©
mechBgon's guide to building your first PC from parts   : )

  1. Start

  2. Case prep 1

  3. Case prep 2

  4. Data and power cables

  5. Serial ATA stuff

  6. General motherboard/CPU info

  7. Testing & installing the motherboard assembly

  8. Installing the hard drive

  9. Final connections

  10. Security during Windows Setup

  11. Best practices for ongoing security

  12. Resources (drivers, diagnostics, links, online antivirus scans, antispyware resources)

  13. A brief visual glossary

Welcome, newbies!   : )   Here's a photo guide to the mechanical assembly of a computer.

Great! But what parts should I buy? Check out AnandTech.com's "Guides" listing for commentary on parts kits in different categories. Look at the Buyer's Guides. If you still have questions, or want the absolute latest information, join the AnandTech Forums and ask the community to help you out: join here. The General Hardware section is the right section to ask for help setting up your parts kit.

What tools will I need? I suggest these:

  • #2 Phillips (+) screwdriver
  • medium-sized flat-blade screwdriver
  • small adjustable wrench
  • utility knife
  • small flashlight/torch
  • possibly a pizza cutter

What am I expected to know? This guide is intended for people who know that computers are made up of individual components. If you've upgraded a computer with a new add-in card or more memory, and installed Windows from scratch perhaps, you should be ok.

That said, I won't be held responsible if you buy stuff that doesn't work; or doesn't work together; or you assemble it and it self-destructs; or any other consequence. Build at your own risk.

Click here, and let's get started!

Hey... why doesn't this site have a billion advertising banners? You mean, like the irritating flashing ones that claim you've WON A FREE LAPTOP* and stuff? I hate those! :P Besides, this site isn't here to make money. If it helps you, then donate some food to the Food Bank or something.

RossMAN from the AnandTech Forums generously donates the Web hosting that brings you this guide, so I am putting in a plug for his site, BetterCreditCard.com. If you've got a CC, maybe RossMAN has found one that can beat it. Check it out, that's all I ask. : )