Building or elevate a background microcomputer probably sounds intimidate if you ’ve never done it before . But it ’s easier than it sounds , and the barrier to entry is humble — you do n’t need any special skills or computer expertness , nor do you take a fancy computer - building workspace or a tool cabinet full of computer - construction pecker . In fact , a mountain of microcomputer ramp up these days can be performed with just a screwdriver and a prayer .
IfHenry Cavill can do it , so can you .
Picking out the unadulterated components , buying them , and then waiting the agonizing day or two it takes for them to arrive in the mail is a lot more work than actually build anything . I ’m not going to give build advice because there are so many selection ( we ’ve reviewed some of themhere ) , but I recommend you start with a tool likePCPartPicker , which will help you gather components and check their compatibility with each other ( while stay within your budget ) . Once your component are on their way , it ’s time to get that screwdriver and set about pray .
Photo: Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
Just kidding !
You do n’t need a lot of tools to build a microcomputer , but there are a fistful of things that are essential .
Screwdriver(s)
A mountain of New microcomputer cases are tool - less , which means they ’re held together with thumbscrew and other mechanisms that twist and dawn and tear into post . You may not necessitate any tools at all to spread up your case , but once you ’re inside , there are a handful of labor you ’ll still need a screwdriver for , such as mount the motherboard or securing fans and heatsinks .
For most of your component , you ’ll need a # 2 Philips head screwdriver . This is the most coarse Philips head screwdriver ; you belike already own at least one if not several . If you encounter to be installing , upgrading , or otherwise fiddling with an M.2 SSD , you will also need a smaller # 1 Philips head screwdriver .
And that’s … fundamentally it if you ’re doing a received build . Do n’t be tempted by special “ electronic computer - edifice ” screwdriver sets with fancy head . You only need these types of screwdriver if you ’re taking apart private element ( do n’t do this ) or if you ’re working on a laptop or a mobile twist .
Photo: Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
You do n’t need to be super picky about screwdrivers . My go - to screwdriver is a nameless , generic charismatic screwdriver that I get for devoid somehow . But if you are on the prowl for the perfect PC - construction screwdriver , I commend one with a longer shaft — adept for play around cables and components — and a magnetic question . Some citizenry will differentiate you that it ’s dangerous to use a magnetic screwdriver around sensitive electronics , but the attractor is very weak and modern electronics are fairly rich . As long as you are n’t using a magnetic screwdriver to pry bar apart the magnetised shielding on a hard parkway , it poses very little hazard to your constituent . ( Also , without a magnetised screwdriver you run a much bigger risk of dropping screws into places with potentially ruinous consequences , such as the big businessman supply unit . )
Headlamp and/or Directional Lighting
It does n’t matter how well - lit your workspace is ; the second you need to actually do anything inside your PC , the anatomy becomes a black kettle of fish . If you ’re not prepared for this unexplained phenomenon of physics , you will most likely reach for your phone , and — trust me — this will only stop in frustration .
The most effectual solution to all your lighting problem is to flog a light to your forehead . That ’s right , a headlight . It ’s sluttish , cheap , and mayhap a small dorky , but it does exactly what you call for , which is shine light directly on the thing you ’re look at .
If you are , for some reason , strongly anti - headlamp , you still need a source of guiding lighting that is n’t your phone . Ideally , you apply something that clips onto or sticks to the side of your example , so you do n’t end up block the light source with your giant headlight - free nous . I have apocket COB work lightwith a magnetic base that I expend for extra illumination .
The author’s pup, Remy, modeling a headlamp.Photo: Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
Cable Ties
Good cable direction is largely about cause the inside of your case look fantastic , but it ’s not just about aesthetics . Organizing , compact , and tucking away your cables frees up space inside your PC , which continue it cooler ( dependable air flow ) and create it easy to make clean and upgrade . Managing your cables is , in other words , absolutely deserving it , even if you ’re the only individual who ever sees the interior of your case .
There are many dissimilar ways to organize your cablegram , from budget - favorable nix ties and twist ties to less budget - favorable custom cable’s length kits . I personally prefer zip tie , because they ’re promiscuous , cheap , and I ’d rather just clip them off if I need to instead of unwinding twist affiliation or Velcro wrap . But it does n’t really count which organisation you make up one’s mind to utilize , so long as you ’ve catch something on hand . I once embarked on an upgrade journey with no cable tie whatsoever . Instead , I used a mix of twist ties I scavenged from my cable’s length draftsman and hair ties , and I have to admit it await terrible .
Thermal Paste
thermic library paste , also known as heatsink chemical compound , is a thermally conductive library paste that go between two element — usually a heatsink and the CPU / GPU — to maximize heat transfer . It does this by fill in microscopical imperfections on the components ’ surfaces to prevent melodic line , which is a terrible director of heat , from getting trapped there . You need to use thermal paste whenever you do anything with a heatsink , such as install a trade name newfangled one , remove one temporarily to get to a dissimilar component , etc . Unlike cable tie , you could not synthesize caloric paste from stuff lying around your family , so it ’s unspoilt to have a pipe on hand .
AMD Can Do Almost No Wrong , Except for the Horrible Lock Mechanism on Its Mobos
If you ’re build a stigma new carriage or you ’re replace your C.P.U. cooler , you may not need extra caloric paste immediately . Coolers usually fare with thermal paste ( either pre - applied or in tube ) , but CPUs do not . If you buy a central processing unit that comes with a stock cooler , the descent cooler will in all probability come with thermal library paste . But do n’t assume that caloric paste will somehow swim your path just because you ’re upgrade almost everything — it probably wo n’t . Also twofold - check pre - applied thermal spread . It can sometimes be really old and too tacky , which meansseparating the CPU from the tank afterwards could be difficult . In most case , it ’s dear to just remove the old stuff and apply your own .
Do not apply thermal paste to anything in this picture!!!!Photo: Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
There are many dissimilar brands and types of thermal spread , but that ’s a whole disjoined clause . I tend to go with the classicArctic MX-4 , which I ’ve used for almost a decade with no issues .
Cleaning Supplies
If you ’re upgrading , this is in all likelihood the first time you ’ve opened your desktop in a long time . perchance ever . It ’s going to be a slight dusty . Maybe very dusty .
You might be tempt to attract out a script vacuum . Resist ! unconstipated vacuum quickly establish up static electrical energy around their hooter , and an unexpected discharge is not something you want to chance around your components . There are special computing machine - safe vacuity , but you belike do n’t need one unless you influence in some kind of computer - cleaning flying field .
What you do need is fire air , so you could shell dust out of your PC and off of your components . If the detritus is too stubborn for canned air , you’re able to also use a delicate - bristled light touch made of non - conductive materials ( I use a instinctive - hair paintbrush , but you’re able to also buy special anti - inactive microcomputer brushes ) to gently brush dust off components . Tweezers can also be handy for cleaning debris bunnies out of the dark recesses of your case .
Photo: Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
For anything that ’s not rubble , such as thermic spread , employ an isopropyl alcohol solution of 90 % or higher and cotton fiber swabs or a lint - free cloth .
Extra Hardware
personal computer cases come with all the climb on hardware you need — motherboard standoffs , screws , washers , etc.—while components come with nothing . If you ’re upgrade your system and keep back the case ( like most acclivity ) , you may not know where all those extra screws are anymore . You ’ll have some screws — you are taking out older components , after all — but it ’s likely your constellation will be at least slenderly dissimilar and demand a slenderly different amount of hardware . ( And if you ’re add together anything , such as storage , you ’ll definitely need extra screws . )
Do n’t go rogue and seek to Velcro a hard private road to the side of your chassis ! Just pick up acheap hardware kitwith all the shag and standoffs you ’ll ever require .
…Everything Else
There are a few other things that might fall in handy during the microcomputer - construction process , but you probably do n’t postulate them . For example :
conducting wire cutters : For clipping zip linkup and dilute unfastened tamp - proof packaging .
Anti - static wrist strap : You do work up up static electricity in your body and an unexpected discharge can shock your constituent . But you ’re not a vacuum and you ground yourself every prison term you touch the alloy part of your grammatical case ( unpainted alloy — some key interfere with this ) , which is always . That say , anti - static wrist strap are middling inexpensive , so they ’re deserving a look ( especially if your workspace is carpet ) .
Photo: Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
Flat - head screwdriver : You should n’t need a flat - school principal screwdriver for anything specific , but it will process on thumbscrew ( if you get lazy ) , and the flat - foreland is useful for prise things apart .
thermic spread spreader : Some people like to use a tiny spatula or a credit plug-in to spread thermic spread . I prefer the dot method .
The basic microcomputer - building toolkit is middling dewy-eyed and cheap to evolve , and for good reason : You need to preserve your money for thatgraphics card !
Computers
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , skill , and finish news show in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
Please select your desired newssheet and state your email to upgrade your inbox .
You May Also Like
