PC Build / Parts

CPU: Intel Core i3-8100 (includes stock fan)

Power Supply:EVGA 500 BA, 80+ BRONZE 500W

Motherboard: B365M-HDV (LGA 1151)

SSD: Samsung 860 EVO M.2 SSD (250GB)

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series DDR4 2400 (8 GB)

Case: MASTERBOX MB511

Mod Mat: MODRIGHT Motherboard Anti-Static Mod-Mat w/ Anti static Wrist strap (optional, recommended for beginners)

Tools: Skinny screwdriver, Philips/Flathead Screwdriver (Preferably Torque)

Why build your own PC: Building your own PC can give you more of a connection/bond with your PC (as cheesy as that sounds). You are building your own PC with parts that YOU chose and you getter a better understanding of what all goes into a working computer. Another plus is that building your own PC is much cheaper than buying a prebuilt. The only downside to building a computer is if you want to access Windows features, you need to purchase a Windows key from Microsoft.

Step 1: Exposing CPU Socket

If you are a very new beginner builder and are weary around the pc parts, build on the mod mat. The mod mat has 2 metal snap on bits on both the bottom left and bottom right. snap on a anti static wrist strap and wrap it around your wrist making sure it comes into contact with your bare skin. This will ground you and prevent you from shocking any components, possibly frying them. Build your PC on the mod mat.

Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard, In this case we have an intel socket. Intel sockets are generally covered with a thin plastic cover. Pull the silver level next to the socket down and to the right to unhook it. Lift the lever all the way up without forcing it to expose the socket.

Step 2: Installing the CPU

On the black plastic socket cover look at the bottom left to locate what looks like a little right triangle (arrow). Take your CPU and look at it and locate the same little triangle. When you insert your CPU, the arrows will be in the same orientation (both at the bottom left). Drop your CPU down into the socket and make sure all the corners are secure. Double check to make sure your arrow is in the correct orientation. Start pulling the silver lever down as well as pushing the metal bracket down. As you push the lever down make sure the "n" shaped notch at the bottom of the bracket wraps around the metal screw underneath the socket. Push all the way down and slide to the left to hook the lever in place.

Step 3: Installing an M.2 SSD

Located on your motherboard your M.2 SSD slot. On this motherboard, Its labeled "Ultra M.2". Take your M.2 Drive and push the drive in from the left side so the E shaped pins on one end goes in .(Make sure the text is facing upwards). For reference, The E should be on the right and the Ↄ should be on the left. After inserting the drive, it will stick upwards at about a 45% angle. H old down the drive and take a thin Philips head screwdriver and the small M.2 Screw provided with your motherboard and screw in the screw at the end of the left side of the drive with the Ↄ shaped hole.

If you are installing a Hard Drive, locate your hard drive cage in your case next where your power supply would go. Place the hard drive in the cage and clamp it in, face the pins towards you. Plug in the SATA power connector from your power supply. Take the SATA data cable provided with your motherboard and plug one end into the Hard drive and the other onto the keyed L shaped header on the motherboard below the USB 3.0 Header.

Step 4: Installing RAM

Locate your DIMM slots (long, generally black slots) located to the right of your motherboard. At the top of the slot, there is a push lever. Push the lever down and out. Insert your RAM in the first slot while making sure that the notch in the slot lines with the hole on the pins of the RAM stick (keyed connection). Push down on the RAM to secure it in place.

Step 5: Installing CPU Fan

Locate the 4 holes in each corner on surrounding the socket on the motherboard. This is where the 4 plastic pins on the bottom of the CPU will clip down into. Most coolers that come with a CPU tend to have pre-applied thermal paste. If your heatsink doesn't have any pre-applied thermal paste, apply a pea sized drop of thermal paste onto your CPU. Take your CPU Fan and set it on top of the CPU (The orientation of the fan doesn't matter). Make sure the plastic pins drop into the holes on the motherboard and press down on the 4 push pins on the four corners of the cooler. You should hear them click. Take a flathead screwdriver and turn the 4 push pins in the direction the arrow on the pins are showing. It should be about a 90 degree turn and you should feel the pins click into place. Plug in the Fan plug into the SYSTEM FAN header.

Step 6: Prepping the Test

Set your motherboard on the box it came in and Plug in your Power Supply. Locate your 20/24 Cable on your Power supply. Plug in the 20/24 Pin connector on your motherboard. Locate the 4/8 Pin Cable on the Power supply. Plug in the 4/8 Pin connector on your motherboard. (The connector should be Labeled "CPU PWR")

You may also at this time plug in a speaker in the speaker header on your motherboard. This will be used near to the end when you boot your system to see if everything is working correctly.

Step 7: Testing

Locate the PWR SW header on your front panel headers and touch both the pins with your screwdriver. If you set everything up correctly your CPU FAN should start spinning as well as the fan in the Power Supply. You may or many not get a beep from your speaker, however if you connect a monitor to the motherboard you should get a black screen with text saying to select a bootable drive. If your system works, turn it off by hitting the breaker switch on the side of the power supply and unplug the 4/8, and 20/24 pin connectors as well as any video cables.

Step 8: Removing Side Panels

Remove your 2 side panels. Set the side panels aside. Locate the wrapped wires and baggies with screws and untie them. Set the baggies aside for now as you will use them in the next step.

Step 9: Installing the Power Supply

Insert your Power supply from the side with the solid side panel (not clear) and slide it (grates first) in facing the fan towards the bottom. Push the power supply all the way towards the back. Locate the 4 screw holes on the back of the power supply. Take the baggie you set aside and locate the power supply screws. Screw in the 4 screws into the back of the power supply while having it pressed tightly up against the back of the case. Flip your breaker on.

Step 10: Installing Standoffs

Inside your motherboard manual it will tell you where your standoffs need to go in the case to properly support the motherboard. Set your case down on its side so you have access to the open area and Locate those screw holes. Screw in the standoffs that are provided with your motherboard (there is a little silver tightening tool). You do not need all the standoffs however make sure you have the 4 corners at least.

Step 11: Installing the IO Shield

Locate the flimsy aluminum I/O shield provided with your motherboard. Insert the Shield into the case from the inside front panel area having the point pieces facing inwards towards the case. The Audio jacks are always on the bottom for reference. Press along the edges of the shield until its fully snapped in place.

Step 12: Installing the Motherboard Into the Case

Take your motherboard and drop it down into the case whilst pushing it into the I/O shield and aligning it with the standoffs. The motherboard should slightly drop down into the standoffs. Take your motherboard screws provided with the motherboard and screw them into the standoff holes wherever you put standoffs. Have at least the 4 corners screwed in.

Step 13: Plugging in All Your Connectors.

Set your case back up and turn it around so you can see all the Power supply cables. Route the 20/24 Pin and 4/8 Pin CPU connectors through the provided holes in the Case. Flip the case around and plug in the 20/24 and 4/8 connectors. Flip the case back around and locate the front panel connectors that were tied up in step 8 (Front Panel, HD Audio, USB 3.0). Route those cables up through the hole at the bottom of the case right about the power supply. Plug in the Front panel, HD Audio and USB 3.0 connectors into their respected headers. (Refer to the motherboard manual if you can find these). Finally untie your back case fan and plug in the plug into one of the "CHA FAN" headers. Press the power button located on the front of your case and make sure the CPU fan starts spinning before you start finishing up. If you get any beep codes, refer to your motherboard manual to learn what each sequence of beeps mean so that you may fix them.

Step 14: Inserting a Graphics Card (If You Need One)

This system has Integrated graphics provided by the CPU, If your CPU doesn't have integrated graphics, you will need a dedicated graphics card. On your case you will see thumb screws holding in grates below your I/O shield, locate the grates that cover up where the graphics card needs to fit. Take your dedicated graphics card and press the PCIe pins into the topmost PCIe slot located on the motherboard. Screw in the graphics card into where you took the grates out. Plug in the 6/8 Pin cable from your power supply into the 6/8 Pin connector located on your graphics card. (some older graphics cards may not have a 6/8 connecter and draw power directly from the PCIe slot).

Step 15: Finishing Up

If you have any extra fans, locate any extra CHA FAN headers and plug those in otherwise locate your Molex plugs cable on your Power supply. Plug in your fans into the Molex plugs (only if the fans have Molex plugs). Make sure you have your fans screwed in and in the right direction so the airflow comes in through the front and goes out the back. Stuff all extra Power supply cables in the open area in-between the Power supply and hard drive cages. Slide your solid side panel back on and screw it in. Screw your clear side panel back in. If you haven't already, peel off the thin layer of protective plastic on the clear side panel and 2 strips on the front and place your Intel Core i3 Sticker on the front (for looks). Plug in your main power supply cable and plug it into a wall socket. Connect any Mice and Keyboards as well as display cables/monitor needed. Insert a bootable flash drive with a copy of Windows and go through the process to install Windows. When you boot your system you can access the bios by looking on your screen as soon as you boot it to learn what button to press to access the BIOS. In the BIOS you can change settings such as fan speed, boot protocols, voltages, profiles, etc.