How to Build your own PC

[Guest]

1) make sure all parts are compatible ie don't get an Athlon but use an Intel Chipset mobo stuff like that.

Parts List
CPU Athlon/Duron P3/Celeron
Graphics AGP4x AGP4x
Mobo AMD/VIA chipset Intel/VIA chipset
RAM PC133 7ns C2 PC133 7ns C2 (depends on mobo chipset)
or PC2100 PC2100 (depends on mobo chipset)
HDD ATA100 7200rpm ATA100 7200rpm(depends on mobo chipset)
floppy, whatever_D-rom, whatever sound card, whatever whatever you want.
Casing ATX w/PSU ATX w/PSU

aiyah, I give up on seperating them into columns

but governed by mobo physical Form Factor, usually ATX and size, whatever wattage, I don't think you can get anything less than 250watts. If you have alot of hardware say 5 PCI card, 4 HDD, 2D-rom, 2D-writer etc get 350watts.

not forgetting bits like CPU heatsink fan, make sure suitable for you CPU in terms of Mhz and physical size. Retailer will know what to recommend.

bla bla bla

Need Windows Installer CD, hopefully bootable, if not need Windows Startup Disk, Win2K need Win2K startup disc, I personally won't bother, would rather get a bootable Win2K installer rather than wait 30 minutes to boot 4 floppy.

Now how to build?
1) Open ATX case and remove base board
2) place mobo to look for where to place the screws on the base board
3) then secure mobo ontop of those screws with another screew.
3a) install CPU, install HSF, install HFS power cable (see mobo manual)
4) place mobo that is attached to base board back into the case
5) careful with rear connectors for k/b, mouse, coms, parallel etc
6) install ram
7) attached power connector to mobo
8) install all cards and drive
9) install all HDD, FDD, whatever_D-rom
10) don't forget signal cables and power cables for each drive (see mobo manual)
11) case closed

needless to say, install mouse, k/b, monitor, bla bla bla

1) Power Up
2) goto BIOS enable CD-rom boot
3) insert bootable Windows installer CD
4) startup with CD-rom support
5) run fdisk.exe
6) partion your HDD as wish
7) format only first partition
8) install Windows
9) use windows to format other partition
10) install all drivers at once without restarting (works for me)

done.

Hey guys, if I missed something, please add accordingly. Thanks

other notes and hints
1) don't get wrong HFS
2) if P4 system, don't apply
3) still not full picture, need to read all hardware manual carefully


Best regards
cx5<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by fcchin on 01/04/01 08:38 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[smn198]

The installing all drivers without restarting could lead to configuration problems under certain configurations (like mine).

To be safe, first install the motherboard drivers such as the AGP, IDE etc. then the graphics drivers (there is only so much 640x480@60hz I can take!) I'd recomend restarting between installs even if it doesn't ask you to. In win9x you can hold the shift key when clicking OK after selecting restart and it will reboot quicker (only reloads windows)

 

[Crashman]

You can load all the drivers at once if your using an Intel chipset. If your using a VIA, load the system with no cards (except video) installed, load 4-in-1, then start adding cards one by one between restarts, and load all the drivers one-by one that way.

 

[Guest]

Seems like I am the only one brave enough and lucky enough to install all drivers and utilities at once without problem.

So happy!

Best regards
cx5