CTU-San Francisco Campus

CompTech 122 – Computer Systems

Topic 5: Fundamentals of Computer Assembly

FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER ASSEMBLY

Assembling computers is a large part of a technician's job. As a technician, you will need to work
logically and methodically when working with computer components. As with any learned trade,
computer assembly skills will improve dramatically with practice.

COMPUTER CASE
Computer cases are produced due to a variety of factors. Form factors refer to the size and shape of
the case.

Prepare the workspace before opening the computer case. There should be adequate lighting, good
ventilation, and a comfortable room temperature. The workbench or table should be accessible from
all sides. Avoid cluttering the workbench's surface or table with tools and computer components. An
antistatic mat on the table will help prevent physical and ESD damage to equipment. Small
containers can be used to hold small screws and other parts as they are being removed.

There are different methods for opening cases. To open a particular computer case, consult the user
manual or manufacturer's website. Most computer cases are opened in one of the following ways:
• The computer case cover can be removed as one piece.
• The top and side panels of the case can be removed.
• The top of the case may need to be removed before the side panels can be removed.

POWER SUPPLY
A technician may be required to replace or install a power supply. Most power supplies can only fit
one way in the computer case. There are usually three or four screws that attach the power supply to
the case. Power supplies have fans that can vibrate and loosen screws that are not secured. When
installing a power supply, make sure that all of the screws are used and that they are properly
tightened.
These are the power supply installation steps:
• Insert the power supply into the case.
• Align the holes in the power supply with the holes in the case.
• Secure the power supply to the case using the proper screws.
HEATSINK AND FAN ASSEMBLY
This section details the steps to install components on the motherboard and then install the
motherboard into the computer case.
THE CPU (Microprocessor)
The CPU and the heat sink/fan assembly may be installed on the motherboard before the
motherboard is placed in the computer case.
CPU
The CPU and motherboard are sensitive to electrostatic discharge. When handling a CPU and
motherboard, make sure that you place them on a grounded antistatic mat. You should wear an
antistatic wrist strap while working with these components.
CAUTION: When handling a CPU, do not touch the CPU contacts at any time.
The CPU is secured to the socket on the motherboard with a locking assembly. The CPU sockets
today are ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) sockets. You should be familiar with the locking assembly before
attempting to install a CPU into the socket on the motherboard. Thermal compound helps to keep
the CPU cool. Figure shows thermal compound being applied to the CPU.

When you are installing a used CPU, clean the CPU and the base of the heat sink with isopropyl
alcohol. Doing this removes all traces of old thermal compound. The surfaces are now ready for a
new layer of thermal compound. Follow all manufacturer recommendations about applying the
thermal compound. Heat Sink/Fan Assembly is a two-part cooling device. The heat sink draws heat
away from the CPU. The fan moves the heat away from the heat sink. The heat sink/fan assembly
usually has a 3-pin power connector.

Follow these instructions for CPU and heat sink/fan assembly installation:
1. Align the CPU so that the Connection 1 indicator is lined up with Pin 1 on the CPU socket.
Doing this ensures that the orientation notches on the CPU are aligned with the orientation
keys on the CPU socket.
2. Place the CPU gently into the socket.
3. Close the CPU load plate and secure it in place by closing the load lever and moving it under
the load lever retention tab.
4. Apply a small amount of thermal compound to the CPU and spread it evenly. Follow the
application instructions provided by the manufacturer.
5. Align the heat sink/fan assembly retainers with the holes on the motherboard.
6. Place the heat sink/fan assembly onto the CPU socket, being careful not to pinch the CPU fan wires.
7. Tighten the heat sink/fan assembly retainers to secure the assembly in place.
8. Connect the heat sink/fan assembly power cable to the header on the motherboard.

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RAM (Random Access Memory)
Like the CPU and the heat sink/fan assembly, RAM is installed in the motherboard before the motherboard is secured in the computer case. Before you
install a memory module, consult the motherboard documentation or website of the manufacturer to ensure that the RAM is compa tible with the
motherboard. RAM provides temporary data storage for the CPU while the computer is operating. RAM is volatile memory, which means that its
contents are lost when the computer is shut down. Typically, more RAM will enhance the performance of your computer.
Follow these steps for RAM installation:
1. Align the notches on the RAM module to the keys in the slot and press down until the side tabs click into place.
2. Make sure that the side tabs have locked the RAM module. Visually check for exposed contacts.
Note: Repeat these steps for additional RAM modules.

MOTHERBOARD
The motherboard is now ready to install in the computer case. Plastic and metal standoffs are used to
mount the motherboard and to prevent it from touching the metal portions of the case. You should
install only the standoffs that align with the holes in the motherboard. Installing any additional
standoffs may prevent the motherboard from being seated properly in the computer case.
Follow these steps for motherboard installation:
1. Install standoffs in the computer case.
2. Align the I/O connectors on the back of the motherboard with the openings in the back of
the case.
3. Align the screw holes of the motherboard with the standoffs.
4. Insert all of the motherboard screws.
5. Tighten all of the motherboard screws.
HARD DISK DRIVE
Drives that are installed in internal bays are called internal drives. A hard disk drive (HDD) is an
example of an internal drive.
Follow these steps for HDD installation:
1. Position the HDD so that it aligns with the 3.5-inch drive bay.
2. Insert the HDD into the drive bay so that the screw holes in the drive line up with the screw
holes in the case.
3. Secure the HDD to the case using the proper screws.
EXTERNAL BAYS
Drives, such as optical drives and floppy drives, are installed in drive bays that are accessed from the
front of the case. Optical drives and floppy drives store data on removable media. Drives in external
bays allow access to the media without opening the case.

OPTICAL DRIVES
An optical drive is a storage device that reads and writes information to CDs and DVDs. A Molex
power connector provides the optical drive with power from the power supply. A PATA cable connects
the optical drive to the motherboard. A CD/DVD ROM drive fits into the 5.25-inch bay on the front of
the computer case.
Follow these steps for optical drive installation:
1. Position the optical drive so that it aligns with the 5.25-inch drive bay.
2. Insert the optical drive into the drive bay so that the optical drive screw holes align with the
screw holes in the case.
3. Secure the optical drive to the case using the proper screws.
FLOOPY DRIVES
A floppy disk drive (FDD) is a storage device that reads and writes information to a floppy disk. A Berg power connector provides the FDD with power
from the power supply. A floppy data cable connects the FDD to the motherboard.
A floppy disk drive fits into the 3.5-inch bay on the front of the computer case.
Follow these steps for FDD installation:
1. Position the FDD so that it aligns with the 3.5-inch drive bay.
2. Insert the FDD into the drive bay so that the FDD screw holes align with the screw holes in the case.
3. Secure the FDD to the case using the proper screws.
ADAPTER CARDS
Adapter cards are installed to add functionality to a computer. Adapter cards must be compatible with the expansion slot.
This section focuses on the installation of three types of adapter cards:
1. PCIe x1 NIC
2. PCI Wireless NIC
3. PCIe x16 video adapter card
NIC (Network Interface Card)
A NIC enables a computer to connect to a network. NICs use PCI (Peripheral Component
Interconnect) and PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) expansion slots on the
motherboard.
Follow these steps for NIC installation:
1. Align the NIC to the appropriate expansion slot on the motherboard.
2. Press down gently on the NIC until the card is fully seated.
3. Secure the NIC PC mounting bracket to the case with the appropriate screw.
A wireless NIC enables a computer to connect to a wireless network. Wireless NICs use PCI and PCIe expansion slots on the motherboard. Some
wireless NICs are installed externally with a USB connector.
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Follow these steps for wireless NIC installation:
1. Align the wireless NIC to the appropriate expansion slot on the motherboard.
2. Press down gently on the wireless NIC until the card is fully seated.
3. Secure the wireless NIC PC mounting bracket to the case with the appropriate screw.
VIDEO CARD
A video adapter card interfaces between a computer and a display monitor. An upgraded video
adapter card can provide better game and program graphic capabilities. Video adapter cards use
PCI, AGP (Accelerated Graphic Port), and PCIe expansion slots on the motherboard.
Follow these steps for video adapter card installation:
1. Align the video adapter card to the appropriate expansion slot on the motherboard.
2. Press down gently on the video adapter card until the card is fully seated.
3. Secure the video adapter card PC mounting bracket to the case with the appropriate
screw.
INTERNAL CABLES
Power cables are used to distribute electricity from the power supply to the motherboard and other components. Data cables transmit data
between the motherboard and storage devices, such as hard drives. Additional cables connect the buttons and link lights on the front of the
computer case to the motherboard.
MOTHERBOARD POWER CONNECTIONS
Just like other components, motherboards require power to operate. The Advanced Technology
Extended (ATX) main power connector will have either 20 or 24 pins. The power supply may
also have a 4-pin or 6-pin Auxiliary (AUX) power connector that connects to the motherboard. A
20-pin connector will work in a motherboard with a 24-pin socket.
Follow these steps for motherboard power cable installation:
1. Align the 20-pin ATX power connector to the socket on the motherboard.
2. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks into place.
3. Align the 4-pin AUX power connector to the socket on the motherboard.
4. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks into place.
SATA POWER CONNECTORS (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)
SATA power connectors use a 15-pin connector. SATA power connectors are used to connect to
hard disk drives, optical drives, or any devices that have a SATA power socket.

MOLEX POWER CONNECTORS

Hard disk drives and optical drives that do not have SATA power sockets use a Molex power connector.
CAUTION: Do not use a Molex connector and a SATA power connector on the same drive at the same time.
BERG POWER CONNECTORS
The 4-pin Berg power connector supplies power to a floppy drive.
Follow these steps for power connector installation:
1. Plug the SATA power connector into the HDD (Hard Disk Drive).
2. Plug the Molex power connector into the optical drive.
3. Plug the 4-pin Berg power connector into the FDD (Floppy Disk Drive).
4. Connect the 3-pin fan power connector into the appropriate fan header on the motherboard, according to the motherboard manual.
5. Plug the additional cables from the case into the appropriate connectors according to the motherboard manual.
INTERNAL DRIVES
Drives connect to the motherboard using data cables. The drive being connected determines the type of data cable used. The types of data cables
are PATA, SATA, and floppy disk.
PATA DATA CABLES (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment)
The PATA cable is sometimes called a ribbon cable because it is wide and flat. The PATA cable can have either 40 or 80 conductors. A PATA cable
usually has three 40-pin connectors. One connector at the end of the cable connects to the motherboard. The other two connectors connect to
drives. If multiple hard drives are installed, the master drive will connect to the end connector. The slave drive will connect to the middle
connector.

SATA DATA CABLES

The SATA data cable has a 7-pin connector. One end of the cable is connected to the motherboard. The other end is connected to any drive that
has a SATA data connector.
FLOPPY DATA CABLES
The floppy drive data cable has a 34-pin connector. Like the PATA data cable, the floppy drive data cable has a stripe to denote the location of pin.
A floppy drive cable usually has three 34-pin connectors. One connector at the end of the cable connects to the motherboard. The other two
connectors connect to drives. If multiple floppy drives are installed, the A: drive will connect to the end connector. The B: drive will connect to the
middle connector.

EXTERNAL CABLES
Now that all the internal components have been installed and connected to the motherboard and power supply, the side panels a re re-attached
to the computer case. The next step is to connect the cables for all computer peripherals and the power cable.
SIDE PANELS
Most computer cases have two panels, one on each side. Some computer cases have one three-sided cover that slides down over the case frame.

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 Once the cover is in place, make sure that it is secured at all screw locations. Some
computer cases use screws that are inserted with a screwdriver. Other cases have knob-type
screws that can be tightened by hand.
CAUTION: Handle case parts with care. Some computer case covers have sharp or jagged
edges.

I/O DEVICES (Input/Output)

After the case panels have been re-attached, connect the cables to the back of the
computer.
Here are some common external cable connections:
• Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, USB, Ethernet, Power
When attaching cables, ensure that they are connected to the correct locations on the computer. For example, some mouse and keyboard cables
use the same type of PS/2 connector. (Personal System 2)
CAUTION: When attaching cables, never force a connection.
NOTE: Plug in the power cable after you have connected all other cables.
Follow these steps for external cable installation:
1. Attach the monitor cable to the video port.
2. Secure the cable by tightening the screws on the connector.
3. Plug the keyboard cable into the PS/2 keyboard port.
4. Plug the mouse cable into the PS/2 mouse port.
5. Plug the USB cable into a USB port.
6. Plug the network cable into the network port.
7. Connect the wireless antenna to the antenna connector.
8. Plug the power cable into the power supply.

BEEP CODES
POST – Power-On Self-Test checks to see that all of the hardware in the computer is operating
correctly. If a device is malfunctioning, an error or a beep code alerts the technician that there is
a problem. Typically, a single beep denotes that the computer is functioning properly. If there is
a hardware problem, the computer may emit a series of beeps. Each BIOS manufacturer uses
different codes to indicate hardware problems.
BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM (BIOS)
The BIOS contains a setup program used to configure settings for hardware devices. The configuration data is saved to a special memory chip called a
Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor (CMOS). CMOS is maintained by the battery in the computer. If this battery dies, all BIOS setup
configuration data will be lost. If this occurs, replace the battery and reconfigure the BIOS settings.
To enter the BIOS setup program, you must press the proper key or key sequence during POST. Most computers use the DEL key. Your computer may
use another key or combination of keys.
Here are some common BIOS setup menu options:
1. Main – System time, date, HDD type, etc.
2. Advanced – Infrared port settings, parallel port settings, etc.
3. Security – Password settings to setup utility
4. Others – Low battery alarm, system beep, etc.
5. Boot – Boot order of the computer
6. Exit – Setup utility exit
SUMMARY
This chapter detailed the steps used to assemble a computer and to boot the system for the first
time. These are some important points to remember:
Computer cases come in a variety of sizes and configurations. Many of the components of the
computer must match the form factor of the case.
• The CPU is installed on the motherboard with a heat sink/fan assembly.
• RAM is installed in RAM slots found on the motherboard.
• Adapter cards are installed in PCI and PCIe expansion slots found on the motherboard.
• Hard disk drives are installed in 3.5-inch drive bays located inside the case.
• Optical drives are installed in 5.25-inch drive bays that can be accessed from outside the case.
• Floppy drives are installed in 3.5-inch drive bays that can be accessed from outside the case.
• Power supply cables are connected to all drives and the motherboard.
• Internal data cables transfer data to all drives.
• External cables connect peripheral devices to the computer.
• Beep codes signify when hardware malfunctions.
• The BIOS setup program is used to display information about the computer components and allows the user to change system settings.

Adapted and Compiled from:

CCNA IT Essential, “PC Hardware and Software” version 4.0, Cisco Networking Academy
CCNA Discovery 1, “Networking for Home and Small Businesses”, Cisco Networking Academy
CCNA Discovery 2, “Working at a Small-to-Medium Business of ISP”, Cisco Networking Academy
CCNA Exploration 1, “Network Fundamentals”, Cisco Networking Academy
Cisco Networking Academy Program, CCNA 1 and 2 Companion Guide, Cisco Press
http://leanmanufacturingtools.org/210/lean-6s-5s-safety
http://www.projectmanagement.com/blog/Agility-and-Project-Leadership/7424