What order do you install components when you build your PC?

hp01jpc · 24 Jun 2011 at 23:02

Just wondering, I haven't built that many and will be building one soon - is there an 'optimum' order?

I.e. would you attach the various components to the motherboard and then fit the whole lot into the case or would you attach the mobo first?

PSU into case first?

Attach power/data leads as you go or all at the end?

You get the gist... what is your preferred order?

Reaper 392 · 24 Jun 2011 at 23:06

this is how would have built my computer with hindsight:
(as it was, i ended up taking the graphics card out then putting it back in about 3 times due to various problems)

1. attach ram to mobo CPU cooler may make RAM slots inaccessible
2. attach processor to mobo
3. attach cooler to processor + mobo attaching CPU cooler may require access to both sides of the mobo
4. attach mobo to case
5. attach hard drive to case can get in the way of mobo fitting
6. attach DVD drive to case can get in the way of mobo fitting
7. attach PSU to case can get in the way of mobo fitting
8. attach all power cables, case connections, DVD and HDD cables to their various places as tidily as possible
9. attach graphics card to mobo (and case) graphics card may make some motherboard connections inaccesasble
10. attach graphics card power cable

depending on the case, and where you want to put it, you may want to swap the hard drive and motherboard fitting around, as the CPU cooler may get in the way when fitting the HDD.

getcarter · 24 Jun 2011 at 23:08

First i prepare the case case
Install PSU and do some cable management.
I then connect the HDD and Optical drive.
Then i prepare the motherboard by installing the CPU, CPU cooler and ram.
Install motherboard in the case.
At this point i add the graphics card.
Connect the power supply up to everything.

Hagar · 24 Jun 2011 at 23:23

getcarter said:
First i prepare the case case
Install PSU and do some cable management.
I then connect the HDD and Optical drive.
Then i prepare the motherboard by installing the CPU, CPU cooler and ram.
Install motherboard in the case.
At this point i add the graphics card.
Connect the power supply up to everything.

This

Buchanan0204 · 24 Jun 2011 at 23:43

I open the case and take out all the screws and bits and bobs. I then tuck away the front panel connectors out of the way.

I then attach the PSU to the case and secure it in. This means I can then ground myself when touching the electrical components later on. I plug the PSU into the wall, switched off at both ends of course to ground myself.

I then install the CPU, HSF and RAM. Outwith case.

Install standoffs

Secure mobo into case

connect HDD and ODD

Connect all cables including, power, sata and front panel.

Install GPU if required as it's large and usually get's in the way of other things.

That's the way I've always done it. Seems to have worked well for me. Nothing ever gets in the way of anything else and I'm grounded all the way through.

Guardsmon · 25 Jun 2011 at 00:46

Depends entirely on the case. Try play with some of the smaller m-atx or m-itx cases and put it in as described above. Just doesn't work much of the time.

as905 · 25 Jun 2011 at 01:33

this is how i built my sandy bridge last week:

power supply first to enter the case then put the cpu in it sucket then place the 2 x mem sticks in their slots then fit the heatsink & put the 2x fans on it then screw the mobo to the case tray & connect all the small wires inc the sata cables then install any pci-e & pci cards then the psu power leads & finally say a little prayer before i turn it on.

Locke · 25 Jun 2011 at 01:38

getcarter said:
First i prepare the case (standoffs etc)
Install PSU and do some cable management.
I then connect HDDs and any optical drives.
Then I prepare the motherboard by installing the CPU, CPU cooler and ram.
Install motherboard in the case.
Add the graphics card.
Connect the power supply up to everything.

Fixed a little and it is what I did earlier today

DJ_Martin · 25 Jun 2011 at 02:31

With hindsight, I would actually install the cooler after fitting the motherboard as the cooler (especially as it was a big one, the corsair A50) makes screwing the mobo to the board and plugging in some of the cables difficult/impossible. Forgot what cables they were now but it had 4 pins to it in a square.

setter · 25 Jun 2011 at 02:55

When i had my akasa eclipse 62 case, i just installed everything on the slide out mobo tray, slid it into the case, very handy.

Mucky Pup · 25 Jun 2011 at 02:56

Just recently did a complete rebuild myself. This was my first attempt at building my own PC so it was a learning experience. At first I installed the memory then CPU and cooler. I then secured the motherboard into the case. I soon found out that this was causing problems connecting some of the power cables from the PSU to motherboard. With the large Silent Knight II cooler in place it made it impossible to connect some of the cables. My PSU is a modular type so I removed the MB from the case and connected all necessary power cables to the MB. Put the CPU and cooler back in place. Then placed the MB back into the case and connected the cables to the PSU. Plugged in all the drives and graphics card. So much easier this way.

Was actually supprised it booted up at first attempt with no problems. I was expecting sparks and smoke.