Computer Hardware Assembly

1.Introduction:-

The most difficult part of building a computer is selecting the components. There are so
many different types of components out there. First of all, you have to make sure that all of the
parts are compatible. If you want to buy a LGA CPU, then you had better make sure that the
motherboard has a matching socket for it. But there are other ways that components can
conflict. They can conflict spatially. That is, they physically don't fit into the case that you have
selected, etc.
When selecting different components, it is important to determine how this computer will
be used. Computers that will be used for gaming should be configured much differently than a
computer that will be used as a workstation. Game computers should have an equally fast
CPU and video card. Whereas workstations should have the emphasis on the CPU, etc, and
you can go with a cheaper video card. There are many other similar aspects.
Many motherboards now come with integrated (on-board) sound and video. In general,
you will experience fewer problems and conflicts with on-board sound and video, as long as
you are not attempting to run some unusual hardware configuration (two video cards, etc).
However, the on-board video chipsets that are used on these types of motherboards are not
high-performance. But if you are going to be using the computer for spreadsheets, word
processing, etc, you will never notice the difference between on-board video and a high
performance AGP video card. Similarly, the on-board sound chipsets that are used on these
types of motherboards do not perform as well as a lot of PCI sound cards. But for playing CDs
and MP3s, you will never notice the difference.
You should not buy motherboards with on-board sound or video if you want to play the
latest games. However, buying a motherboard with on-board sound or on-board video is a lot
cheaper than buying all of the components separately.

If you are buying a computer from scratch, you have to remember to buy all of the
components that you need. Nothing is more frustrating than getting almost the entire computer
assembled, and then having to wait for another week while you get the component that you
forgot shipped to you. Here is a checklist that can get you started:

1.1 Recommended Equipment :-

• Computer case
• power supply
• Motherboard
• CPU

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• Heat sink/fan assembly

• Thermal compound
• RAM module(s)
• Motherboard standoffs and screws
• Different power, data and front panel cables
• Antistatic wrist strap and antistatic mat
• Tool kit
Before you begin building a computer from parts, you need:-

1- To be patience.
2 -Make sure that you are working on a non-conductive surface to avoid shorting out your
components by using an anti-static wrist strap to ground yourself so that you don't damage
anything through static electricity, figure (1) show anti-static wrist strap

Figure 1

Anti-static wrist strap

3-You are going to need a phillips-head screwdriver (figure (2)) so make sure you have one on
hand.

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Figure 2

phillips-head screwdriver

2. Install the Power Supply:-

Align the screw holes in the power supply with the screw holes in the case.
Secure the power supply to the case with the power supply screws, figure (3).
If the power supply has a voltage selection switch, set this switch to match the voltage in your area.

Figure 3

Task 1 :-
a-What is the AC voltage in your area?
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b- How many screws secure the power supply in the case?
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c- What is the total wattage of the power supply?

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d- What voltages supply by a computer power supply (read power supply Labels)?
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3. Install the motherboard

3.1 Install the CPU.

a. Place the motherboard, the CPU, the heat sink/fan assembly, and the RAM module on the
antistatic mat.
b. Put on your antistatic wrist strap and attach the grounding cable to the antistatic mat.
c. Locate Pin 1 on the CPU. Locate Pin 1 on the socket, figure (4).

Note: The CPU may be damaged if it is installed incorrectly.

d. Align Pin 1 on the CPU with Pin 1 on the socket.
e. Place the CPU into the CPU socket, figure (5).

Figure (4) Figure (5)

f. Close the CPU load plate and secure it in place by closing the load lever and moving it under
the load lever retention tab, figure (6), figure (7).

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Figure (6) Figure (7)

Apply a small amount of thermal compound to the CPU.

Note: Thermal compound is only necessary when it is not included on the heat sink. Follow all
instructions provided by the manufacturer for specific application details, figure (8).
h. Align the heat sink/fan assembly retainers with the holes in the motherboard around the
CPU socket.
i. Place the heat sink/fan assembly onto the CPU and the retainers through the holes in the
motherboard, figure (9).
j. Tighten the heat sink/fan assembly retainers to secure it.
k. Plug the fan connector into the motherboard. Refer to the motherboard manual to determine
which set of fan header pins to use.

Figure (8) Figure (9)

Task 2:-

a- Which CPU socket types are used?

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b- What are the differences in installing those types?

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c- How many pins of fan’s cable connector that attaches to the motherboard?
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3.2 Install the RAM:-

a. Locate the RAM slots on the motherboard.

b. Align the notch(es) on the bottom edge of the RAM module to the notches in the slot, figure
(10) .
c. Press down until the side tabs secure the RAM module, figure (11).
d. Ensure that none of the RAM module contacts are visible. Reseat the RAM module if
necessary.
e. Check the latches to verify that the RAM module is secure, figure (12) .
f. Install any additional RAM modules using the same procedure.

Figure (10) Figure (11) Figure (12)

Task 3:-
a- In what type of slot(s) will the RAM module(s) be installed?

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b- How many notches are found on the bottom edge of the RAM module?

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3.3 Install the Motherboard:-

a. Install the motherboard standoffs, figure (13).

Figure (13) Mental and plastic type standoffs with holes on the case

b . Install the I/O connector plate in the back of the computer case, Figure (14)

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Figure (14)

c. Align the connectors on the back of the motherboard with the openings in the back of the
computer case.
d. Place the motherboard into the case and align the holes for the screws with the stand-offs.
You may need to adjust the motherboard to line up the holes for the screws.
e. Attach the motherboard to the case using the appropriate screws.

4. Install the Hard Disk Drive:-

a. Align the hard disk drive with the 3.5 inch drive bay, figure (15).
b. Slide the hard disk drive into the bay from the inside of the case until the screw holes line up
with the holes in the 3.5 inch drive bay.
c. Secure the hard disk drive to the case using the proper screws, Figure (16).

Figure (15)

Figure (16)

4.1 Install the Optical Drive:-

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Note: Remove the 5.25 inch cover from one of the 5.25 inch external drive bays if necessary.
a. Align the optical drive with the 5.25 inch drive bay.
b. Insert the optical drive into the drive bay from the front of the case until the screw holes line
up with the holes in the 5.25 inch drive bay and the front of the optical drive is flush with the
front of the case, figure (17).

Figure (17)

c. Secure the optical drive to the case using the proper screws.

Task 4:-

a- What types of interfaces are used to connect the drives?

b- How the jumper in figure (18) is used?
c- What is the harddrive size ?

5. Install the wired NIC.

b. Locate a compatible expansion slot for the NIC on the motherboard, figures (18-21).
c. Remove the slot cover from the back of the case, if necessary.
d. Align the NIC to the expansion slot.
e. Press down gently on the NIC until the card is fully seated.
f. Secure the NIC by attaching the PC mounting bracket to the case with a screw.

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Figure (18) Figure (19)

Figure (20) Figure (21)

Task 5:
a- What type of expansion slot is compatible with the NIC?

6. Case Connections

There are a number of connectors that you will need to connect at this time. The first one is the
motherboard power connector. Locate the huge connector that comes from the computer
case power supply.

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To install internal power and data cables in the computer. Follow the steps below:-
A. Connect the motherboard power supply connector.
a. Align the motherboard 24-pin (or 20-pin) ATX power supply connector to the socket on
the motherboard.
b. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks into place, Figure (22, 23).

Figure (22) Figure (23)

B. Connect the auxiliary power connector.

a. Align the auxiliary power connector to the auxiliary power socket on the motherboard.
b. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks into place, Figure (24).

Note: This step is necessary only if your computer has an auxiliary power connector.

Figure (24)

C. Connect the internal disk drive power connectors.

Plug a power connector into the hard disk drive and the optical drive, figure (25).

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Figure (25)

D. Connect the fan power connector.

Connect the fan power connector into the appropriate fan header on the motherboard.
Note: This step is necessary only if your computer has a fan power connector, figure (26).

Figure (26)

E. Connect the hard disk and the optical drive data cables.
a. Align and plug the hard disk drive e into the motherboard connector.
b. Align and plug the other end of the hard disk drive data cable into the hard disk drive
connector, figure (27).
c. Repeat a. and b. with optical drive data cable.

Note: SATA cables are keyed to ensure correct orientation with the connector.

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Figure (27)
F. Verify the connections.

7. Install Front Panel Cables

A computer case has buttons to control power to the motherboard and lights to indicate
activities, figure (28) .

Figure (28)
Connect these buttons and lights to the motherboard with the cables from the front of the case.
Figure (29) shows some of the front panel cables commonly found in a computer case.
Figure (30) shows a common system panel connector on a motherboard where the cables are
connected.

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Figure (29) Figure (30)

A. Connect the reset switch connector.

Gently press down on the reset switch connector until the pins are fully inserted.
B. Connect the power switch connector.
Gently press down on the power switch connector until the pins are fully inserted.
C. Connect the power LED connector.
Gently press down on the power LED connector until the pins are fully inserted.
D. Connect the HDD LED connector.
Gently press down on the HDD LED connector until the pins are fully inserted.
E. Connect the speaker connector.
Gently press down on the speaker connector until the pins are fully inserted.
In general, the connectors should be connected to the motherboard such that the label side is
facing the front of the case figure (31) (in the below pictures, the bottom of the case is to the
left, and the front of the case is towards the bottom of the picture).
F. Connect the USB and front audio jacks.
USB motherboard connectors often consist of 9 or 10 pins arranged in two rows, as shown in
Figure (32).
If your case also has front USB and front audio jacks, gently press down on the connector until
the clip clicks into place or the pins are fully inserted.

Figure (31) Figure (32)

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G. Verify the Connections.

Note: If any LED or switch does not work when the computer is first started, remove the
connector for that item, turn it around, and reconnect it.

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