A High-end Gaming Computer?
Screw the hard drive into the bracket, then put the bracket back into its slot in the case. Now install the cables. Then connect the hard disk to the power using one of the connectors coming off of the power supply. If it fits, then it’s a match. One side of the cable has a red stripe on it, which makes it “pin 1.” Look on the motherboard and hook the cable into the IDE connector marked “1.” Insert the other end of the cable on the back of the drive.
Do you want to try things like dual video cards or special high-speed RAM configurations? If so, make sure the motherboard supports it. In that case, find an inexpensive motherboard/CPU combo kit and don’t worry about all of these details. Once you’ve chosen your motherboard, you’re ready to choose everything else. If you don’t care about any of this stuff (or if it all sounds like gibberish to you), then you’re probably interested in building a cheap machine.
If you bought them from a small local shop, they can help you debug the problem (although it may cost you). You can save money, and it’s a lot of fun, too. There’s a rational cause for the problem you’re experiencing — either a bad part or a bad connection somewhere — and you’ll find it. Now that you’ve seen how simple it is to build your own computer, we hope that you’ll give it a shot. You can also try to find a more experienced builder who would be willing to help you. If they sold you a bad motherboard (rare, but possible) they’ll usually help you out. You’ll have a computer that you understand completely and will be able to easily to upgrade. So the next time you need a new computer, consider building it yourself!
Most drives can run on SATA 3.0GB/s. If you want — and your budget allows — you can opt for a solid-state drive instead of or in addition to a hard drive. There are other options — if you prefer the Linux operating system you’ll find hundreds of variations online, some of which are free. Solid-state drives take up less space, are faster and aren’t noisy but they’re also more expensive and tend to have lower storage capacity. Choose an operating system: Microsoft’s Windows has widespread adoption, but make sure the version you buy has the features you want. And if you want a real challenge, you can attempt to build a hackintosh — a non-Apple computer running the Mac operating system.
All is not lost, however. Is the power supply firmly plugged in and turned on (many power supplies have a small switch on the back)? Did you plug the power supply into the motherboard? Try a different outlet. Check the motherboard manual. If you’ve plugged the switch into the wrong pins on the motherboard, it won’t work. Look at the manual for details. Is the case’s power switch properly connected to the motherboard?
