ASSEMBLE/DISASSEMBLE

COMPUTER HARDWARE
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
INSTALL THE
PREPARE YOUR PREPARE INSTALL THE
CPU
CPU HEAT
WORK PLACE MOTHERBOARD
SINK

INSTALL PLACE THE INSTALL

CONNECT THE
GRAPHIC / MOTHERBOARD MEMORY (RAM
POWER
VIDEO CARD SUPPLY INTO THE CASE MODULES)

INSTALL
INSTALL THE
INTERNAL
ADD-IN CARDS
DRIVERS
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 1. PREPARE YOUR WORKPLACE
1. TAKE INVENTORY:
Before you start, take an inventory of your parts. Do not begin assembling your computer if you
don't have everything you need. Begin the step-by-step process once you are ready with
everything you need.
2. MAKE SPACE, MAKE TIME:
Building a PC takes up space - about a dining room table worth. So make sure you have plenty
of working room and a few hours to proceed with minimal interruption. Work on a flat, stable
table top surface, or bare floor, where you have room to layout all of the items.
3. PREPARE GROUNDING PROTECTION:
Use an inexpensive antistatic wrist strap. Make sure you are wearing your antistatic wrist strap
correctly (it does you no good at all if you do not wear it!), and you are ready to proceed.
4. HAVE THE DRIVERS READY:
Assuming you have another internet connected PC, download the latest drivers from the
vendors' websites for each component you will be installing. Sometimes drivers are updated
between the time the component was manufactured and the time you are installing it. It is
always best to have the latest. Copy them to a CD for easy access.
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 2. PREPARE THE MOTHERBOARD
• 1. Great care should be taken when installing the motherboard. First, take
the board out of its packaging and put it on top of the antistatic bag it came
in. Remember, you always want to safeguard your components from
potentially hazardous static electricity (wear your strap).
• 2. Before you secure the motherboard onto the PC case/chassis, inspect it
carefully for any visible defects.
• 3. Next, review the motherboard manual, to make sure you are familiar with
the motherboard layout and understand which socket is which. Manuals are
extremely helpful, usually easy to read, and include illustrations. Below you
can find instructions on how to install the processor, the heat sink and the
memory modules on the motherboard. You should not place the
motherboard in the computer case until you are told to do so.
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 3. INSTALL THE CPU

1.Use the unlocking mechanism to open the

CPU socket which is usually a lever.
2. Carefully line up the pins and place the chip
in its socket; it will fit only when oriented the
proper way. An arrow or a missing pin on one
corner of the chip will show you how to line
things up.
3. Align Triangular CPU and socket key marks.
4. Lower the lever to lock the CPU into place.
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 4. INSTALL THE CPU HEAT SINK
1. Follow the manufacturer's directions to install the heat sink
and the fan that will cool the processor. If you bought an OEM
CPU and a separate heat sink, you may need to spread a thin
layer of the thermal grease that came with the heat sink over the
chip to ensure proper transfer of heat (some heat sinks come
with this grease already applied).
2. Attach the clip that holds the heat sink in place keeping in
mind that it may require a fair amount of force. Again, follow the
instructions that came with the heat sink. They will show you
how to fit it correctly. If you are in doubt, you can visit the
manufacturer's website for more information.

3. Plug the CPU fan's power connector into the proper

connector on the motherboard.
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 5. INSTALL MEMORY (RAM MODULES)
In order to install the memory modules, insert them
into the proper sockets and push down firmly but
evenly until the clips on both sides of the socket pop
into place. If your motherboard supports dual-
channel memory, consult the user manual to
determine which pairs of RAM sockets you should
use. The motherboard and the CPU are the brain
and nerve center of your PC, so selecting these
components is the most important decision you'll
make.
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 6. PLACE THE MOTHERBOARD INTO THE CASE

1. Some PC cases have a removable motherboard tray. If yours does, remove the
screws holding it in place and pull it out of the case
2. Note the pattern of the holes in your motherboard and screw brass standoffs
into the motherboard tray or into the PC case in the correct locations (ALWAYS
check the manual and follow their instructions to the letter).

3. Check the layout of the sockets on the motherboard, and confirm that the
ports on your motherboard's back panel match the holes on the case's
Input/Output (I/O) shield that is installed in your case. If necessary, remove the old
I/O shield by tapping it firmly a few times with the butt-end of a screwdriver, and
then replace it with the shield that came with the new motherboard.

4. Carefully position the motherboard on top of the brass standoffs, line up all the
holes, and use the screws that accompanied the case to fasten down the
motherboard. If you are using a removable tray in your system, slide the tray and
motherboard back into the case and then secure the tray.
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 7. CONNECT THE POWER SUPPLY
Making the proper connections is crucial to successfully assembling
your PC system. Fortunately, manufacturers provide color-coded
power cables and unique connector shapes to make the job easy.

1. First, plug the large ATX power connector from your power
supply into the matching port on your motherboard. Look Figure X
for details.
2. Locate the smaller, square processor power connector (you
cannot miss it - it is the one sprouting the yellow and black wires)
and attach it to the motherboard. Note: your connector is usually
located near the processor. As always, refer to your motherboard's
manual for the exact locations.
3. Use your motherboard user manual and find the description
about front-panel connectors.
4. Attach each of the tiny leads from the power and reset
switches, the hard-disk activity lights, the PC speaker, and any front-
panel USB and FireWire ports to the corresponding pin on
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC

STEP 8. INSTALL GRAPHICS / VIDEO CARDS

1. Begin by removing the backplane
cover from the AGP or PCI Express X16
slot (the metal piece where the monitor
connector will emerge)
2. Install the graphics board in that slot,
and then secure the card with a screw
 STEPS IN ASSEMBLING PC
STEP 10. INSTALL THE ADD- IN CARDS
1. For each add-in card, you must choose a free PCI slot.
2. Remove its backplane cover to allow access from the rear of the
case.
3. Carefully position the card above the slot, and press down
firmly to seat the card.

4. Secure the card with a screw.

Many motherboards have additional sound connectors or
ports housed on small add-in boards. Some of these plug into slots
on the motherboard; others screw into the back of the case in
place of slot covers. Usually the additional ports are not essential
to your PC's operation. For example, if you install a sound card,
you do not need connectors to the motherboard's built-in sound
chip. Check your motherboard manual to determine what each of
these boards does.
 CONNECTING EXTERNAL PERIPHERALS OF A
PERSONAL COMPUTER
Keep in mind:
1. When attaching cables, never force a connection.
2. Plug in the power cable after you have connected all
other
Steps in Connecting Peripherals of a PC
Step 1.Attach the monitor cable to the video port.
Step 2.Secure the cable by tightening the screws on the
connector.
Step 3.Plug the keyboard cable into the PS/2 keyboard port.
Step 4.Plug the mouse cable into the PS/2 mouse port.
Step 5.Plug the USB cable into a USB port.
Step 6.Plug the network cable into the network port.
Step 7.Plug the power cable into the power supply.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY
Before starting computer disassembly, make sure you have the tools you need
and they're all close by and handy and be sure to have a container to keep the
screws in so you have them when you want to put things back together.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY

• STEP 1. UNPLUGGING
• The first thing you do is to unplug every cable
that is plugged in to your computer. That
includes the cables such as Power, USB,
Mouse, Keyboard, Internet, Ethernet,
Modem, AM\FM Antenna, Cable TV, etc. Just
unplug all the cables for safety purposes. Now
that your computer is fully unplugged, move
your PC to a clean work space.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY
STEP 2. OPENING THE OUTER SHELL/CASE
First, unscrew the four screws at the back of the
computer. On most computer cases, there will
be large knobs that you can unscrew by hand or
by screw driver on the back-right side of the
computer. The left side has small screws because
on that side you can't access much on the inside.
Once the screws are removed, you can remove
the side panels. On most computers, they just
slide off. Start with the left side panel (the side
that once had the knobs), slide it towards the
back of the computer. Now you can remove the
left panel. Just like the other side, slide it
towards the back of the computer.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY
STEP 3. REMOVING THE SYSTEM FAN
First, unplug the fan from the motherboard.
You can find the plug by following the wire
from the fan. It should be labeled
"SYS_FAN1". Next, you will have to unscrew
the fan from the outside. You should now be
able to lift the fan out of the PC.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY

STEP 4. REMOVING THE CPU FAN

The CPU fan is located right on top of the
CPU heat sink, which is a large piece of
metal with fins on the top. The CPU fan
plugs into the motherboard in an awkward
place, that is hard to access. But just follow
the wires and you should easily find it. It is
labeled "CPU FAN1". To remove the fan from
the heat sink, remove the four screws
securing it in place.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY

STEP 5. REMOVE POWER SUPPLY

The first thing to do is unplug every wire
coming from the power supply. You must
disconnect the motherboard (very large
connector/plug), CD/DVD drive(s) power,
internal hard drive power and portable hard
drive slot power. Once everything is
unplugged, unscrew the four screws holding
the power supply in place, on the back of
the computer. Next, push the power supply
from the outside, and then lift it out.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY

STEP 6. REMOVE CD/ DVD DRIVE(S)

First, unplug the ribbon from the back
of the drive. Once that is completed,
pull on the tab securing the drive in
place, then push it out from the
inside.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY

STEP 7. REMOVE HARD DRIVE

First, unplug the connector at the back of the slot,
and unplug the other end from the motherboard.
Also unplug the SATA cable from the motherboard
and the hard drive. The portable hard drive slot is
secured the same way the CD/DVD drive is, with a
tab. Pull on the tab, then slide the slot out.
To remove the hard drive from the side of the slot,
unscrew the four screws securing it in place. You must
be very careful not to drop the hard drive, since it is
very delicate!
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY

STEP 8. REMOVE MEMORY (RAM)

To remove the RAM, push down on both
tabs holding the RAM in place, which are
located at both ends of the RAM.
 PERSONAL COMPUTER DISASSEMBLY

STEP 9. REMOVE MOTHERBOARD

The motherboard has screws holding it
to the frame, which are indicated by
large white circles around them.
Remove them and then lift the
motherboard out of the frame.