiet three-terabyte HDD in some far corner of the case - for all kinds of data that are not constantly used. The disk is installed very simply: plastic holders are pulled out of the disk basket, iron holders are inserted into the mounting brackets holes hard drive, after which the disk is inserted into the selected section of the basket and latched. Its power and interface connectors are located on the rear wall, where they are connected with a power cable and a SATA cable.

Installed disk. Now it's the turn of the video card.

We take it out and insert it into the slot mother card until the lever clicks into place. (In the photo you can still see the already inserted small video capture card, which I use to take screenshots from media players.)

Advanced video cards require their own power supply - connect it. (For really cool cards you need to connect as many as two power heads.)

Well, everything seems to be collected.

Reinstall both covers.

We connect to power, monitor, keyboard and mouse, start it - everything works.

By the way, the illumination of the rear end is very convenient, especially since it can be turned off when it is not needed.

Well, now some indicators on the assembled machine. SSD speed on M.2.

On an old computer, a Samsung 850 PRO has this speed.

The difference, of course, is very noticeable. There, people using Samsung SSDs turn on the RAPID mode in Samsung Magician and get such completely unrealistic speeds through caching.

But these are just pretty numbers that have nothing to do with reality. But on M.2 this is reality! And that's not yet PRO version(it’s very expensive, I didn’t see the point in spending money). How does it look in purely practical terms? The system from the start of booting (after BIOS) to the login window is 4 seconds. Launch Lightroom - 2 seconds. Launching Photoshop - 1.5 seconds. The general system index according to Basemark is like this. My old computer (very powerful) had 314.59.
Well, about the temperature of important components. Temperature at minimum speeds rotation (complete silence) when working with the browser, text editor and so on.

Temperature at minimum rotation speeds (complete silence), when the processor is 100% loaded - DVD is being re-encoded to MKV with H.264.

It almost never goes beyond 70 degrees, and this is quite normal. Moreover, all you have to do is increase the speed of the coolers from very quiet to slightly noticeable - everything becomes something like this. At 100% capacity, I note.

In normal loaded mode (Lightroom and other programs), the processor temperature is about 35 degrees. The video card here is quite powerful - Palit GeForce GTX 1070. It has two coolers, but it turns them on only when it is under serious load, and the coolers are still inaudible. Here is the card measured after ten minutes of playing the latest DOOM at the maximum settings for this configuration. The temperature is less than 60 degrees, and the coolers are spinning at 32% of maximum speed.
These are the indicators for the assembled machine. It’s not for nothing that everything was selected separately. Well, as a conclusion about assembling the computer. The main thing here is to do everything VERY CAREFULLY, taking your time and carefully studying the manuals and pictures in the manual (especially if you still have little experience).

Any technology becomes obsolete over time and has to be replaced. Personal computers are no exception. Everything would be fine, but rising prices hit the pocket very hard. Ready powerful desktop computer will cost about $1,500. The cost looks astronomical and discourages all desire to look for new gadget, but there is a way out of this situation - to assemble the device yourself. You will learn in this article how to assemble a computer yourself from components, and how to choose them correctly.

We remember about imposing services

Selecting parts separately will not only satisfy all needs, but will also significantly reduce the final cost for a complete system unit. Plus, if you assemble the computer yourself from components, all the characteristics will exactly meet your expectations.

Important! Sales consultants deliberately intimidate inexperienced users with the fact that self-assembly makes replacement under warranty impossible. There is not an iota of truth in this, since each part will have a warranty card, and if it suddenly fails, you can always replace it or take it in for repair under warranty.

Let's take a detailed look at all the information about the components and the main nuances of their selection.

CPU, motherboard and RAM

How to assemble a computer yourself? First, you should start filling out your system unit. Let's start choosing a processor, which is the “heart” of the computer.

Power

First you need to determine the purpose of using a desktop personal computer. If you are used to working in demanding software or playing computer games, then you should pay attention to powerful processors. The higher the speed of its operation, the faster the device works.

There are two main indicators that you need to know about in order to assemble a computer yourself from components:

Clock frequency. You should not choose components with values below 2 GHz.
RAM. Don't even look at sticks with values below 2 GB.

Most the best option, when these indicators are 2 times greater than the specified minimum. In a separate article, which you can follow the link, we have prepared a lot for you useful information And .

Important! If you're choosing a processor, take the time to become familiar with its cache memory. Models with a capacity of at least 3 MB are relevant.

Motherboard

Let's move on to the motherboard, on which the entire device is literally based:

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with such famous manufacturers as: ASUS, Gigabyte, Foxconn, Msi.
To make your machine powerful, you need to give preference to ATX boards because it has greatest number findings that support future upgrades. And such a motherboard is very easy to install in a system unit.

Important! First of all, you need to make sure that the selected processor is compatible with the motherboard. If the devices are not compatible, then you will face huge problems during installation.

RAM

Well, RAM (random access memory). Now the most current models operate on the DDR3 or DDR4 principle. These are the options we will consider. But choose a type random access memory- this is not the most important thing. The most important parameter is the amount of memory. It is advisable to equip your computer with two 8 GB sticks, then you will have more opportunities to assemble it yourself powerful computer from components.

Video card

Hello gamers! The quality of everything you can see on your monitor directly depends on this component. The importance of choosing this part is no less important than the previous ones, especially if you plan to assemble a computer yourself from components and want it to fully meet your requirements.

The criteria here are similar to RAM:

A larger amount of volume characterizes the quality of the models.
If we are talking about manufacturers, then we need to keep an eye on Nvidia and AMD, which have long felt comfortable in the technology market.

Important! If you purchase a video camera from one of the above-mentioned manufacturers, then the chances of stumbling upon “scorched” equipment are reduced to zero.

How to build a gaming computer? We have already talked about the most important details for the players, now we need to find them the right nutrition.

A little about the power supply

If you are aiming to build a powerful PC, then the power supply must be at least 700 watts. If you give preference to models with less power, you run a very high risk of burning out this device in less than a month. You can insure yourself and purchase a UPS (source uninterruptible power supply). Uninterruptible power supply saves from sudden outages and turning on electricity.

Data store

Well, our computer is almost finished, all that remains is to select a few more parts and everything will be ready. Now we will talk about the hard drive (hard drive):

Most best option- This means installing two parts at once.
It is advisable to give preference to those models whose rotation speed is from 7200 rpm, and the capacity of such a device should be at least 1 TB.

Important! If you have good budget, then instead of HDD. SSDs are many times faster, but they also cost many times more than hard drives with previous technology.

Drive

Well, everything here depends on taste and color. Some users don’t bother buying them, since no one buys discs these days. But if you are the owner of collections of games, films and software, then check out manufacturers such as Sony and Pioneer.

Important! It's better not to take old models like CD-ROM. Most likely, you will not have the opportunity to even stumble upon such devices on modern market technologies.

Assembling a computer device with your own hands

Where to start assembling a computer? If you have brought all your purchases home, you can begin installation.

Important! Each part is protected against incorrect assembly. If a component does not want to be installed, then simply try installing it differently.

Let's move on to step-by-step instructions for assembling a stationary personal computer:

You need to open the system unit. Remove the side cover using a screwdriver and install the PSU (power supply) in its rightful place. The mounting holes will tell you exactly how to install it.
Now it’s time to tackle the cooling system. The minimum number of coolers in the system should not be less than two. One of the fans provides air flow and is located in the front part of the system unit. The second one “pumps out” hot air and is located in the rear part of the system unit. Self-tapping screws or special rubber clamps are usually used for fastening.
We install all purchased components on the motherboard with special care. CPU ( CPU) must be fixed in such a way that the motherboard connector coincides with the processor contacts. The fan is mounted above the processor using the fasteners that come with it.

Important! Be sure to apply a light layer of thermal paste to the surface area of the CPU to avoid exposure to high temperatures in the future.

We connect the cooler to the motherboard using the CPU FAN connector.
We install the racks under the motherboard into the “box”. Don’t forget about the plug, which prevents dust and other debris from getting inside.
We insert the RAM sticks. To install, you need to pull out the latches and lightly press on the RAM until you hear a characteristic click.
Let's take on again main board, put it in a ready place in the body of the future device. Carefully check that all connectors on the back of the PC are in place. We fix the main board with screws.
We are looking for a drive bay. You need to remove the plug and insert optical drive outside, securing it with screws.
It was the turn of the hard drive. Usually there is a space allocated for it at the very bottom. It is best to install from the inside. Don't forget about connecting the power and signal cables. Tighten the screws to secure it.
We open the plug in the place where the video card will be installed. Usually it is fixed on the back wall of the block. Insert the card into the board slot and screw it on.
Now you need to start connecting the wires. Connect all components to power and secure with latches, if any.
Now you need to connect the “mother” and the body panel. It is necessary that all indicators of the system unit are connected to the appropriate connectors.
We connect the remaining connectors: USB and audio.
Well, at the end of the procedure, you need to restore order inside the iron box, since there should be a chaotic web of wires.

We put the cover in place. We attach all the accessories to the computer and check the functionality of the newly-made device.

Many people ask: how to build your own computer? Most don't want assemble the system unit yourself. It is considered that this is quite simple procedure and it’s not so easy to handle the assembly yourself. Without assembly experience this is of course not easy, but still possible.

What is the advantage self-assembly computer? Firstly, such a computer will cost less than one bought in a store. Secondly, the system unit will be assembled taking into account your requirements, and during assembly you will find out what the computer consists of, etc.

The first step is to determine the configuration of the future system unit - home or office, gaming or just a multimedia center, or even some kind of highly specialized computer. The choice of components for assembling the computer will depend on the class of the computer.

Worker computer for office does not require a gaming video card and huge amounts of RAM, but for gaming computer without a powerful video card and large quantity There is no way to get by with RAM. Multimedia center needs a good large-capacity hard drive, or even better if there are several of them, as well as a high-quality sound card and an average video card with connectivity HDMI TV cable.

In any case, it begins with defining the tasks and purposes that this computer will perform. Once you have decided on the type of system unit, it’s time to make a list of components for the system unit:

Processor and cooler with radiator
Motherboard
RAM
Video card
HDD hard drive
Frame
power unit
DVD drive

You probably already noticed that there is no sound card, the fact is that modern motherboards are equipped with built-in sound, network card and other modules. Which 10-15 years ago were separate devices. In case you need sound High Quality, then you can’t do without a high-quality sound card. Especially if you need support for multi-channel audio.

We recommend choosing components with processor, since for different types processors are only suitable for certain motherboards. The socket in the motherboard where the processor is installed is called a socket, so the choice of processor affects the choice of motherboard. In addition, be sure to check whether the selected motherboard supports this processor core.

Cooler with radiator is also selected according to the type of processor socket, taking into account power consumption and the need for subsequent overclocking. If you do not plan to overclock, then the box version will suffice. Otherwise, we recommend not skimping on a cooler and choosing one with a copper core in the radiator and a fan with speed control.

Planks random access memory You need to buy those that are supported by the motherboard and its maximum frequency. Those. If motherboard supports DDR3 memory with a maximum frequency of 2000 MHz, then there is no point in buying DDR3 memory sticks with a frequency of 2400 MHz, since they will still operate at a maximum frequency of 2000 MHz.

Choosing video card, Pay attention to the video memory bus width, the amount of built-in memory, and then the frequencies of the video core and video memory. IN modern computers. The video card is installed in the PCI-Express (PCIe) slot. On this moment The bus width is as follows:

32 and 64 bit - video card for office computer, similar to the built-in video card.
128 bit is a video card for a home system unit, but is rather weak for modern games.
192 and 256 bit - video card for a gaming computer.
384 and 512 bits - gaming video cards level GeForce GTX760 and ATI Radeon R9 290X will allow you to play modern games without lags.

Choose frame The computer needs to take into account the form factor of the motherboard and the size of its other components, such as the video card. A situation may well arise that the video card simply won’t fit inside, since modern gaming video cards are quite large. In addition, it is worth considering the number of hard drives and DVD drives installed in the future.

HDD or a hard drive should be chosen first for reliability, durable operation and speed. If finances allow, buy SSD drive small volume for installing the operating system and regular magnetic storage HDD for storing personal data: photos, videos, music, etc. Thanks using SSD disks, you will not only increase the speed of your computer several times and reduce the noise produced during operation.

Choose DVD drive It’s better to rely on reliability and purchase trusted manufacturers: LG, NEC, Samsung, etc.

Before the purchase power supply it is necessary to determine what maximum power the system unit will consume. The main consumers are the computer's processor and video card. After approximately calculating the power, we recommend increasing the obtained value by 20-30% so that the power supply does not operate at peak loads. This way you will significantly increase its service life.

That's probably all you need to buy to assemble a computer yourself.

For the right computer assembly You can use our service center ITcom in Kharkov. Our specialists will not only help you choose compatible and reliable components, but will also tell you where it’s best to buy them.

It is worth noting the following point. Budget motherboards are equipped with a 4-pin CPU power connector. So, we divide the existing 8-pin cable into two 4-pin cables with our hands and connect to the board. Expensive motherboards, on the contrary, are equipped with an additional connector in addition to the 8-pin 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 seriously overclock the central processor. But then you will need an accompanying power supply or adapter.

Step #5: installing storage drives and optical drive

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

In 99% of cases, the case is equipped with a special basket with a slide. The manufacturer also indicates in the specifications 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 the same number of 2.5-inch drives. The second (bottom) is three. In some cases these baskets may be removable. Plus, this particular case has two seats for 2.5-inch drives behind the chassis.

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

1. System unit - how to choose components?
2. Installation of the processor, RAM and cooling system.
3. Applying thermal paste to the processor
4. Installing the motherboard into the case
5. Connecting the case controls to the motherboard
6. Installing the power supply
7. Installation of drives
8. Installing a video card
9. Laying cables and completing work

Each of us has at least once encountered a situation when, having trusted a sales consultant, we chose a ready-made Personal Computer, and after a few months I realized that for the same money I could have purchased a much more productive option. To ensure that a similar story does not happen 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 non-technical users assume, but it still has a number of nuances, which we want to dwell on in detail in our material. We’ll 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 enters a store computer equipment and sees the full breadth of choice of motherboards, processors, video cards and others components, it seems to him that 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 all the computer hardware.

Selecting components is the most difficult task when assembling a PC, much more labor-intensive than connecting them together, but this material is dedicated to the latter task, and you can find a comparison of the characteristics of video cards and processors in our other publications.

The basis of all our future system is a motherboard, as its name suggests. It has virtually no effect on performance, but is responsible for the proper operation of all components of our computer.

The entire process of assembling a PC essentially consists of 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 a certain number of RAM cells suitable for desired processor socket and so on. Also important characteristic The form factor of the motherboard determines the dimensions of the case you will need, so be careful and when purchasing a large E-ATX board, do not expect to fit it into a compact case.

Installation of the processor, RAM and cooling system.

To build a computer at home, we suggest starting with an “open bench” rather than immediately installing your components into the 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 it all in the case.

Let's start the process by installing the heart of our future PC - the processor. We must remember that the two market leaders in processor production - AMD and Intel - fundamentally use different socket designs; the former have the contact pins on the processor, while the latter prefer to place them in the socket.

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

When installing Intel, you should lift the lever and the clamping cover, and after installing the processor, do these steps in reverse order. 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 for cooling the processor, you need to remember that they are all installed differently and the only reasonable action would be to strictly follow the instructions. For example, AMD has a passion for fasteners using plastic lugs, while Intel, in principle, does not use such a design solution. In general, most processor coolers are quite universal, and therefore can work with chipsets from both companies, but be careful when choosing - there are also models that are loyal to only one brand.

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

After we have secured the radiator and installed the fan on it, all that remains is 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 finish initial work All we have to do is install the RAM modules into the DIMM slots. Each plank has security key, depriving you of the opportunity to insert it the wrong way, also you will not be able to insert memory of one type, for example DDR3, into a slot on the motherboard that is not intended for it. Thus, installing RAM is the most simple 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 fairly large processor cooler may block the RAM slots on some motherboards, and therefore it is worth thoroughly studying their compatibility before purchasing.

Applying thermal paste to the processor

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

However, if it is missing, simply add a couple of drops of the composition and spread them in an even layer over the area of the heat distribution cover of the CPU. On the contrary, excess will reduce the thermal conductivity between the processor and the cooler, which will negatively affect the performance of the computer. If you decide to assemble a computer with your own hands, then at least do not harm it.

Installing the motherboard into the case

The main line when choosing a case for you should be the one that is responsible for the supported form factors of the motherboards. The following are the maximum possible sizes of 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 manipulations.

To install the motherboard, you first need to tighten the external and internal threaded mounting nuts. As a rule, all the bolts and nuts come with the housing, they are standardized, so it is unlikely that you will need to look for something unique to install your assembly. Having secured the plugs and tightened the nuts, you can move on.

Connecting Case Controls to the Motherboard

The panel of a standard case is usually 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 you can handle it inexperienced user. Each connector speaks for itself, and if it says SATA on it, then it is probably intended for a device with the same interface.

IN Lately The power supply compartment is located 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 remote from the unit. After installing the unit, we stretch two main cables - a 24-pin cable to the motherboard itself and an 8-pin cable to the processor. When purchasing a power supply, we advise you to immediately purchase a bundle of nylon ties so that your bundle does not get confused between PC parts.

Installing drives

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

Installing a drive into a slot with a slide is as simple as installing RAM, and therefore we will not dwell on this point in detail. All that remains is to connect cables to them from the motherboard and power supply unit, which have a SATA connector.

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

Installing a video card

Since we set out to assemble a PC correctly, we cannot do without a paragraph 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, all that remains is to remove the two plugs on which the radiator will be connected, and also tightly screw the video card to the motherboard and back cover housings. The number of power cables will depend on the power of the video card and in extreme cases you will have to add cables to the power supply or use adapters.

Laying cables and completing work

The entire list of components is combined into unified system, so it’s time to put the finishing touches on it. If the assembly is standard, then you just need to choose what to connect the coolers to: motherboard, reobass or power supply. After this, you just need to carefully lay the remaining cables and tie them with nylon ties, and then close the housing cover.

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

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, without paying attention to the tricks of computer equipment sellers!