hardest part of building a pc?

well it shouldnt be too hard cuz i am getting the coolermaster stacker 830 with the removalble mobo trey. but i am just nervouse about the biosgregdpw

That is prob the hardest part if you're not a computer engineer. The best thing to do is contact the support of whoever makes the mobo if u have too much trouble. Most mobos are pre-set to whatever OS they support on the front of the box.

i would imagine the hardest part would be if the computer didnt boot as with being new to it you would maybe have difficulty fixing the problemDancing_Panda

i'd have to say in order of most difficult first:

1. wiring. i hate wiring. fortunately as PC technology advances, the cables get thinner! still, it gets confusing sometimes to plug the right stuff at the right place on the motherboard.

2. getting the motherboard correctly placed in the case. removable mobo trays really help though, but not all cases have this luxury!

3. troubleshooting a problem. it could be during the build or when your booting up for the first time. some of them take a while to fix while others is a quick correction.

some of you guys may or may not agree, but this is what I thought from my last couple of builds.

The hardest part of building a PC to (and I have built a lot of them) is installing the OS. This takes up most of my time. The other time consuming part is connecting the front USB cables depending on your case.Gator20

Then I should be ready to build three rigs this fall. I have had to install window about 6 - 8 times in the last two months. Linux three times.

i'd have to say in order of most difficult first:

1. wiring. i hate wiring. fortunately as PC technology advances, the cables get thinner! still, it gets confusing sometimes to plug the right stuff at the right place on the motherboard.

2. getting the motherboard correctly placed in the case. removable mobo trays really help though, but not all cases have this luxury!

3. troubleshooting a problem. it could be during the build or when your booting up for the first time. some of them take a while to fix while others is a quick correction.

some of you guys may or may not agree, but this is what I thought from my last couple of builds.

xwengstax

All in the name of troubleshooting. :lol:

You'll all do great if you are following a guide or video and just exhibit some patience. Do not rush and certainly do not force anything. P.C. gamer just did an issue with a complete walk-through (the special summer 2007edition) Tech TV had a video with a complete walk-through that you should be able to get on ebay for a couple of dollars. :D THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE FUN. REMEMBER THAT ITS NOT A JOB IT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR YOURSELF.omino

The best post of encouragement so far. I built my first PC not to long ago early last year. I had a basic knowledge of computer hardware, but I rarely opened my own computer. I found a guide online that told me what parts I would need or/and could use. I went to newegg.com to purchase all my parts. The most important part for myself is getting the right type of RAM and CPU that was compatible with my motherboard. Also, if you're getting a powerful video card get a decent power supply. Being extra careful it took me a couple of hours to get the system built. All I used was the instruction manual of my motherboard. This is funny though; I was trying to power up my system for the first time and the switch wasn't on. My dad had to come in and turn it on for me. I was like.."oh yeah, that..."

The first time it turned on everything was in working order. Call it beginners luck. I'll tell you this. If you can even manage to pick out the right parts for your computer you will have no problems building it. JUST REMEMBER THIS! The 6 pin connector -- it's being used for PCI Express video cards. The 6 pin connector is attached to your power supply; so if you buy a case with a power supply or a PS unit seperately make sure it has that. You'll be extremely pissed off if you don't. I see on newegg.com that some customers who review video cards get mad because they purchased a PCI Expressgraphic card and fail to realize their PSU doesn't have a 6-pin connector.

Believe me. The only thing that is bothersome is the cables. And of course when I really think about it, there's no big deal with that. But make sure you get a motherboard that can be expand on in the future. Right now I have at least $500 to spend to upgrade my computer. And this time I am going to make sure it'll last as long as possible in terms of being able to upgrade it without buying a entirely new HDD or motherboard.

i am looking into building a pc. what is the hardest part about it? is it the bios and all of the drivers? or should i just pay a pc store to build it for me?gregdpw

they're the eisiest bits, the hardest are putting in the risers for you motherboard, finding the right screw you need (there are quitea few diffrent types), interpreting the thermaltake armor manual (mylar tapes part) and if you've got vista trying to find ways round your games not working

Oh I forgot finding the pins for the LEDs and buttons is usually really annoying.threepac81

my pwr light still won't work + front ppanel headers can be annoying, but they're not needed

MEASUREMENTS!!!

Im no math wiz and I have my stupid PCU sticking out 5 inches. It looks like a black brick jutting out the back.

MEASUREMENTS!!!

Im no math wiz and I have my stupid PCU sticking out 5 inches. It looks like a black brick jutting out the back.

OmegaNemesis28

make the cables look nice, oh and putting the back plate of the mother board to the case (not sure if it's the right term)

the hardest bit is... if there is an error... whats gone wrong? the rest is very easy.

i find the troubleshooting bit seems to get solved with experience. the other hardest bit would be choosing the right components but with so much help here its hard to go wrong.

The hardest part is fitting the heatsink and the CPU.

The hardest part is fitting the heatsink and the CPU.

Gog

[QUOTE="Gog"]

The hardest part is fitting the heatsink and the CPU.

22Toothpicks

I have not installed a cpu or heatsink (yet), so I don't know what I am talking about. Don't you install the heatsink and cpu while the mobo is on a flat solid surface which would keep it from bending?

I recently built a new computer for the first time and it was a lot easier then I thought it would be. If you can put legos together, then you can put a computer together, it just takes a little bit of patience and research. I think my prior knowledge in regard to computers helped me a lot when building my computer.

I recently built a new computer for the first time and it was a lot easier then I thought it would be. If you can put legos together, then you can put a computer together, it just takes a little bit of patience and research. I think my prior knowledge in regard to computers helped me a lot when building my computer.

DerkaDerkaJihad

Exactly. Its like a very expensive lego set. If you break it your screwed. Dont know how anyone could mess it up though. Its very simple. You can find how to build PC guides online as well.

i am looking into building a pc. what is the hardest part about it? is it the bios and all of the drivers? or should i just pay a pc store to build it for me?gregdpw

The hardest part for me is knowing when to stop pushing. things will often say "insert card into PCI-express slot untill you hear the clip snap" but the snap wont happen, so you keep pushing and pushig and then you end up with a slightly bent motherboard. This is worsened in my case since I am big, strong, and have big sausage fingers.

Also, due to my large stature, I tend to not be able to reach places I need to. As a result, I had to completely take apart my case (sides, top, bottom, PSU rack) to install my Thermaltake Big Typhoon...I literally had to reassemble the case AROUND the motherboard and cooler, as opposed to simply dropping it in there. If my hands were half as big I could have reached inside and screwed the screws.

And no, the BIOS issues arent a big deal. Usually the mobo's BIOS drivers are perfectly fine as they are, and once you get connected to the net you simply download video, sound, and other drivers like that.

And, if after a couple days you dont know whats wrong, THEN you take it to a shop. I had to because I couldnt troublshoot my problem and they assembled it for me for about 60 dollars...still not too bad considering I got an education in PC building and saved hundreds of bucks.

A couple of general rules:
1. Dont touch anything shiny. I know, sounds goofy but its true! This includes the shiny parts on memory, and the spot that goes into the slots on graphics cards.
2. Ground yourself. Just reach out and touch a doorknob. In addition, dont walk around in socks while building.
3. When dealing with pins and whatnot, always put on and take of things in a straight motion. Do not bend them off or anything as this will bend pins or, worse, pull them out. This is especially true when connecting fans to power connections and whatnot.
4. Manage cables as you go. Just plugged the power cable into the mobo? Zip tie it to your case. Trust me, do NOT wait until the end because by that time their will be a spider-web of wires and you wont want to unplug stuff.
5. Do not eat or drink around components. Some night you might find yourselfplaying beer pong and a beer will fall offthe table and land next to your nice expensive pile of new parts. You might think this is common sense, well...not in my case :x
6. When applying thermal paste, apply about as little as is physically possible. The layer should be almost translucent since its so thin.

Most importantly, be patient. Measure twice and cut once the saying goes! You may be out of a PC for a few days or even a week, but knowing you took your time and saved a few hundred dollars is well worth it.

Good luck, and dont be intimidated. Ive only built two rigs myself and it was way easier than expected...just connect things where it says, and when in doubt...CONSULT THE MOTHERBOARD MANUAL!

I would say, the hardest part would be to install a custom or expensive heatsink, everyting else is pretty much cake.K_r_a_u_s_e_r

I thought the stock heatsink is harder to install, my zerotherm heat sink installation was very easy.

Building cocmputer is really easy, I remember when we was setting up the lab at my high school each one of us was putting out 2 computer every period (granted the vga was on board and we didn't install OS til the day after)

Not breaking a transistor on the MOBO... almost did that trying to plug in a pair of 12V plugs in a space about an inch wide with pliers... bad placement on the MOBO....

I'd have to say it could be finding the correct parts that are compatible with each other or troubleshooting if your new expensive machine doesn't POST.... The first one can easily be eliminated by good research, but the second one is a bit hard. I find that a MOBO with POST LEDs help alot...

Oh, and second hardest is cable managment... when you do build your PC, be sure to have 50 or so 4" cable ties and a couple hours and more patience than a fisherman!

Getting the HDD LED to lightup.

Mobo didn't come with very good instructions.

Hardest thing for anyone building a PC is having to troubleshoot it if it doesn't work right away. Some people are extremely good at troubleshooting and can locate the problem almost instantly but if you are new to the game then it can be a bloody nightmare.

Take my friend for instance. He was building his first ever computer and had everything connected. He turned on the computer, popped in the XP CD and noticed that his hard drive wasn't being recongized. He checked the cables and such and still nothing. Finally, after getting mad and walking away from it he calls me. I then ask him "Is your hard drive a SATA hard drive?". He tells me yes and I tell him to put a jumper on the hard drive and see if that works. It was a simple mistake purchasing a SATA 2 drive for a SATA 1 board and not knowing that he had to clock the SATA 2 drives to SATA 1 speeds.

Hardest thing for anyone building a PC is having to troubleshoot it if it doesn't work right away. Some people are extremely good at troubleshooting and can locate the problem almost instantly but if you are new to the game then it can be a bloody nightmare.

Take my friend for instance. He was building his first ever computer and had everything connected. He turned on the computer, popped in the XP CD and noticed that his hard drive wasn't being recongized. He checked the cables and such and still nothing. Finally, after getting mad and walking away from it he calls me. I then ask him "Is your hard drive a SATA hard drive?". He tells me yes and I tell him to put a jumper on the hard drive and see if that works. It was a simple mistake purchasing a SATA 2 drive for a SATA 1 board and not knowing that he had to clock the SATA 2 drives to SATA 1 speeds.

Cdscottie

[QUOTE="OmegaNemesis28"]

MEASUREMENTS!!!

Im no math wiz and I have my stupid PCU sticking out 5 inches. It looks like a black brick jutting out the back.

firefly026