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ePathChina.com will teach How to you DIY

How to assemble the computer

-----ePathChina.com will teach you DIY.

In the old days, the basic advice for build for assembling the various parts which make up the PC was simple: Build up the computer bit by bit, checking the computer functioned as expected before continuing to add more devices. The assembly then becomes a long, but simple, process of upgrading:
For example, you would start by setting up the processor, motherboard and PSU, switch it on, and see if it beeped. If everything seemed ok, then you would go on by maybe adding the video card, and then the floppy drive etc. There is still a lot to be said for building the PC in this way. It may take a little longer, but should you make a bad mistake, the chances are that you will only ruin a few pieces of kit.
However, if you have enough confidence in your own ability and the parts themselves, (which are at least initially more reliable than they used to be), you can work the other way around, assembling the whole system at once. You then only have to remove bits one by one should you find a problem when you are done.

1.Read the motherboard manual.

You really, don't want to fall down on this one. Make a list of all the jumpers which must be set, ready for them to be checked off. Learn the layout of the board. Make sure you know what voltage your CPU will require. Make sure your proposed memory configuration will be acceptable. RTFM. RTFM again.

2.Locate the motherboard fixings

             

---As you take the motherboard from its anti-static bag, remember why it was in there, and try to take care of it!
---Before you get to work on the board, it might be an idea, to make sure it does actually fit your case. In some, 'baby' cases it can be a very tight squeeze
---Next locate the holes in the case which you will be screwing the motherboard down to. Do they line up? If they do, will the ISA/PCI slots on the motherboard still line up with the cutaways in the case? At this stage, you may need to drill some more holes. However, remember, not every hole on the motherboard must have a screw, so use your common sense. Modern ATX cases often have the 'legs' which the motherboard rests on built into the case as raised bumps - older cases require small hexagonal legs to be installed, (these should come with the case).

3.Setup the motherboard.

                        

---Set all the required jumpers now, while you have access to the whole board. Lay the board out on its anti static bag, or even better some foam. A fine nose pliers can be useful when setting jumpers, but is only really needed on badly designed motherboards, or when the motherboard is already installed. Check and recheck the jumper settings for bus speed, processor speed, clock multiplier and voltages.
---Make sure the CMOS battery jumper is connected, since this is usually left in the off position, for storage. While you are there, check the battery contacts are clean, since a PC with a dodgy clock is a real pain. The CMOS battery is generally a coin sized standard CR2032 (3v) which can be bought quite easily from many high street shops should yours fail at some time in the future. Take reasonable care not to soil the battery contacts with finger prints etc.

---Also at this time, install the main memory boards (and if necessary the level 2 cache memory). Take great care when handling the memory, since these are some of the most static sensitive parts in the computer. Remember to earth yourself to the PC case before you touch any of these items and try not to touch the memory chips themselves or edge connector at any stage. SIMMs can be quite tricky to position correctly, especially if you are unfamiliar with the connection arrangement. Take your time, but make sure that the boards are correctly seated before moving on to the next item to place. DIMMs are comparatively easy to install.
---While you are in an static-aware frame of mind, why not place any extra chips you might need onto your video/sound cards etc? Once this is done you will be able to take a little less care as you handle the rest of the components
---Before inserting a Socket 7 processor, read the instructions on the box of the processor fan.Depending on the type of fan, the clip which holds the fan and heatsink to the processor, may need to be placed on the socket first. Thus, you may need to create a sandwich of, fan/processor/clip before you insert. Anyhow, at this stage, do everything you can to keep the underside of the heatsink, and top of the processor clean, and grease free. They will need to be in as near perfect contact as possible.

   
---Insert the processor, taking care not to touch the pins if you can help it. The Socket 7 is called a ZIF socket, this stands for 'zero insertion force'. Thus to insert the processor, all that is required is to lift the lever on the side of the socket, line the processor up, and then replace the lever, at no stage will you have to push the processor down.
---The Pentium II is connected to the motherboard via Intel's propriety Slot 1. In this arrangement the processor already comes with a large heatsink and fan. The processor is mounted vertically, which means that it must be held at the sides by some pretty tough plastic supports, these should come with the motherboard, and be installed before anything else, (if they are not already). A fair degree of force is required to insert a PII into the Slot 1, however the most important thing to remember is that the force must be evenly given at each end of the processor, so that the top stays horizontal as it moves down into the slot. ---If you have the time you could do worse than to fit and remove some internal cards, into the ISA, PCI and AGP slots to loosen them up a little. This might save the motherboard some stress later on since some edge connectors are very stiff to begin with.

4.Fix the motherboard into the case.

                                            

---Locate the screws, and spacers, so that the motherboard will be firm, even if placed on it's side. 
---Make sure that the under side of the motherboard is not shorting on the case at any point. On many tower cases you first secure the board to a side flap which is then folded up into its correct position in the case and secured. ATX cases often allow the entire motherboard and cards to be screwed to a plate outside of the case to be inserted later. If you have a tower case place it onto its side to continue the build process.

5.Connecting the power leads.

                                                

---With the PSU OFF (PSU's internal fan NOT running!) it is time to wire the motherboard for power. Firstly locate the PSU leads. There should be a mess of them sticking out the end of the power supply. There will be groups of coloured leads with three different types of connectors. The motherboard is powered by two leads with 6 wires, or a single large connector. The other devices in the computer, are all powered by leads of 4 coloured wires, a with large or small connector depending on the device.
---Firstly connect the motherboard leads. On an AT motherboard the connectors should be positioned so that the black wires on each lead are next to each other, when fitted into the motherboard. ATX motherboards have only a single large connector.

---Next, connect the processor fan's lead. In a Socket 7 motherboard this will be a short lead which connects to one of the larger 4 wire general purpose power leads, and provides a continuation of that lead to power one of the other internal devices. If you do not connect the free end to any other device, make certain the lead will not fall into contact with the Heatsink or Fan. In a Pentium II board the PII fan will have a short lead which should be attached to a small power socket on the motherboard nearby.

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How can you visually tell the difference between different computer buses?

How can I tell the difference between several buses (ISA, EISA, MCA, PCI, VESA)? Each bus comes in different widths (16, 32 and 64 bits). How can I look at a bus on a mother board and know what kind it is?

Usually the ISA is brown where as the PCI is white and AGP is purple.

You can visually tell by the number of slots as well. The older ISA was always in great supply, but now it is outnumbered by the PCI. The ISA is most commonly found on the motherboards by a brown slot on the bottom of the board if you were to hold with the slots facing the back of the case.

The PCI is usually shorter and in numerous quantities. The AGP will look sort of like a hybrid of the ISA and PCI, but it will have two slots. One in front, then a split and then a small one on the other side of it.

The below web page has a good description and pics as well.

http://www.just2good.co.uk/ioBusTypes.php

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