Thinking Of Building A Desktop PC

Keith W

Keith W

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Having no experience of building a computer I have decided to try and build myself a desktop PC.

Below are the parts I will be getting and I was wondering if one of the computer build whizzes could cast there eye over my list and make sure I have what I need.

Intel H55 Chipset Motherboard
Intel Core i3 540 Processor (With heat thingy and fan gubbins)
2 x 2GB DDR3 1333Mhz
ATX Case
500W PSU
LiteOn DVD+/-RW
GeForce GT 240 1GB GDDR3
500GB HDD
3 Port PCI Firewire Card

Also if someone could link to some easy to follow instructions, with pictures, that would be great
 
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Stick another 1Tb HDD, more connecting SATA cables, another DVD ROM drive in and Bob's yer Aunty!
I take it you have an OS disc?

Usually there are instructions with the motherboard for the build.

The only other thing you need is an anti-static wristband, so you don't knacker any of your components.
 
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Mikesphotaes said:
Stick another 1Tb HDD and another DVD ROM drive in and Bob's yer Aunty!

Usually there are instructions with the motherboard.

The only other thing you need is an anti-static wristband, so you don't knacker any of your components.
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Yup I have one of those anti static wristband thingys
 
OK, the potted version.........

Fit your connections panel (a silver bit of metal) into the back of your case making sure your mobo connectors fit the right holes.

Mark where your case holes line up with your mobo and fit holders as needed.

Fit mobo in case and screw it GENTLY in position.

Stick in your CPU aligning it with the proper marks, no hammers needed!

You may need thermal paste but most already have that stuck on the cooler.

Fit cooler, fan and connections.

Fit memory, again watch because it only goes in one way, no hammers just a firm push!

Fit HDD's and both DVD drives.

Fit graphics card and firewire doodah.

Fit PSU and connect up all the wires.

Connect up all your case wires from front panel.

Leave sides off your case for now.

Connect monitor (to the graphics card conection!), keyboard, mouse and power cable.

Recheck all your connections, switch on and watch to see all your fans work.

If all is well, set your BIOS to boot from DVD drive.

Stick in your OS disc and install OS.

Stick in your drivers discs and install drivers.

Then do all your updates, programmes etc. etc.

EASY!
 
to be honest its a lot easier than you think (unless youve got a small case lol), the cables generally only connect where you need to put them etc.

the bit i would say you need to be most careful is while fitting the processor. make sure you get it the right way round in the socket before clamping it down. also the crappy OEM heatsink/fan can be a royal pain in the butt. usually they go straight in the bin on my builds, the last one i had would not fit without excessively bending the motherboard.

there should be a lot of useful videos on youtube.

but as for installing the OS, again fairly straight forward. once on load up the CDs that come with your motherboard and graphics etc.
 
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Mikesphotaes said:
Fit mobo in case and screw it GENTLY in position.

Stick in your CPU aligning it with the proper marks, no hammers needed!
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I've always fitted CPU/heatsink whilst out on the bench. Much easier IMHO....

Depending on the case you get, you may well need to fit the power supply in the chassis first (some cases don't give much room around the processor/heatsink combo.

I'd also second junking the stock cooler and going with something better. Something with bigger fans (12cm) are generally quieter than the stock coolers.
 
arad85 said:
I've always fitted CPU/heatsink whilst out on the bench. Much easier IMHO....

Depending on the case you get, you may well need to fit the power supply in the chassis first (some cases don't give much room around the processor/heatsink combo.

I'd also second junking the stock cooler and going with something better. Something with bigger fans (12cm) are generally quieter than the stock coolers.
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I have always thought there was more chance of damaging the board, whilst applying the enormous leverage needed for some coolers, if it wasn't properly supported.

Agree about the PSU sometimes but hate all those wires getting in the road!
 
You don't mention what brand PSU you are getting. Don't use a cheap PSU, get a decent reliable brand.

Cheap no brand ones tend to have high failure rates, and normally operate no were near the rated power, and there's always a chance of the PSU taking the rest components with it when it fails.
 
agreed about cheap PSUs. im favouring BeQuiet PSUs at the moment..

oh and remember to get the power and hard drive LED connectors around the right way before you close the case up.. thats one of my usual mistakes :D
 
I fit the cpu before putting the mobo in the case too and also agree you need to spend some money on the power supply. A cheap case is OK just expect it to be a bit harder (and sharp edged) to work in than a dearer model.

My 2p worth of advice is to control your urge to get on with it and read the manual that comes with the motherboard first. It tells you things like which slots to use for the memory cards to work fastest and where connections are for leads to extra USB ports, case connections, fans etc and which way round the connection is.
 
I'd suggest for the PSU, Thermaltake, Coolermaster, Hyper just a few examples, also you might want to consider a modular power supply, esp if you have a small case, it eliminates unnecessary cables getting in the way, as you just plug in what you need, also make sure you give some "head room" for the power requirements, in case you add hardware or upgrade the graphics cards in the future. for example my pc's power requirements added up to 650 watts, so I installed an 800 watt psu, giving me 150 watts "head room"

I thirdly agree with drop kicking the stock cooler out the door,

normally they're not substantial enough if you are thinking about O/Cing, as a rule of thumb, the more surface area the better heat dissipation, just make sure it will fit in the case of your choice


:)
 
Thanks for the tips and advice guys

May have to wait a bit to start getting the bits together, my wife just did a drive by eye lid flutter at me and liberated my wallet of a few £'s
 
Hi Keith,

Have you spec'd a similar of the shelf base unit? It used to be the case it was quite a bit cheaper to go this way rather than build yourself esp when you include the OS, keyboard, mouse, card reader, warranty etc.

Ive not been involved with the hardware side for a few years so maybe its different today. If there were any savings you could possibly add the 2nd HDD as suggested, or pop in a RAID controller or a backup solution or some USB ext HDDs.

If not I'm sure you'll have a fun time building it regardless ;-)
 
neil_g said:
what you should have replied with..

"but honey, i need to spend the money on these computer bits before the VAT goes up. you wouldnt want me wasting money now would you?"
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:lol:

good one :thumbs:
 
What was the total cost in the build if you dont mind me asking?

Im looking to possibly doing the same but not sure how much i would save vs. an off the shelf item. I know its not all about that but it does come into play. :)

Thanks.
 
Giving up with self builds myself. Easy enough to build, but I always seem to have problems with stability, probably due to issues matching hardware. Usually the video cards.

And to add on the PSU side, definitely have to say that good quality is important. The one component I've gone through more than any other is PSUs!. Even more expensive ones I've fried. Most either blow up or the fuse goes in them (non user replaceable). I do run them 24/7 though.

Look for high MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) values if quoted.
 
deadkenny said:
Giving up with self builds myself. Easy enough to build, but I always seem to have problems with stability, probably due to issues matching hardware. Usually the video cards..
Click to expand...

the only matching you really need to do is making sure all RAM modules are the same otherwise its more than likely a driver issue thats causing your instability.

noahdelias said:
That would make your system future proof at least for a year or two.
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bit of an contradiction :lol:
 
neil_g said:
the only matching you really need to do is making sure all RAM modules are the same otherwise its more than likely a driver issue thats causing your instability.
Click to expand...
I've been through all that. Different ram modules, brands, loads of different drivers, reinstall of OS, different video cards, all kinds. This is with a number of builds also.

However last time I did one was quite a few years back. I just always seem to end up with some sort of instability, usually when the video card is stressed.

Anyway, I just find it hassle doing things by trial and error and the time it takes trying to get a stable system. I'd rather something off the shelf that just works first time (but not made by Apple ;)).
 
If you're frying PSUs, and you have instabilities when the system is stressed, I'd be suspecting an underpowered PSU - especially if you have a top-of-the-range graphics card that needs its own power supply. Just commenting - that's all...
 
The PSU frying is more down to dust build up over long term 24/7 use. That's what you get for using cheap PSU for a server :). Though last one died recently in my old desktop. Just shut down and never started up again. Fairly sure it's the fuse inside.

As for my own incompetence being the cause... yep, I accept that :D

Though as far as I've been aware I've been doing it right. I still maintain that it's sometimes tricky to match hardware to get a stable system, or at least it was a few years back (talking 5 years at least now) and going back to late 90s. Maybe I just keep choosing rubbish hardware though. Have to say the only graphics cards that I found were truly stable on any motherboard were Matrox.

I just don't have the time or the desire to do all the research and fiddling about really these days.
 
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