"How to Build a Computer " by Benjamin S

When I put each component of a computer together, my senses come to life. I smell the stale air as I open each component’s box. I feel the snap of the 24-pin motherboard connector slotting into its respective location. I hear each fan accelerate to 5000 RPM as the computer takes its first breath. I see each LED light up and shine in vivid RGB through the tempered glass panel. And when every part comes together, I taste the success of a completed build.
Most people tend to think of building a computer as examining a complicated circuit board and soldering various connections to points on the circuit board. However, this couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Building a computer is similar to putting legos together, every part has a respective slot and clicks right in.
Although it’s simple to put a computer together when you have all the parts, you’re going to need the components if you plan on building a computer. These components are:

• ●  Motherboard: This is what connects every part of your computer together and allows each component to communicate with each other.
  
• ●  CPU (Central Processing Unit): You can think of this as the brain of your computer. It does the basic arithmetic and calculations in your computer.
  
• ●  RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is what stores data in your computer very temporarily, allowing it to run. Has your computer or phone ever lagged when you opened too many tabs? You didn’t have enough RAM.
  

• ●  Storage: You can get storage in two forms, Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD). HDDs carry more space for cheaper but are relatively slow. SSDs are more expensive for the storage amount but work very quickly.
  
• ●  GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): A GPU is what allows you to see anything on your screen. It calculates how each pixel on your computer should appear and sends a message to your monitor to display images. You can get a dedicated GPU if you are going to do intensive things like gaming or you can rely on the integrated graphics in your CPU which is perfect for watching youtube and doing homework.
  
• ●  Power Supply Unit (PSU): This is the heart of your PC. It takes electricity from your outlet and distributes it to your computer, giving it life.
  
• ●  Case: The case for your computer is what everything is housed in. Every component of your computer should fit cleanly into your case and some cases even have spaces for you to hide wires, making your computer look cleaner.
  
• ●  Operating Software: Buy Windows 10 from Microsoft Some optional components are:
  

• ●  LEDs for a vibrant, colorful computer.
  
• ●  Extra case fans for better cooling in your computer so components don’t overheat.
  
• ●  Sound Card for better audio quality.
  
• ●  Network Card for a better connection to your WiFi.
  
• ●  CPU Fan if your CPU does not come with one.
  
• ●  A monitor if you don’t have one.
  

The first step in building your computer is choosing the price range for your computer. If you want a computer to do homework and watch youtube, I recommend spending $400 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QwrP52​). If you want to do gaming like Fortnite I recommend spending $700 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QvTjHZ​). For AAA games like Battlefield and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, I recommend a computer worth at least $1000 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QtnMX7​). The second step is purchasing components. You can calculate prices on ​https://pcpartpicker.com/list/​ or you can use one of the builds I linked earlier. Once you purchase everything, you should be ready to build your computer. WARNING: DO NOT BUILD YOUR COMPUTER ON CARPET. THE STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN FRY COMPONENTS, RENDERING THEM NON-FUNCTIONAL.
Now, onto the building portion of the guide. The first thing you need to do is unbox everything but leave components on top of their respective boxes as placing them directly on the floor can scratch and damage them. Here is an important diagram of a motherboard you may need: https://bit.ly/34aE4Z7​. Take your CPU and match the arrow in the corner of the CPU with the arrow in the corner of the G slot indicated in the diagram. Be sure not to apply pressure to get the CPU slotted, it should slide in without any pressure. Then, attach the CPU fan you have to the motherboard with a screwdriver and the screws that came with the CPU fan. Next, take your RAM stick(s) and line them up with the H slots on your motherboard. When placing two or more sticks in, color coordinate them so you have a RAM stick in both blue slots. This will make the RAM run faster. Now you are ready to place your motherboard in your case. Take the side panel off of your chosen case and lay the case down with the open side up. Lay your motherboard

down very gently inside the case, making sure to line up the screw holes in the motherboard with the standoffs in your case. Screw the motherboard in. This can take some time as lining the motherboard up correctly can be difficult. Once it is sufficiently screwed in, get your GPU, if you have one, and place it in the PCI-E slot indicated by letter A on the diagram. It should click in. Next, you need to put your storage in your case. Most cases will have trays that you can put your Hard Drive or SSD in. Find these in your case (They should be pretty big). Some trays require that you screw in your storage so do that if necessary. Great job! Most of the computer is now built. It is now time to put the heart of the computer inside. Look at the bottom of the back of your case and you should see a rather large rectangular hole. The side of your PSU with the outlet connection is going to face this side. Place your PSU in the case with the outlet connection facing out through the back. Connect each cable from your PSU to the respective connection on your motherboard or GPU. If you’re unsure of where to connect some of the connections, look at the manuals for your motherboard and power supply. Now, take the connections for each case fan and the CPU fan and insert them into the correct spot (Your motherboard will label them “CPU Fan” and “Fan1” “Fan 2” etc. so it should be easy to find). If you can’t find them, look at the motherboard diagram in your motherboard manual. You will also need to connect the power button to your motherboard. This too will be labeled on the motherboard. Once everything is connected in your computer, close up your case and connect the power cable to your PSU and the wall. Then connect your monitor to your PC with an HDMI cable. To install your operating software. Download the windows installer onto a different computer or laptop and transfer the install files onto a USB. Once the files are on the USB, connect the USB to your computer through a USB slot and press the power button of your computer. Your computer should boot up

and load off of your USB which will cause the Windows installer to open up on your computer and once you get everything installed, your computer should work perfectly.
I have built a few computers in my lifetime, all of them throughout high school. This means that not too long ago I learned how to build, and successfully built, a computer for the first time. I too thought that building a computer was some intense task that only the smartest of people could do but I discovered that it was much easier than I had ever expected. By following this guide, you too can learn to build a computer.
Here’s a picture of my personal computer that I built myself by following the listed steps!