How to Build a PC

Did you know that building a PC can save you a lot of money? You can save anywhere
from a few dozen to a few hundred dollars if you are willing to put the parts together.
I will try to make that process as easy as possible to make sure that your PC build goes
smoothly.
Let's get started!

Note: This guide will go over the process of building a PC, but will not go over choosing the parts.

Step 1: Motherboard Prep

Take the motherboard out of the box with the bag on it. Also take out any cables, the IO
shield if you have one (the metal rectangle with holes for the motherboard’s ports) and
the screws that come in the box. Take the motherboard out of the bag holding it by the
sides, and place it on the closed motherboard box (this will keep it safe as we install the
CPU and ram).

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 Step 2: Cpu

Note: If you have an AMD CPU, follow part 1 and skip part 2.
If you have an Intel CPU, skip part 1 and follow part 2.

Part 1: AMD

Take the AMD CPU out of the box it comes in, being careful to hold it only by the sides,
(don’t touch the bottom pins or the top metal).
Find the corner of the CPU that has a little metal triangle, and line it up with the triangle
that comes on the motherboard’s CPU socket.

Gently lift the metal lever beside the CPU socket. Keeping in mind only to hold the CPU
by the sides, gently lower the CPU into the socket. Gravity should make it fall into place.
Don’t push down on it, or the pins under the CPU could break! If it doesn’t fall into place,
double-check that the metal bar is lifted up, gently pick up the CPU by the sides and try
again.

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Make sure that the CPU is fully in the socket, and flush with the motherboard (you
shouldn’t be able to see any pins under the CPU.) Push and lock the metal bar back
down, and you have installed your AMD CPU!

Part 2: Intel

Take your Intel CPU out of the packaging, and make sure only to hold it by the sides,
not touching the top or the bottom. Find the small triangle on one corner of the CPU and
align it with the triangle on one of the corners of the socket.

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Pull the metal lever to the side and up to open the socket cover. Aligning the two
triangles, gently lower the CPU into the socket. Don’t apply any force, and only touch
the CPU by the sides. Gravity should make it fall into place. If everything is flush and the
CPU is fully seated in the socket, lower the CPU cover and make sure it locks under the
screw.

After the cover is under the screw as shown in the picture above, lower the metal bar.
This step may take a bit of pressure, so don’t be afraid of pushing with some force.
(Still use common sense. If it feels like you are going to break something, stop and
check to make sure everything is seated correctly).
After you lower the bar to the bottom, the cover should pop off, and with that, you
finished your CPU installation. If the cover doesn’t pop off, just pull it off (it should be
loose.)

Step 3: RAM

The next step will be installing the RAM. You will have to do a slightly different process
depending on how many sticks of RAM you have. If you have 1, or 4 RAM sticks, it
won’t matter which RAM slots you put them in, and you can skip directly to the insertion.

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Most of you probably have 2 however, and to take full advantage of the RAM you have,
you will need to find out which 2 slots you can use to dual-channel the ram (this makes
the RAM faster). To find out, look next to the RAM slots and check if there is a picture
that shows which slots you can use to dual-channel your RAM.

(In this motherboard’s case, it is saying you should use the 2nd, and 4th slots. These
are the most common slots for dual channelling, but it is still worth checking.)

If it doesn’t show it on your motherboard, check your motherboard’s manual that came
in the box. You could also look up the motherboard that you are using, and find it online.

Take out the RAM from the packaging. Unlike the motherboard and the CPU, it doesn’t
matter which part of it you hold it by.
First, open the tabs on the sides of the RAM slots you will be using. To do this, simply
push them outward till they click. You shouldn’t have to apply much force. Next, align
the slit at the bottom of your RAM sticks, with the small notch that is in the ram slot.

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Align the RAM with the slots, making sure to align it so the dip in the RAM will align with
the “bump” in the RAM slot. Press down until the RAM clicks into the slot, and the tabs
on the sides close with a click. You might have to apply some force to do this step, so
don’t be afraid to press down with a bit of force. If you think you might be pressing too
hard, take the RAM out, and double-check that the notch and the dip in the RAM and
the slot are aligned.

After checking that everything is fully seated, give yourself a pat on the back because
you finished installing your RAM!

Step 4: M.2 SSD

Note: If you don’t have an M.2 SSD, skip this step!

Installing an M.2 SSD is quite simple. Locate the M.2 SSD slot on the motherboard (it
should be around the big slots on the middle-bottom left, which are called PCIE slots.)
The M.2 slots might have a cover on them, or they might not. If they have a cover on
them, unscrew the screw that is holding it down, and take it off.

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Take the M.2 SSD out of the packaging (similar to the RAM, it doesn’t matter how you
hold it), and find the small notch on the SSD.

(Notice the notch in the SSD)

You will have to align this notch, with the little notch in the M.2 slot (similar to the RAM
insertion.)
After you align this, slide the SSD into the slot. It should be firmly in the socket. Find the
small, usually black screws that come in the motherboard’s box, and take one out.

Use a screwdriver to put the screw into the standoff. The screw will hold the SSD down.
Finally, put the M.2 cover back on (unpeeling any plastic on the bottom of it)

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 Step 5: CPU Fan
Part 1: Normal Cpu Fan
Skip this step if you have an AIO

Note: Although stock CPU coolers have thermal paste pre-installed, if you buy a
separate one, you it may not have thermal paste pre-installed. If you have a separate
CPU fan which doesn’t have thermal paste pre-installed, follow this guide on applying it:
https://www.pcgamer.com/how-do-i-apply-thermal-paste/

I will be skipping this step since most people will probably be just using stock thermal
paste.

To start installing your fan, you will need to take off the bracket around the CPU you
have installed. Use a Phillip screwdriver to unscrew the 4 screws holding them down.

Take your CPU fan out of the packaging. Make sure to hold it by the sides, and not
touch the thermal paste on the bottom.

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Lower the CPU fan on top of it. There will only be 2 ways the CPU fan’s screws align
with the threaded hole in the motherboard, so decide how you want it to face (it doesn’t
make a difference).
After you have it aligned, you will screw each of the screws on the fan, into the
motherboard. Screw-in a crisscross pattern, and make sure not to screw it too hard,
while still making sure that the fan is firmly in place.

After you finish, plug the cable on the CPU fan into the port on the motherboard labeled
“CPU fan”. It is usually on the top right, near where the CPU fan was installed.

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Take a bit of time to route the cable so that it doesn’t stick out of the pc.

Note: The process for installing the fan might be a bit different for some Intel fans, such
as the Intel stock fan. The process is the same, however instead of screwing the fan in,
you press down on the buttons on the corner to snap the fan firmly on the motherboard.

Part 2: AIO (All In One Cooler)

Skip this step if you have a Normal Fan

We aren’t going to fully install the AIO right now since we need to put the Motherboard
in the case first, but we can take some time to get it set up.

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Take the AIO out of your box. It should have thermal paste pre-applied on the bottom.
Don’t touch this, or you will have to buy thermal paste separately and re-apply it on the
CPU!

You will need to identify what type of CPU you have. The AIO you have will come with
bags containing the brackets which attach to the fan. You will need to use the bracket
that corresponds to the CPU type that you have (usually an AM4, Intel, and AMD
Threadripper). Putting the brackets on will be different for different AIOs, so refer to your
manual that comes with the AIO if you are unsure. The bracket that comes pre-installed
on the AIO (usually an Intel one) can be taken out by either unscrewing it or by simply
sliding it out. To put a new one on, simply take the bracket out, and install it on the AIO
by sliding it in, or as instructed in the manual.
We will finish installing the AIO after we put the motherboard in the case!

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 Step 6: Installing the Motherboard

First determine if your motherboard has an IO shield or not. The IO shield is a metal
rectangle that the ports go through. If you don’t have one, you don’t have to worry about
installing it. If you do have one, you will have to install it before you put the motherboard
in.

To install it, simply push it into place from the inside of the case. You will have to press
quite hard, so don’t be afraid of breaking it. Make sure to press from all the corners.

Take this time to take anything extra out of the case that it comes with. Take the back
part off by unscrewing it, and take any zip ties, screws, etc out of the case.

Another step before we install the motherboard is making sure the standoff screws are
all in the correct spot.

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Identify the holes that you will be putting the screws in on the motherboard. They will
usually have some marking around them. There will often be 9, however there might be
fewer. After flipping the case on the side, lower the motherboard (holding it by the fan,
or by the sides) into the case.

There will need to be one standoff screw under each hole that the motherboard has.
Check under each of the holes that the motherboard has to see which places need a
standoff screw installed. The standoff screws will come with the case. Take the
motherboard out, and use your hand to screw in the standoff screws in each of the
spots on the case that you need.

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Lower the motherboard in after you have all the standoff screws in place. Make sure
that the ports go in their respective spots on the IO Shield, and that all the standoff
screws are visible under the Motherboard’s holes. Screw down the Motherboard with
the screws that came with the case.
You finished installing the Motherboard!

Step 7: Fan Installation

Part 1: Fan Configuration

Before we install the AIO, I will quickly explain what will usually be the best fan
configuration. As a rule of thumb, your case should have equal, or a bit positive air
pressure (same fans pulling air in as fans pulling air out, or more fans pulling air in than
fans pulling air out.)

This means that if you have only one fan, it should be at the front.
For 2, one should be at the front and one should be at the back.
For 3 fans, 2 should be at the front and one should be at the back.

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For 4 there should be 2 at the front and 2 at the back.
Use this rule (either equal or 1 more fan at the front) to determine where the fans you
have should go.

For exhaust, you can either put fans on the back, or on the top (usually higher up
because hot air rises). For intake, you should usually put fans on the front (no particular
height).

Lastly if you have AIO you can either mount it on the front for intake, or on the top for
exhaust. To determine how to face your fan, remember that the face of the fan will pull
air.

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 Part 2: Installing Case Fans

For each case fan you will be installing, you will need 4 small think black screws as
seen in the picture below:

As you do the next step, make sure you have the fan facing in the right direction (the
face of the fan pulls air). Lift the fan from the inside of the case, and line it up with the
holes on the bracket for wherever in the case you are putting the fan. Use the screws to
screw the fan to the bracket.
Run the cables to the back of the case (we will plug them in later along with all the other
cables).

Part 3: AIO Installation General Knowledge

There are multiple ways to mount an AIO. The most common one is on the top, for
exhaust, and on the front, for intake. One thing to keep in mind is that no matter how
you mount it, the pump should be connected on the right of the CPU. It doesn’t matter if
the pump is coming out of the left or right of the cpu, however it should be connected to

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the right side of the CPU (on the image below, the lower arrow is how the pump has to
connect to the CPU. The direction of the pump on the on the top right is just personal
preference).

Note that both of the pump configurations in the pictures above work, because they both
connect to the right of the CPU.

Part 4: Installing the AIO on the top

Skip this if you aren’t installing an AIO on the top

Lay your fans across the radiator, with the face of the fans facing you. Take the long
black screws along with the small washers, and put one washer on the top of the screw.
Screw in all of the fans to the radiator, as seen in the pictures below:

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Take the top panel of your case off, and run the fan cables through the back of the
case. Hold the AIO up to the bracket on the top of the case from the inside of the case,
with one hand, and screw them to the case with the other using the medium sized black
screws.

Part 5: Installing the AIO on the front

Skip this if you aren’t installing an AIO on the front

Take off the front panel of the case as well as the dust filter. Put the fans from the AIO
on the case’s bracket. Use thin screws to hold them in place, as shown on this picture
below.

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Once all the fans are in place, bring the radiator on from the inside of the case. Hold the
Radiator up, and screw the screws that are holding the fans up into the radiator.

Part 6: Finishing Installing the AIO

This next step including the pump’s installation and plugging in the cables is different for
every AIO, so check the manual that came with your AIO to make sure you are installing
it correctly.
Take 2 thumb screws, and 2 fish eye screws from the AIO box.

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Put the fish eye screw through the bottom of the AIO pump’s bracket. Screw on a
thumbs screw to keep it in place (don’t tighten it fully). Do this for both brackets on the
AIO pump.

Next you will have to put the hook on the fisheye screw on the bracket next to the cpu
on the motherboard (as seen in the picture below.)

Hook the top on the bracket on the top, and then do the same for the bottom. Tighten
both the thumb screws.

Installing the cables is different for each AIO, so check with your manual for where to
plug each cable in!

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 Step 8: Modular Power Supply Cables
Skip this step if you have a non-modular power supply!

If you have a modular power supply (a power supply that comes with the cables
separated, so you will need to plug them into the power supply), you will need to figure
out which cables you will be using, and where to plug them in the power supply.

Luckily for you, it isn’t too hard. There is only 1 way that the cables go into the power
supply, so if the cable goes in, you have it the right way. If not, flip it around.
To figure out what side goes into the power supply, your cables should have the letters
“PSU”, or “Type #” on one side of the cables. This is the side that goes into the power
supply.

This is what each cable is called and where it goes:

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This is the CPU cable. The side that isn’t labeled “CPU” will be the side you should plug
into the power supply. It plugs into the power supply socket labeled “CPU”

This is the 24 pin cable. It should be split into 2 on one side. That side is the side that
plugs into the power supply. It plugs under the label “24 pin”

This is the PCIe cable. Again, the side that is labeled PCIe is the side that goes into the
motherboard, and the unlabeled parts go into the power supply. It should be plugged
into the socket labeled “PCIe”

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These are the molux and the SATA cables. The plug into the power supply under the
name “Sata and peripherals”. There will only be 1 side with the correct pattern to plug
in, so don’t worry about plugging it in with the wrong side.

Step 9: Installing the Power Supply

Do this whether or not you have a modular power supply

Installing the power supply is simple. Take off the back of your case (if you haven’t
already. Determine where the power supply’s ventilation is in your case. Most of the
time it is at the bottom (the fan pulls cold air in from under the case). If the bottom of
your case has holes in it, then the fan will need to face the bottom.

With the fan facing the ventilation, and the side with the power switch facing the open
end of the case (usually on the right), slide the power supply in the case.

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 Note: The power supply is upside down here. This is normal, and it is likely that your
power supply will also have to be upside down if your ventilation is on the bottom.

Screw the power supply in from the outside of the case, using the screws that come
with the power supply.

You have finished installing your power supply!

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 Step 9: Installing a SSD
Skip this if you don’t have a SSD

Although you can use a hard drive cage for an SSD, most cases have a SSD tray too.
Find an SSD tray on your pc (usually at the back). If you don’t have one, then you will
have to use a hard drive tray. Lay the SSD over the tray, so that the 4 holes in the tray
line up with the holes in the SSD. You will need these small black screws.

Use the screws and screw the SSD to the tray. You will need 2 cables. The smaller
Sata cable that comes with the motherboard will plug into the smaller port on the SSD.

The other end plugs into the SATA port on your motherboard. Check your
motherboard’s manual to find where yours is, because it changes for each motherboard,
however it is usually on the middle-bottom of the right side.

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Lastly, plug the larger SATA power cable into the larger port on the SSD (this cable
comes out of the power supply).

Put the tray back on the motherboard (the same place it came from), and you are
finished installing your SSD!

Step 10: Installing a Hard Drive

Skip this if you don’t have a Hard Drive

Unbox your hard drive. Find the SATA cable that came with your motherboard, and plug
one side into the hard drive (it plugs into the smaller).

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The other end of this SATA cable plugs into the motherboard (check your manual to find
where the SATA ports are.) It is usually on the middle-bottom on the right side.

Next, plug the SATA power cable to the larger port on the hard drive. The SATA power
cable comes out of the power supply.

Find where your hard drive cage is. It is usually on the bottom of the case (next to the
power supply.) Take one slot out. To attach the hard drive, either screw them in with
small black screws (just line up the holes, and screw them together), or simply click the
corners into the holes. The tray should have pegs that align with the holes on the sides
of the hard drive. Click them into place to attach the hard drive this way. Slide the hard
drive tray back into the cage.

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 Step 11: Installing Your Graphics Card

If your motherboard has multiple PCIe slots (slots usually in the bottom left for your
graphics card) to be using the one at the top.
First, take off the brackets corresponding to the height of the PCIe slot. You will usually
need to take off 2, but if your graphics card is very thick, you will have to remove more
beneath it. To take the brackets out, there will usually be a thumb screw that you can
unscrew.

To install the graphics card, take it out of the box, and simply slide it into the PCIe slot,
making sure to align the notch on the slot with the notch on the card (similar to installing
ram, or the M.2 SSD). It should make a click, and lock into place.

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Lastly, hold your graphics card up till the holes on the side line up, and screw in the
screws that originally held up the brackets (see picture below).

Step 12: Plugging in Cables

To plug in your fans, you will need to plug the end that looks like the image below into
the fan header on your motherboard. The port will be labelled “sys_fan” or sometimes
“cha_fan”.

Note: If you have RGB fans, you will need to use an RGB hub to power their RGB.
Check your fans manual to see how to use your RGB hub, since it is different for each
of them.

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Note: for the exact location of all the ports on the motherboard, look at your
manual or look up your motherboard module. These next cables will come from
your case. They will be in a bunch at the back of your case.

We will start with the audio cable. This cable has the word “AUDIO” on the end of it.

We will be plugging this into the port labeled “JAUD” usually on the bottom of your
motherboard.

Make sure to align the space with a missing peg on the port (see the picture above),
with the spot missing a hole on the edge of the cable.

Next, we will do the USB 3 cable. It comes from the case (you might not have this
depending on your case).

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This cable plugs into the USB 3 port on the motherboard. It will be either on the right or
bottom edge of the motherboard. It is often labelled USB 3, or JUSB3

We will now do the normal USB cable (you will probably have this cable, but might not).

This cable is usually labelled “USB”, and it plugs into the motherboard usually at the
bottom. The port is usually labelled “USB”, or “JUSB”. If your motherboard has multiple
of these ports, it will also have a number after the name on some of them.
There should be one hole at the end of the cable that is filled in (9 holes instead of 10).
Make sure that that aligns with the missing pin on the port.

Next is the USB C cable (you will likely not have this cable).

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The cable has this unique tip, and it plugs into the port labelled “USB31”. The cable
plugs in both ways, so don’t worry about that.

For the next part, locate the jfp1 port on the motherboard.
You will be plugging in the small cables in from the case. Sometimes you will see a
case that has these cables already connected. In that case, check your manual for the
correct orientation, and plug them in together. Also you might not have all the cables
below. If you don’t have one, skip it and plug the rest of the cables in normally.

This image shows where each cable belongs.

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At the top left, goes the “Power LED+”, and the “Power LED-” cables.

Make sure that the text on them is facing down as seen in the image above.

Next to it on the top right, you will plug in the cable named “Power SW” (or something
along that lines).

Again, make sure to have the side with the text facing down, like the Power LED+ and
Power LED-.

Next is the cable labeled “HDD LED”. This cable goes in the bottom left.

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Again, make sure that the text faces down, so that you can see it when looking at it from
the bottom.

Lastly, we have the Reset SW. This plugs into the bottom right (not the complete bottom
right. Leave the last pin on the right empty. It simply goes on the bottom row next to the
HDD LED)

Yet again, you will position it so that the words face down.

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Now we will be plugging in the rest of the cables in your PC. These cables will
come from your Power Supply.

First we will plug in the Graphics Card cable. This cable is labeled “PCIe”.

If your Graphics Card only has one, 8 pin port, then you will only need 1 PCIe cable. If
it has two, 8 pin ports, you will need 2 of them. Route the PCIe cables under or around
your motherboard, and plug them in. There is only one right way for them to fit, so if it
doesn’t fit flip, it around and try again.

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Next we will do the 24 pin cable, that gives power to the motherboard. Both the port,
and the cable should be obvious, since they are the biggest ones there are. The port is
usually on the right side of the motherboard, and it should count 24 holes (that match
the 24 pins on the end of the cable).

Make sure that the tab on the end faces the right side, and that the cable is fully seated
in the port.

Next is the cable labeled “CPU”. This gives power to the CPU.

This cable plugs into the port on the top (usually along the right side or near the CPU).
The port has 8 holes, which match with the 8 pins on the end of the cable.
With the tab facing the top of the motherboard, plug the cable in the socket.

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Lastly if you have any RGB fans, and you don’t have a RGB hub, you will be plugging
them into the ports on the motherboard. If you have a 3 pin RGB header, you will plug it
into the port with 3 pins. If you have a 4 pin RGB header, you will plug it into the port
with 4 pins.

With that, you have almost finished making your PC!

Now make sure that it turns on and then do a bit of cable management (find routes for
all of your cables to make everything clean).

Put the back, and front panel on, and you are done. Congratulations!

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