How to build a custom PCHow to build a custom PC

byby

Joseph Duenas Joe Joseph Duenas Joe EspinozaEspinoza

Benji HernandezBenji Hernandez

Table of ContentsTable of Contents1 1

Creating a Static Free EnCreating a Static Free Environmentvironment

2 2 Safety Procedures Safety Procedures 3 3 Tools NeededTools Needed4 4 Parts NeededParts Needed5 5 CasesCases6 6 MotherboardMotherboard7 7 Parts of MotherboardParts of Motherboard8 8 Hard DriveHard Drive9 9 Floppy Disk Drive Floppy Disk Drive 10 10 ProcessorProcessor11 11 Cooling SystemCooling System12 12 MemoryMemory

13 13 Video CardVideo Card14 Power Supply14 Power Supply15 Mouse, Keyboard15 Mouse, Keyboard16 CD-Rom16 CD-Rom17 Sound card17 Sound card18 Modem18 Modem19 Bios19 Bios20 Operating System20 Operating System21 Speakers And Devices21 Speakers And Devices22 Round Cables 22 Round Cables 23 Final Tweaking23 Final Tweaking24 Special Thanks 24 Special Thanks 25 Final Thought25 Final Thought

1. Creating a Static Free 1. Creating a Static Free EnvironmentEnvironment

To Create a Static Free EnvironmentTo Create a Static Free Environment You must create a static free environment because it You must create a static free environment because it

will damage your pc severely. To create one you will damage your pc severely. To create one you must have an anti-static wrist strap and a anti-static must have an anti-static wrist strap and a anti-static mat.mat.

2. Safety Procedures2. Safety Procedures

Always hit the start menu and press Always hit the start menu and press shutdown button to properly shut it down.shutdown button to properly shut it down.

Your computer must always be turned off Your computer must always be turned off before being worked on.before being worked on.

Never have any liquids around your work Never have any liquids around your work area.area.

No technician is ever caught with food No technician is ever caught with food or drinks near the work area.or drinks near the work area.

3. Tools Needed3. Tools NeededIf you are a very casual PC user you can If you are a very casual PC user you can

probably get by hacking around with probably get by hacking around with an old screwdriver and a pocket knife an old screwdriver and a pocket knife when you need to work on your PC. when you need to work on your PC. However, if you plan to do any However, if you plan to do any reasonable amount of work upgrading, reasonable amount of work upgrading, building, troubleshooting or repairing building, troubleshooting or repairing PCs, a proper tool kit is a good PCs, a proper tool kit is a good investment. There are many different investment. There are many different types of tool kits available for the types of tool kits available for the computer enthusiast, with tools computer enthusiast, with tools selected specifically to make the lives selected specifically to make the lives of those who work with PCs easier. As of those who work with PCs easier. As with most things, tool kits range with most things, tool kits range widely in size, quality and price. At the widely in size, quality and price. At the low end are $5 kits that are barely any low end are $5 kits that are barely any better than the screwdriver and pocket better than the screwdriver and pocket knife. At the high end are kits costing knife. At the high end are kits costing over $100 that include everything but over $100 that include everything but the kitchen sink; these are overkill for the kitchen sink; these are overkill for most people (including me). Most most people (including me). Most people can do just fine with a toolkit people can do just fine with a toolkit costing between $15 and $50. These costing between $15 and $50. These are often available pre-assembled into are often available pre-assembled into "genuine artificial leather" carrying "genuine artificial leather" carrying cases, sold at most general computer cases, sold at most general computer storesstores

4. Parts Needed4. Parts NeededMotherboard Motherboard Mouse Mouse KeyboardKeyboardHard Drive Hard Drive MemoryMemoryCPUCPUCooling fanCooling fanHeat sinkRibbon Cables

ModemPower supply Video CardSound CardCD-RomFloppy disk driveMonitor

These are the basic parts for building your pc. You can always go advance but it will cost a

bit of money. Ex. CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, Wireless Mouse and Keyboard, Flat Panel

Monitor, Faster Processor, Faster RAM, Water Cooling System, Round Cables, and a Hard

Drive that holds a lot more.

5. Cases5. CasesThe case that your computer is housed in The case that your computer is housed in

is an important consideration if you is an important consideration if you plan to add drives to your system or plan to add drives to your system or do a lot of work on it. Some do a lot of work on it. Some manufacturers have well-designed manufacturers have well-designed cases that are easy to open and cases that are easy to open and service. Tower cases have two types service. Tower cases have two types of covers, wraparound or side panels. of covers, wraparound or side panels. Side panels are typically easier to Side panels are typically easier to work with, and wraparound cases can work with, and wraparound cases can be painful to work with as they never be painful to work with as they never seem to fit back on properly. One seem to fit back on properly. One thing about towers is that you have to thing about towers is that you have to carefully consider where you are carefully consider where you are going to place components. The going to place components. The standard IDE ribbon cable is 16" standard IDE ribbon cable is 16" (41cm) long, and has two connections (41cm) long, and has two connections for devices. You can't get longer for devices. You can't get longer cables, because that's what the cables, because that's what the standard is. Another kind of cases are standard is. Another kind of cases are the custom made towers. Like the one the custom made towers. Like the one you see on your right they are made you see on your right they are made for your style. You can put lots of for your style. You can put lots of stuff like neon lights, water cooling stuff like neon lights, water cooling system, multiple hard drives, a good system, multiple hard drives, a good amount of drives, and light led fans. amount of drives, and light led fans. Also with your custom case you can Also with your custom case you can put Plexiglas on the side or put Plexiglas on the side or wherever, do it could look stylish. wherever, do it could look stylish.

6. Motherboard6. Motherboard

. .

The motherboard has been an integral part of most personal computers for more than 20 years. Think of a motherboard as a scale model of a futuristic city with many modular plug-in buildings, each using power from a common electrical system. Multiple-lane highways of various widths transport data between the buildings. The motherboard is the data and power infrastructure for the entire computer. Motherboards (also called mainboards) are actually a carryover from architecture used for years in mainframe computers . Various circuit cards performing various functions all plug into many similar sockets on a common circuit board. Each circuit card performs a unique function in the computer and gets its power from the socket.

7. Parts of a 7. Parts of a MotherboardMotherboard Front PanelFront Panel

BoisBois

Floppy ConnecterFloppy Connecter

2 Dual Channel Masters2 Dual Channel Masters

2 SSRAM2 SSRAM

2 DDRRAM2 DDRRAM

ATX Power ConnectorATX Power Connector

VIA VT8366VIA VT8366

Socket ASocket A

PS/2, Mouse/KBPS/2, Mouse/KB

USB PortsUSB Ports

COM1, Com2 PortsCOM1, Com2 Ports

Audio in/MIC/Out and game Audio in/MIC/Out and game portsports

AGP SlotAGP Slot

Five PCI SlotsFive PCI Slots

8. Hard Drive8. Hard DriveThe Hard Drive disk is the data The Hard Drive disk is the data

center of the computer. The center of the computer. The hard disk Hard disks were hard disk Hard disks were invented in the 1950s. They invented in the 1950s. They started as large disks up to started as large disks up to 20 inches in diameter 20 inches in diameter holding just a few holding just a few megabytes . They were megabytes . They were originally called "fixed disks" originally called "fixed disks" or "Winchesters" (a code or "Winchesters" (a code name used for a popular IBM name used for a popular IBM product). They later became product). They later became known as "hard disks" to known as "hard disks" to distinguish them from distinguish them from “floppy disk." Hard disks “floppy disk." Hard disks have a hard platter that have a hard platter that holds the magnetic medium, holds the magnetic medium, as opposed to the flexible as opposed to the flexible plastic film found in tapes plastic film found in tapes and floppies. drive differs in and floppies. drive differs in three ways size, speed, three ways size, speed, permanence.permanence.

9. Floppy Disk Drive9. Floppy Disk Drive If you have spent any time at If you have spent any time at

all working with a computer, all working with a computer, then chances are good that then chances are good that you have used a floppy disk you have used a floppy disk at some point. The floppy at some point. The floppy disk drive (FDD) was the disk drive (FDD) was the primary means of adding primary means of adding data to a computer until the data to a computer until the CD-ROM Drive became CD-ROM Drive became popular. In fact, FDDs have popular. In fact, FDDs have been an key component of been an key component of most personal computers for most personal computers for more than 20 years. The more than 20 years. The invention of hard disks invention of hard disks relegated floppy disks to the relegated floppy disks to the secondary roles of data secondary roles of data transfer and software transfer and software installation. The invention of installation. The invention of the CD-ROM and the Internet, the CD-ROM and the Internet, combined with the combined with the increasingly large size of increasingly large size of software files, is threatening software files, is threatening even these secondary roles.even these secondary roles.

10. Processor10. Processor Abbreviation of central Abbreviation of central processing unit, an processing unit, an pronounced as separate pronounced as separate letters. The CPU is the brains letters. The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the referred to simply as the processor or central processor or central processor, the CPU is where processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. most calculations take place. In terms of computing In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most power, the CPU is the most important element of a important element of a computer system. These are computer system. These are some processing units known some processing units known as the main brain of the as the main brain of the computer such as the Intel computer such as the Intel Pentium 4 and a AMD Duron Pentium 4 and a AMD Duron processors. processors.

11. Cooling System11. Cooling SystemThe cooling system is very important because it keeps the processor cool so that it can work at its maximum speed. Water cooling may make your computer look thoroughly extraordinary - even with a PC built in a conventional case, you still need to put the reservoir and radiator somewhere, and they're likely to attract comment - but, done properly, it's a reliable, inexpensive way to get substantially more speed from a CPU.

12. Memory12. Memory There are two types of There are two types of

memory Random Access memory Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM). Only Memory (ROM). RAM is volatile and will RAM is volatile and will not be saved when you not be saved when you shut down your shut down your computer unless you computer unless you have a diskette or a have a diskette or a compact disk to save on. compact disk to save on. ROM is non-volatile, ROM is non-volatile, which means that you which means that you can shut down your can shut down your computer and the data computer and the data will still be saved.will still be saved.

13. Video Card13. Video CardThe video card is just as important as the screen – and more often overlooked. During the years 1999-2001 the overall quality of video adapters have been improved. Earlier there was some very lousy products in the market. Follow my articles to know more of the video adapter! A video card is typically an adapter, a removable expansion card in the PC. Thus, it can be replaced! A video chip set of some brand (ATI, Matrox, NVIDIA, S3, Intel, to name some of the better known). This one to your right is a ATI Radeon9800XT Pro 256mb.

14. Power Supply14. Power Supply

In a personal computer (PC), the power supply is the metal box usually found in a corner of the case. The power supply is visible from the back of many systems because it contains the power-cord receptacle and the cooling fan.

Power Supply

15. Mouse, Keyboard15. Mouse, KeyboardMice first broke on to the Mice first broke on to the

public stage with the public stage with the introduction of the introduction of the Apple Macintosh in Apple Macintosh in 1984, and since then 1984, and since then they have helped to they have helped to completely redefine the completely redefine the way we use computersway we use computers..

The part of the computer that we come into most contact with is probably the piece that we think about the least. But the keyboard is an amazing piece of technology. For instance, did you know that the keyboard on a typical computer system is actually a computer itself?

Wireless Mouse

Keyboard

16. CD-Rom Drive16. CD-Rom Drive

CD-ROMs

The first is the DATA TRANSFER RATE of the drive. This parameter is widely touted by manufacturers and has been given a good deal of press. We've gone from single speed drives with a data transfer rate of 150 Kb/s to 32x drives at 4800 Kb/s (the 32x means that it is 32 times faster than 150 Kb/s e.g. 150x32=4800). Speeding up the data transfer rate of a drive is a relatively easy thing to do. A drive's manufacturer designs a drive that simply spins the CD-ROM faster. That's why there has been such a big increase in the data transfer rate of drives in the past few years. It's just not that big a feat to design a drive that spins faster. The other factor affecting a CD-ROM drives performance is ACCESS TIME, also called seek time. This is the average time it takes to reposition a drive's read head to a new location and start reading data. Access time has improved relatively little in the course of developing new drives with faster and faster data transfer rats. It's not that the drive manufacturers wouldn't like to greatly increase access time, it's just not an easy thing to do.

17. Sound Card17. Sound CardThe voice in your computer that lets you know when you've received a new e-mail is made possible by the sound card. Before the arrival of sound cards, personal computers (PCs) were limited to beeps from a tiny speaker on the motherboard. In the late 1980s, sound cards ushered in the multimedia PC and took computer games to a whole different level. This is one of the best sound cards available. Premium 24-bit/192 kHz, 8 channel integrated interface with 2-in/6-out analog, S/PDIF stereo digital output, surround sound support. With this sound card you will receive the perfect sound effects.

18. Modem18. ModemThe word "modem" is a contraction of the words modulator-demodulator. A modem is typically used to send digital data over a phone line. The sending modem modulates the data into a signal that is compatible with the phone line, and the receiving modem demodulates the signal back into digital data. Wireless modems convert digital data into radio signals and back. Modems came into existence in the 1960s as a way to allow terminals to connect to computers over the phone lines. A typical arrangement is shown below:

19. Bios19. BiosThe BIOS software has a The BIOS software has a

number of different roles, number of different roles, but its most important but its most important role is to load the role is to load the operating system. When operating system. When you turn on your you turn on your computer and the computer and the microprocessor tries to microprocessor tries to execute its first execute its first instruction, it has to get instruction, it has to get that instruction from that instruction from somewhere. It cannot get somewhere. It cannot get it from the operating it from the operating system because the system because the operating system is operating system is located on a hard disk, located on a hard disk, and the microprocessor and the microprocessor cannot get to it without cannot get to it without some instructions that some instructions that tell it how.tell it how.

Bios Startup

Bios

20. Operating System20. Operating SystemIf you have a computer, thenIf you have a computer, thenyou have heard aboutyou have heard aboutoperating systems. Anyoperating systems. Anydesktop or laptop PC that youdesktop or laptop PC that youbuy normally comes prebuy normally comes preloaded with loaded with Windows XPWindows XP..Macintosh computers comeMacintosh computers comepre-loaded with pre-loaded with OS XOS X. Many. Manycorporate servers use thecorporate servers use theLinuxLinux or or UNIXUNIX operating operatingsystems. The purpose of ansystems. The purpose of anoperating system is to organize andoperating system is to organize andcontrol hardware and software socontrol hardware and software sothat the device it lives in behaves inthat the device it lives in behaves ina flexible but predictable way.a flexible but predictable way. TheTheOperating system (OS) is the first Operating system (OS) is the first thing loaded onto the computer –thing loaded onto the computer –without the operating system,without the operating system,a computer is useless. a computer is useless.

21. Speakers and Audio 21. Speakers and Audio DevicesDevices

Simply, speakers are air pistons that move back (on the Simply, speakers are air pistons that move back (on the negative cycle of an electrical signal) and forth (on the negative cycle of an electrical signal) and forth (on the

positive cycle) creating different degrees of air pressure. positive cycle) creating different degrees of air pressure. Low frequency signals reproduced by subwoofers are Low frequency signals reproduced by subwoofers are

"non-directional." That is, it's most difficult for humans "non-directional." That is, it's most difficult for humans to tell where lower frequencies are coming from. So you to tell where lower frequencies are coming from. So you can (theoretically) put a subwoofer anywhere without can (theoretically) put a subwoofer anywhere without

worrying about a loss of sound quality due to poor worrying about a loss of sound quality due to poor aiming and direction.aiming and direction.

22. Round Cables22. Round CablesWith a myriad of IDE, SCSI and With a myriad of IDE, SCSI and

floppy drive cables inside floppy drive cables inside your computer case, they will your computer case, they will often increase the clutter often increase the clutter and restrict the airflow. With and restrict the airflow. With a little bit of work, however, a little bit of work, however, you can easily tidy the mess you can easily tidy the mess and greatly increase the and greatly increase the airflow through your case. airflow through your case. Rounding cables reduces the Rounding cables reduces the area the cables take up and area the cables take up and not only does it look much not only does it look much neater, the increased airflow neater, the increased airflow should make things much should make things much cooler inside your machine. cooler inside your machine. Rounding cables typically Rounding cables typically involves slicing them into involves slicing them into small strips and binding small strips and binding them with cable ties, but them with cable ties, but there are a couple of other there are a couple of other ways to round your cables as ways to round your cables as well.well.

23. Final Tweaking23. Final Tweaking

24. Special Thanks24. Special Thanks

25. Final Thought25. Final Thought