Parts List - Components List

This page begins my very own How To Assemble A Computer instructions. In great detail with tons of pictures, beginning with the parts list of components you'll need. Everything down to the bolts and cables, including where I got it (or where you should get it). All shipping was done using the cheapest shipping option available from the reseller. Nearly everything arrived in four work days or less. Everything arrived in perfect condition and was exactly what I ordered.

Regardless of the hardware you choose, you will find these assembly instructions quite helpful for any Athlon/Pentium configuration, including the configuration of My Super PC today.

Technology changes quickly, so you should look over my current recommendations on my home page. I also provide direct links to component recommendations next to some components in the parts list with a What I Suggest Today link.

Parts List

Item: Bought From	Comments
Computer case: Amazon Antec Sonata 3 with 500-Watt power supply	The computer case comes with a generous supply of mounting posts and screws used to mount the motherboard inside the case, mounting screws for hard drives, and extra bracket screws for securing add-on cards to the case. Not all computer cases come with power supplies, but some do. If it does, make sure it meets or exceeds the recommended wattage of the video card. Many cases include one or more case fans. What I Suggest Today
Motherboard: Newegg Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P	The Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P includes the SATA cables needed for the hard drive and optical drive. What I Suggest Today MySuperPC Motherboard Page
Processor: Newegg Intel Core i7-860 2.8GHz with Fan	Retail version. The retail box version includes a CPU Cooler. What I Suggest Today MySuperPC Processor Page
RAM: Crucial Memory Crucial Ballistix 2GB PC3-12800 DDR3	I purchased four modules for a total of 8 GB.
Video card: Amazon EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB DDR3	This video card is great for computers that need to handle demanding, graphic intensive applications, like top-tier games. What I Suggest Today MySuperPC Video Card Page
Speakers: Amazon Logitech S2220 2.1 Speaker System	A sub-woofer with two satellite speakers. Fantastic!
Hard drive: Newegg Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200rpm SATA 300 MB/s	This is the OEM version. The mounting screws come with the Antec Sonata 3 computer case. What I Suggest Today MySuperPC Hard Drive Page
DVD RW: Newegg Sony Dual Format	I prefer a dual format drive, meaning one that supports both the plus (+) and dash (-) formats, for maximum compatibility. What I Suggest Today MySuperPC DVD RW Drive Page
Keyboard/Mouse: Amazon Logitech Cordless LX 310 Laser	Cordless is great! The mouse comes with a "wheel" control built-in between the buttons, which is really handy. Batteries included. What I Suggest Today
Monitor: Amazon DELL Ultrasharp 2001FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor	Flat panel monitors are the rule, rather than the exception.
Operating System: Amazon Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit	This is the version for home use.
Antistatic wrist strap: Amazon	Possibly you have one of these already. You really, really need it.

Common Assembly Problems

The most common problem with assembling a computer successfully is caused by not using quality components. All of the components I recommend have quality you can count on and without spending too much. It's a terrible mistake to purchase components that will be problematical, but it's also a waste of money to buy the ultimate quality component. The components I recommend hit the "sweet spot".

The most common and worst mistake that's made in terms of component selection is to choose generic RAM. While generic aspirin may arguably be just as good as brand name aspirin, the same cannot at all be said for RAM. Pay a few bucks more for Crucial memory now and save yourself crashes and lock-ups later.

Next: Computer Assembly - Tools

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How To Build A Computer. Step By Step Instructions To Assemble. Skip To Any Assembly Step.

	Parts List
	Tools
	Computer Case and Power Supply
	Motherboard
	Processor, CPU Cooler and Thermal Compound
	RAM - System Memory
	Video Card
	Monitor
	Keyboard and Mouse
	Hard Drive
	DVD RW
	Speakers
	Install the Processor onto the Motherboard
	Install the CPU Cooler
	Install the RAM - System Memory
	Install the Motherboard into the Computer Case
	Install the Video Card
	Connect the Power Supply to the Motherboard
	Connect the System Panel Cables
	Ready the Monitor
	Ready the Keyboard and Mouse
	First Boot
	First Boot Common Problems
	Install the SATA Hard Drive
	Install the DVD RW Drive
	Connect the Speakers
	Second Boot
	Configure the BIOS Parameter Settings
	Test The Hard Drive
	Install the Operating System - Windows 7
	Driver Installation
	Speed Test - Windows Experience Index

Back to My Super PC - Home Page

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