Workshop: Build your own PC

Step 1. Necessary components

Before you can start building, some preparation is required. The most important and obvious one is making sure all components are present. A little summary of the bare necessities that are required to assemble your own PC:

• Processor
• CPU fan and thermal paste
• Motherboard
• Memory
• Graphics card
• Hard disk
• DVD writer
• Case
• Case fans (optional)
• PSU
  

A few important additional remarks to the above components; some cases come with a PSU included, if this is not the case, you will have to purchase a PSU. Thermal paste is required to transfer the heat from the processor to the heatsink. Most modern CPU fans either come with a small tube of thermal paste or already have this applied to the heatsink. Some motherboards come with an integrated graphics card, in this case it will not be necessary to purchase an additional graphics card, however the integrated kind will not be sufficient for playing the latest games at high resolutions. Although extra case fans are an option, as modern processors and graphics cards generate a lot of heat they have become more of a necessity. When the case you have chosen does not include one or two case fans, it is wise to purchase them separately.

Next to these components you will need a good Philips head screwdriver, one with a magnetic head will make assembly a lot easier. All necessary screws and fixings will be included with the case, and cabling is usually included with the motherboard. Make sure you have a big empty worktop before you start, as you will need quite a bit of space.

Last but by no means least, before you actually start assembling you need to discharge yourself of any static electricity, touching a radiator or any unpainted metal that is connected to the earth will do this.