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HOW TO BUILD A PC
PC Building Guide For Beginners
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What Do You Need to Build a PC
Building a PC can feel just like assembling a LEGO set, once you get to know the PC parts, everything starts to make sense. Let's walk through the essential components and some simple tips to help you choose the right ones.
CPU
CPU Cooler
Motherboard
Memory
Graphics Card
Storage
Power Supply
Case
Peripherals
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HOW TO BUILD A PC
Step-by-step build guide in 10 steps
Time to get your hands dirty! With hands-on PC building instruction, even first timers can build a gorgeous, high-performance PC. Grab a screwdriver, up that passion, and you're good to go!
Step 0: Preparation
Before start, some simple things to be prepared:
- A magnetic screwdriver.
- Zip ties /velcro strips and a pair of scissors.
- A clean non conductive surface to build your PC onto
- Take a deep breath, read the manuals first and you are good to go!
Caution:
Pins on the motherboard are vulnerable, so be careful to not bend them.
- Unlatch the lid of the CPU socket
- Line up the notch printed on the CPU with the guiding notches marked on the socket; carefully insert it inside the socket.
- Make sure the CPU is placed properly then resecure the lid and lock it onto the processor.
Caution:
Be careful with the CPU socket pins (or CPU pins), as it is made of Non Modular, which is soft material. They are exceedingly fragile, any slight collision can bend the pins, which might cause functional errors.
- Pressing down on the lock/ejector tabs that are located at the ends of the memory sockets.
- Check the memory module installation order outlined in the motherboard manual, and make sure which the suggested matching memory slots to insert first.
- Push the modules down until you hear a "click" as the retention clips are pushed upwards and lock the module.
Tips:
The suggested sequence of which memory slots to be installed first may differ due to different motherboards. Take MSI motherboards as example, you are suggested to insert the memory kit into Dimm1 slot first.
- Move and fasten riser screws on the M.2 standoffs.
- Take your drive and gently insert it into the connector at a 45 degree angle.
- Push it down towards the standoff and secure it with the little screw.
Tips:
Some high-end motherboards come with EZ DIY solutions such as EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II and EZ M.2 CLIP II to make installation seamless. You can refer to motherboard manual for installation steps.
- Mount the back- plate onto the back of the motherboard. (If you have one)
- Apply a drop of thermal paste onto the surface of the processor.
- Connect CPU Fan Cable to CPU Fan Header on the motherboard.
- Lower the cooler vertically and place it onto the CPU. Secure it evenly tightening opposite screws progressively.
Caution:
Make sure you apply thermal paste with the right amount. Too little or too much will cause bad contact or get paste into the socket relatively.
Make sure the screws are tightened properly, and the pressure applied at the corners is even to avoid CPU damage and cooling performance degradation.
Make sure the screws are tightened properly, and the pressure applied at the corners is even to avoid CPU damage and cooling performance degradation.
- Install I/O shield onto the back of the case.
- Take your motherboard and gently lower it at a 45 degree angle into the case.
- Match the mounting holes on the motherboard with the stand-offs in the case.
- Secure the board with each of the supplied screws.
Tips:
Don't leave out screws - a solid mount will be very helpful to secure the motherboard in place to avoid unsteady movement.
- Connect one end of the SATA cable to the SATA ports on the motherboard, and the other end to the storage devices (2.5'' inches / 3.5'' inches) itself.
Caution:
Make sure you mount the hard drive tight to avoid damage.
- Remove rear PCI-e bracket from the case.
- Unlock the PCI-e slot by pushing back the small plastic lock located at the rear of the slot.
- Hold the card with two hands, lower the graphics card into the case and install into the PCI-e slot of the motherboard.
- Secure the graphics card with the required screws to the back of the chassis.
Caution:
Some high-end cards are longer or use up even more PCI space. Make sure to check that beforehand to choose the appropriate case that could fit the graphics card.
- Mount the Power Supply (PSU) into the chassis and secure it with all the screws.
- Connect 24-pin power connector into the socket on the motherboard
- Connect 8-pin CPU power connector to motherboard.
- Connect 16-pin 12V-2x6 cable to graphics card (or 6+2 Pin PCI-E, depending on the model).
- Clip in your SATA power connecter to hard drive
- Connect other Molex connectors(with 4 horizontal pins) to extra devices (e.g. DVD/CD Optical Drives).
Tips:
Choosing the appropriate wattage for a Power Supply is essential. You can use online PC build simulators such as PC Part Picker or MSI Power Supply Calculator tool to get an estimation of the power required by your build. Make sure
to purchase a Power Supply with a little headroom to account for future upgrades.
- Connect Power switch / Reset switch / Power LED/ HDD(Hard Drive) LED Cable to motherboard JFP1 Pin header.
- Connect front USB cables to USB pin headers on the motherboard
- USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 Cable to USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 Pin Header.
- Front USB Type-C Cable to Front USBType-C Pin Header
- Connect the Audio(Speaker) Cable to the motherboard JAUD1 Pin header.
Tips:
Check the maximum amount of USB ports on the motherboard before purchasing a PC case. Make sure the case you want to purchase also support enough USB ports as the motherboard does.
- Prepare an 8GB or larger USB 3.0 thumb drive.
- On a computer with internet access, go to the Microsoft website and download the Windows 11 Installation Media Tool*. Run the tool and choose to create the installation image on the USB. This process will format your USB drive.
- Plug the installation USB into a rear USB 3.0 port on your new PC, use a fast red USB 3.2 port or a standard blue USB 3.0 port. On first boot, the BIOS screen may appear, just save and exit. The system should restart and boot from the USB, allowing you to proceed with Windows 11 installation.
* Depends on the latest/suggested version you want to install
- Insert the OS device (CD / USB)
- Follow the OS installation steps
- Download the latest device driver from the website and Install.
Tips:
Check the maximum amount of USB ports on the motherboard before purchasing a PC case. Make sure the case you want to purchase also support enough USB ports as the motherboard does.
Build the Best PC for Your Needs
Do you need a PC for intense gaming or heavy multimedia production? Here are some tips you need to take into consideration when choosing your parts.
Gaming PC
Streaming PC
RGB PC
AI PC
Useful Tools to Plan Your PC Parts
Plan your Build List:PCPartPicker
Plan your Build List: PCPartPicker
The most crucial part of building a PC is not the "building" itself; it's crafting a part list that aligns with your needs. After all, what significantly affects your PC's performance is its hardware. To help you tailor your own build list, we recommend using a helpful resource like PCPartPicker(https://pcpartpicker.com/)
Choose The Parts
PCPartPicker offers stunningly detailed product information, including user reviews, and even offers links to buy said product. By switching the website to different regions, buy links will correspondingly link to the local e-tailer website. It not only provides a wide selection of available products, but it also gives you a reference of price and place to buy them – helping you save both time and money.
Ready and Go
When you finish creating your ideal build list, there are a few functions you can leverage:
Save. Simply save the planned build list first if you haven't yet decided to purchase your rig at the moment. Take your
time to compare and consider.
Share. You can share the build list with your friends or to the forum for more opinion on you PC build.
Buy. An easy button for you to buy the product on the e-tailer sites with ease.
Choose the Right PSU:MSI Power Supply Calculator
Choose the Right PSU for you: MSI Power Supply Calculator
One big question many builders encounter when buying components is that "How much wattage do I need in my PSU to make my PC work?" Don't underestimate this issue, for buying a PSU with an unfitted wattage can affect the upgradability of your PC in the future. If you buy PSU with insufficient power supply, it might not have enough output cables for other component such as GPU. Also, your computer may encounter hiccups and system crashes from time to time. MSI Power Supply Calculator can help you with this problem.
Check out here : https://www.msi.com/power-supply-calculator
Fill in your configuration
By filling in your pc configuration, MSI Power Supply Calculator(https://www.msi.com/power-supply-calculator ) will automatically calculate the wattage
your PC needs to run the system stably. User can just buy the PSU accordingly.
FAQ
Want to find quick answer?
When you start to understand how PC building work, there must be bunches of questions. You are not alone, we've listed some commonly asked questions and organized into several categories.
Computer Hardware
What is CPU?
CPUs are the brains of computers, mainly responsible for interpreting computer instructions and processing the data in computer software.
What is CPU Cooler?
A CPU cooler is compiled of fans and heatsinks to keep the CPU running cool and prevent CPU from overheating which may cause the system to shut down in order to protect important component.
What is Motherboard?
The motherboard is a platform that holds all the components in a computer. It links various components of a computer as well as handle communication and transmission between these components.
What is RAM?
RAM is used to store data temporarily, increasing the speed at which the CPU can access data from the hard drive. Both memory capacity and frequency affect computer performance.
What is Graphics Card?
The graphics card takes data from the computer and outputs it as text, images and colors on a display monitor.
What is the difference between HDD and SSD?
HDD and SSD are both storage devices in the computer.
Hard disk drive (HDD): Inexpensive and offers higher storage capacity, but relatively slow and large in size
Solid state drive (SSD): Lower capacity, medium size, higher price but faster speed.
Hard disk drive (HDD): Inexpensive and offers higher storage capacity, but relatively slow and large in size
Solid state drive (SSD): Lower capacity, medium size, higher price but faster speed.
What do I need to build a gaming computer?
Here are the parts you will need to build a gaming computer:
- CPU
- Motherboard
- Graphics Card
- CPU cooler
- Memory
- Storage Devices (HHD or SSD)
- Power Supply
- Case
- Peripherals (Keyboard, Mouse, Headset)
- Monitor
What's USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2?
The USB-IF organization announced that USB 3.2 connectors capable of up to 5Gbps would now be classified as USB 3.2 Gen 1. While the new USB 3.2 connectors, capable of up to 10Gbps (SuperSpeed+) would now be classified as USB 3.2 Gen 2. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is capable of up to 20 Gbps, and only supports Type-C connector.
For details, you can visit: https://www.msi.com/blog/new-usb-standard-usb-3-2-gen-1-gen2-explained
For details, you can visit: https://www.msi.com/blog/new-usb-standard-usb-3-2-gen-1-gen2-explained
How much wattage do I need in my PSU to make my PC work?
The wattage you need depends on your PC configuration, you can check https://www.msi.com/power-supply-calculator/ to estimate the wattage your PC need to pick the
right PSU.
How to choose a CPU cooler?
When choosing a CPU cooler, take into account the following considerations:
- choose a CPU cooler with corresponding brackets that supports the socket on the motherboard.
- Each CPU cooler supports a different thermal design power (TDP), indicating the upper range of heat output that it can handle. More powerful CPUs need better coolers to ensure stable operation.
- Choose a cooler that fits your case. Powerful coolers often have large heat sinks, so it is important to choose a cooler that can fit into your case without obstructing other components.
How to choose a PC case?
When choosing a computer case, aka chassis, you must consider which size you need. There are several options for commonly PC build, including full tower, mid tower and mini tower cases. To make sure you settle on a right size, there are several questions you could ask yourself first:
- What is the form factor of your motherboard, EATX, ATX, MATX or Mini-ITX?
- What hardware you'd like to install?
- What sort of cooling system you want to use?
- Do you want to customize RGB lighting and show up?
How-to PC Building Tech Support
How to build a PC step by step?
Here are the steps to build a PC:
- Step 0: Preparation
- Step 1: CPU Installation
- Step 2: Memory Installation
- Step 3: M.2 Installation
- Step 4: CPU cooler Installation
- Step 5: Motherboard Installation
- Step 6: Storage Installation
- Step 7: Graphics Card Installation
- Step 8: Power Supply Installation
- Step 9: Front Panel Connection and Cable Management
- Step 10: Operation System Installation
How to Install/Change RAM?
To Install RAM, you can follow the below steps:
- Press down on the ejector tabs that are located at the ends of the memory sockets.
- Check the memory module installation order outlined in the motherboard manual, and make sure which the suggested matching memory slots to insert first.
- Push the modules down until you hear a "click" as the retention clips are pushed upwards and lock the module.
How to install RGB device?
- Check the definition of pin headers on the purchased RGB accessory and the motherboard (for example, 12V/5V)
- Plug the 4-pin (3-pin) RGB connector to the RGB header on the motherboard
- Plug the power connectors additionally when connecting an RGB accessory if necessary
- For fans, connect to the fan connectors on the motherboard
- For non-fan products, connect to the 4-pin connectors of the power supply
For details, you can visit: https://www.msi.com/Landing/mystic-light-rgb-gaming-pc/mystic-light
