Building a computer by myself. Any suggestions?
 

I'm gona build a computer together but it's been 2 years since I made that the last time so are there things I should look out for? I heard that for example it's bad to touch a motherboard as long as your body is still electricly charged??

Just get one of those anti-static straps and you are sorted.

Everything goes into it's right place easily, if you're trying to force something in, chances are, you're putting it in the wrong place or it's backwards.

1. Remember to unplug your computer before messing around inside of it... Line voltage is present in 'off' power supplies, ethernet cables, monitor cables, and even usb cables. Though chances of such a voltage causing damage there still is a chance that something may fry when you're moving things around each other.

2. Watch out for older SATA drives.. the cables have a really, really, really, poor locking mechanism and they are so small that they can often be jostled out of place as you remove your hands from the case when you finish your build. This can cause intermittent failures, and corruption of RAID arrays.
3. watch how you mount your fans so they blow air in the direction you want them to

Thanks, I'm gona use a motherboard with a AM2 socket. They should be easier to build on.

As far as the actual building process goes, make sure to treat your hardware with care. Wear an anti-static wrist strap and don't rattle or shake your parts around.

Where hardware knowledge is concerned... know about the parts you're putting together. I mean this in terms of what brands to buy from and whether or not the hardware you chose will actually fit and function together. Hardware just doesn't magically work when you put it together.

I always like to buy items online, no tax, no shipping fees, and cheap!

You think this one is good? Eventough it's not quite cheap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16899888203

I was under the assumption that grounding yourself on the metal of the case was just as good for static elecricity. What's this "static strap" stuff all about?

That's exactly what they're referring to. You attack a static strap to the case which prevents static. Though frankly, working on a surface that doesn't consist of carpet (like one of those plastic mats for office desks) and touching the case before you work on anything is another good way to protect your parts by getting rid of static.

And as for that product, the screwdriver SUCKS. Expect the magnet to go out on it shortly. Most of the rest of it is fairly worthless. If I knew what brand of screwdrivers my parents got me, I'd recommend that over this.

(I got this when I took my A+ class, minus the strap It was almost completely worthless, save for the little screw box.)

We have a carpet floor. Should I just put the case on the table and are none of the other components (like videocard or processor) alowed to touch the carpet?

Keep everything on the table, your feet planted, don't move them, and touch the case before you work.

It's not that they're not allowed to touch the carpet. The worry is about your dragging your feet (especially unconsciously) on the floor, thus building up some static.

Thanks for the advise. Should I still get the static straps?

Almost everything in that case is totally unnecessary. I just built an entire computer a couple months ago with just a phillips-head screwdriver. Nothing else.


If your careful and do what Sir VG, nothing bad will happen. Although, to put things in perspective, I work on my computer on my bed. :rolleyes:

I use to work them on the floor but that isn't really good for the back.

It doesn't really matter where you do it as long as you ground yourself, and if you ground yourself to the case I've never found a single ill-effect. I've made computers on the ground with the case sitting on a piece of cardboard. *shrug*

I actually have indoor shoes on most of the time. Does this help against static?

Dude you are paranoid. Stop worrying about static. Unless you are that thunderbolt guy from MGS3 you don't have anything to worry about. And that PC repair kit from Newegg is the most worthless thing I have seen in my life. The only tool you need to build or maintain a computer is a screwdriver which you can get at any hardware store for a $1.49.