3.

OPENNING & INSTALLATION OF COMPUTER

COMPONENTS
Computer components :
1. Power supply
2. Motherboard
3. CPU
4. CPU fan
5. Hardisk
6. CD / DVD-Rom
7. Floppy disk
8. Floppy cable
9. Sata cable
10.
RAM
11.
NIC card
12.
Casing

Tools:
1. Screw-driver
2. Electrostatic wriststrap

Steps of Opening Computer Hardware

1. Gather your tools. Most cases will just one screwdriver
to access. Some cases use thumbscrews, but a
screwdriver can still help loosen an overly-tight screw. An
electrostatic wriststrap can be helpful for grounding
yourself while working inside the computer, but you can
ground yourself without one.
2. Shut down the computer. Use your operating system's
Shutdown function turn the computer off.

3. Unplug all of the cables from the back of the

computer.

4. Lay the case on your work surface with the I/O

panel laying closest to the surface. This will ensure
that you remove the correct panel on the computer and
can access the components inside.
Avoid laying your case on the carpet when working on the
inside.
5. Find the screws along the back of the case. You
should see two or three screws along the top edge of the
back of the case that hold the side panel in place.
Removing these screws will allow you to remove the side
panel.

6. Clean your computer while it's open. Computer's build

up dust surprisingly quick, and dust can lead to
overheating, poor performance, and hardware failure. Any
time you open your computer, you should take a few
moments to ensure that dust isn't becoming a problem.

7. Identify the motherboard. This is the large logic board

that all of your other components are plugged into. The
majority of it will probably be obscured by your installed
components. The average motherboard has a processor
socket, PCI slots for graphics and expansion cards, RAM
slots for memory, and SATA ports for hard drives and
optical drives.

8. Identify the processor. You usually can't see the

processor because it is covered by a heat sink and CPU
fan. It is typically fairly centrally located on the
motherboard, closer to the top than the bottom.

9. Identify the RAM. Your computer's RAM sticks are long

and short, and the slots can usually be found fairly close
to the processor socket. The sockets may be partially or
completely occupied by RAM sticks.

10.
Identify the graphics card. If your computer has a
graphics card installed, it will be located in the PCI slot
closest to the processor, called the PCI-E slot. The PCI slots
are typically found on the bottom half of the motherboard,
and line up with removable bay covers on the back of your
case.

11.
Identify the power supply. Depending on your
case, the power supply may be located at the top or
bottom of the case, along the back side. It is a large box
that routes power to all of the components in your
computer. You can follow the power cables to see that all
of your components are powered.

12.
Find your hard drive(s). Your hard drives are
typically installed in bays attached to the front of the case.
The hard drives are connected to the motherboard via
SATA cables (older computers use IDE cables, which are
wide and flat). They are also connected to the power
supply with SATA power connectors (old drives use Molex
connectors).

13.
Identify your optical drive(s). These can often be
found directly above your hard drive(s). They are larger
than the typical hard drive, and poke out through the front
of the case so that they can be accessed. Like hard drives,
all modern optical drives use SATA connectors.

14.
Identify the fans. Most computers will have several
fans installed. There may be one or more case fans, as
well as a fan on the processor. These fans are connected
to the motherboard, and may be connected to the power
supply as well.

Steps of Installation Computer Hardware

1. Turn Off the computer and unplug all wires connected to
the tower and if there is a power switch on the back switch
it off.

2. Take out the screws on the back of the tower, take out the
panel, then wear an anti-static wrist strap to protect
components by earthing your static electricity, and then
take out the motherboard tray.

3. Take the motherboard and screw it on to the motherboard

tray then slide it back into the case.

4. Firmly insert RAM(Random Access Memory) sticks into the

long and narrow slots usually located at the top right of
the motherboard.

5. Carefully place the CPU into the socket that is square

shaped on the motherboard then place the CPU fan on top

6. For video cards, look for a slot about the length of your
middle finger and has very small lever. Take out the small
case panel about the size of your finger on the back and
firmly insert the card into the slot, make sure the back of
the card comes outside.
- For sound/network cards look for a slot similar to the
video card slot, but slightly shorter and without the
lever.

7. Slowly slide the hard drive into the hard drive bay usually
located at the front of the tower then connected the
cables from the back of the hard drive to the motherboard.

8. CD(compact Disk)/DVD(Digital Video Disc) ROM(Read Only

Memory) drives are similar to hard drives, just slide it into
the bay at the top (right or left depending on the panel
that was open) and connect the wires.

9. For audio devices match the colors and USB is pretty much
self explanatory.

10.
If you have a video card the back of it should be
sticking outside which is where you connect the monitor

cable to, unless there is no video card then you connect to

the motherboard. Video cards now a days come with
adapters for older monitors so make sure to connect the
adapter to the back of the video card before plugging in
the monitor.