Mobo, CPU & ram

The next step is to install install the CPU and ram before the motherboard is put into the case. It just makes it a little easier.

Gigabyte P55A-UD3. Make sure to take static precautions, i.e. grounding wrist strap.

 

Intel Core i5 750 processor. Installing the CPU is fairly easy. Just have to line up the notches and keep the CPU level as you drop it in to make sure and not damage any of the pins in the socket.

Stock Intel heat sink install. Very easy to install. Just have to line up the pushpins with the holes in the board and push them through. Then connect the fan wires to the motherboards CPU fan connector. Also make sure the heatsink is snug and does not move as well as that the fan wires do not interfere with the fan.

Crucial 2 sticks of 2gig DDR3 1333 modules. Make sure to read the motherboard's instructions to identify which slots to install the ram into.

Case & PSU

The first step in the construction is to prep the case for the installation of the components and install the power supply (PSU) into the case.

The case dismantled to allow access to all the insides.

This particular case has a fan opening in the bottom of the case so that the power supply can draw in fresh room temperature air to cool itself instead of air heated by the computers internals.

Power supply installed. Notice how it is modular although the motherboard power connectors cannot be removed from the supply.

The back with the power supply installed. Notice the two black circles on the case? I'm pretty sure those are for water cooling.

 

The Parts

My goal for this build (my first) was to make a decent computer to run CAD (Solid Works), video & picture editing, and play the most recent game releases on a 23" HP w2338h computer monitor.

The List:

• CPU: Intel Core i5 750 ($150 @ microcenter)
• MB: Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 ($135 @ newegg)
• USB 3.0
• SATA 3
• GPU: MSI ATI Radeon HD 5770 seaweed edition ($165 @ newegg)
• RAM: Crucial 2 x 2GB DDR3 1333 ($84 @ newegg)
• 1.5V
• CAS 9
• Toms Hardware Review
  
• HD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB ($100 @ newegg)
  
• OD: SONY Optiarc Black 24x DVD+R...($32 @ newegg)
  
• PSU: Corsair CMPSU-650HX ($130 @ newegg)
• 650W
• Modular
• Case: Cooler Master Centurion 590 ($70 @ microcenter)

Ahhhhh what beautiful Christmas gifts!

Cheap case with lots of fan holes. Awesome!

My Computer Died

My first laptop, the poorly designed HP Pavilion zd8000, finally died after 5 years of abuse. Well, the computer still works its just that the darn power supply died for the 3rd time and it developed 3 pixel wide vertical lines on the screen. The one that came with the computer lasted for 3 years, then started smoking. The two replacement power supplies I acquired only lasted for one year each and subsequently overheated and started smoking. It was finally time to replace the aging single core Pentium 4 and severely outdated ATI GPU. So with the remaining battery life I dumped the contents of the hard drive onto an external one and parted ways.

One day I got bored and decided to dismantle the whole thing instead of selling it on Ebay. Hey I am an engineer what else would you expect? lol.