How to Build a Computer

This isn't just a normal "how to put pieces together" computer building guide. This will actually focus on what parts you should look for based on what you need, but first a basic "how to assemble" guide should probably happen. For a standard computer, you really just need to know a few main parts:



In order:
Motherboard - the thingy that lets things send information to other things
Processor (CPU) - processes data (the actual computer part)
RAM - where data that is in use that can't stay on the processor is held
Power supply (PSU) - supplies power
Graphics card (GPU) - basically, a processor specifically for visuals
Hard Drive (HDD) - stores data

Basically the best way to assemble a pc is to connect each part where it looks like it fits on the motherboard. I'm not joking, somewhere around 90% of the time this will work without breaking anything if you're gentle. Okay fine I'll be a bit more specific.

First, put the cpu in the cpu-shaped thing (lift the metal thing on the side of the slot, match the golden triangles in the corners of both, and set the cpu down with no pressure) then put  thermal paste on the cpu like that, and put the heatsink (90% of the time there will be one with the cpu, if it didn't come with one your parts are probably too expensive for a first build).

Now, install the RAM in the motherboard. That's really all there is to that.

If you have a case, now would be a good time to screw the motherboard into it. Line up the screw holes on the motherboard and the PCIE slots with the holes in the back of the case. Use a screwdriver.  

Install the hard drive next. Take a SATA cable, connect one end to the SATA connector on the hard drive, and connect the other to one of the SATA ports on the motherboard (HINT: it's the only thing the connector will fit in). There's another connector on the hard drive, but we'll get to that with the PSU. If you're using a case, find the thing that looks like it fits a hard drive and see if it actually fits a hard drive. If it does, screw in the drive.

The power supply (connector types in link) is the last mandatory step for almost every system there is. Now, all you need to do is connect the 24-pin cable (it's the really really big cable end, or the cable that splits and has a 20 pin and a 4 pin together) and the 4-pin cable to the 4 pin connection on the motherboard (most of the time it's near the cpu because that's what it powers.) You also need to connect either a 4-pin peripheral power cable or a SATA power cable to the hard drive. If you have a case, it should go in the bottom by the back, and a few screws go in the back of the case to hold it in place. Attach the cord to plug the whole computer in whenever you're ready to boot.

If you want to game, you have a graphics card. It's almost guaranteed to have the same type of connector as the one in the photo above, so just put it in the slot it fits in (This is called a pcie x16 slot, it will fit in the things next to this that look the same but smaller, but these can't move as much data at once). If it needs a power connector from the power supply, it'll have a connector like the ones you used to connect the psu to the motherboard before, but with six or 8 pins instead. Just plug in a cable with the same number of pins from the power supply. Use a screw to secure it to the case.

Now, you have to boot the computer. This is actually sometimes the hardest part, and you might even have to read something to do it. If you have a case, take the wires connected to the power button and connect them to the power pins, then push the button. If you're lucky, you can find the panel with the pins and they're labelled on the board. If not...you have to google a manual. They'll look like this though. Once you've done that just push the power button. If you don't have a case, just touch both with a piece of metal. That sounds dangerous, but I'm not joking. You can install windows via usb, or, if you're not nerdy enough to know how to do that (which is fair it takes almost as much effort as building) you can just connect a cd/dvd player the exact same way you connected the hard drive (but to a different SATA port on the board) and install it that way.

Okay, that should be it. Just plug in a monitor and boot it. If it doesn't work when you turn it on, check if you missed a cable somewhere, then unplug it and plug it back in again. Yay for technology!