DIY Computer Assembly: An Infographic

Planning Your Build (Safety First!)

If this is the first computer you’ve built, it can pay to make sure you do a bit of forward planning.

1. Have a suitable work area, with good lighting and plenty of space.
2. Ensure you have all required tools on hand for easy access. Consider keeping a container
nearby to hold loose parts like screws.
3. Have a guide/reference material nearby (this guide, or an instructional video). You may also
want to quickly skim over the relevant sections of the manuals for the individual parts you’re
about to assemble. These are typically included as a paper insert in the product packaging.
4. Ensure your area is not at risk of static electricity, which has the potential to damage your
parts.
5. Be aware of safety precautions.

Tools
Surprisingly, you don’t need many tools to put a PC together.

• Screwdriver (Philips head) – Used for nearly all screws including case and various
component mounting screws
• Screwdriver (Flat head) – You may need this for installing your CPU cooler, so it’s best to
have one on hand just in case

Optional extras include:

• Anti-Static Wrist strap – If you are worried about static damaging your parts, you can opt to
use an anti-static wrist strap
• Cable ties – A must for cable management (unless your case has some included with it).
These will keep all cabling in your case nice and neat
• Scissors – For cutting excess length off cable ties and making short work of any pesky plastic
packaging on your computer parts
• Flashlight – In case you need a little extra light to see what you’re doing

1. Building Outside of the Case:

This method involves partially assembling the motherboard and associated units (CPU, CPU cooler,
and RAM) outside of the case, then transplanting this whole unit to within the case before continuing
with the build assembly.
Pros:
• When outside of the case, you’ve plenty of ‘working space’ to mount the CPU, cooler and
RAM
• You have better visibility to ensure components are mounted correctly

Cons:
• Mounting the components on the motherboard without it suitably supported has the potential
to cause damage
• Trying to install the motherboard into the case with components like the CPU cooler already
mounted to it may be difficult depending on where the motherboard mounts are located.
Sometimes you may not be able to fit your screwdriver where it needs to be if other parts like
the CPU cooler or RAM get in the way.

2. Changing Up the Order of Mounting Components

Whether you choose to build ‘inside the case’ or ‘outside the case’, you can still assemble individual
parts in nearly any order you choose.

Examples:
• Power supply -> Motherboard -> CPU -> RAM -> Graphics card -> Storage and optical
drives
• Motherboard -> Power supply -> Storage and optical drives -> CPU -> RAM -> Graphics
card
• It’s up to you! However, if you’re new we suggest following a build guide until you get an
idea of your personal preferences when it comes to build order.

Pros/Cons:
• Depending on the order of assembly, some parts can get in the way of other parts when trying
to mount them, or result in less working space/room inside the case for installing other parts.
• Be careful as there are some items which must be installed in a certain order (for instance,
you cannot install the CPU cooler without first installing the CPU).
• If you are deviating from the suggested order, be sure to think ahead, as sometimes you may
not be able to access fastening points (for example, some graphics card/motherboard
combinations can result in not being able to release the RAM fastening clips once the
graphics card is installed; in which case you would need to install your RAM before your
graphics card).
Computer Assembly Steps
Step 1: Open Case
1. Remove the back screws
2. Take side cover off

Its easiest to work on your PC with it laying sideways on a flat surface, so the open side is facing up.
Don’t forget to ground yourself (by touching the case) before working on assembling parts.

Keep any screws which were supplied with the case separate and take note of the different types.
Most cases will come with a few different packets of screws and they may have different sizes or
threads, so make sure to match them up with the correct mounting locations as best as possible. If in
doubt, refer to the documentation which came with your computer case.

Step 2: Mount Motherboard

3. Screw motherboard standoffs into the case
4. Punch out rear I/O plate from the case (if existing) and replace it with the motherboard I/O
plate
5. Fasten the motherboard in place on top of the mounting standoffs

There a few different sizes (also known as ‘form factors’) of motherboard commonly available, so
most cases have screw positions that will accommodate the various sizes of motherboard. You don’t
need to install mounting standoffs in all of them; just the ones that match your motherboard will be
fine.

The I/O plate is an input-output plate which is simply a metal cover that is customized to your
particular motherboard. You’ll need to remove the default I/O plate that may have been supplied with
your case and swap it out for the one that came with your motherboard.

Screws and standoffs are often supplied with your computer case, however sometimes screws may be
supplied with a motherboard.

Step 3: Mount Processor (CPU)

6. Locate the CPU socket holder on the motherboard
7. Lift up the latch lever to release and hinge open the CPU socket cover.
8. Holding the CPU by its sides, line up any alignment notches or the triangle marked on the
corner of the CPU to the triangle marked on the motherboard. Gently place it straight down
into the motherboard socket to seat the CPU
9. Lower the CPU socket cover over the CPU and lower the latch lever closed again to secure
the CPU socket holder closed
Don’t apply force to seat the CPU. Avoid touching of pressing down on the back of the CPU with
your fingers, as any residue from your hands can destroy the heat transfer surface for the cooler which
will be mounted next.

Another important thing to note is to remove any plastic packaging around the CPU socket cover
before installing your CPU and cooler. Usually there is a piece of removable hard plastic somewhere
around the CPU socket cover which serves to protect the CPU terminal pins on the motherboard. Be
sure to remove and discard this as you install your CPU.

Step 4: Install CPU Cooler

Make sure the CPU cooler is installed directly to the back of the CPU metal housing. We’ve heard
stories of installations where the plastic packaging on the CPU socket cover (which is meant to be
discarded after CPU installation) was not removed, and the CPU cooler was mistakenly mounted to
the plastic. Don’t make this expensive mistake, as this will cause overheating and damage to your
CPU.

10. If required, apply thermal paste to the back of the CPU

11. Seat CPU heatsink/cooler and fix in position.
12. Plug the power cable attached to the cooler fan into the motherboard connector.

Some CPU coolers do come with a thermal pad already applied, in which case you can skip step 1. If
yours doesn’t, you will need to apply thermal paste to the CPU surface before seating the CPU cooler
in position.

Cable headers on motherboards vary in their location depending on what motherboard you have. To
identify the correct header, look for the labeling on the motherboard; they are always labeled next to
the header with the intended connection, for example:

• CPUFAN = CPU fan

• SYS_FAN1 = System fan (any general fan can be plugged in here)
• SYS_FAN2 = System fan (any general fan can be plugged in here)

Step 5: Install Power Supply (PSU)

13. Mount the power supply and fasten with screws to the case mounting points
14. Plug the largest cabling connector from the power supply cabling into the motherboard power
connector.
15. Plug the 8-pin cabling connector from the power supply cabling into the CPU power
connector

Most power supplies will have a whole bunch of cabling and connectors coming out of the rear.
Others may have sockets for cables to be plugged in. We find it easiest to connect the power cabling
for each hardware component to the power supply as you assemble the PC (rather than waiting until
the all parts are assembled and plugging in all power cables at once); we do it this way so that you
won’t accidentally forget to connect power to any device.

Step 6: Mount Memory (RAM)

16. Press to open the clips at both ends of the RAM mounting slots
17. Line up the notch on the RAM stick with the mounting slot
18. Seat the RAM and press it firmly down into the slot. The tabs should automatically latch
closed as you press the RAM down, securing the RAM in place
19. Install any other RAM sticks using the same process

Most motherboards will have multiple RAM mounting slots. If you are installing pairs of RAM sticks,
mount them in the same color slots on the motherboard.

When pressing the RAM into the motherboard mounting slots, you’ll often have to use a fair amount
of force to ensure it is seated properly. Be careful not to flex the motherboard too much when doing
this – it can help to support the edge of the board if necessary with your spare hand to avoid bending
the motherboard too much as you press down on the back of the RAM stick.

Step 7: Install Graphics Card

Not all computers have a dedicated graphics card. If you have decided to use the on-board graphics of
your motherboar instead of installing a dedicated graphics card, you can skip this section.

20. Remove the expansion slot covers from the rear of your case where the graphics card will sit
21. The graphics card slots into a PCI expansion slot on the lower half of the motherboard. Line it
up and press down firmly to seat the card.
22. Put in the screws to hold the graphics card in place
23. Plug in the power connector cables from your power supply into the graphics card power
connector (if existing – not all graphics cards required external power)

When you plug in your display monitor, always use the output ports of the graphics card frist (if you
have one installed) and not the output ports of the motherboard itself. This ensures you are actually
using your graphics card!

Step 8: Mount Storage Drives

Storage drives come in two main sizes: a 3.5″ form factor or 2.5″ form factor. Due to their smaller
size, 2.5″ drives may need an adapter plate to mount them within your PC case. The exact mounting
strategy for storage drives will vary from computer case to computer case.

Sometimes, you may need to refer to the manual for your case in order to fit drives into the drive
bays.
 24. Mount storage drives in the case drive bays. Fix the drive in place with screws through the
case frame into the case mounting holes located on the storage drive
25. Connect the drive to the motherboard using a SATA cable
26. Plug in power cabling to the storage drive
27. Mount any other storage drives in the same way

External storage drives will typically come with two connections that you need to make: power and
data; which is why we plug in two separate cables to each drive. The data connection cable is a SATA
cable which connects between the motherboard and the storage drive. The power connection cable
supplies power to the drive, and plugs into the drive from the power supply.

Step 9: Mount Optical Drive

Optical drives are optional and only required if you wish to read or write CDs, DVDs, or Bluray discs.
Some people choose not to include an optical drive in their PC build if they don’t plan on using
optical discs.

28. Remove any front panels from the computer case where the optical drive will sit.
29. Mount optical drive in the case by fixing with screws through the case frame into the case
mounting holes located on the optical drive
30. Connect the optical drive to the motherboard using a SATA cable
31. Plug in power cabling from your power supply to the optical drive

Just like external storage drives that we connected in Step 8, optical drives also require two
connections: power and data. Again, the data connection cable is a SATA cable which connects the
optical drive to the motherboard. The power connection cable supplies power to the drive, and plugs
into the drive from the power supply

Step 10: Connect case fans and front panel connectors

Some computer cases come with case fans already installed/mounted within the case. However, you
will still need to plug the power cables of these fans into a header port located on your motherboard.
This supplies the fan with power which is required for it to operate.

In other cases you might need to mount your own case fans, or you may even choose to run your
computer without any case fans at all.

Front panel connections may vary according to your case, but typically comprise of the same
components: audio, USB, and power/reset/lights etc. These will be present in the form of cables that
come from the front panel; the ends of which will be hanging loose in your case. You’ll need to hook
these up to the appropriate locations on your motherboard.

32. Mount any case fans within your case as required using the supplied screws or clips
 33. Connect any case fan power connectors to the multiple fan headers located at various places
on the motherboard.
34. Identify the cabling from the front panel ports of your PC. These front panel connectors will
need to be plugged into the motherboard so that buttons and inputs/outputs (I/O) on your case
front panel will work
35. Connect any front panel audio connectors to the the motherboard front audio header
36. Connect any front panel USB connectors to the motherboard USB headers
37. Connect the front panel case connectors to the motherboard front panel I/O headers

Different computer cases may have slightly different I/O connections, but generally both the
connectors and motherboard headers are labelled, so use these to your advantage when working out
where to plug each cabling connector! If in doubt, refer to the documentation which came with your
motherboard, which should tell you exactly where to connect these items.

Step 11: Close Case and Connect Peripherals

Before closing up your case completely, you may wish to do some ‘cable management’, which means
tucking away, rerouting, or removing and securing any loose slack from cables which would
otherwise be hanging around loose in your case.

We recommend using cable ties to neatly secure cables in bundles and away from any moving parts
(such as fans).

38. Place the side cover back on

39. Secure the side panel with case screws
40. Connect peripheral devices including mouse, monitor, keyboard, speakers etc.

Connecting Peripherals
Connecting peripherals to your computer once it is all assembled is a matter of simply making sure
everything you want to use with your computer (like keyboard, mouse, speakers etc) is plugged in to
the right spot. Use the following list as a guide for what goes where:

Plug into USB ports:

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Wireless network dongle
• Printers
• Webcams

Plug into 2.5mm sockets:

• Speakers
 • Microphone
• Line-in/line-out devices

Plug into ethernet ports:

• Internet connection
• Local area network (LAN) cables

Plug into display ports:

• Monitor / screens
• Be sure to plug into the correct display ports: always plug into the graphics card display
output (if you have one installed) instead of the motherboard display ports.
• If you don’t have a dedicated graphics card, then plug into the motherboard’s display output
ports.

Build Complete!
Congratulations, if you’ve made it this far you should have a fully assembled computer! After a final
check to ensure there are no loose screws floating around in your case, and that all cables are clear of
any moving parts, it’s time to power on your new computer.