Build your own computer

Step 2 Installing the I/O Plate

The very first step is to install the I/O plate into the case. The I/O plate is the little piece of metal with a bunch of different shaped holes in it. It will come with the motherboard usually.

Open the case.
The I/O plate snaps in from the inside. All you need to do is push it into the rectangular hole and make sure all sides are firmly in place.

Comments

[Kerm]

Building a computer from used parts is not difficult, but beware the many variables between mother boards, power supplies, memory configurations, type and speed. It's great to bring a machine back to life. It's sad to look at stuff you just paid for that won't work for you. In the end, you cannot build an up-to-date computer from purchased parts less expensively than buying a new complete computer.

[dungeon runner]

Exhibit A: I have recently built a lightweight PC (Net-top) that would have cost around $300 from a commercial manufacturer. You know what it cost to build? Around $60. I just saved 240 bucks by building it myself. There are even more testimonials below this comment.

Exhibit B: Your argument just doesn't make sense. Why would anyone build a computer themselves if it cost as much or more than a commercial one? Sure, maybe there is the DIY fun and personal interest, but if it cost as much as you said it does, next to nobody would be doing it unless they had the necessary money just burning a hole in their pocket.

Exhibit C: The manufacturers have to make money from building these computers. Therefore, the computer has to cost more than the sum of the parts. DIY computer builders are almost always building it for personal use, meaning that all they have to pay is the money for the parts. Parts + profit margin = less than just Parts? I don't think so.

-Y

[Madrias357]

I built an equivalent $1400 system for almost nothing ($600) At the time, the Core 2 Quad was the hottest thing on the market. I got a Core 2 Duo instead (E6600, last item purchased) to save on my budget I have 4 GB ot OCZ Reaper RAM. I wanted fast, I got it. I skimped on my mainboard (80 dollar board that does what I want) because I didn't need much. A GTS 250 from EVGA cleared up the Graphics department, and I had to install 3 disk drives (2 DVD burners and a Blu-Ray burner) just for fun. My 4 HDD RAID array is just a mess. I'm running both Striped and Mirrored on 4 250GB drives (cheap, efficient, and not a problem) What would I change today? I'd've built it in AMD's Socket AM3.

[bensharn]

i have to disagree with you there, I've built some very powerful systems for about $165, and thats using all new parts and a free OS, Linux. That system is comparable to a $1000 Pre-built system. Think again, shop around, the internet is a big place.

[bmlbytes]

You must be kidding. Building it costs much less than buying a prebuilt. The computer I have featured costs $400, while one equal to that by Dell might cost $700. You just got to know where to look for parts. In otherwords, buying most of your parts from shops and places like BestBuy will cost more. Buying from NE and TD will cost much less

[bmlbytes]

I just added a page to this instructable to give people other choices. I just wanted to point out though, that in every case the custom computer comes cheaper than the prebuilts. The prebuilts get pretty close to the custom when they are cheap systems, but the price is really jacked up for a high performance system.

[BlueFusion]

Wanna bet? I've done it since I was 10. Heard of www.newegg.com hey? As a matter of fact, I'm a week or so away from buying parts that cost me just over $700 equivalent to something I can buy locally for over $2000. When you say "In the end, you cannot build an up-to-date computer from purchased parts less expensively than buying a new complete computer." I'm afraid you're talking out your ass mate. People make a living doing it as a matter of fact.