2. Chapter Objectives In this chapter, you will learn:
Some guidelines to use when upgrading or purchasing a new PC
How to prepare for assembling a PC
How to assemble a PC from parts purchased separately
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

3. Upgrading or Purchasing a Personal Computer
Before considering an upgrade or a new computer purchase, first take steps to maximize the performance of your current computer:
Run Disk Cleanup
Enable disk caching
Use the Error-checking tool
Remove any unnecessary programs from startup
Change the size of your paging file
Run Windows Update
Run a full antivirus scan
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

4. Upgrading or Purchasing a Personal Computer
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

5. Upgrading a PC
Some important points to keep in mind when upgrading include:
Verify that you can get drivers for each device you plan to use in the system
Follow the guidelines in Chapter 4 when upgrading memory modules
When upgrading the CPU, review the motherboard documentation to check what the motherboard supports
If you plan to upgrade the motherboard, check to see if all of your current components are compatible with the new motherboard
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

6. Upgrading a PC
When making major upgrades, be sure that your hard drive has enough available space to support the extra needs of these devices
When upgrading or adding a new hard drive, match the IDE or SCSI standard
When installing a new peripheral, flash the BIOS, if necessary, before installing the new device
If you are adding many new devices to the system, you should add more fans for cooling
Check that the power supply will provide enough wattage to support these new devices
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

7. Upgrading a PC
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

8. Purchasing a New Personal Computer: Overall Considerations
How will the computer be used now and in the future?
Based on the planned use for the computer, what functionality do you want the computer to have?
What software and hardware do you need to meet this functionality?
What is your budget?
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

9. Purchasing a New Personal Computer: Selecting Software
What types of software do you need, based on your functionality requirements?
Is compatibility with other software or data required?
How well-known or widely used is the software
Does the software get good reviews and ratings from computer magazines and Web sites?
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

10. Purchasing a New Personal Computer: Selecting Software
Is training available, if you do not already have the skills needed to use the software?
How good is the software’s documentation?
What are the company’s upgrade policies?
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

11. Purchasing a New Personal Computer: Selecting Hardware
General considerations in selecting hardware include the following:
Differences between desktops, towers, and notebooks
Check that the computer will allow you to upgrade as needed
Make sure the case has a reset button and key lock, if necessary
Be sure that the motherboard supports USB 2.0
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

12. Purchasing a New Personal Computer: Selecting a Complete System
Questions to consider when selecting a computer system include:
How does the service agreement work?
What is the warranty for the computer?
What is the return or exchange policy?
What documentation or manuals come with the system?
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

13. Preparing to Build Your Own PC
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

14. Getting Ready for Assembly: Selecting Parts
Plan for everything you need before you begin
Two things are important as you select and purchase each part: functionality and compatibility with other parts
Before purchasing any components, carefully examine the documentation
Buy components from a reputable dealer
Select the motherboard first, and then select the other parts based on compatibility with the motherboard
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

15. Building a Personal Computer, Step-by-Step
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

16. Step 1: Verify All Parts Are Available
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

17. Step 2: Prepare the Computer Case
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

18. Step 3: Install Drives
If you install the drives before the motherboard, do not connect the power cords until the motherboard is in place
Configure the jumpers for each IDE drive in the system
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

19. Step 3: Install Drives Install the CD-RW drive
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

20. Step 3: Install Drives Install the hard drive and floppy drive
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

21. Step 4: Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

22. Step 5: Install the CPU and CPU Fan
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

23. Step 6: Install RAM on the Motherboard
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

24. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
Place the motherboard into the case so the holes on the motherboard align with the holes on the spacers
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

25. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
Connect the power cord from the exhaust fan to the auxiliary fan power connection on the motherboard
Connect the 4-pin auxiliary power cord coming from the power supply to the motherboard
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

26. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
Connect the 20-pin ATX P1 power cord from the power supply to the motherboard
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

27. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
Serial ATA hard drives use a special power cord
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

28. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
After the power cords are connected, locate and connect the front leads to the switches, speaker, and lights on the front of the case
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

29. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
Connect the cable coming from the USB ports on the case to the first USB connector on the motherboard
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

30. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
Connect the CD audio cord
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

31. Step 7: Install the Motherboard and Attach Cabling
Install the data cables to connect each drive
Install the floppy drive cable with the twist between the motherboard and the drive
Connect the 40-pin IDE cable to the optical drive and the primary IDE connector on the motherboard
Connect the serial ATA connectors
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

32. Step 8: Install the Video Card
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

33. Step 9: Install the Modem Card
Remove the faceplate from the PCI slot, insert the modem card, and then use a screw to secure it
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

34. Step 10: Plug in the Computer and Attach External Devices
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

35. Step 11: Boot the Computer, Check Settings, and Verify Operation
Make the necessary changes in CMOS
Test the system before replacing the cover
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

36. Step 12: Install the Operating System, Peripheral Devices, and Application Software
After the computer is assembled successfully, you can boot the system from the Windows setup CD and follow the steps to partition the hard drive and install the operating system
After installing the operating system, you can install any peripheral devices you need, such as a printer, and any application software
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

37. Chapter Summary In this chapter, you learned:
Some guidelines to use when upgrading or purchasing a new PC
How to prepare for assembling a PC
How to assemble a PC from parts purchased separately
Chapter 11: Purchasing or Building a Personal Computer

38. Chapter 11 Complete