Building Your Own PC - Part 2
If you're reading this, then you probably want to know more about building your own PC. Contrary to what people say or hear, building your own PC is not as tough as it seems. But it's not easy either, you still have to be very careful while doing it. Basically, if you can put one of those Lego kits, you can build a PC. That's said, while this guide will show you how to build a PC, it's still not a substitute for a first hand experience. If you're quite new at this (or have no previous experience what so ever around electrical appliances and tools) I suggest observing someone else do it first, then cross reference what you have seen with this guide.Important Things to Remember
Since we're dealing with electrical components, the very first thing you need to do is to make sure that the power cable to your PC's power supply is unplugged. Unplugging the power cable to your monitor is also a good idea. Check for other power connections as well (printers, scanners etc).Detach any other cables you find, but make sure you know where to put them back. Usually they're color coded, so you just have to match the colors between both connectors. There's also an icon sketched near the connectors on your PC that will told you what connectors belong to what. If all else fails, look up what these connectors do in your manual (either the motherboard's, graphics cards' or PC manual).Make sure that you're working in an area that's well lit, dry and clean. Keep a container handy for those screws and other detachable parts. That way you won't accidentally threw and lost them. Make a mental note (or write it down) which screw belongs to which hole. It will make putting them back together an easier job. Gather the manuals and put them nearby so you could consult them if you're unsure about something. As for tools, in most cases you will only need two screwdrivers, a Phillips and ordinary one.
Be sure to ground yourself properly so you won't accidentally give off electrostatic discharge. These ESDs will kill your PC's components if you're not careful. Wear shoes or sandals if the floor is not covered with carpet. Remember not to touch the electrical parts of your PC's components. Pick them up by their side. Don't touch or press the cooling fans either, it might alter their alignment which may shorten their lifespan or worse, break off the blades.
The Processor
Open your CPU packaging and look inside for a manual. In most cases, the instructions on the manual are enough. Just follow the manual to the letter. Pick the processor up the by the sides and make sure there are no broken / bended pins on the processor. Don't touch the bottom, which the side with the pins / pads. Don't touch the bridges / resistors (if there's any) on the or top as well. You might accidentally bend or break them, and of course, this means that we can't use the processor anymore.Now, look at the bottom and notice how the pins are arrange and what the orientation is. There is only one way - the correct way - a processor will fit into a processor socket. The notch / orientation markers will tell you what that way is. Next, look at the processor socket on the motherboard. You'll find that the socket's holes have the same arrangement as the pins and orientation. Needless to say, the two should fit nicely without you forcing down on the processor. Double check them again just to be sure you know how to put them together.
On one side of the socket you'll find a lever, either made of plastic or steel. Gently slide it outwards and then pull it upwards. This will open the socket's lock mechanism which means you'll be able to place the processor in.
Check the orientation again and gently insert the processor into the socket. The processor should fit without any pressure on your part. If it doesn't, don't push / press down on it. Pick it up again and make sure there are no broken / bended pins on the processor, then repeat the process.
After the processor is safely tucked inside the socket, very gently close the lever. You might have to press it slightly, until you hear a click from the socket's lock. Once the lock is closed, the processor is firmly attached to the socket. It won't move or detach itself until the lock is opened. Congratulations, you just installed your first processor.
The Heatsink
Open the heatsink's package and pick up the heatsink. Check the manual that came with it if there's any. Like before, don't touch the bottom and top (where the fan is) of the heatsink. Look at the bottom and see if there's a cover (usually plastic) in the center of the heatsink. This cover protects a thermal tape or paste that will optimize the heat transfer from the processor to the CPU. If there's no cover and / or thermal tape, you'll have to apply one.Look again at the bottom of the heatsink. Some heatsinks can only be installed a certain way, while other can be installed both ways. If there's only one depressed area on the underside, you have to match the depressed area to the top of the processor's socket (the visible part - usually you'll see something written on it). If there's two depressed areas on the underside, that means the heatsink can be installed both ways - remember that a heatsink will have to fit its guard on the motherboard.
Before installing the heatsink, remove the covering protecting the thermal tape. Don't forget to do this, if you do the heatsink will not be able to cool down the processor properly! If there's no thermal tape / paste, you must apply some (not much, just enough) to cover the entire processor (only the side that makes contact with the heatsink). A minuscule amount will do the job (something like the half the size of a pin head). Next, spread it evenly around the face until it's all covered in paste. Do it with something blunt and soft, like the tip of a plastic card - such as your credit / ATM card.
Noting the correct orientation, gently put the heatsink on top of the processor. It should sit nicely with the heatsink, making full contact with the processor. Make sure that it's not pressing / touching other components or placed sideways / slanted. Now, we will lock the heatsink in place. Consult the heatsink's manual (or the processor's manual) and see how to properly lock the heatsink. If you're dealing with socket A / 462 and socket 370 processors, you must fit the heatsink's clip to the notches / clip lock on the socket. Fit the ones on the socket's bottom first, then the ones on top. You might have to push hard (with a screwdriver), so be very careful when doing this. It helps if the heatsink's clip has a notch to put the screwdriver's head on. For socket 478 / 775 and socket 754 / 939 processors, you simply need to close the lock. Again, before doing so, make sure the heatsink is properly seated.
Some motherboards default to a certain FSB, which may not be the correct FSB for the processor. Generally, the motherboard will detect the correct FSB and configure itself automatically, but there are exceptions. Usually, these 'exceptional' motherboards use jumpers to configure the FSB. Open the motherboard's manual and look if there's info on such a jumper and where it is located. Match the FSB used by the motherboard to the FSB used by the processor.
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