Are you considering building your own computer? Have you acquired the necessary components but need help with how to proceed? If so, you have come to the right place. In the following article, I'll walk you through the step-by-step process of building your computer. From unpacking the parts to connecting the wires and cables, I'll provide clear and concise instructions to ensure your computer is built safely, correctly, and easily. Let's get started!

I will assemble a computer from all the separate components in this article. If you don't have all the tools or are scared of making a mistake, feel free to contact a local computer shop and have them assemble it for you. If you live in the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area, feel free to call us.

Tools required to build a computer

• Wire ties
• Snipers (for trimming wire ties)
• 3/16" nut driver (for stand-offs)
• #1 Phillips screwdriver
• Thermal compound (may or may not be required)
• Anti-static wrist strap (optional)
• Needle nose pliers (optional)

Building a computer step-by-step

Cable management is one thing you will need to keep in mind as you build your computer. Take the time to secure all wires, even if it is temporary. It's okay if, during your assembly, you have to cut and replace some wire ties. When you perform cable management, this is normal. Just make sure you have plenty of extra wire ties handy.

Remember that if you are going to use an anti-static wrist strap, you need to attach the clip to a metal portion of the computer case before you start building your computer. I like to assemble as many components on the motherboard as possible before installing it in the case. Installing the CPU, M.2 drive(s), or memory modules can be a hassle when the motherboard is inside the case.

1. Install the CPU.
   
   Ensure the CPU's notches align correctly with the motherboard's socket. Refer to the motherboard manual for instructions on securing the CPU in the socket.
2. Install the memory modules.
   
   The modules will have a notch in them, so they will only go into the slot one way. Check the memory modules against the memory slots on the motherboard for the correct orientation. Also, refer to the motherboard manual for the proper installation order.
3. Instal the M.2 drive(s).
   
   Installing an M.2 drive with the motherboard outside the case is simple. Now is the time to do it.
4. Unpack the computer case.
   
   Make sure to do an inventory of all the parts (screws, drive caddies, etc.) that come with it. If the case did not come with a manual, download a copy online. You will be referencing it quite a bit during the assembly.
5. Install the I/O shield in the rear of the case.
   
   Some motherboards come with the I/O shield built into them, and some do not. If your motherboard has a separate I/O shield, be careful when installing it, as the metal edges of the case can easily cut your hand.
6. Install the stand-offs for the motherboard.
   
   Some cases have stand-offs built in, while others do not. If your case does not have them built in, check the hole pattern on the motherboard or the motherboard manual to ensure you have the stand-offs in the correct locations. Then, hand-tighten them using a 3/16" nut driver.
7. Install the motherboard.
   
   You may have to work it a bit to get the I/O ports under any tabs on the I/O panel. Tilting the motherboard at a 45-degree angle will allow you to get any I/O ports under the tabs on the I/O shield. Then attach it to the stand-offs using the supplied screws.
8. Install the power supply.
   
   Depending on the power supply, the power cables may or may not be already attached. Route the wires through the case, making sure not to cut them on any sharp metal edges. Make sure to connect the ATX12V 8-pin (4+4) and ATX 24-pin (20+4) power cables to the motherboard now, as you might not have access to the ATX12V power connector after installing the CPU cooler.
9. Install the CPU cooler.
   
   If you use a new cooler, thermal compound will already be applied. If you are rebuilding an existing computer, you will need to clean any current thermal compound from the CPU and cooler. Then, you will need to apply a new layer of thermal compound. Spread a thin coat of thermal compound across the entire CPU surface. A business card works great.
10. Install the case fan(s).
    
    Some cases come with fans already installed, and some don't. If you have to install the can fans, make sure you have the airflow correct. The airflow should go from the front of the case to the rear of the case. The fans have directional arrows printed on one side of them. Once installed, connect them to the appropriate fan and LED (optional) connector(s) on the motherboard. Refer to the motherboard manual for the locations.
11. Attach devices to the I/O connectors on the motherboard.
    
    The locations of all the pins (power button, power LED, hard drive LED, audio jacks, USB jacks, and case LEDs) for the connectors are in the motherboard manual.
12. Install the drive(s).
    
    Depending on your case, you may have separate or combination carriages for Solid-State Drives (SSD) and Hard Disk Drives (HDD). If you are also installing CD / DVD drive(s), you may have to remove knock-out metal panel(s) from a 5 1/2" bay in the front of the case. Be careful, twisting it back and forth to break it free, as the metal can be sharp and cut your hand.
13. Install the cables for the drive(s).
    
    Refer to the motherboard manual for the port location and numbering. If you have M.2 drive(s) installed, check the manual to determine if it shares resources with any SATA ports. You will want the primary (boot) drive to be in the M.2._1 slot or attached to the SATA 1 connector.
14. Install any PCI-e expansion cards (Graphics Card(s), Wi-Fi, etc.).
    
    Refer to your motherboard manual for the location and types of the PCI-e slots. If your GPU requires additional power, carefully route the required PCI-e power cable through the case to avoid cutting it with any sharp metal edge. Here is an article we wrote about installing expansion cards.

Trim all the wire ties and remove any protective film from the case and the components. Attach the keyboard, mouse, and monitor and go into the BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) to verify and change any settings. Refer to the motherboard manual for instructions on how to do this. After editing the BIOS settings, you will be ready to install the operating system.

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to give your Windows 10 computer a boost in performance? Do you have a USB flash drive and a spare USB port on your computer? Then ReadyBoost in Windows 10 might be a perfect solution.

If you have never heard of ReadyBoost, it is a program that caches files that are frequently used by Windows 10. It stores the cached data on USB flash drive(s) or SD memory card.

ReadyBoost utilizes a service called SuperFetch. SuperFetch uses an algorithm to determine which files should be stored in the cache. The cache can include system files, application files, and user documents.

When Windows 10 needs to access any of these frequently used files, it goes to the ReadyBoost cache instead of the disk drive. If a file gets changed on the disk drive, it also gets changed in the cache and visa versa.

Now it is recommended that you use only USB flash drives for ReadyBoost for desktop computers. You can use a USB 2 or USB 3 port, but since a USB 3 port has a faster transfer rate, I recommenced using one if you have one. But you can use an SD memory card for a laptop computer, as long as it has a fast-enough transfer rate.

And you can use more than one (1) USB flash drive for ReadyBoost. The recommended ratio between the ReadyBoost cache and system memory is 1:1 to 2.5:1.

So, if your computer has 8GB of memory, you could create a ReadyBoost cache between 8GB and 20GB. But you could use a 32GB flash drive and allocate all of it to ReadyBoost.

Keep in mind that ReadyBoost was developed for use with Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and not Solid State Drives (SSD). HDD's are known to have slower read and write times than SSD's.

ReadyBoost requirements for Windows 10

• Minimum free space per flash drive/memory card: 1 GB
• Maximum free spade per flash drive/memory card: 32 GB
• Minimum transfer rate: 3.5 Mbit/s.
• The flash drive/memory card format: NTFS

To make sure that your computer is ready to use ReadyBoost, you will need to make sure the SuperFetch (Windows 10 version 1803 or earlier) or SysMain (Windows 10 version 1809 or later) service is running. To check the status of the SuperFetch / SysMain service, follow these steps:

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing the Windows logo key + R.
2. In the Open field type services.msc and then click on OK.
3. Scroll down the list of services until you find either:
   • SuperFetch
     
   or
   • SysMain
     
4. Make sure it is running and set to start Automatically.

You are now ready to set up a USB flash drive or SD memory card for use with ReadyBoost. Just insert the drive into a spare USB port or SD card slot and follow the instructions below.

How to turn ReadyBoost on or off inside of Windows 10

1. Insert the USB flash drive or SD memory card you want to use with ReadyBoost.
2. Open File Explorer by using one of the following:
• Left-click on the manila folder icon to the Taskbar.
or
• Press the Windows logo key + E at the same time.
3. Navigate to the USB flash drive or SD memory card you want to use with ReadyBoost.
4. Right-click on the drive you want to use for ReadyBoost.
   
5. From the context menu that appears, left-click on Properties.
6. On the Properties dialog box, left-click on the ReadyBoost tab.
   
7. Once the system has analyzed the drive, select the options you want to use.

Are you looking for an e-mail program that has a ton of features? One that has a calendar, task scheduler, and can handle multiple e-mail addresses? Then look no further than Mozilla Thunderbird.

You probably have heard of Mozilla's popular web browser Firefox, but did you know they also have a great e-mail program, Mozilla Thunderbird? And it has some fantastic features too.

When it comes to free e-mail programs, they usually lack the features that you would find in the corporate standard Microsoft Outlook. Even the e-mail program that comes with Windows 10, Mail, has a limited feature set.

But with Mozilla Thunderbird, you get all sorts of features right out of the box. It includes a calendar, address book, and a task scheduler.

Account settings inside of Mozilla Thunderbird

When it comes to e-mail, Mozilla Thunderbird can handle multiple e-mail addresses (POP or IMAP) and can send mail in either plain text or HTML format. You can also add signatures (HTML or plain text) for each e-mail account.

Mozilla Thunderbird includes an adaptive junk mail filter for each account; you have to train it using the Junk toolbar. You can also request return receipts, just like in Outlook.

There are also message filters similar to rules in Outlook so that you can automatically process mail as it comes in. You can create folder and sub-folders for local storage too.

When I compared Mozilla Thunderbird to Microsoft Outlook, I found they had almost the same features. Mozilla Thunderbird has a couple of features that Microsoft Outlook does not.

One of those features, just like Mozilla Firefox, is the ability to add more functionally with Add-ons. With Add-ons, you can extend what you can do with Mozilla Thunderbird.

Some Add-ons allow you to connect to a Gmail calendar, sync the address book with Gmail contacts, and create custom menus. And if you want to change the way Thunderbird looks, there are numerous themes too.

The only feature missing from the current version of Mozilla Thunderbird is the ability to import data from Microsoft Outlook. If you want to import Outlook data, you have to first install Thunderbird version 31.8, import your Outlook data, and then upgrade Thunderbird to the current version.

There are versions of Mozilla Thunderbird that run on Windows 7 through Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.9 through Mac OS 10.12, and GNU/Linux. For a complete list of system requirements, see the link below.

As with Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird is also open source and free for personal/commercial use. Mozilla is a non-profit organization that relies on donations.

So, if you find Mozilla Thunderbird useful, donate to help support the ongoing development of it. Click here to go to their donation page.

For more information on Mozilla Thunderbird, follow the links below.

Mozilla Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird - system requirements

For most people, there is nothing better than a brand-new computer. But of course, you cannot get a new computer every few months. But you can get that same feeling. Here is how to make your computer look and run like brand-new.

For most of us, getting a brand-new computer every year is not financially possible. It would be nice, but realistically it is out of the question. But with a little work, you can get that brand-new feeling from your existing computer.

Looking brand-new

Perception is everything. If it looks new to you, it will feel new to you. And with a little cleaning and maybe a couple of hardware changes, it can look brand-new.

The first place to start is with the keyboard. Most keyboards are black and will show dirt and grim like no tomorrow. You will be amazed at how a good cleaning will make it appear brand new.

A filthy keyboard before cleaning

Now when cleaning your keyboard, you will need to turn off your computer. That way, you do not accidentally press the wrong keys. I have seen it happen, especially with laptops with FN keys.

Since most of us eat while we work, compressed air can help dislodge anything that may have gotten in between or under the keys. A good spray of compressed air should get rid of the massive debris.

When it comes to psychically cleaning the keyboard, remember that liquid and electronics do not mix. Never spray a cleaning solution directly on your keyboard. Always apply it to the cleaning material (cotton swab, paper towel, etc.) first.

Lightly dampen a cotton swab or paper towel with a cleaning solution and ring out any excess liquid before cleaning. It may take some time to clean all of the keys, but remember how long it took to get them dirty (months? years?).

That same dirty keyboard after being cleaned

Now, if the printing has faded or worn off, maybe it is time to go ahead and replace the keyboard. Desktop keyboards are easy to replace; laptop keyboards can be a little harder. For new laptop keyboards, I recommend LaptopKeyboard.com.

When it comes to your mouse, the body will get dirty, and the buttons get looking worn. The same cleaning technique used for your keyboard applies to your mouse.

If it is a wired mouse, turn off the computer. If it is wireless, turn it off. Clean both the top and bottom with a lightly dampened paper towel. Use a lightly damped cotton swab to clean the optical lens on the bottom.

The next thing you might want to clean is the monitor. As with the keyboard and mouse, you will want to turn it off, unplug it and let it cool down. Once it is cooled down, you can start to clean it.

Just like with your keyboard, you want to start cleaning your monitor with some compressed air. If your monitor is dusty, you may want to take it outside before clean it with compressed air.

Use the compressed air to clean out all of the ventilation holes in the case. Make sure you get as much of the grime out as you can, as dust does conduct electricity.

Now lightly dampen a paper towel with a cleaning solution and wipe the outside of the case. When you get done with that, it is time to clean the screen.

To clean the screen, I recommend using a soap-based, not ammonia-based, glass cleaner, and microfiber towels to protect the finish. Never directly apply the glass cleaner to the screen to prevent damage to it.

Lightly dampen a microfiber towel with glass cleaner and thoroughly wipe the screen. Now before it has a chance to dry, wipe the screen off with a dry micro-fiber towel to remove any streaks that may have appeared.

The last thing to clean is the outside of the computer case itself. Please make sure you turn it off and unplug the power cord (desktop computer) or ac adapter (laptop computer) before you start to clean it.

Lightly dampen a paper towel with a cleaning solution and wipe down the outside (front, sides, top, bottom, and back). If you have any old and faded stickers, this would be a great time to remove them.

To remove stickers, I recommend using an adhesive remover like Goof Off. Just make sure the area with the label is laying completely horizontal, so you can let the adhesive remover sit on it for a little while.

Once you have let the adhesive remover soak in, use a plastic razor blade or plastic putty knife to scrape the label off. If the sticker has been on there for a while, it may take a few passes to get it removed.

When all of the labels are gone, go ahead and clean it with a paper towel with a cleaning solution. You want to get any residue from the adhesive remover off.

The next thing we want to do is clean the inside of the computer with some compressed air. For this step, we will need to disconnect all cables attached to the computer and take it outside.

Now the procedure is about the same for desktop and laptop computers. For desktop computers, here is a detailed article we did a little while back on how to clean the dust out of your computer.

The same procedures in the article above apply to laptops as well. All you have to do for a laptop computer is to locate the air intake for the cooling fan(s). But instead of using a nonmetallic rod to hold the cooling fan(s), use a straightened-out paper clip.

Running like brand-new

Now that you have the outside and inside clean, maybe it is time to get the operating system and programs cleaned up. Using the Windows built-in Disk Cleanup tool is an excellent place to start.

Windows 7 Disk Cleanup

Windows 8.1 Disk Cleanup

Windows 10 Disk Cleanup

Windows 11 Disk Cleanup

Once you have used the Disk Cleanup program, you can now look at getting rid of some of the programs you no longer need. You will need to get to the Control Panel to do this. The quickest way to get to the Control Panel is by using the Run dialog box.

How to get to and use the Run dialog box in Windows

My favorite (and the fastest way) to bring up the Run dialog box is to press the Windows logo key + R keys simultaneously. When it appears, type control and then select OK.

When the Control Panel appears, select either Uninstall a program (category view) or Programs and Features (icon view). You can then start to uninstall the programs you no longer use.

Now, if you want your computer to have that brand-new feeling, you can reset Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11. The procedure is similar for Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

How to reset Windows 10

How to reset Windows 11

But if you want that brand-new feeling, a clean installation of Windows is the way to go. Follow the instructions in the following article to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 or Windows 11.

How to perform a clean Windows 10 installation

How to perform a clean Windows 11 installation

You can use the same procedures listed in the article above for Windows 8.1, but you will have to download the Windows 8.1 Disc Image.

Windows 8.1 Disc Image

What you can do with an ISO file

Have you ever downloaded an ISO file and wondered what to do with it? More and more software companies are now distributing their software using ISO files. Here is what you can do with an ISO file.

Nowadays, every company seems to be using ISO files to distribute software. ISO files are just images of a CD or DVD. They are commonly used to deliver bootable software.

Now, really quickly, ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. They have a set standard (ISO 9660) for the file system used for optical disks (CD, DVD, BD, etc.).

Even Microsoft has started using ISO files to distribute its software. If you download Windows 11 or Windows 10, you will have the option of downloading an ISO file.

But what do you do with the ISO file once you have downloaded it? If you are running Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7, you have three (3) options: mount it as a virtual drive, burn it to a disk, or create a bootable USB drive.

You can also create ISO image files. For more information, check out How to create ISO files from your software disks.

How to mount and access files in an ISO file

By default, Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.1 can mount an ISO file as a virtual optical drive. Windows 7 requires a third-party program to mount an ISO file.

Once you mount an ISO file as a virtual drive, you can access the files and folders inside it. Most of the time, you will use this feature to run software installations.

Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.1

1. Open File Explorer (name changed in Windows 8.1) by using one of the following:
• Left-click on the manila folder icon to the Taskbar.
or
• Press the Windows logo key + E at the same time.
2. Navigate to the ISO image you want to open.
3. Right-click on it and select Mount on the context menu that appears. Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.1 automatically assign the next available drive letter.
   
4. Using File Explorer, navigate to the virtual drive you just mounted. You can now use it as you would with any other physically attached optical drive.
5. When you finish with the virtual drive, you can remove the drive by right-clicking on it and selecting Eject on the context menu that appears.
   

Windows 7

For Windows 7, we are going to use the open-source optical drive emulator WinCDEmu. Just download and install it using the default settings. Once WinCDEmu is installed, an ISO image is mounted, similar to Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 8.1.

1. Open Windows Explorer by using one of the following:
• Left-click on the manila folder icon to the Taskbar.
or
• Press the Windows logo key + E at the same time.
2. Navigate to the ISO image you want to open.
3. Right-click on it and select Select drive letter and mount on the context menu that appears.
   
4. On the WinCDEmu screen that appears, select the drive letter you want to use for the virtual optical drive and left-click on OK.
   
5. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the virtual drive you just mounted. You can now use it as you would with any other physically attached optical drive.
6. When you finish with the virtual drive, you can remove the drive by right-clicking on it and selecting Eject on the context menu that appears.
   

How to burn an ISO image file to a disk

The process for burning an ISO image to disk is the same for Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7. Just make sure you have the correct blank media for the disk you want to burn.

For example, if your ISO file is under 700 MB (Megabyte), it will fit on a CD. If it is between 700 MB (Megabyte) and 4.7 GB (Gigabyte), then it will fit on a DVD. If it is between 4.7 and 8.5 GB (Gigabyte), it will fit on a Double-Layer DVD. Anything over 8.5 GB (Gigabyte) will go on a BD.

For more information on Megabytes and Gigabytes, check out What is a Bit? What is a Byte?.

Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7

1. Open File Explorer (Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.1) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7) by using one of the following:
• Left-click on the manila folder icon to the Taskbar.
or
• Press the Windows logo key + E at the same time.
2. Navigate to the ISO image you want to burn to disk.
3. Right-click on the ISO files and select Burn disk image on the context menu that appears.
   
4. On the Windows Disc Image Burner screen, select the optical drive you want to use to burn the disk from the pull-down menu. You can also verify the disk after it is created. When you are ready, left-click on the Burn button.
   
5. When the optical drive is finished burning the disk, left-click on the Close button.
   

How to create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file

When you want to create a bootable USB drive, you will need a USB flash drive that is empty or that you do not mind if it gets erased. If you are going to use a USB flash drive that has been used before, double-check it to make sure there is nothing on it you may want to keep.

Remember to use a USB drive larger than the ISO file you want to put on it. A good rule of thumb is to use one with a capacity of more than 4GB. I prefer using 8GB or larger, as Windows does require a USB drive with a minimum capacity of 8GB.

To create a bootable USB drive, you will need to download and install a separate program. There are several on the Internet, but one stands out above the rest: Rufus.

Create custom Windows installation media with Rufus

Rufus requires no installation. Just download it, and it is ready to go. There are a lot more options, including partition scheme, file system, and cluster size. You also have more boot options, including MS-DOS and FreeDOS.