Many users assemble their computers themselves. It is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, it is enough just to be careful when assembling and not to make gross mistakes. A self-assembled computer can work as reliably as a factory-assembled one.
Before you start assembling your computer, you should decide why you need it. Many users believe that a self-assembled computer will cost less than a similar store one. This is not so - you will have to buy components for assembly at retail, their prices are obviously higher than the wholesale prices for which service centers and other companies purchase parts for PCs.
Thus, it makes sense to assemble a computer yourself only if you like the process itself, and you want to work on a PC of your own assembly. In other cases, it is better to order a computer assembly at a service center, this is the cheapest and most reliable option.
Choice of configuration and purchase of components
If you decide to build a PC yourself, first select the configuration you need. It is at this stage that the main characteristics of the computer are laid down - its speed, the volume of hard drives, etc. As a rule, a computer is assembled for solving specific problems, which should also be taken into account. For example, to solve office problems, you can do without a powerful video card. But for a gaming PC or any other graphics processing job, a powerful video adapter is essential.
A separate issue is the purchase of components. Many of them can be bought on the radio market, this is the cheapest option. But the reliability of such components may be low, there is a great risk of getting a defective or substandard product in some way. One of the best options for price and quality is ordering all the necessary components in a service center.
Try not to use components from outdated computers in the assembled PC. This reduces both the reliability of the system and its performance.
Assembling your computer
Assembling a computer itself is not difficult and resembles working with a designer. But there are also moments that require great responsibility. For example, installing a processor. It must be correctly positioned and secured with a holding device. It can take a lot of effort to secure, be prepared for this.
If there is already thermal paste on the cooler heatsink, you just need to reinstall the cooler. In the absence of thermal paste, it must be applied to the processor case - as a rule, a volume of paste the size of a small pea is sufficient. The paste is applied to the center of the processor and pressed against the heatsink.
Pay attention to the correct connection of the power connectors to the motherboard. Don't forget to plug in the cooler connector. Many video cards also require additional power supply. Connect the hard drive and DVD drive cables. You also need to connect the USB port cables on the front panel of the system unit to the motherboard.
Turning on the computer for the first time
Check carefully that the assembly is correct, then connect the PC to the network and turn it on. If everything is assembled correctly, you will see on the screen the passage of the components test, after which a lonely blinking cursor will remain. This indicates that the equipment is working properly and now an operating system must be installed on the computer.
When turning on the PC for the first time, do not close the side panel of the system unit from the component side. This will allow you to make sure that the cooler is working and visually monitor the condition of other components.
If the assembly is not performed correctly or there are faulty components, the PC will not turn on at all, or immediately after turning on you will hear a series of tones indicating the nature of the problem. Their decoding for a specific motherboard can be found on the net.
