Talk:How To Assemble A Desktop PC/Assembly

This is deadly: "If using thermal paste, apply it only to the CPU die (the square piece of silicon in the middle of the CPU)." First of all, there's no "if" about: thermal paste is compulsory for any CPU that takes a cooler and all modern ones do. Second, and much worse, the CPU surface on which paste goes is the flat metal face that shows after installation, NOT a "piece of silicon in the middle . . . ." The combination of this lingo and the pictures, which don't show the CPU, only the LGA grid, could cause a real disaster. Pictures should show socket with cap, socket open, cpu installed. Made preliminary change, someone with real expertise may want to repair. Also fixed a little grammar, added note on removing paste.

Bookaminor (discuss • contribs) 20:41, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

I changed small phillips to #2 phillips since that is more precise and the #2 is really what you want, not #1 which is too small. If you use #1 you will likely end up stripping the screws and the driver.

"and most of this can be averted by choosing a non-conductive floor surface such as floorboards, or tiles. Make sure you don't do this in an unfinished basement!"

I would think you would want a conductive floor surface to help ground out any static charges that might build up.
 * If you see a mistake JUST FIX IT! -CarbonUnit

Also, I've worked in an unfinished basement before... Never had any problems with static.

Some RAM chips do not go in either way

many faults
Many faults in this book:

Power Up: "Then press the power button..." should be double check everything (again) then press the power button... Expansions and Connections: "Next, close the case and take your computer to where you will be using it." Don't close the case until the system is confirmed working and that all fans are running, then you can close the case

In general the whole end of the guide is bad. PC building and testing... CPU (and heatsink/fan) -> mainboard... ram -> mainboard... Mainboard -> chassis... video card -> mainboard... power supply -> mainboard and fans... monitor -> video card... keyboard -> mainboard... DO NOT CONNECT ANYTHING ELSE!... double check everything... power on system... wait for POST, if system has hardware monitoring go into the BIOS and check the numbers... unplug system, note that I did not say to power it off with the power button and then unplug it, you need to unplug it to drain the PSU.... Now you can connect your other stuff and then double check everything again and POST the system.

"you should choose an area without carpet on the floor, as carpet tends to attract a lot of static, and most of this can be averted by choosing a non-conductive floor surface such as floorboards, or tiles. Make sure you don't do this in an unfinished basement!"....... non-conductive floor surface WTF are you talking about. YOU WANT A CONDUCTIVE (preferably earth grounded) SURFACE! to prevent any voltage differentials (static) from building up

I'm going to have to rewrite this book and show you how to do it the old school way. My first self built was a 286, I've been doing this as a hobby and professionally for many many years.


 * Yes, I agree. Please fix it. I fixed a couple of things ... --DavidCary 19:58, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

Grounding
I believe that regardless of an anti-static mat, that an anti-static strap should always be used, especially if the person is constructing a computer for the first time, I do not however want to change the artcle as I have no cited source to base my oppinion on. You can still damage components on an anti-static mat.

Tyler.szabo 04:21, 24 June 2006 (UTC)yu


 * It all depends on the type of anti-static mat, the static charge of the person and the conductivity of the workbench/surfaces in contact with the components. I have always built my own computers from components and never used any anti-static methods, at best I sometimes tried to make sure I gave the chance of any static to discharge before touching the components by contacting a grounded metal structure first. --Panic (discuss • contribs) 07:21, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

Why does it say under Safety Precautions "Never plug your computer in while you are connected to it by a wrist strap." - If the computer case is just sitting on a wooden table during assembly and installation, is that enough to dissipate any static electricity from the person, or does it need to be connected to the actual earth ground in the building? Oathed (discuss • contribs) 21:07, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

Sequence of actions
Connecting Power supply is said to be the first thing to do. In reality it would obstruct the rest of assembly with its numerous cables hanging around and closing off access to processor. In fact, even mounting motherboard with power supply sitting there is ridiculously hard. The power supply should be installed after motherboard and processor (and fan), but before installing optical disk drive - it may be impossible/hard to connect power cables to motherboard if it is there (not a huge problem, but still). I propose the following sequence:
 * 1) Remove the freaking power supply
 * 2) Motherboard
 * 3) Processor
 * Fan
 * 1) Memory, Expansion cards
 * 2) Power supply
 * 3) Connect cables to mb
 * HD, CD, FD
 * 1) Connect all other cables

That was Grue 17:16, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

Installing the power supply *first* may not be the best action, but I think *removing* the power supply can be more hassle than it is worth.

I have seen some PC chassis form factors where the power supply blocked access to everything else. On the other hand, I have been fortunate enough that most of the PC chassis I've worked on have been big enough that there was no overlap. One chassis I worked on has a hinge so that the motherboard would swing down, so you could install the CPU, RAM, etc. far away from the power supply. In those cases, removing the power supply would be an unnecessary hassle. --DavidCary 14:12, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

images
How do I get the pretty image of a "computer screw" in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw to show up in this article?

--DavidCary 19:58, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

clean room
I removed


 * A clean room is a better place to work on your computer or to build a computer. a type 100 or above is perfict you could use a clean room type 50 for that matter but if oyu want to open your hard drive up use a type 100 clean room..

While yes, a clean room would be adequate, it is overkill for putting together a computer. Put a computer together in a room filled with cigaretter smoke, and it will work just fine. Also, opening up a hard drive is not something I would recommend, unless you *want* to destroy it.

--DavidCary 19:58, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

Account Only?
Perhaps this should be made account editing only? Unlike most articles, if a vandal got in here and wasn't caught he could do hundreds or thousands of dollars of damage. I will give no examples of type as your average vandal is to lazy to go into much depth and might get bored and turn away, and examples here would tell him how. On the other hand, he/she might get lucky or persistent and get away with something serious.--70.15.4.226 (talk) 22:05, 2 April 2008 (UTC)
 * I agree. I saw a tiny bit of random spam of something about "hitler" (it was barely noticable, but I deleted it). There might be some vandal lurking around...