Building a new PC from scratch can seem intimidating at first, but with a bit of planning and careful assembly, it can be a fun and rewarding project. Here are the basic steps you’ll need to follow:
- Plan your build: Before you start, you’ll need to decide on your budget, what kind of components you want, and what you’ll be using your PC for. This will help you decide what kind of motherboard, processor, graphics card, cooler, and other components you’ll need.
- Gather your components: Here are the essential components you’ll need to build a PC from scratch:
- Motherboard
- Processor (CPU)
- Graphics card (GPU) (if your CPU doesn’t have an integrated one)
- RAM (memory)
- Storage (hard drive or solid-state drive)
- Power supply unit (PSU)
- Case
- CPU Cooler (air or liquid)
- Operating system (OS) installation media (e.g. USB or DVD)
- Assemble the components: Once you have all your components, you’ll need to assemble them. Here are the basic steps:
- Install the CPU onto the motherboard, following the instructions that came with the CPU and motherboard.
- Install the CPU cooler onto the CPU, following the instructions that came with the cooler.
- Install the RAM into the motherboard, following the instructions that came with the motherboard.
- Install the GPU (if you have one) into the appropriate slot on the motherboard, following the instructions that came with the GPU.
- Mount the storage drives (hard drive or SSD) in the appropriate bays in the case, following the instructions that came with the case.
- Mount the PSU in the appropriate location in the case, following the instructions that came with the case.
- Connect the necessary cables from the PSU to the motherboard, GPU, and storage drives, following the instructions that came with the PSU and motherboard.
- Connect the power switch, reset switch, and other front panel connectors from the case to the motherboard, following the instructions that came with the case and motherboard.
- Power on and test the PC: Once you’ve assembled everything, it’s time to turn on the PC and make sure it works. Here’s what you need to do:
- Connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to the PC.
- Insert the OS installation media (e.g. USB or DVD) and boot the PC from it.
- Follow the prompts to install the OS.
- Once the OS is installed, install any necessary drivers for your components.
- Test the PC to make sure everything is working properly.
Congratulations, you’ve successfully built your own PC from scratch!