Computer Guides and How-To's

Learn how to build a computer using computer guides. Information like the best CPU, best motherboard, best router, best modem, and more to build your system. Build your own computer; and find out how others did it by reading the build my own computer results page for more tips.

Welcome to the computer guides and how-to page. Sometimes getting through the computer maze can be a difficult thing. Here you can find resources to help you build your own computer, setup a router, build a gaming computer, build a home theater pc and much more. Check back often as new content will be added and other content updated.

How to build a computer is not as challenging or difficult as it sounds; all computer builders have to build their first computer at least once (more often if it needs to be re-built)!! But if you can follow instructions, and can check and double check your work, it is easy and satisfying to build your own computer.

In fact, a number of people who have used this site to "build my own computer" were first-time builders. Why do it yourself? Because when you build your own computer you can spec it out to be precisely what you need and want in a system: from a cheap computer build to a high performance gaming system and everything in-between.

If there is a particular guide that you would like to see, but I do not have up, let me know and I will do my best to get it created and posted. Using the tabs above, simply head to the guide you need and jump right in.

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• Step By Step Contents
  • Step 1 - Initial Decisions
  • Step 2 - Purchase Computer Components
  • Step 3 - Gather Your Tools
  • Step 4 - Computer Case Preparation
  • Step 5 - Getting To Know Computer Motherboards
  • Step 6 - Installing The CPU
  • Step 7 - System Memory
  • Step 8 - Motherboard Installation
  • Step 9 - Power Supply Installation
  • Step 10 - Computer Wiring
  • Step 11 - Hard Drive Installation
  • Step 12 - DVD Drive Installation
  • Step 13 - Graphics And Peripheral Cards
  • Step 14 - Initial Bootup
    • Install Windows XP
    • Install Windows Vista
  • Step 16 - Finalize Install
  • Step 17 - Troubleshooting

Our goal here is to learn how to build a computer. To get started, first ensure that you have all the needed computer parts, and tools. We'll start the adventure with some initial decisions that will need to be made. Next, you'll purchase the components that you will need, and gather your tools together.

Finally, we'll build a computer. Here is a list of the required computer parts that will be needed to build your own computer. We'll go into detail on these shortly.

Computer Case Power Supply Motherboard CPU Memory Hard Drive Monitor Keyboard Mouse

• Step 1 - How to Build a Computer: Initial Decisions
• Step 2 - Purchase Your Computer Components
• Step 3 - Gather Your Computer Tools
• Step 4 - Computer Case Preparation
• Step 5 - Getting To Know Computer Motherboards
• Step 6 - Installing The CPU
• Step 7 - Installing Computer System Memory
• Step 8 - Installing a Motherboard
• Step 9 - Installing a Power Supply
• Step 10 - Computer Wiring
• Step 11 - Installing a Hard Drive
• Step 12 - DVD Drive Installation
• Step 13 - Installing a Graphics Card And Peripheral Cards
• Step 14 - Initial Computer Boot
  
  
  • Install Windows XP
  • Install Windows Vista
• Step 15 - Finalize Install - Drivers
• Computer Troubleshooting

That should about do it. Let's look at the initial decisions and build a computer...

Step One - Initial Decisions

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This is the second of my computer guides - setting up your computer's router can seem like a daunting task. With so many unfamiliar terms and settings, it is easy to get lost. This guide will take you through step by step to setup your router.

1. Introduction to Routers
2. Buying a Router
3. Hooking up the Router
4. Configuring your Router
5. Connecting computers

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Building A Home Theater PC

If you have never built a computer, but are interested in adding a home theater PC into your home theater system, then this guide is for you. Home theater PC's are becoming more and more popular as home theater manufacturers are starting to add networking capabilities into their components. Building a HTPC will save you quite a bit of money over buying a pre-built system.

So what is a home theater PC and what can it accomplish when added to your home theater? A home theater PC will allow you to:

• Store your digital and audio files for quick and easy access and playback.
• Turn your home theater PC into a DVR/PVR.
• Will allow you to play back multiple video and audio formats such as MP3, MP4, SVCD, VCD, and many more.
• Allows high definition outputs to an LCD/DLP projector for playback on large screens.
• HTPC's allow you to output computer only information such as streaming Internet video / audio, play games on a large screen, and browse the Internet.

My goal in this guide is to show you how you can put together your own HTPC. From purchasing the most cost effective parts, to hookup, to installing the right software, I will take you step by step through the entire process.

Here are the topics I will cover:

• Component Decisions
• Buying Guide Part 1
• Buying Guide Part 2
• Installing Components Part 1
• Installing Components Part 2
• Motherboard Connections
• Installing the Operating System

So if you are ready, let's get started with step 1.

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