How to assemble a computer yourself from components. How to assemble a system unit yourself

Updated 06/02/2015. The article is relevant for the entire 2015.
How to choose a computer so as not to regret it. Choose a good and inexpensive computer!

If you have never been interested in the parameters of certain computer components, then choosing one will be quite difficult for you. But fortunately, you can read my article and your decision will be easy and correct. The most important thing to remember is that the most expensive is not always the best. And also do not trust consultants in stores, as they the main task– sell stale goods that no one buys. Therefore, they will try to convince you in every possible way, but you must insist on your own. To make sure your choice of computer is informed, read the article to the end!

So, the first thing we must do is decide what we need a computer for. There are three different options:

• office solutions;
• home options;
• and gaming systems.

Office computers These are not necessarily machines that are in offices, but simply a generalized name for budget solutions. They are only capable of working with documents and surfing the Internet. Even watching movies can be difficult due to the lack of a full-fledged video card, games will be terribly slow or will not start at all. After all, office solutions usually use weak components, for example, a built-in video card instead of a normal one.

Home computer this is the average level. Here you can already watch movies, even play some games, but not at maximum graphic settings. Such a computer is quite suitable for most users and will not eat up most of the family budget. It is advisable to assemble the configuration yourself, rather than take ready-made solutions, because usually their price includes assembly, various licensing software, which may well not be useful, and so on. It’s always better to collect everything yourself, especially since by 2015 home computer has become a simple construction set where it is simply impossible to assemble something incorrectly.

And finally, gaming computers. Again, this is a general name, it does not mean that the computer will be used only for games. It just tells us that the hardware of such a machine is very serious and powerful. Will allow us to process huge graphic images, for example, in PhotoShop or 3D Max. Cut and convert video at a decent speed, perform complex calculations. Such computers are assembled by the users themselves, often not immediately, since they are quite expensive.

For example, first you buy a good motherboard with a reserve for the future, and then you “hang” an expensive video card, processor, RAM. First one video card, then a second one for SLI mode or CrossFire. First 8GB of RAM, then 8 more for working in Double-Channel or even Triple-channel mode, depending on the configuration.

So, if you need more than just a computer for checking email and typing, but you don't play games latest news gaming industry and do not process Gigabytes of video, then home option computer will suit you.

Now we will go through all the components and talk a little about them. For each point, I will select examples of components that are successful, in my opinion, specifically for a home computer. As a result, at the end of the article, ideally, I will succeed system unit, which will delight its owner with its performance and potential.

Choosing a computer monitor

We will start not with the system unit, but with the monitor, because this is actually the first thing the user sees, and if the image on it is bad and of poor quality, then what is the point of powerful hardware? If you agree with this, then continue, and if not, then go straight to the point about system units.

So, how to choose a monitor so that it pleases you with a rich and clear picture? It's easier than it seems. Monitors have only a few important characteristics. Well, I hope everyone has long understood that there are no CRT monitors out of the question. This is a relic of the past, I don’t know if they are even sold anywhere now or not, but, in any case, forget about them like a bad dream!

Naturally, this will be an LCD monitor, which should have an acceptable response time of 2-8 milliseconds, and it will most likely be widescreen, this is also almost a standard. The resolution is 1920x1080 for watching movies and games in Full HD format, you can, of course, take more, for example, 3840x2160.

Viewing angles are actually not as critical as many people write and talk about them. An angle of 170 horizontally and 160 vertically is a common option, because you are not going to look at the monitor by placing it in front of you on the sofa or bed, right? Everyone sits and looks at the monitor at the right angle, and even with minor deviations the picture will not lose its brightness.

The matrix will most likely be either TFT PLS or TFT IPS. And this is no longer a toy for true aesthetes or photographers, as it was before; now these technologies are used in almost all modern models. It is used everywhere (to replace fluorescent), which consumes little electricity and improves color rendition. I also highly recommend purchasing monitors with a matte screen!

We will give examples in each section so that you roughly understand what we are talking about. The DELL U2414H and ASUS VX239H monitors may well serve as examples, each in their own field. They have different formats, different matrices, different response times, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Read descriptions, reviews and understand.

That's all for monitors, now let's move on to the periphery, without which it is impossible normal operation at computer.

Peripherals (select mouse and keyboard)

As already mentioned, peripherals are a very important thing that you shouldn’t skimp on too much. Of course, I don’t encourage you to buy a wireless gyroscopic mouse for 10 thousand, but you shouldn’t buy a mouse for 100 rubles either. Either she scratches the table, then the cursor begins to twitch. And many cheap mice also have low DPI, which will cause you a lot of inconvenience if you have a large widescreen monitor.


General advice for both mouse and keyboard: don't buy cheap wireless devices. If you don’t have the money for expensive models, then buy one with a wire, otherwise later, in the vast majority of cases, problems with the signal will appear. These are not just my thoughts - this is really true. No money - we choose wires and no problems with the signal. If you have money and desire, we take quality products.

Let's start with mouse selection. It should be comfortable and fit the size of your palm well. Do not buy laptop mice for use on desktop computer, Truth. Your hands get tired quickly when working with such a mouse, as it is uncomfortable to hold. The palm should rest completely on the body of the mouse, and not lie on the table. I also don’t recommend chasing the number of additional buttons on a mouse; most people don’t use them at all. But 2, maximum 4 additional keys on the side of the mouse can be allowed, the main thing is that they do not interfere with work. DPI is the image resolution, and in relation to the mouse, in simple language, this is the speed at which the cursor moves on the screen. More precisely, the ratio of the distance by which you physically moved the mouse to the distance on the screen by which the cursor moved.

The larger the monitor and its resolution, the more DPI you need for comfortable work. If you purchased a Full HD monitor with a resolution of 1920×1080 (I recommend choosing this), then you will need at least 800 dpi, and preferably 1200. Then you will not have to make unnecessary movements to move the cursor to Right place. An example of a good mouse is the A4Tech XL-750BK and in general the x7 series from A4tech is very successful.

Keyboard should be standard so that there are as few additional and, moreover, useless keys as possible, then it will last longer and typing on it will be more comfortable. Choose a device with short key travel, that is, small, thin keys. If you know how to touch-type, then getting used to such a keyboard will not be difficult for you; it will take a maximum of 1 - 2 days. It may also have outputs for headphones, microphone and USB. It all depends on your preferences; if necessary, choose a model with outputs. Example successful model, which will fit into the budget of your home computer - Logitech K200.

We've sorted out the periphery. Now you have everything except the most important thing - the system unit! And we’ll start with the body for it, since very often people neglect the “box”, but in vain, and here’s why, read on.

How important is the system case?

The point here is this. Many people think that there is no point in buying good body. I screwed all the hardware, even to a cardboard box, the main thing was that it didn’t fall off. But the fact is that powerful hardware, especially the video card and processor, get very hot. The temperature of a video card without a cooling system can soar over 150 degrees in a few seconds. Accordingly, when a cooling system is installed on it, it removes heat from the video card itself and releases it into the surrounding air layers. This is where you need a well-designed case so that air can flow in and out of the box freely, otherwise the cooling system will become ineffective. Then the computer will crash.

If you don’t want to keep the case open all the time, then make sure that coolers (fans) are installed inside it for intake and exhaust. Again, a rather delicate point: if there is no balance between the amount of incoming and outgoing air, then dust will begin to accumulate inside the case and it will need to be constantly cleaned.

Sizes matter too. For example, most modern video cards have impressive capacities. Coolers on CPU can also be big. All this will lead to the fact that the components will simply interfere with each other and it will be impossible to install them. Make sure the case is spacious enough to accommodate all the parts you purchase. Example - Thermaltake Chaser A31 VP300A1W2N Black.

A few words about power supplies, an easy choice

Recently, power supplies have stopped being installed in cases, and they have to be purchased separately. In fact, this is correct, because the standard blocks that came with the case were almost always weak, and they still had to be replaced, but the cost of it was included in the price of the box. Accordingly, now we buy only the case, and select the power supply to suit our needs ourselves. It is worth noting that it does not grow in proportion to the increase in productivity.


Yes, it is growing, but mainly due to video cards, since processors and hard disks somehow restraining their appetites in this regard. Reducing the CPU process technology often leads to reduced power consumption. U hard drives so-called “green” models are appearing, which also operate on lower energy consumption and emit less heat. But video cards constantly require more and more watts. Actually, because of this, we will need a power supply of 600-800 Watts. In this case, it is desirable that the wires can be disconnected from the unit itself. This will save a lot of space in the case, everything will be neat, beautiful and practical. Thus, you can focus on models such as Thermaltake TR2 RX 650W (detachable wires) and Thermaltake TR2 600W (not detachable).

Now, finally, let's move on to the components. This will be the most interesting part, especially for those who simply have not read the text until this point. The first thing we need is a motherboard, since it will determine which processor, video card, RAM and HDD we will install.

The motherboard is the basis of your computer

Now I will explain everything briefly so as not to fill your head with unnecessary information. Of all the parameters of the motherboard, we can highlight the most basic ones. For example, we will not consider the form factor, since for a home computer you will buy a motherboard of either standard ATX size (305x244 mm) or microATX (244x244 mm), which is more preferable, since this format not overloaded with extra slots. So let's look at the options that will really be useful to you when choosing:

• socket (the processor type depends on it);
• RAM connectors (quantity, type);
• slots for video cards (number, type).

As for, for example, IDE or PCI connectors, forget about them, they are a relic of the past. You can also somehow justify the presence of PCI-E 1x, 2x, and so on, but they are also not a parameter that you should pay attention to when buying a motherboard.

The socket can be either for Intel or AMD processors. Moreover, each of them can also be different. For example, on this moment LGA1150 is relevant for Intel. AMD has FM2+ and AM3+ sockets. But soon the situation will change again, I am sure of it. RAM must be DDR3, 2 or 4 slots. Of course, there are two slots for PCI-E 16x video cards, if you plan or you can limit yourself to one slot, support for PCI-E version 3.0 is mandatory. An example is ASUS B85M-G, which has everything you need for a home system.

RAM, nothing complicated

Once we have chosen the motherboard, nothing can stop us - we have reached the finish line of assembling our system unit and the computer as a whole. There is nothing complicated in choosing RAM. It is only worth noting that it will be DDR3, the total volume is at least 8GB, the frequency is 1600 - 2800 MHz.


This volume can be achieved different ways. For example, buy one 8GB stick, but it would be better to install 2 4GB sticks. It will be much better both in price and performance. Here, as an example, let’s take a regular one, or better yet 2 pieces, in total we get 16 GB and excellent performance for a low price. Perhaps you have heard about RAM timings, but I do not advise you to change them (overclock the system) without knowledge in this area. The standard factory settings are quite sufficient.

Video card: one, two or zero?

Since we are talking about a budget home computer, and not a powerful gaming solution, there will be only one video card. But you can spend a little more money on it, instead of buying two cheap ones just for SLI or CrossFire. As a result, one good video card can satisfy the requirements of even modern games at ultra settings.

The connector, naturally, will be PCI-E 16x, there can be no other option. About the choice specific model It’s worth turning to the same overclockers and their reviews. You should aim for 2 - 3 GB of memory, you don't need more. After all, we, I repeat, are assembling a budget home computer. So, after reading dozens of reviews, I settled on two models, you can buy the one that will be in your store. Also, personal preferences may come into play here, so choose for yourself: MSI GeForce GTX 970 and MSI Radeon R9 290. They both show good overclocking potential, if anyone is interested. But even at standard frequencies, their power is enough for all everyday tasks and for a pleasant relaxation while watching movies in Full HD, playing tanks, battlefield 4 and GTA 5 on ultra settings.


We should also talk about built-in video cards. No, no, these are not those useless video cards built into the motherboard, which even when working in Word slowed down and could not draw the picture properly. This is absolutely new technology building a system when there is both a processor and a graphics core on one chip. These models include the A-Series from AMD, while Intel has the majority modern models has such a graphics core. As for their performance, judging by the tests, it is enough even for some games, but this is purely individual for each processor, you need to read the tests. It is only worth noting that if you want to save on a video card, now you can do it easily and simply. An example of a typical solution from AMD: AMD A10-7850K Kaveri, when for very reasonable money you get an excellent processor and good graphics. From Intel, look at the Core i3 - Core i7 line, but the built-in AMD graphics cores are much better, I warn you right away!

Choosing a good processor - the heart of our system unit

Almost all computer performance depends on the processor. The fact is that it is the processor that is responsible for all calculations, so its power should be enough and even a little in excess, with a reserve for the future. It is also worth noting that many processors can be easily overclocked, that is, you can increase their performance without overpaying. But this is a separate topic, but for now let’s focus on the characteristics of the processors.

• Socket.
• Frequency.
• Number of Cores.
• Cache volumes at different levels.

We won’t go into detail on the first parameter – the socket, because we have already chosen the motherboard, so we look at what socket it is. In our case, this is LGA 1150. Therefore, the entire line is suitable for us Intel Core from i3 to i7, but the price range here is too wide. For our budget solution, you can take the modern version of Core i5. You can look, for example, at. Its power is enough for you to solve everyday tasks and all modern games.
The number of cores in our case is 4, the processor frequency is 3500 MHz, the 3rd level cache is 6 MB. You can use these numbers as a guide when making your choice.

Hard drive or cloud?

Recently, there has been a trend towards storing information on the Internet. Such technologies are called cloud technologies. The most striking and famous examples are cloud services data storage: Yandex.Disk, Google Drive, DropBox. You can listen to music on Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Yandex.Music and the like. Watch films in online cinemas, in general, you understand me. Thus, many can get by altogether hard drive 200GB and will not feel discomfort or lack of memory.

However, if you still want to keep a collection of music and films on your computer, good quality, photos good resolution and much more, then you just need a large hard drive. I think 1TB is enough for a huge collection of anything.

As for the other parameters, there is only one form factor for a home computer - 3.5 inches. The disc rotation speed is 7200 rpm. The connection interface is SATA 6Gb/s, the buffer volume is proportional to the volume of the disk itself. So, for a volume of 500GB the buffer will be 16-32MB, and for 1TB it will be about 64MB. Here I would recommend, for example, Western Digital WD10EFRX. This is the WD Red server series, which is distinguished by its survivability and reliability.

In general, the advantages of SSDs include greater speed. But besides this, they are silent, since they have no moving parts, are more reliable and consume less energy.

Now you can assemble a computer yourself, without outside help. Choose all the components for both the budget version and a completely powerful machine. I still advise you to assemble a home computer if you do not need a gaming option. Since the prices for components are falling very quickly, accordingly, chasing after new products, you can very much overpay! Also, it is most profitable to buy in online stores.

• 1. System unit - how to choose components?
• 2. Installation of the processor, RAM and cooling system.
• 3. Applying thermal paste to the processor
• 4. Installing the motherboard into the case
• 5. Connecting the case controls to the motherboard
• 6. Installing the power supply
• 7. Installation of drives
• 8. Installing a video card
• 9. Laying cables and completing work

Each of us has at least once encountered a situation when, having trusted a sales consultant, we chose a ready-made Personal Computer, and after a few months I realized that for the same money I could have purchased a much more productive option. To ensure that a similar story does not happen to any of our readers in the future, we have prepared instructions on how to assemble a computer yourself.

This process actually turns out to be much simpler than many non-technical users assume, but it still has a number of nuances, which we want to dwell on in detail in our material. We’ll start with a brief reminder of what a computer consists of and how not to make a mistake in choosing components.

System unit - how to choose components?

When a buyer enters a computer hardware store and sees the entire breadth of selection of motherboards, processors, video cards and others components, it seems to him that to connect all these devices together you need to have at least a doctorate in technical sciences. But not everything is so bad, computer hardware manufacturers took care of us and many years ago accepted single standard– Advanced Technology Extended, which unifies the entire hardware of the computer.

Selecting components is the most difficult task when assembling a PC, much more labor-intensive than connecting them together, but this material is dedicated to the latter task, and you can find a comparison of the characteristics of video cards and processors in our other publications.

The basis of our entire future system is the motherboard, as its name suggests. It has virtually no effect on performance, but is responsible for the proper operation of all components of our computer.

The entire process of assembling a PC essentially consists of connecting components using connectors and wires to the board, and therefore you should first evaluate what kind of computer you would like to have as an output and, based on this, choose a motherboard with a certain number of RAM cells suitable for desired processor socket and so on. Also important characteristic The form factor of the motherboard determines the dimensions of the case you will need, so be careful and when purchasing a large E-ATX board, do not expect to fit it into a compact case.

Installation of the processor, RAM and cooling system.

To build a computer at home, we suggest starting with an “open bench” rather than immediately installing your components into the case without knowing whether the system works or not. The process is as follows: we connect all our parts to the motherboard, update the board firmware, install operating system and test the resulting assembly for errors and conflicts. If they are not identified, then we are happy to install it all in the housing.

Let's start the process by installing the heart of our future PC - the processor. We must remember that the two market leaders in processor production - AMD and Intel - fundamentally use different socket designs; the former have the contact pins on the processor, while the latter prefer to place them in the socket.

For installation AMD processor you need to lift the metal lever, insert the legs into the holes provided for them, and then return the lever to its original position. Thus, we will close the processor contacts with the socket contacts and securely fix this position.

When installing Intel, you should lift the lever and the clamping cover, and after installing the processor, do these steps in reverse order. Both types of processors should be installed in a strictly defined position, which is indicated by arrows on the processor itself and the motherboard socket.

As for cooling the processor, you need to remember that they are all installed differently and the only reasonable action would be to strictly follow the instructions. For example, AMD has a passion for fasteners using plastic lugs, while Intel generally does not use this design solution. In general, most processor coolers are quite universal, and therefore can work with chipsets from both companies, but be careful when choosing - there are also models that are loyal to only one brand.

Do not forget that many coolers can be installed in two positions, which determines which wall the heated air will exit through - the back or the top. Therefore, before installation, weigh the potency of both options and your body and choose the most productive one.

After we have secured the radiator and installed the fan on it, all that remains is to connect the power connector to the corresponding connector on the board, called CPU_FAN. More expensive motherboards can provide two similar connectors designed for two coolers at once.

So, to complete the initial work, all we have to do is install the RAM modules into the DIMM slots. Each stick has a security key that prevents you from inserting it the wrong way around; also, you will not be able to insert memory of one type, for example DDR3, into a slot on the motherboard that is not intended for it. Thus, installing RAM is the simplest process in the algorithm for assembling a personal computer.

Most processors have a dual-channel set of RAM, and therefore it is recommended to insert an even number of sticks. It must be remembered that a fairly large processor cooler may block the RAM slots on some motherboards, and therefore it is worth thoroughly studying their compatibility before purchasing.

Applying thermal paste to the processor

Many beginners make a common mistake and think that assembly consists solely of assembling parts a la a construction set. No less important for the performance of the processor than itself and the cooling system is thermal paste, which helps their tandem demonstrate maximum performance. As a rule, a small layer is already applied to the fan base, so this is not necessary during first assembly.

However, if it is missing, simply add a couple of drops of the composition and spread them in an even layer over the area of ​​​​the heat distribution cover of the CPU. On the contrary, excess will reduce the thermal conductivity between the processor and the cooler, which will negatively affect the performance of the computer. If you decide to assemble a computer with your own hands, then at least do not harm it.

Installing the motherboard into the case

The main line when choosing a case for you should be the one that is responsible for the supported form factors of the motherboards. The following are the maximum possible sizes of installed components - believe me, when the time comes for wiring, you will thank yourself for choosing the most comfortable case in which you can install all the desired hardware without unnecessary manipulations.

To install the motherboard, you first need to tighten the external and internal threaded mounting nuts. As a rule, all the bolts and nuts come with the housing, they are standardized, so it is unlikely that you will need to look for something unique to install your assembly. Having secured the plugs and tightened the nuts, you can move on.

Connecting Case Controls to the Motherboard

The panel of a standard case is usually equipped with on/off buttons, as well as USB ports and a headphone jack. As a rule, these interfaces are located at the bottom of the motherboard, and therefore we find them and connect them to the case.

The set of wires is very standard:

• PWR_SW is responsible for the on/off button;
• RESET_SW activates the reset key;
• HDD_LED (“plus” and “minus”) activates the drive activity indicator;
• PWR_LED (“plus” and “minus”) is responsible for the operation of the computer status indicator.

Installing the power supply

It's time to install the power supply and connect the cables to the motherboard. All connectors have keys that will prevent incorrect connection, so even an inexperienced user can handle it. Each connector speaks for itself, and if it says SATA on it, then it is probably intended for a device with the same interface.

Recently, the power supply compartment has been located at the bottom of the case for better ventilation, so make sure that the wires are long enough for components located in the part of the video card remote from the unit. After installing the unit, we stretch two main cables - a 24-pin cable to the motherboard itself and an 8-pin cable to the processor. When purchasing a power supply, we advise you to immediately purchase a bundle of nylon ties so that your bundle does not get confused between PC parts.

Installing drives

There are several drive form factors: 2.5 inch, 3.5 inch and solid state drives with M2 connector. The latter are installed on the motherboard itself, but the first two must first be installed in the case.

Installing a drive into a slot with a slide is as simple as installing RAM, and therefore we will not dwell on this point in detail. All that remains is to connect cables to them from the motherboard and power supply unit, which have a SATA connector.

If you want to install optical drive, then the algorithm is the same - we fix it in the 5.25-inch compartment, remove the front plug and supply power.

Installing a video card

Since we set out to assemble a PC correctly, we cannot do without a paragraph dedicated to the video card. It is installed last and the power cables are pre-wired for it. The graphics accelerator needs to be installed in the very first PCI Express x16 port, but modern video cards take up two or even three slots, so access to the downstream port will be blocked.

After these procedures, all that remains is to remove the two plugs on which the radiator will be installed, and also tightly screw the video card to the motherboard and the back cover of the case. The number of power cables will depend on the power of the video card and in extreme cases you will have to add cables to the power supply or use adapters.

Laying cables and completing work

The entire list of components is combined into unified system, so it’s time to put the finishing touches on it. If the assembly is standard, then you just need to choose what to connect the coolers to: motherboard, reobass or power supply. After this, you just need to carefully lay the remaining cables and tie them with nylon ties, and then close the housing cover.

After that, we connect a monitor and other peripherals to the system unit, install the operating system and use the brand new assembled computer.

We hope that our material on how to assemble a computer yourself will help you save money and choose the most successful combination of elements, without paying attention to the tricks of computer equipment sellers!

At first need to prepare the body system unit for assembly.

1. Unscrew the screws from the side panels of the case
2. Remove both side covers
3. Installing the connector panel for the motherboard before installing it in the case

This connector panel is already always included with the motherboard. Carefully (so as not to cut yourself on its sharp edges) insert it into the body until a characteristic click is heard, it should snap tightly in the case.

Preparing the motherboard for assembly into a PC case

At this stage we prepare the motherboard for installation in a PC case. We will install:

• CPU
• RAM modules
• CPU cooling system (cooler, fan)

Installing an Intel processor

First thing remove the protective black plastic from the processor socket. Simply press the clamp and remove the plastic protection.

Gently grasp the processor with your fingers and install it into the socket, paying attention to its correct orientation.

Back clamp the clamp with some effort at the end of the action.

The central processor must "fit into its socket" without any effort and the use of force.

At this stage we will install CPU cooling system. IN in this case A standard cooler is used, the one that came with the processor, the so-called “boxed” one.

If you have your own thermal paste, it is better to replace it with the one that is already applied to the radiator. If not, leave it as is and install CO (don't forget to remove the film from the thermal paste!).

We install the cooler so that the fastening the pins fit into their corresponding holes in the motherboard. Please note that the power cable reached the connector power supply (in our case it is located at the top of the motherboard).

Then with effort snap the pins diagonally, and each time there should be a characteristic click.

Connect the fan to the "CPU FAN1" power connector.

Now we need to produce installing RAM to the motherboard. For this move the latches apart-slot clamps for RAM modules.

Please pay pay attention to the recess in the module RAM, it must coincide with the partition in the slot. This is protection against incompatible modules. Don't miss this moment, otherwise you will can damage RAM!

After installing the RAM module, secure it with latches, which you previously spread apart.

to install into the motherboard case, take it with your hands and install it into the system unit case. All side connectors and I/O ports must be very enter the plate exactly with holes for them, previously installed by you in the case at the previous stages of assembling the computer.

Now screw the motherboard bolts to the system unit case. It is better to tighten the first screw a few turns, not completely, so that the other bolts fit exactly. Tighten the remaining screws until clear resistance occurs, then tighten the first one.

Connection to front panel motherboard with USB and audio output

In the manual (instructions) for our motherboard we should find information on how to connect the front panel with audio and USB output. You should also make sure that all cables do not interfere with the free flow of air in the case.

Installing a hard drive into the system case

Now install hard HDD drive 3.5 inches into the system unit case. This is quite simple to do, as you can see in the photo, the HDD is installed in a specially designated place closer to the front of the case.

Secure the hard drive to the sides four bolts, two on each side.

Installing the power supply Using a computer shouldn’t cause you any difficulties either. Just place it in the appropriate compartment housing and secure with four bolts. Always tighten the bolts better diagonally!

Connecting the power supply cables

At this stage of the build, you need connect power to components. SATA (SATA) cable you connect to hard drive and the disk drive, if you decide to install it. And also an EPS cable (CPU power), 24-pin connector for the motherboard, PCI-E graphics card power. Make sure that the cables are laid out so that no difficulties were created for heat removal.

The power supply has a special output with 4 yellow-black wires, so we connect it to the processor power socket on the motherboard.

In this photo you see connected by SATA cable(5 wires - 2 yellow, 2 black, 1 red) hard drive, top. And power is connected motherboard, bottom right in the photo.

On modern motherboards, you need to connect an additional 4-pin connector, which, as a rule, is separate from the main cable. To make connection easier, pick up the main connector and connect it with additional. Then connect the entire structure to the connector on the mat. board

Signal cable connection SATA from hard drive to the motherboard to the "sata 1" connector.

Installing a video card into the case

For installation video cards in the case computer, you will first need remove metal strip opposite the PCI-E slot.

Further install the video card itself V PCI-E slot on the motherboard. For this you need release the locking clip and insert the card until it clicks. Then screw the card to the panel where you previously removed the metal plate.

The result of self-assembly of the computer system unit

As we see, with self-assembly PC system unit anyone can handle it the user, if he has all the necessary components and the desire to do it himself at home.

Sometimes it happens that the computer that is in the house, due to its advanced age, began to work poorly, or, even worse, it simply died a quiet and unexpected death. Or, perhaps, everything is not so dramatic and the old iron machine is simply tired of its owner, who always strives to keep up with new technologies.

There can be many reasons why there is a need or desire to acquire a new computer. But the question is not even that, but where to get it. new computer. Of course, you can simply buy it at your nearest hardware store. But, you can assemble it yourself, which is much more interesting and, importantly, significantly increases self-esteem. And such a computer will be much more functional than its store-bought counterpart, since you can select parts for it at your discretion.

Almost every user can assemble a computer on their own. But in order to do this correctly, it is necessary to tighten up the theory a little about computer internals and about what should be inserted, screwed, connected, etc. where and in what order. In addition, the theoretical part will be very useful for those who have decided to build a computer for the first time. It is precisely so that such beginners do not have trembling in their hands and an irresistible desire to find valerian in the closet, this article was written, which is essentially instructions for assembling a computer, and even with illustrations. Therefore, there is nothing to be afraid of, grab a screwdriver and go!

What you need to have with you:

· A longer Phillips screwdriver (you can use a regular one, but it will be more difficult).

·Ring-nose pliers (pliers).

·Plastic ties or clamps.

·Medicines (for the most suspicious).

Assembling and installing the motherboard into the case

The first step is to assemble all the proper components for the motherboard. The motherboard itself is shown in the figure below. Let's look at its components:

1.CPU socket (socket);

2.Slots for RAM (their number may vary, 4 are shown here);

3. Connector for video card;

4. Motherboard power socket;

5.SATA connector;

6. Front panel connectors.

These components of the motherboard will be discussed in more detail below during the assembly.

Processor Installation

A processor is a small flat square with contacts on one side. There are no other similar parts in the computer, so it is quite difficult to confuse the processor with something else.

In order to correctly insert the processor into the socket, you need to do it in a certain way. One of the corners of the processor has a special mark in the form of a triangle. Your task is to find this corner on the part, then release the fasteners on the motherboard, find the same corner in the processor socket (socket) and insert the processor so that the marks match.

Before securing the processor, it is very important to make sure that it is inserted smoothly, since attempting to close an incorrectly inserted part can lead to damage to the processor contacts or their complete breakage.

Cooler installation

A cooler, or, in other words, a fan, is installed on the processor. But first, the surface of the processor must be smeared with thermal paste, unless, of course, it is applied to the surface of the cooler.

To make the layer thin, the paste (which should be about the size of a pea) can be spread over the surface using a piece of cardboard or plastic card. After the processor is lubricated, you need to install the cooler and secure it using special legs, as shown in the picture.

Installing RAM

In the image of the motherboard, the RAM slots are shown as number 2. Their number may vary. The RAM sticks themselves look as shown in the following picture. In order to insert RAM into the slot, you need to open the plastic clips that are located at the edges of the slot. Then directly insert the bar vertically until it stops. If the procedure is done correctly, then the clips will snap into place by themselves.

If you have identical RAM sticks, it is better to insert them into slots of the same color. This will make it possible to significantly speed up your computer.

Installing the motherboard into the system unit

After the motherboard is fully equipped, you need to insert it into the computer case, which looks like this.

The motherboard is installed on the side wall of the unit. Don't worry if you notice that there are more mounting holes in the case than necessary. This is necessary so that you can install motherboards of different sizes.

First, you need to “try on” the motherboard, placing it tightly against the case. This is necessary to see if the motherboard connectors fit into the protective panel. If everything matches, the motherboard can be mounted. If something does not match, then you need to break out the protective plate with the holes using pliers and insert another panel there.

Installing a hard drive, drive, video card

In order to install a drive or hard drive, you don’t need much effort, the main thing is to know what to connect to what. Yes, for connecting hard The disk or drive uses the SATA data channel, which is shown in the first figure as number 5.

A pair of cables for connection are included with the motherboard, so you don’t have to look for them. The cables can be connected to any SATA pins.

Since usually not one hard drive is installed, but several, you need to remember one important point. It is best to install hard drives not too close to each other. Typically, a system unit has three or more slots for hard drives. Therefore, you can install one hard drive in the bottom cell, and one in the top, so that air circulates between them, which prevents overheating of the surfaces of the parts.

If all the hard drive slots are occupied, then it is advisable to install an additional fan to cool the hard drives, since overheating significantly shortens their service life.

The slot for connecting a video card is located in the image at number 3. The video card itself looks like this.

Connecting it is not difficult, but first you also need to “try on” the video card to the slot. This is done in order to determine exactly where to insert the card and which plug will have to be removed from the back wall of the computer. The further process is identical to connecting the RAM: insert it straight and all the way. The final touch is to secure the video card with a special mount or bolt.

Installing the power supply

The power supply looks like a metal box with many wires coming out of it. The system unit has a special place for the power supply. It is clearly depicted below.

The power supply is inserted so that the network output and the button are on the outside, and the bundle of wires is on the inside.

After the power supply is in place, you need to connect the wires. First, connect the widest plug to the motherboard. It is difficult to confuse it with another wire, since it consists of 24 segments, which are usually called pins. However, 4 of these pins can be “separated” and form a separate cable that can be attached to the main one if necessary. This is necessary so that the power supply can be connected not only to modern motherboards, but also to old ones that have only 20 pins.

This cable is a weave of four wires: two yellow and two black. The place where it needs to be connected is usually located above the processor and is a four-pin input.

The power cables for the drive and hard drive are as follows.

It is not difficult to find where such a cable is inserted, since it has a special shape and will only fit into its place.

In this case, it will also not be difficult to find what and where to insert. But, you need to pay attention to the fact that there are video cards that do not have a connector for the power cable. This means that the spare part is an old model and it has enough power received from the motherboard. In this case, power from the unit is simply not connected.

Additionally, such wires come out of the power supply.

They are necessary to connect the Floppy diskette and card reader.

Connecting the Front Panel Connectors

The front panel on the system unit also has many elements that require connection to the motherboard. This could be the power button, reset button, indicator lights, USB ports and other. The connection cables are as follows.

Power SW – is responsible for the computer’s power button.

Reset SW – responsible for the reset button.

Power LED – responsible for LED power indication.

H.D.D. LED – an LED that shows the operation of the hard drive.

MIC-IN – microphone output.

Spkout L, R – Right and left speaker outputs.

GND – ground to the microphone and speaker contacts.

It is also important to connect all these elements correctly because otherwise the machine will not turn on. Any motherboard has a kind of block of contacts, which are called Front panel (F-panel) and look like this.

These wires are connected according to the instructions that come with the motherboard. But if there is no such instruction, it’s not scary. There are hints on the motherboard itself that you can use. They are usually located next to the F-panel.

There is also a USB connector on the front panel of the computer (system unit). There may be one, or there may be several. This also includes ports for connecting a microphone, headphones and speakers. This whole “structure” looks something like this.

To connect all these elements you also need cables (so-called pins). Appearance the required pins are shown in the picture below.

Fortunately, they all come included and connect to the motherboard, namely to blocks called F-USB1 and F-USB2. The color of these blocks and location on the motherboard may be different, but the components are the same.

The ports for connecting audio inputs look similar, but differ in the position and number of pins. They connect quite simply, if only because they simply won’t fit into other blocks. In addition, you can always use the tips in the instructions, if, of course, there are any.

At this point, the main assembly of the computer can be considered complete. All that remains is to connect a variety of additional elements, such as a keyboard, mouse, speakers and other small things. And then you can enjoy the subject of your labor.

Finally, a few more points about assembling computers yourself. In addition to the pleasure of the work done, you can get significant cost savings, which can amount to 20% of the cost of the finished computer. In addition, self-assembly allows you to gain important skills in working with this type of equipment. These skills can be useful when the question arises about the need to repair a computer or its components. There is also no need to call a specialist to set up your computer, because you can do it all yourself and thereby save a lot of time and money.

Still, it is necessary to pay attention to some negative factors. In the computer parts market, there is a possibility of purchasing a defective item. Therefore, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing components for your future computer and carefully study the theory of its assembly. By following these simple recommendations, you will build a wonderful computer that will last for a long time.

Assembling a new computer is quite a task, because everywhere you look, store shelves are simply bursting with all kinds of PC components. How to choose among this squeaking, buzzing, winking mass of light bulbs what is worthy of becoming the “internal organs” of your future “family member”? And so that these “organs” are compatible with each other?

Some people think that it is better to entrust the choice of filling for the “iron pet” to specialists or to purchase a system unit already assembled, but we are not looking for easy ways. Assembling a gaming computer is not such a difficult task when you have a helper. Today we will learn how to use the free web service “Online PC Configurator” of one computer store and create 3 assemblies for games in 2017: up to 30,000 rubles, up to 50,000 rubles and up to 100,000 rubles. Believe me, even a second grader can do it!

How to Determine What Hardware You Need

The selection of components for a PC is usually followed by choosing the motherboard and other parts, taking into account compatibility. When assembling a gaming machine, I advise you to change this order a little, because...

No, I don’t urge you to sweep powerful and expensive video cameras off the shelves. latest generation. To buy exactly what will meet your needs and not spend too much, it’s better to do this:

• Make a list of toys that you are going to play on your new computer (after all, we are building a machine for games).
• Go through the official websites of the selected games and write them down system requirements. It is also advisable to look at resources where gamers communicate and take a closer look at their recommendations for choosing hardware. Sometimes these tips are more practical than those from the developers.
• Take the highest system requirements as the basis for the future build.

The key link when selecting components for a gaming PC is the combination of processor + video card (sometimes + monitor). We select the rest for them.

How to properly distribute your budget

The budget distribution survey is no less important than correct selection iron, because when putting together an assembly there is always a temptation to add something extra to it, and money tends to run out unexpectedly.

The set of components for the system unit of a gaming computer includes 7-15 items. Our task is to divide them into 3 groups according to degree of importance:

1. A key link in the future assembly – processor and video card. These are the most important and usually the most expensive devices.
2. Equipment of the 2nd stage– what is necessary for the operation of a PC and what you cannot do without. This includes: motherboard, drive for installing the OS and programs (optimally SSD), CPU cooler and power supply. The power supply is one of the last to be included in the assembly, but we reserve funds for it in advance, since “”.
3. Equipment of the 3rd stage. This group includes what you can do without if you don’t have enough money (to buy more later) and what you can save on: RAM (instead of 32 GB, 4-16 GB is enough for the first time), a second drive, an optical drive, discrete sound card, peripherals, system unit case. As for cases: if the design with bells and whistles and the famous brand, which mainly determine their cost, are not particularly important to you, buy a regular inexpensive case that is suitable in size.

Devices of the first and second stages are 80-90% of your costs. Cutting the budget for them is extremely undesirable, because this is what will bear the main burden “on its shoulders” for the next 3-5 years. If the optimally fitting part seems too expensive to you, it is better to look for it in other stores.

When choosing equipment of the third stage, do not go for cheapness. Savings should in no case concern the quality side of devices! Only quantitative.

Economy gaming computer for 30,000 rubles (without peripherals)

Well, we've sorted out the theory, it's time to start practicing. The free one I mentioned above belongs to the computer store "DNS". This is not an advertisement, just this service seemed to me the best among analogues specifically for untrained users. It does a good job of checking the compatibility of devices based on various parameters, has an automatic calculation of the cost of goods, and sometimes provides useful hints. In addition, it is very easy to use, and the finished assembly can be saved in your account on the store website. There is no need to buy anything after this.

Before the build starts, the service page looks like this:

Let's start by including two key devices (how to do this, I think, is clear to everyone). The first is the processor. The main parameters for choosing a product (filters) are collected in the column on the left. Here are the criteria I set to select the models that suit me:

• Manufacturer: AMD. Since we are collecting budget gaming computer, I prefer this family.
• For a gaming computer.
• With a free multiplier and 8 cores.
• No cooling system included.

The configurator selected 5 processors for me at prices ranging from 6,900 rubles to 11,300 rubles. The cost of the first three is almost the same, the performance is the same, so I will choose the less hot and most energy efficient model AMD FX 8320E. To add it to the assembly, press the button " Included».

• For gaming PC.
• Manufacturer: AMD.
• Video memory capacity is 2-4 GB.

An automatic filter is also included here " Compatible" It is present in every tab, but sometimes it is worth turning it off. I'll tell you why a little later.

The service selected 14 models. By brief description In the catalog it is difficult for me to understand how they differ. To see all the characteristics of the device I like, I will double-click on its name. This will open the product card for me with detailed description and pictures.

To return to the configurator I will click " Back to catalog».

Having looked through all the models that suit me in terms of parameters and price, a not too expensive one is sent to the kit ASUS AMD Radeon RX 460 DUAL OC. By the way, it does not require additional power.

So, the key components have been selected, let's move on to the devices of the second group. Next up is the motherboard.

The configurator found 4 models for me that were compatible with the processor and belonged to the gaming class. After comparing their characteristics, reading reviews and reviews, I send them to the assembly MSI 970A SLI KRAIT EDITION, since, all other things being equal, it is slightly cheaper than the others.

It's time to choose a cooler. My criteria:

• Power dissipation – from 100 W (I focus on the TDP of the processor – 95 W).
• Base material – copper.
• Type - tower.
• Connector – 4 pin.

Socket AM3+ compatibility is automatically set. The choice fell on inexpensive DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 200T.

I wonder if I'm on budget? At the top of the configurator the total cost of my potential purchases is displayed. There are about 9,000 rubles in stock, so so far everything is fine.

What is this red-green stripe next to the price and why does it say “Compatibility Issues” and “Non-Optimal Power Consumption”? It turns out that this is also normal, because I have not yet included the power supply and case in the assembly. If the problem notification (red icons) remains after adding all parts of the system unit to the kit, then you have made a mistake somewhere.

• Capacity 120-128 GB.
• Interface SATA-3.

I'll look at other characteristics in the descriptions of the models.

I’ll take the fastest one available to me at a price - Sandisk SSD Plus. 120 GB is quite enough for the first time. Later I will buy an additional hard drive to store files.

By the way, if you did not add a PC case to the package, the configurator will consider the SATA interface incompatible with your devices. Why this was done, I don’t know. To avoid this distraction, simply uncheck the "Compatible" box.

The second group is almost finished. There is still a power supply left, but I will choose it a little later. First the RAM. I plan to equip my computer with 8-16 GB of memory, but since I no longer have the funds for this, I will buy 1 4 GB stick for now. Let it be a memory JRam– DDR3 with a frequency of 1600 MHz.

The total power consumption of my current build was 244 watts. The characteristics of the video card indicate the recommended power of the power supply - 400 W. You also need some reserve for possible upgrades and overclocking of the system. Accordingly, the power supply for the PC being assembled must be at least 450-500 W. And of course, it must be of high quality and reliable.

Following these wishes, I am sending a 500-watt Accord ACC-500W-80BR.

In addition to performance, I pay attention to the presence of all the required connectors (the main thing is 4+4 or 8 pin for powering the processor) and an 80+ Bronze energy efficiency certificate.

Well, all that remains is to find a cozy “house” for all this stuff. An expensive fancy “cottage”, alas, did not fit into my budget plans, so I’ll settle on a simple steel case AeroCool V3X Advance. The main thing is that it suits me in size and the presence of the necessary parts: shelves for 2.5-inch drives, a cutout in the area of ​​the CPU cooler, 2 built-in fans and a USB 3.0 connector on the front side.

The configurator shows that all selected devices are compatible, and their total cost was 31,843 rubles.

It turned out to be a slight overrun, but this is an approximate price, because it is not necessary to buy all the hardware in one store. It may be sold cheaper in other places.

Now I can save the configuration in personal account(registration on the DNS website is required) in order to be able to return to it again (track price changes), edit and show it to other people (share the link).

Mid-budget gaming PC for just 50,000 rubles (without peripherals)

Let's consolidate the skills we've acquired and put together another gaming PC build worth about 50,000 rubles. This time without detailed explanations.

Let's start with the processor + video card combination. Since you can’t get away with this amount either, let’s turn again to the AMD line and throw a CPU into the kit AMD FX-8320(compared to the FX-832E, it withstands high heat better and more stable). It will be paired with a video card Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 580 AORUS – a decent gaming model with 8 GB of memory on board.

Next we select devices of the second stage. This is a gaming motherboard AMD chipset 970 GIGABYTE GA-970-Gaming, cooler DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 300 at 130 W and SSD ADATA SU800 for 128 GB. Let's take the same power supply as in the previous assembly. Its power is just enough for all equipment, taking into account overclocking, plus the kit includes all the required connectors and a bronze certificate 80+.

The final chord is the RAM and the case. I throw in the set 1 RAM module with the desired parameters at the lowest price. This Goodram Play with a capacity of 8 GB and a frequency of 1866 MHz. In the future, the memory capacity can be increased to 32 GB. And all this will “live” in the “house” BitFenix ​​Nova. This case is also not particularly fancy, but it has everything you need. Its main advantages are the bottom placement of the power supply (important, since the processor and video card here are much hotter than in the previous assembly, and the power supply needs cold air) and the presence of a compartment for laying wires behind back wall(the fewer wires inside, the better the heat sink + this is convenient).

As a result, goods amounted to 56,794 rubles. Also an overspend, but gaming video cards roads nowadays.

Let's go for a walk! Gaming system unit for 100,000 rubles

With a hundred thousand rubles at your disposal, you can afford not to save. We will collect for this amount full-fledged computer for the most resource-intensive toys and, perhaps, there will still be funds left for additional goodies.

So, here's what I got:

• Processor + video card: Intel Core i5-6600K And MSI GeForce GTX 1070 AERO OC.
• Motherboard: MSI H270 GAMING PRO CARBON(Intel H270 chipset).
• Cooler DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 200T.
• SSD PlextorM8SeY with PCI-E interface and read/write speed of 2400/1000 MB/s.
• power unit Seasonic 550W(80+ Gold).
• Memory Goodram Play– DDR4, 2 modules of 8 GB, frequency 2133 MHz.
• HDD Toshiba P300– capacity 2 TB, speed 7200 rpm. It was not present in previous builds.
• Optical drive BD-RE LG BH16NS40 with the function of reading and writing 2-layer Blu-ray discs. It was not present in previous builds.
• Frame AeroCool Aero-500 with fan control unit and the ability to install liquid cooling.

The cost of the configuration was 100,343 rubles. Completely done! The only thing missing was discrete sound, but even without it it turned out very well.

I will not claim that the above assemblies are “ultimately true”, because they are compiled from the assortment of one store. Most likely, they can be supplemented and improved without going beyond the allotted budget, but to do this you need to browse online stores, read reviews, look at test results, compare and analyze the experiences of other users. However, this is what you need to do before purchasing; fortunately, the service allows you to save your assembly in your personal account, but, unfortunately, only one.

If you do not have experience in selecting computer components yourself, do not rush to place an order immediately. First, consult with knowledgeable people (not from the store employees), and only when the assembly is approved by several experts, buy.

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Do-it-yourself construction set for adults: how to assemble a gaming computer without being a specialist updated: September 5, 2017 by: Johnny Mnemonic