Putting a computer together for noobs (me)?

Question

ok so im plaing on making a computer but i dont want the store to put it together for me because they want to charge me $90 for it.

1.What tools do i need ?
2.How hard is it to put a computer together?
3.How long will it take?
4.What are the dangers if i put it together myself?

Answer 1

Have a read of this, it should help:http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_To_Assemble_A_Desktop_PC
The biggest danger is static electricity, so I suggest you make a small investment in one of these:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888207

Answer 2

1. You will need a variety of screwdrivers of varying sizes - Large to small. You will also need an antistatic strap to protect your computer parts from static electricity. This can be purchased at any computer store. A flashlight is handy too.

2. Putting together a computer is not hard. The only problem you will encounter when putting together a computer is product compatibility. For example, If you purchased a case with only 5 expansion slots in the back and your motherboard has 7, then the extra two on the motherboard will not be used, therefore, wasting money.

3. Usually around 2 hours, if there are no problems. If there are problems expect to spend around 24 hours for completion.

4. Dangers may include minor cuts. Also, If you don't have the antistatic strap as suggested above, you could end up damaging your motherboard and other computer parts sensitive to static. If you are super careful, you should not experience any dangers whatsoever. The precautions will be obvious once you start assembly.

Answer 3

1. Generally a phillips screwdriver or two is all you need (minimum). It would also ne nice to have a grounding wrist strap or something like that to prevent static electricity from building up in you and shorting out you parts.

2. How hard is it? that all depends, have you ever installed anything in you computer before, like a harddrive, RAM, etc. It's harder than that. You should know how to read diagrams well. how hard it is all depends ou you. For me, not hard at all, for others- extremely hard.

3. Maybe a few hours depending if you motherboard needs to be flashed and set up your bios and all that good stuff.

4. Plenty of dangers.

The first is getting parts that are compatible with each other. Not all Motherboards and CPU are going to work together.

Second is not seating the CPU correctly in your motherboard, which could result in you frying the computer the first time you try to start it up, or if your lucky, having to redo it.

Third, if you have any static electricity and it discharges, you could ruin whatever you are holding or touching at the time, motherboard, CPU, harddrive, opticaldrive, RAM, etc. which you would have to replace.

Rather than continue, let me say this. Pay the $90 if you have no idea what you are doing or have never watched it done before because any part that you may fry will cost more than $90 to replace. Or if you screw up something It will probably cost $100+ to have them fuigure out what you did wrong and fix it.

Answer 4

I have been doing it for years, and it is quite easy.

1. Screwdriver and thats about it
2. On a scale of easy-medium-hard , probably medium. In my experience it is more of planning than anything else. Out of everything , getting the harddrive light and the power light on the case to work are usually the most difficult (and I have probably built over 200 systems in my life ) 20 at home and 180 at various work places.

3. To build- anywhere from 30 mins to 180 mins depending on experience. The biggest thing is PLAN first ... my 180 min expeirences where to take the motherboard back out, because the memory was under the hard drive cages etc. As long as you plan it should be done within an hour, and then you probably add 30-40 mins to load to O/S.
4. People will tell you different things but from my experience - pretty much none. As long as you treat the hware with respect, it is pretty harmless. I have never destroyed a bit of memory by touching it, or a harddrive by dropping it, but you'll find these things out for yourself.

The speaker will generally beep if things aren't going right. You're probably in a good position though as most new motherboards auto-sense things . I can remember back when you had to put jumpers across the speed setting and multiplier setting to get the CPU to fire up .. now the mboard knows what it has generally.

Answer 5

you will need a small set of phillips screw drivers.

I would have a small set of everday tools just incase.

its not hard at all, it should only take you an hour or less to put one together, even if youve never done anything like that before.

make sure the mother board is screwed into the computer case, the board it grounded this way and cannot work with out this.

Answer 6

if you dont know how to do it ,, dont,, you run the risk of damaging everything you purchase,, and that may cost you a heck of a lot more than 90 bucks,, sheesh if you have all the stuff and you live near the detroit area,, ill do it for 30 and hey ,, ive built comps for almost 8 yrs now , and i am good,, i have a few friends i can reference you for validation,, one is in chicago,,,

Answer 7

This is a great site to learn from. Alot of information and instructions on How to build your own PC. Here is the link.
Although the article is a little old you should be able to succeed with it.

http://freepctech.com/pc/002/New_PC_2004.shtml

Answer 8

once you've each and every thing waiting, and also you seize on straight away, quarter-hour. in case you at the instantaneous are not too good putting issues at the same time, an hour or 2. if you're lacking parts, upload some journeys to the save and an hour each and each and every holiday attempting to confirm out what you want.

Answer 9

Go to your nearest bookstore and get a book "how to build your own PC for dummies." Or go to www.computershopper.com and look in their site; a couple of months ago, they had a step by step instructions in their magazine about how to do it, where to get the parts and how much it Will cost.

Good luck