Hardware AssemblingHardware Assembling

Why Should One Learn About Why Should One Learn About HardwareHardware

Troubleshoot yourselves and save Troubleshoot yourselves and save timetime

Knowing about system internals and Knowing about system internals and componentscomponents

Very easy installation for modern Very easy installation for modern hardwarehardware

Install extra memoryInstall extra memory Reusing componentsReusing components

Safety PrecautionsSafety Precautions

Beware of Electro Static Discharge (ESD)Beware of Electro Static Discharge (ESD) Build your computer on a hard surface, Build your computer on a hard surface,

away from carpets. away from carpets. Wear shoes and short-sleeved cotton Wear shoes and short-sleeved cotton

wear.wear. Use Phillips-head screwdriver Use Phillips-head screwdriver Keep the components away from MoistureKeep the components away from Moisture Avoid Using Pressure while installing. Avoid Using Pressure while installing.

Steps for AssemblingSteps for Assembling

1.1. Getting the cabinet readyGetting the cabinet ready2.2. Preparing to fit the componentsPreparing to fit the components3.3. Fitting the motherboard; Fitting the motherboard; 4.4. Fitting the RAM, processor, and cooler; Fitting the RAM, processor, and cooler; 5.5. Installing the PCI Cards; Installing the PCI Cards; 6.6. Fitting the hard disk and floppy drive; Fitting the hard disk and floppy drive; 7.7. Installing the CD-ROM drives; Installing the CD-ROM drives; 8.8. Connecting the ribbon cables; Connecting the ribbon cables; 9.9. Powering the drives and motherboard; Powering the drives and motherboard; 10.10. Connecting the cables for the case front panel; Connecting the cables for the case front panel; 11.11. Final check. Final check.

Getting The Cabinet ReadyGetting The Cabinet Ready

Check how to open Check how to open the cabinet, and the cabinet, and determine where determine where to fix the to fix the components.components.

Determine if the Determine if the case has the case has the appropriate risers appropriate risers installed installed

Preparing To Fit The Preparing To Fit The ComponentsComponents

Network Adapter CardNetwork Adapter Card Floppy Disk DriveFloppy Disk Drive CD-ROM DriveCD-ROM Drive Hard Disk;Hard Disk; Ribbon CablesRibbon Cables RAMRAM CPU CPU Heat sink / Cooler / Heat sink / Cooler /

FanFan Motherboard.Motherboard. ScrewsScrews

Motherboard Overview Motherboard Overview

ATX ConnectorsATX Connectors

Fitting The MotherboardFitting The Motherboard Line up the ports on Line up the ports on

the motherboard the motherboard (PS/2, USB, etc.) with (PS/2, USB, etc.) with the appropriate holes the appropriate holes in the back panel I/O in the back panel I/O shield of the case.shield of the case.

Check the points Check the points where you need to where you need to install raiserinstall raiser

Install them and make Install them and make the motherboard sit the motherboard sit on them and fix on them and fix screws if required.screws if required.

Fitting The ProcessorFitting The Processor Raise the small lever at the Raise the small lever at the

side of the socket.side of the socket. Notice that there is a pin Notice that there is a pin

missing at one corner, missing at one corner, determine the direction to determine the direction to fit in the processor.fit in the processor.

You should not force the You should not force the CPU when inserting it, All CPU when inserting it, All pins should slide smoothly pins should slide smoothly into the socket into the socket

Lock the lever back downLock the lever back down Install the Heat Sink over Install the Heat Sink over

it. (Different type for each it. (Different type for each processor)processor)

Heat Sink / CPU fanHeat Sink / CPU fan

Fitting the RAMFitting the RAM

The RAM must be suitable for the motherboard.The RAM must be suitable for the motherboard. There are currently three types of RAM available: There are currently three types of RAM available:

SDRAM, DDR SDRAM and RDRAM.SDRAM, DDR SDRAM and RDRAM. The motherboard's chipset determines which type The motherboard's chipset determines which type

of RAM may be used of RAM may be used

Installing The PCI CardsInstalling The PCI Cards

Most of the cards are inbuilt these daysMost of the cards are inbuilt these days NIC, sound cards etc… are fitted into PCI NIC, sound cards etc… are fitted into PCI

slotsslots

Fitting The Hard Disk And Fitting The Hard Disk And Floppy DriveFloppy Drive

Place the floppy and Place the floppy and hard disks in their hard disks in their slots.slots.

leave some space leave some space above HDD to prevent above HDD to prevent heat buildup heat buildup

Check the jumper Check the jumper configuration.configuration.

Fix the screwsFix the screws

Installing The CD-ROM Installing The CD-ROM DrivesDrives

CD-ROM drive is similar to installing a hard disk.CD-ROM drive is similar to installing a hard disk. First, check that the jumper configuration is First, check that the jumper configuration is

correct. correct. Fix the screwsFix the screws

Connecting The Ribbon Connecting The Ribbon CablesCables

Attach the long end of Attach the long end of the cable to the IDE 0 the cable to the IDE 0 connector on the connector on the motherboard first motherboard first

The red stripe on the The red stripe on the IDE cable should be IDE cable should be facing the CD power facing the CD power cable. cable.

Powering The Drives And Powering The Drives And MotherboardMotherboard

Connecting The Cables For Connecting The Cables For The Case Front PanelThe Case Front Panel

SP, SPK, or SPEAK: the SP, SPK, or SPEAK: the loudspeaker output. It has four loudspeaker output. It has four pins.pins.

RS, RE, RST or RESET: connect the RS, RE, RST or RESET: connect the two-pin Reset cable here.two-pin Reset cable here.

PWR, PW, PW SW, PS or Power PWR, PW, PW SW, PS or Power SW: power switch, the PC's on/ off SW: power switch, the PC's on/ off switch. The plug is two-pin.switch. The plug is two-pin.

PW LED, PWR LED or Power LED: PW LED, PWR LED or Power LED: the light-emitting diode on the the light-emitting diode on the front panel of the case illuminates front panel of the case illuminates when the computer is switched when the computer is switched on. It is a two-pin cable.on. It is a two-pin cable.

HD, HDD LED: these two pins HD, HDD LED: these two pins connect to the cable for the hard connect to the cable for the hard disk activity LED.disk activity LED.

Final CheckFinal Check Motherboard jumper configuration: are the Motherboard jumper configuration: are the

settings for the processor correct?settings for the processor correct? Drive jumper settings: master/ slave correct?Drive jumper settings: master/ slave correct? Are the processor, RAM modules and plug-in Are the processor, RAM modules and plug-in

cards firmly seated in their sockets?cards firmly seated in their sockets? Did you plug all the cables in? Do they all fit Did you plug all the cables in? Do they all fit

neatly?neatly? Have you tightened all the screws on the plug-in Have you tightened all the screws on the plug-in

cards or fitted the clips?cards or fitted the clips? Are the drives secure? Are the drives secure? Have you connected the power cables to all Have you connected the power cables to all

drives?drives?

Powering Up For The First Powering Up For The First TimeTime

Ensure that no wires are touching the CPU heat sink fan Ensure that no wires are touching the CPU heat sink fan Plug your monitor, mouse, keyboardPlug your monitor, mouse, keyboard Plug in the power cord and switch the power supply Plug in the power cord and switch the power supply If everything is connected as it should be If everything is connected as it should be

– all system fans should start spinning all system fans should start spinning – you should hear a single beep, and after about 5-10 seconds you should hear a single beep, and after about 5-10 seconds – the amber light on the monitor should go green the amber light on the monitor should go green – and you will see the computer start to boot with a memory and you will see the computer start to boot with a memory

check.check. Now check the front LEDs to see if you plugged them in Now check the front LEDs to see if you plugged them in

correctly correctly – Check all other buttonsCheck all other buttons– Power off and change any wrong settings. Power off and change any wrong settings.

TroubleshootTroubleshoot

If you hit the power button and nothing If you hit the power button and nothing happened happened – Check all power connectionsCheck all power connections– Check for power on the mother boardCheck for power on the mother board

If the system turns on, but does not beep If the system turns on, but does not beep or begin to boot upor begin to boot up– Remove all components except Remove all components except

motherboard/CPU/Memory, check by giving motherboard/CPU/Memory, check by giving power to them.power to them.

Computer Error Beep CodesComputer Error Beep Codes No Beeps -> Short, No power, Bad CPU/MB, Loose No Beeps -> Short, No power, Bad CPU/MB, Loose

PeripheralsPeripherals One Beep -> Everything is normal and Computer POSTed One Beep -> Everything is normal and Computer POSTed

finefine Two Beeps -> POST/CMOS ErrorTwo Beeps -> POST/CMOS Error One Long Beep, One Short Beep -> Motherboard ProblemOne Long Beep, One Short Beep -> Motherboard Problem One Long Beep, Two Short Beeps -> Video ProblemOne Long Beep, Two Short Beeps -> Video Problem One Long Beep, Three Short Beeps -> Video ProblemOne Long Beep, Three Short Beeps -> Video Problem Three Long Beeps -> Keyboard ErrorThree Long Beeps -> Keyboard Error Repeated Long Beeps -> Memory ErrorRepeated Long Beeps -> Memory Error Continuous Hi-Lo Beeps -> CPU OverheatingContinuous Hi-Lo Beeps -> CPU Overheating

You Are Done You Are Done Assembling The Assembling The

Computer Computer

Hurry !!! get a PC and Hurry !!! get a PC and assemble it for some assemble it for some

hands-onhands-on

Courtesy: N. Maheedhar Reddy