A+, Network+, Electronics

Typically, the kit will come with the motherboard and power supply already installed. Install power supply and motherboard. Read the motherboard manual! Most kits come with a motherboard manual and some will provide a file transfer site located on the Internet where you can download the motherboard manual.

The typical motherboard manual has detailed instructions of cable connections, hardware installation proceedures, jumper locations, and settings. There will be some sort of drawing showing the locations of all major motherboard parts and vital connection and jumper locations.
Oh by the way, did we mention you should read the motherboard manual before assembling the PC kit!

You will never have enough time at school to perform all the experiments and lab activities to become proficient at computer service and repair. You will need a PC at home where you can conduct experiments. Chances are there is only one PC at home and it is used by everyone in the household. Taking it apart or conducting experiments that could render the unit useless is not a reasonable option for other family or household members. The solution is to build your own PC that you can use to enrich your PC repair instruction, as well as to enable you to go on in the future to conduct network experiments.

Building your first computer can be a rewarding experience or it can be a nightmare. It should be the former and can be by following a few easy steps. Selecting the correct parts for assembly can be difficult for an untrained person. The best way to build your first computer is to purchase a kit from a reputable supplier. There are several referenced in the Helpful Links section of this site. By purchasing a complete kit from a reputable source, you will ensure all the parts are compatible with each other both physically and by software operating system. For example, the processor and memory chips will match the motherboard and the motherboard chip set as well.

The drivers needed for installing the hardware will typically be provided as will all the documentatio n and a web site for reference. On-line technical support and phone support should also be available. If you build a PC from scratch and select the individual parts yourself before having sufficient formal training you will most likely purchase unneeded parts (duplicates) until you select the correct ones. Another vital point in building a PC from scratch rather than a kit is the question of who you call for technical support when something goes wrong with the system or if you run into a snag.

Kits come in various stages of completeness. Some barebones kit come only with the case, power supply, and motherboard. The processor may or may not be included or it may not come with the required cooling fan and heat sink. The same kit may be offered as a more complete system including memory, hard disk drive, CD drive, etc. I highly recommend the most complete kit you can afford for your first project. Check to see if the kit comes with an operating system also. Windows XP Professional is the best choice, but Windows XP Home Edition will do fine for now. Try the site:

By Clicking on the Site Below You will Reach Tiger Direct's Catalog - Bare Bones Section

TigerDirect.com



		Here is an example of the parts in a kit that is less than $350.00. There are models that are even less expensive. Remember, this kit will become your personal trainer, not a top of the line game pro version. You will enhance your learning greatly on a low cost model like this one.

Here are a few key points if you choose to build your own kit. This is not a complete set of instructions of how the process is done, but rather key points to be aware of so that you can avoid pitfalls associated with assembling your kit. I have provided a reference web site for you to look at for a much more detailed assembly set of instructions. The process of assembly for a novice may range from a few hours to a day or two.

Check to see if the CPU, cooling Fan, and all the cables are included. If the price of the kit is very reasonable, it may be because you need more parts to have a fully functional system. The missing parts may need to be purchased separately or you may choose to simply use items such as floppy disk, hard drive, and CD-ROM from an existing PC to save some money.


		For less than $100.00 you could purchase this bare bones kit. You will need to add some items to complete the computer. Choose a kit that that has an ATX motherboard. This is the most common and compatible motherboard form factor available today. The ATX form factor should be around for some time to come.
	This means that three or four years from now, when you want to build a better system, you can most likely use the same computer case and power supply and simply replace the motherboard and CPU as well as increase the memory. You may elect to use the same CD drive and use the same hard disk drive. This is the real advantage to building your own PC; you can use many of the parts from the previous PC and do not need to purchase them again unless you want to.

When your kit arrives, check to see that all the parts have been shipped. Simply check the invoice or packing slip against the physical items to be sure that all the parts are there. Check for physical damage. A sure sign of physical damage is a box with a crushed corner or side, also look for signs of water damage.

Select an area where you can work that has ample light. Some of the work requires up-close work. A dark room may not provide sufficient light to make a correct connection of a cable connector to the motherboard. What will happen if you drop a screw? Will it roll into a drain, get lost in the carpeting, drop through the spaces in a wooden deck, roll into a heat duct grill? It is especially nice if you can work in an area where you can leave your work from time to time without disturbance by pets or children.

All the tools that are typically required will be a flat tip and Phillip's head screw driver. You do not need a set of fancy tools, but be sure the screw driver tip fits the screw heads properly, not too large or too small. You may need to purchase an anti-static wrist strap to safely remove the parts from the bags and to ensure that your parts are not damaged during handling and installation.

Unpack the kit and spread out the parts. Do not remove any parts from the anti-static plastic bag yet-wait until time of assembly. A static electricity charge from your body could damage the motherboard, processor, or any device, which contains electronic parts, including everything in the kit.

Before you begin to assemble the kit, you should become familiar with the layout of the motherboard, cables, and parts. Most kits will provide a reference booklet for the motherboard, which identifies the cable connection points and jumper locations. If a manual is not provided, a web site will be referenced where you can download a PDF file of the manual. Read the manual and familiarize your self with the assembly procedure and motherboard locations before you begin.

After you are familiar with the motherboard layout, you may begin by installing the CPU.

Install the CPU. Almost all CPUs today use what is referred to as a pin grid array (PGA). The PGA refers to the pattern of how the pins on the CPU and CPU socket are laid out.

Note how the pattern of pins and pin socket holes require the CPU to be installed in a particular position. If you rotate the CPU 90, 180, or, 270 degrees, the pins will not line up with the holes in the socket. Be very careful!

The CPU also requires a cooling fan and heat sink. A detailed illustration of the CPU, heat sink, and cooling fan assembly can be found at the manufacturer's web site and may also be in the motherboard manual. Look in the manual.

There is usually ,or should be, a small tube of heat sink compound or thermal paste. It is a white paste that gets all over your hands, face and clothes if you wipe you hands on your clothes. The heat sink compound is placed between the heat sink and the CPU to ensure a good heat transfer between the heat sink and CPU. The high speed CPU used in computers today heat up very quickly and can cause the system to lockup in about 10 to 20 minutes. The compound may also be already on the CPU or heat sink and your will need to remove the plastic cover before installing them together. It is mentioned in the ever-important motherboard manual.

The typical CPU requires very little to no physical force at all to install. This type of socket is called a ZIF, which is an acronym for Zero Insertion Force. There is a small handle on the side of the CPU socket that should be in the up position before inserting the CPU into the socket. After the CPU is inserted into the socket, the handle should be moved down almost resting on the surface of the motherboard. If you meet physical resistance while trying to install the CPU, you are probably doing something wrong. STOP immediately! Did you read the motherboard manual?

RAM is very easy to install. Just be sure to use that anti-static wristband mentioned earlier. Look at the memory board at the keyway notches and note the position. They must align correctly with the socket to prevent damage to the socket. You should encounter very little resistance.

The hard disk drive installation is easy. Detailed instructions and drawings illustrating the procedure will accompany the hard disk drive inside the package. Be sure to line up the red side of the flat ribbon cable to pin one on the motherboard as well as the hard disk drive. It is very easy to reverse the connection of the cable rendering the hard drive useless. Formatting and partitioning a hard disk drive before installing the operating system takes some expertise. Today, most kits will include a self-booting CD drive. This means that the drive will start automatically and load begin loading the operating systems found on the CD.

		Today almost all kits come with a CD-RW. This means the CD cannot only read and play CDs but can also record to them. Again, this is very easy to install and you need to pay attention to pin one just like you did for the hard disk drive. Complete instructions are located in the manual! This illustration is from the manual and illustrates the location to connect the flat ribbon cable from the hard drive or CD-RW to the motherboard IDE connector. The kit manual makes it easy.

Most anyone can handle mouse and keyboard installation, but now and then there can be a problem. Most are color coded today to help identify which socket each will plug into.

You may or may not need to install a video card, as many boards incorporate the video card electronics in the motherboard itself. This may be true for the modem an a network card. There will be a set of instructions with any and all boards that need to be installed.

What about an operating system? The PC will not work without an operating system. Now you are all set to install the software. Once installing software could be difficult and take several hours of tweaking. If you have a self-booting CD drive and you use Windows XP Home or Professional versions, they should install very easily even if you have never installed an operating system before. Again, it's a matter of reading the manual that comes with the software Most times it will be as easy as inserting the Windows XP operating system CD into the disk drive and following the messages on the screen. If you accept the suggested selections as you progress through the install process, it should install, by default, all the necessary files to have you up and running in about an hour. It may sound too easy to be true but as stated earlier, use a kit for your first PC building experience and all should go smoothly.

All the major components such as the hard disk drive, CD drive, motherboard, etc. carry their own warrantee from the manufacturer. There is no need to deal with the supplier; you can simply deal directly with the manufacturer if you have defective hardware.


	This kit is complete, provides more features than necessary for a learning tool and cost less than $600.00. All you need to add is a monitor.

		This an example of a great complete starter kit for under $350.00. It has everything you need to build a complete PC system except the monitor. For a detailed systematically set of instructions for building a complete PC visit Toms Hardware at:
www.tomshardware.com Tom's Hardware is known to many PC techies and has a large selection of valuable information about all aspects of PC assembly and repair. You can use this site to supplement your classroom experiences.

Click on the Tiger Direct Link Below to view the many great products that can help you build your own PC!

TigerDirect.com

Have fun building your first PC kit! Note: This Page will be updated in the very near future!


	Tiger Direct has a special on Microsoft XP OEM version for under $100.00. This is an excellent value.


	*Build a Bare Bones Kit*