Build Your Own Computer

Building a desktop computer is actually a very straightforward process. It consists of assembling a case, a power supply, motherboard, processor, RAM (memory), a video card and sound card, hard drives, disk drives, the monitor, and accessories. Decide how much you are willing to spend on your new desktop computer, and don't forget to consider how much the monitor will cost you. Building a computer from scratch means extra work, but you can always build a much better rig than what you can buy at the store for the cost of your parts.

Depending on what you plan to do with your new machine, you may need a larger or smaller size monitor. Decide where to put your new machine, on a desk maybe? Select your equipment in store or online after price shopping to get the best deal. Another perk of shopping on the Internet is that you don't have to pay sales tax, so that can save you even more. Look for package deals on motherboards and the other parts you need.

Once you have all your components, install the power supply in the case if it's not already there, then put in the motherboard. Next is the processor and RAM (you'll need to determine which type you need first), then the video card and sound card. Installing the processor is the most difficult part of this process, and it's easy to break the processor if you're not careful. Most processor companies will send you a replacement for free, but receiving the part through the mail can take a few weeks. Just consult the instructions on your motherboard for installation techniques and compatibility information. Then install your hard drives, CD drives, connect all the fans and wiring as directed in the instructions for the motherboard.

After you have completed assembling the main components, you can then plug in (or wirelessly connect) all of your peripheral hardware, such as the keyboard, mouse, monitor, and speakers. This is easy to do as the plugs usually have little pictures next to them to indicate what they connect with or they may be color coded. The final (and most time consuming) step is installing an operating system on your machine and getting the internet connected, which will require you to follow the instructions with whatever device you use to get internet. So, after starting the installation, go find a snack and a TV show or something. When you can finally get online, you will then need to download anti-virus software and probably lots of software updates for the operating system.

The last thing you will have to do is install all the software you use personally, either from the website or the CD if you own software. How long all this takes is largely dependent on how skilled you are and what operating system you install. Researching anything you are unsure about is a wise choice, since mistakes can be costly.