Let's talk about DIY computers

Assembling a computer is also called a compatible computer or a DIY computer. That is, according to personal needs, you can choose the compatible accessories needed for the computer, and then assemble various non-conflicting accessories together to form an assembled computer.

The accessories of an assembled computer generally include: CPU, CPU radiator, motherboard, memory, graphics card, hard disk, optical drive, monitor, chassis, power supply, keyboard and mouse.

NAME

assemble computer

Assembly type

Desktop computer

Operating system

XP, Win7, Win8, Win10, UNIX, Linux

Alias

Compatible computer, DIY computer

Advantages

Price is lower than branded computers

Contents

.1 Introduction

.2 Assembly process

.3 Precautions

.4 Installation system

.5 Common faults

Introduction

Assembling a computer is also called a compatible computer or a DIY computer.

That is, according to personal needs, you can choose the accessories needed for the computer, and then assemble various non-conflicting accessories together to form an assembled computer. The accessories of an assembled computer generally include: CPU, CPU radiator, motherboard, memory, graphics card, hard disk, optical drive, monitor, chassis, power supply, keyboard and mouse. The motherboard is the largest integrated circuit board inside the computer, mainly composed of chips and slots. The chip is responsible for data calculation and determines the use of the CPU. The slot is the installation carrier of several other core components, integrating the core functional components into one, and realizing communication connection with external input, output and other expansion devices. The chipset on the motherboard is generally divided into north bridge chip and south bridge chip. The north bridge chip is responsible for contacting the CPU and controlling the memory. The south bridge chip is mainly responsible for I/O interface control. The CPU is the core of computer processing and operation. All data processing is completed by the CPU. Its performance largely determines the processing speed of the computer. The Cpu Cooler provides a guarantee for the normal and stable operation of the CPU. Otherwise, the CPU will run very slowly or even fail to run if it is too hot. The indicators for measuring CPU performance include main frequency, external frequency, front-end bus frequency, etc. Memory is the memory that the CPU can directly access, which is divided into random access memory RAM, read-only memory ROM and high-speed memory Cache. [3]

The accessories of assembled computers are different from those of laptops. Generally, desktop computers are larger than laptops. You must know what you are going to use it for before purchasing the configuration. Assembled computers are generally desktop computers, and laptops are rarely assembled by themselves.

The price of assembled computers is generally lower than that of branded computers, but the quality is not necessarily guaranteed. Because they are assembled, the accessories may be fake, parallel imported, or second-hand. When purchasing, certain professional knowledge is required, and it is also necessary to consider whether each hardware is reasonable.

Assembled computers are generally purchased at computer malls or computer stores, such as Pacific Computer Mall and Bai Nao Hui. They can also be purchased online, such as Alibaba, JD.com, Taobao, Baidu Youa, etc.

Assembly process

Before assembling a computer, you should first learn the basic knowledge of computers, including hardware structure, maintenance knowledge for daily use, common troubleshooting, operating system and common software installation, etc.

Preparation before installation

The installation should be based on your own needs. Don't blindly compare the performance level, and purchase accessories according to actual needs.

When purchasing a chassis, pay attention to the rationalization of the internal structure for easy installation, and secondly, pay attention to the appearance, and the color should match other accessories. Generally, it is best to choose a vertical case rather than an obsolete horizontal case, especially the power supply inside the case, which is related to the stable operation of the entire computer. Its output power should not be less than 300W. Some processors also require a 400W power supply. You should choose according to your needs.

In addition to the case power supply, other accessories generally include the motherboard, CPU, memory, graphics card, sound card (some sound has been integrated into the motherboard, which is the so-called integrated sound card), hard disk, optical drive (there are VCD optical drive and DVD optical drive), floppy drive (rarely used), data cable, signal cable, etc.

In addition to machine accessories, you also need to prepare tools such as screwdrivers, needle-nosed pliers, tweezers, etc.

In addition, you must prepare the power plug indoors before installation.

Basic installation steps

When assembling a computer, you usually follow the following steps:

(1) Installation of the case, mainly unpacking the case and installing the power supply in the case.

(2) Installation of the CPU, insert the required CPU into the motherboard processor socket, apply Thermal Grease and install the cooling fan.

(3) Installation of memory sticks: insert the memory sticks into the motherboard memory slots. Sometimes multiple sticks are needed.

(4) Installation of graphics cards: select the appropriate slot according to the graphics card bus.

(5) Installation of sound cards: the mainstream sound cards on the market are mostly PCI slot sound cards (some motherboards are compatible with graphics cards and sound cards. Such integrated cards have poor functions. You can choose whether to install the above hardware according to your own needs).

(6) Installation of the motherboard: install and fix the motherboard inside the chassis (Note: To facilitate the installation of the hardware on the motherboard, such as the CPU, graphics card, and memory sticks, please install the hardware on the motherboard in advance before installing the motherboard into the chassis).

(7) Installation of the drive: mainly for the hard disk, optical drive, and floppy drive.

(8) Connection between the chassis and the motherboard, namely various indicator lights and power switch lines. Connection of PC speakers, as well as connection of power cables and data cables for the hard disk, optical drive, and floppy drive.

(9) Cover the chassis cover (theoretically, the chassis cover can be covered after the host is installed, but in order to check for problems later, it is best not to cover it first, but to cover it after the system is installed).

(10) Installation of input devices, connecting the keyboard and mouse to the host, the mainstream keyboard and mouse interfaces are USB interfaces.

(11) Installation of output devices, that is, installation of the monitor, just connect it to the corresponding interface and power cord.

(12) Recheck each connection and prepare for testing.

(13) Power on the machine. If the monitor can display normally, it means that the initial installation has been correct. At this time, enter the BIOS to perform the initial system settings.

After completing the above steps, the general hardware installation is basically completed, but to make the computer run, you still need to perform the following system installation steps.

(14) Hard disk partitioning, you can use the system disk's own format partitioning or special software.

(15) Install the operating system, WindowsXP (Microsoft has stopped service, it is recommended to choose a newer operating system), Vista, Win7, Win8 system, if you need to carry out embedded development and design, install Linux and other systems.

(16) After installing the operating system, install drivers, such as graphics card, sound card, network card and other drivers.

(17) Perform 72 hours of baking. If there is a problem with the hardware, it will usually be discovered during the 72 hours of baking.

Matters Needing Attention

First of all, we should pay attention to quality

Otherwise, if you buy a computer you love and it always has problems, it is a pity to waste hundreds of yuan to replace the accessories, which is very helpless. Therefore, when choosing an assembled computer, the quality cannot be ambiguous. To ensure the quality, we should start from two aspects, one is the brand, and the other is the authenticity. Everyone knows that shoes like Nike, Anta, Li Ning are better, and the same is true for assembled computers. We should use brand accessories, which cannot be ambiguous. With a brand, we must ensure that the brand is real. There is not much difference between fake brands and non-brands. Non-brand accessories cannot be compared with brand accessories in terms of workmanship and materials.

The second is after-sales service and guarantee

Only with good guarantee can we buy with confidence, otherwise it will be very troublesome if there is a problem. Generally, we choose those that have a three-guarantee service commitment and indicate that they have a three-guarantee service. When there is a problem and we want to complain, the chances of winning are relatively high. When buying online, we should see whether the store has joined the Taobao guarantee plan, the merchant's reputation and evaluation. Taobao's protection plan is designed to protect the interests of buyers. When sellers join, they need to apply to freeze a certain amount of funds (for example, 2,000 yuan. The amount of frozen funds varies for different stores with different main products, and 2,000 yuan is for digital products). If the interests of buyers are damaged, the money will be directly deducted after the appeal is successful. The types of protection include truthful description, seven-day return and exchange, and genuine product protection. It is safer to join the protection. In addition, it depends on the reputation and evaluation of the merchant. Merchants with high reputation and good evaluation are generally more honest, but merchants with low reputation are not necessarily bad. Be careful to distinguish.

Choose the right configuration to really suit yourself

The configuration selection mainly depends on the parameters. For ordinary buyers, it is not necessary to be very professional. Just look at the main parameters (experts need to look at more), mainly CPU main frequency, memory capacity, hard disk capacity, display size, keyboard and mouse brand, and independent graphics card. For example, the CPU looks at the main frequency (mainstream CPUs are usually above GHz, 1GHz=1000MHz, the larger the value, the faster the computer processing speed. The CPU main frequency can be viewed by right-clicking My Computer/Properties. If you are interested, you can try it). The most important thing to look at when choosing a hard drive is its capacity. Generally, 500GB is enough for a home computer, but the price of hard drives is not much different. If you use 1TB (1TB=1000GB), you don’t have to worry about it being full. It is psychologically more balanced. If you have higher requirements, it is better to look at the cache. A large cache will move files faster. The speed of desktop computers is at least 7200 rpm, so you don’t need to consider it. If you choose a solid-state drive, you should pay attention to the life of the hard drive and the number of reads and writes. The memory capacity is generally 2-4GB (for home use). If you need to play large games, you need to increase the memory stick to 8G. If it is less than 2GB, the speed is too slow and it is easy to jam when playing. If there are no special requirements, a 19-inch widescreen (1440*900 pixels, 18.5 inches is about the same) monitor is more suitable. If it is too small, it will be inconvenient for the eyes; if it is too large, it will feel oppressive. If you often need to type or play keyboard games, it is best to have a keyboard with a good feel and good quality, but if you don’t need it in this regard, the free keyboard is enough. Friends who want to play large games or have fun need a computer with an independent graphics card (AMD's APU series and Intel Core series CPUs all have core graphics cards), otherwise the computer will freeze when playing games, and low-configuration computers will even freeze. The most important thing about independent graphics cards is the display chip memory, which is usually called video memory. Usually, the larger the video memory capacity, the better the display effect. In addition, gamers can also choose game controllers. Optical drives are generally divided into two types: recordable and non-recordable. Burning means using an optical drive to burn a disc. If you want to burn, you must also buy a special blank disc. If you don't need to burn, a general DVD-ROM will do.

Price, of course, can't be ignored

In terms of price, don't be greedy for cheapness. The parts of an assembled computer with an absurdly low price are likely to be of poor quality or even fake. High-configuration assembled computers are of course more enjoyable to use, but the price is also more expensive, and in a few years, with the replacement of accessories, they will become ordinary, so it depends on your needs. If it is too low, it will be difficult to use, and if it is too high, it will be a waste. It's good to choose the right configuration according to your needs.

Assembling a computer and installing the system is divided into four steps

Step 1: Make a bootable USB disk

Step 2: Boot from USB disk

Step 3: Partition the hard disk

Step 4: Install the system on the computer

Common computer faults

1. If there is no sound, follow the steps below in order: (1) Check the power supply and other issues. (2) Check if the power switch pins on the motherboard are connected correctly. The power switch pins are usually located on the outermost side, but the location of the power pins on some motherboards is quite special. Be careful not to insert them incorrectly. (3) The memory is usually the place where faults are prone to occur during installation. Especially for low-end motherboards, poor contact often occurs due to the quality of the connectors. First, check if the memory is tightly inserted. The motherboard memory slot may be damaged. Try changing the slot. In addition, good motherboards are generally very compatible, while integrated boards, especially set boards, are particularly picky about memory. Of course, the easiest way is to try changing the memory. (4) Check if the CPU is in good contact. Pay special attention to motherboards with lSotl slots. The slots of some motherboards are quite tight and must be inserted with force. Check whether the gold finger of the CPU is exposed. You should pay special attention to this for the original slotl CPU, because the slotl package easily blocks your view. If you are not careful, you may mistakenly think that it is fully inserted. If you use a 370 architecture CPU, you should pay attention to whether the CPU is completely flat. Use your fingers to press the four corners of the CPU tightly, press the lever and then release it. (5) If there is still no effect, then change the power supply. If your motherboard is an integrated board, the power supply problem should be given priority. In other words, the integrated board is particularly "picky" about the power supply. If you encounter this problem, you may want to try a brand-name power supply. [2] If the above steps still cannot solve the problem, you have to find a dealer. After the minimum system test is successful, you can install the motherboard and other components into the chassis. [2] 2. If the minimum system is normal, but there is no response after all the connections are made, it may be: (l) The hard disk cable is plugged in the wrong way. Remember: the hard disk cable No. 1 (the red line) is always close to the power cable. (2) The power supply is insufficient. You can try to unplug the optical drive power supply, and then unplug the hard disk. If it is normal, it means that the power supply is too low. (3) The memory stick is loose again. (4) Other uncommon situations: The bolts of a low-quality case are too tight, which may cause the motherboard to twist or a local short circuit. Solution: Loosen the bolts or change the case, and temporarily pad the place where the motherboard may contact the case wall with a piece of plastic foam. [2]

3. If the computer responds and the fan is running normally, but the monitor has no signal: (l) Check whether the graphics card is properly inserted. The AGP slot of some motherboards is relatively loose. If it encounters a graphics card with a thin board, it is easy to have poor contact. It is recommended that you prepare a PCI graphics card when installing the computer and use it to try it. However, some motherboards have a B20S chip in front of the PCI slot. In this case, some PCI graphics cards protruding from the bottom of the board cannot be inserted into place and need to change a slot. In addition, if you use an integrated motherboard and you want to connect an external graphics card, there may be restrictions on the type of graphics card. For example, the S5730 motherboard requires a graphics card of TNT or above. (2) Is the monitor video cable connected properly. [2]

4. After the installation is completed and the test is passed, the next step is to set up the hard disk, then start the CD, partition... What kind of problems may occur here?

(1) Unable to find the hard disk: ① Listen to the sound to confirm whether the hard disk is running, otherwise there may be a problem with the power supply. ② Check whether the data cable is connected properly. If the same data cable is used to connect the hard disk and the optical drive, the length of the cable may be very tight. ③ Check whether the hard disk jumper is set correctly and whether it conflicts with the optical drive. ④ Check whether the COMS hard disk setting is correct. For example: the MODE parameter of the hard disk should generally be set to "AuTo" or "LBA" instead of "Norma-". I still can't find it, so I have to go to the seller. [2]

(2) Optical drive problem: The optical drive is spinning, but it just won't read the disk. What's going on? First check whether the jumper is correct. If you use a single data cable, jump to "MASTER". [2]

(3) Floppy drive problem: ① The floppy drive light is always on but the disk is not read. This may be because the floppy drive cable is connected in reverse. Installing the floppy drive data cable is not as simple as connecting the hard drive cable. The floppy drive wiring depends on the specific model. Note that there is a ',1"` or ▲" on the data cable pin on the floppy drive. Just align the red side of the data cable here. ② It always prompts that the floppy disk is not formatted. This is because the disk is not in place. The head cannot be aligned. The method is to re-adjust the floppy drive.

The front and back positions of the drive make the disk fit in place. Some chassis are prone to deformation. In addition, the material of the floppy drive is also very thin, which will cause the floppy drive to deform. ③ The floppy drive cannot be used to start, but the disk can be read. This is probably because you bought a refurbished floppy drive. However, since floppy disks are basically obsolete now, this problem rarely occurs. [2]

Other problems are software problems. I will not go into details here. Finally, there are two precautions: one is the problem of static electricity. There is usually no problem in summer, but in winter, especially in the north, the climate is dry, so you must pay attention. When static electricity accumulates to a certain extent, it is easy to cause damage to the hardware. Therefore, before touching key components such as memory sticks, you should touch the chassis with your hand to eliminate static electricity. Second, the memory stick must be firmly inserted. The clips on both sides must be completely stuck, otherwise the memory or even the motherboard may be burned. Especially after bumpy transportation, you must check before starting the computer. [2]