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Chapter 2: PC Assembly

IT Essentials v7.0

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Chapter 2 - Sections & Objectives

2.1 Assemble the Computer• Build a computer.

– Define general and fire safety standards.– Connect the power supply.– Install the motherboard components.– Install internal drives.– Install the adapter cards.– Identify additional storage.– Connect computer components with appropriate cables.

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2.1 ASSEMBLE THE COMPUTER

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Personal, Equipment, and Fire Safety

Personal, equipment, and fire safety precautions while working in a computer:• Remove watches, jewelry, and loose clothing• Turn off and unplug equipment• Remove clutter from workspace• Proper lifting procedures• Cover sharp edges inside the computer• Wear safety goggles• ESD safety and proper use• Fire extinguisher availability, rating, and use (P-A-S-S)• First Aide availability and use• Component storage and handling

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Select the Case and Fans

• Model Type – The motherboard determines the type of case you can use. The size and shape must match.

• Size – A computer with many components will need more room for airflow to keep the system cool.

• Power Supply – Match the power supply rating and connection type to the motherboard.

• Appearance – There are many case designs to choose from.• Status Display – LEDs mounted on outside of case tell you if the system has

power, when the hard drive is in use, and when the computer is in sleep or hibernate mode.

• Vents/Fans – All cases have a vent for the power supply, and some have extra vents in the system case to facilitate positive air flow.

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Select a Power Supply

Factors to consider when choosing a power supply• Type of Motherboard – The power supply must be compatible with the

motherboard.• Required Wattage – Add the wattage for each component. If the wattage is not

listed on a component, calculate it by multiplying its voltage and amperage. If the component requires different levels of wattage, use the higher requirement.

• Number of components – Make sure the power supply provides enough wattage to support the number and types of components plus another 20% at a minimum.

• Type of components – Make sure the power supply provides the right types of power connectors.

• Type of case – Make sure the power supply can be mounted in the desired case.

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Select the Case and Fans Factors to consider when choosing a case fan:

• Case size – Larger cases often require larger fans because smaller fans cannot create enough air flow.

• Fan speed – Larger fans can spin more slowly than smaller fans, which reduces fan noise.

• Number of components – Multiple components in a computer create additional heat, which requires more fans, larger fans, or faster fans.

• Physical environment – The case fans must be able to disperse enough heat to keep the interior of the case cool.

• Number of mounting places available – Different cases have different numbers of mounting places for fans.

• Location of mounting places available – Different cases have different locations for mounting fans.

• Electrical connections – Some case fans are connected directly to the motherboard, while others are connected directly to the power supply.

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Open the Case and Connect the Power Supply

Install the Power Supply• Modern cases include a specific area for the power supply.• Consult the case and power supply’s manuals

for more information.• Align the holes in the power supply with the holes in the case.• Secure the power supply to the case using

the proper screws.• Make sure that all the screws are in place and tightened

correctly.• Use a cable tie to secure all the cables out of the way.• A modular power supply will help eliminate cable clutter

within a computer case.

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Select the Motherboard

Factors to consider when choosing a motherboard:• CPU socket type and speed• RAM type and amount• Front-side Bus speed• Capabilities

– Chipset– Expansion slots– I/O ports– Built-in ports

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Select a Replacement Motherboard

When selecting a replacement motherboard, make sure that it supports or accommodates:• CPU• RAM• Video adapter, other adapter cards• Socket and chipset on motherboard are

compatible with the CPU.• The existing heat sink and fan assembly when reusing the CPU .• The number/type of expansion slots. They must match the existing adapter

cards and allow for new cards.• The existing power supply connections must fit the new motherboard. • New motherboard must fit into the current computer case.

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CPU Socket Types

Land Grid Array (LGA)• Most common type of CPU today• Pins are in the socket and receptacles on the CPU• Allows for a higher pin density• Inserted into a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket

mounted on the motherboard Pin Grid Array (PGA)

• Pins are on the CPU and receptacles in the socket Ball Grid Array (BGA)

• CPU is soldered to the motherboard• Usually found in laptops, phones, and tablets

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Select the CPU and CPU Cooling

Selecting the CPU• Socket type• Speed• Capabilities

Selecting a Heat Sink• Physical specifications – Must match the socket type

and not interfere with any other components attached to the motherboard.

• Case size – Must fit within the case.• Physical environment – Must be able to disperse

enough heat to keep the CPU cool.• Active or Passive

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Types of RAM

DRAM• Dynamic Random Access Memory• Uses capacitors that need constant power to keep them from fading• This process of charging is called Refresh• Most DRAM needs to be refreshed every 2 ms• Small and affordable, but slower than SRAM

SRAM• Static Random Access Memory• Uses transistors• Large and expensive, but fast• Commonly used as cache

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Types of RAM

DIP (Dual Inline Pin) • Small amount of memory (>1MB)

SIPP (Single Inline Pin Package)• Extinct because the pins were easy to bend and break

SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module)• Two different styles – 30 pin and 72 pin

DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)• 168 pins long (84 contacts per side)• Also called SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)• Runs at the same speed as the FSB• 64 bit data bus• +3.3v

DIP

SIPP

30-pin SIMM

72-pin SIMM

168-pin DIMM or SDRAM

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Types of RAM

DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM)• Twice as fast as SDRAM (if used in dual channel

configuration)• Will not interchange with SDRAM• 64 bit data bus

DDR2 DDR3 DDR4 DDR5 SODIMM (Small Outline DIMM)

• Found in laptops and notebooks

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Select the RAM

The RAM must be compatible with the motherboard. The speed of the RAM must be supported by the chipset. New RAM may be needed when an application locks up or the computer displays

frequent error messages. To determine if the problem is the RAM, execute the RAM test in the BIOS.

Memory may also be categorized as unbuffered or buffered:• Unbuffered memory – This is regular memory for computers. The computer

reads data directly from the memory banks making it faster than buffered memory.

• Buffered memory – Specialized memory for servers and high-end workstations that use a large amount of RAM. These have a control chip built into the module that assists the memory controller in managing large quantities of RAM.

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Attach Components to the Motherboard CPU

• Easier to installed the CPU on the motherboard before the motherboard is installed in the computer case.

• The CPU and motherboard are sensitive to electrostatic discharge. Take antistatic precautions.

• Use the markings on the CPU and motherboard to properly align and install the CPU.

• The CPU is secured to the socket on the motherboard with a locking assembly.

• CAUTION: When handling a CPU, do not touch the CPU contacts.

• Be sure the heat sink and fan assemble are correctly installed.

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Attach Components to the Motherboard

Thermal compound • Helps keep the CPU cool and dissipate CPU heat.• To install or reseat a used CPU, clean it and the base of the

heat sink with isopropyl alcohol to remove the old thermal compound before applying new.

Heat Sink/Fan Assembly • The Heat Sink/Fan Assembly is a two-part

cooling device.– The heat sink draws heat away from the CPU.– The fan draws heat away from the heat sink.

• Be sure the heat sink and fan assemble are correctly installed.

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Attach Components to the Motherboard

RAM• Easier to installed RAM on the motherboard

before the motherboard is installed in the computer case.

• RAM is highly sensitive to ESD.• RAM is designed to install in one specific direction. The notch in the memory

module should be aligned with a notch in the memory slot. • Make sure to check the markings before applying pressure.• Use the documentation provided with the motherboard and RAM for more

information on RAM installation.

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Install the Motherboard

Install the Motherboard• When the CPU, heat sink, fan and RAM are installed on the motherboard, the

motherboard can be installed in the case.• Plastic and metal standoffs are used to mount the motherboard at the correct

height, to prevent it from touching the metal portions of the case and ground the motherboard to the case.

• The I/O connectors on the back of the motherboard should be aligned with the openings in the I/O plate. The I/O connector plate or Backplane makes the I/O ports of the motherboard available for connection in a variety of computer cases.

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Select Hard Drives

Selecting a Hard Drive• Internal or external• HDD, SSD, SSHD (hybrid)• Hot-swappable• Heat generation• Noise generation• Power requirements• 3.5” or 2.5”• HDD RPMs or 5400, 7200, or 10,000• Interfaces:

– IDE (PATA)– SATA (newest and fastest)

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Select Optical Drives

Selecting an Optical Drive Connector type Reading capability Writing capability Optical media type 5.25”

Optical Drive Capabilities

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Install the Hard Drive

Install the Internal Drive• Internal drives are installed in

empty hard drive bays found in the case.

• The empty bay must match the drive’s size.

• Leave some space between the drives when installing multiple drives.

• The drive’s metal plate should face up to allow better heat dissipation.

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Install the Optical Drive

Step 1. From the front of the case, choose the drive bay that you want to hold the drive. Remove the faceplate from that bay if necessary.

Step 2: Position the optical drive so that it aligns with the 5.25 inch (13.34 cm.) drive bay opening at the front of the case, as shown in the figure.

Step 3. Insert the optical drive into the drive bay so that the optical drive screw holes align with the screw holes in the case.

Step 4. Secure the optical drive to the case using the proper screws.

Installation Tip: Slightly hand-tighten all the screws before tightening any of them with a screw driver. This will make it easier to tighten the last two screws.

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Motherboard Expansion Slots

Common Expansion slots found on a motherboard:• AGP – Accelerated Graphic Port

– Has 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x speeds• PCI – Peripheral Component Interconnect

– Can connect up to five external components– Uses a parallel expansion bus

• PCIe – PCI Express– Has 1x, 4x, 8x, 16x slots– Each type is a different length– Has the highest transfer speed of any expansion slot– Sends data one bit at a time over a serial bus

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Other Factors for Adapter Card Selection

Adapter cards are designed for a specific task and add extra functionality to a computer. There are a variety of adapter cards:• Graphics/Video• Sound• Storage Controller• I/O• NIC• Capture

Before purchasing an adapter card, consider the following questions:• What are the user’s current and future needs?• Is there an open and compatible expansion slot available?• What are the possible configuration options?

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Install the Adapter Cards

Expansion cards are installed into an appropriate slot on the motherboard.

• Installation Tip: Research the length of the video card. Longer cards may not be compatible with certain motherboards. Some adapter cards may come with mounting brackets of different heights to accommodate these cases.

• Installation Tip: Some cases have small slots at the bottom of the hole where the cover was removed. Slide the bottom of the mounting bracket into this slot before seating the card.

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Select a Media Reader

Several media card formats have been developed over the years including:• Secure digital (SD• MicroSD• MiniSD• CompactFlash• Memory Stick

Choose a media reader based on current and future needs:• Media cards supported• Internal or external• Media size• Connector type

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Select External Storage

External USB flash drives, sometimes called thumb drives, are commonly used as removable external storage. External storage devices connect to an external port using USB, eSATA, or Thunderbolt ports.

Choose the correct type of external storage for your customer’s needs. For example, if your customer needs to transfer a small amount of data, such as a single presentation, an external flash drive is a good choice. If your customer needs to back up or transfer large amounts of data, choose an external hard drive.

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Install the Front Panel Cables

A computer case typically has a power button and visible activity lights on the front of the case. The case will include front panel cables that must be connected to a common system panel connector on a motherboard. Writing on the motherboard near the system panel connector shows where each cable is connected.

Front Panel Connectors

System Panel Connector

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Install the Front Panel Cables

System panel connectors include:• Power Button • Reset Button• Power LED• Drive Activity LEDs• System Speaker• Audio

System panel connectors are not keyed. However, each front panel cable usually has a small arrow indicating pin 1, and each pair of LED pins on the motherboard system panel connector has pin 1 marked with a plus sign (+).

Pin 1 Arrow Indicator System Panel Connector Pin 1 Indicator

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Install the Front Panel Cables

New cases and motherboards have USB 3.0, USB 3.1, or USB 4.0 capabilities.

USB connector cables are often 9 or 10 pins arranged in two rows. These cables connect to USB motherboard connectors. This arrangement allows for two USB connections, so USB connectors are often in pairs.

Sometimes the two connectors are together in one piece and can be connected to the entire USB motherboard connector.

USB Motherboard Connectors

Internal USB Connector

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Install the Front Panel Cables

Power Button – Align pin 1 of the two-pin front panel power button cable with the power button pins on the motherboard.

Reset Button – Align pin 1 of the two-pin front panel reset button cable with the reset button pins on the motherboard.

Power LED – Align pin 1 of the front panel power LED cable with the power LED pins on the motherboard.

Drive Activity LED – Align pin 1 of the front panel drive activity cable with the drive activity pins on the motherboard.

System Speaker – Align pin 1 of the front panel system speaker cable with the system speaker pins on the motherboard.

Audio Cables – Due to the specialized function and variety of the hardware, consult the motherboard, case, and audio panel documentation for specific instructions.

USB – Align pin 1 of the USB cable with the USB pins on the motherboard.

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Connect Internal Cables

Power cables are used to distribute electricity from the power supply to the motherboard and other components.

PCIe may take an additional 6 or 8-pin power connector. High-end video cards may take up to 2 8-pin power connectors.

ATXAUX BergSATA Molex

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Install the Cables

Connect Power to Motherboard• Motherboards require power to operate.• Motherboards also relay power to components and adapter cards.• Refer to the motherboard and power supply documentation to ensure

compatibility of power supply and motherboard connectors.• Modern motherboards require two power connectors for operation.• Align the proper connectors and press it

down against the motherboard.• Remember: If it is difficult to plug in a cable

or other part, something is wrong. Do not use more force.

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Install the Cables

Connect Power to the Internal Drive and Case Fans• Some drives accept different power connectors for compatibility.• 4-pin Molex and 15-pin SATA are common hard drive connectors.• Align the proper connectors and gently press it against the other end.• Fans also need power and use 3-pin or 4-pin connectors.

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Connect Internal Cables

Data cables transmit data between the motherboard and storage devices, such as hard drives. Some of examples of this type of cables are:• PATA cable (40-pin IDE or EIDE)• SATA cable (7-pin)• Floppy drive data cable (34-pin)

Connect the Internal Data Cables• The internal and optical drives typically connect to the motherboard through

SATA cables.• SATA are keyed to fit in only one direction. They also have locking tabs.• Locate the SATA socket on the motherboard, align the connector and press it

gently to connect.

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2.2 CHAPTER SUMMARY

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Chapter 2: PC Assembly

Build a computer.• Define general and fire safety standards.• Connect the power supply.• Install the motherboard components.• Install internal drives.• Install the adapter cards.• Identify additional storage.• Connect computer components with appropriate cables.

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