Video: How to Build a PC - Every Step Explained
Posted 07/24/09 at 11:22:23 AM by Will Smith
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I'm Will Smith, the editor of Maximum PC and the guy in the video below. We shot this video demonstration to show people how to build a killer PC, one step at a time. It's a great reference for beginners and experts alike. This video was created for viewing by attendees of Comic-Con 2009.
thanks so much
Submitted by Monsterpally09 on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 10:20pm
i just spent 4 hours today building my first build :D .. and then i find this video >:p. this video helps a lot with the cable b/c the asus instruction manual is very unclear. excellent vid
Submitted by paulgj2 on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 10:04pm
My case has the old style multiple wires and multiple connecters, where can I get one of those cool adapter blocks?
Thanks!
Submitted by Jazman on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 10:40am
Who is that guy?!?
Holy crap. I've been a subscriber as well as listener of the Max PC podcast for some time. I see Will's face on the intro page of the magazine and then I see this.....
This is NOT a visual I would have ever expected. Are you that SAME guy...
wow.
Submitted by jimc52 on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 9:42pm
Waaaayyy too fast! Too darned fast! Slow down, so that people who don't understand any of this can figure it out. You went almost too fast for me, and I have been buiding computers for the last 25 years. Secondly, you are talking too fast. Third, it isn't cool to shoot pictures of you talking while you should be pointing the camera at the work itself. Also, don't switch views between your face and YOU looking at the camera. You are not the star here, it's called "HOW TO." Anyway, you didn't tell people that the motherboard comes in an antistaic matt and that it helps to place the motherboard on the matt when working on it. You showed it, but you didn't say why you did it that way. Also, the case cage for the hard disk is different in just about every computer case, not all of them have back end screws. And it is definitely NOT necessary to screw every hard disk and 5-1/4" device in with all four screws. Two screws on one side of each device is sufficient to hold any device tight - I have been doing that for years and never had a vibrating hard disk problem. You were talking SOO FAST, I just had to stop watching you because you were giving me a headache. So I stopped at the motherboard pin connector part. Maybe if I go get a couple of ibuprofen and lay down for an hour, I'll be able to come back and watch the rest. Next time you do a HOW TO, please take your time explaining and demonstrating everything. You said grounding is important but you did not SHOW or TELL HOW to ground yourself. This whole video was a disappointment to me because I know you guys are great with PC's - you just need to be schooled in photogenics. I might advise you get hold of a video producer and redo this entire flick with a more photogenic saavy rendition. BTW, please clip the beard...it looked ratty.
Submitted by Olitzen on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 12:00pm
Great Video ! How about one on how to install a liquid cooling system upon two video cards...
Submitted by canman56 on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 6:34am
Thank you! I've been a MPC subscriber for years now and I'm really glad to see the site come so far. I've built many PC's before but it's always good to see an instructional video. This is priceless. The magazine is great as always but it's nice to see you guys become more involved on the web. This has become without a doubt one of the finest sites on the web for tech info. And that's just how it should be.
Submitted by noahsachs on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 6:23pm
Pretty Cool. I think the first lesson is that there's a particular place for each piece, if it doesn't snap in, keep looking until there is a place to plug it in.
This is a great video, the next step is actually a step backward.... shopping for components. Yeah, I can push together a monster PC in record time, but beyond actually turning a screwdriver, really the most time consuming part is shopping. Shopping for each piece takes up the most amount of time, and we [H]ardcore know this, so we subscribe, but really it took a long time to wean myself off the bad advice of the local big box computer store. I'd say I spend 20 hours shopping online for every 1 hour of building a PC (Newegg FTMFW). Is this component any good? What are the reviews? Is there a new version around the corner, or a price drop planned? Does that component work with my other components? What about this component on sale over here? Does this component actually do what I hope it does? Have I read all the reviews both for and against? Which , not so coincendentally is a lot of the reaosn why I love MaximumPC, because you guys sort all that out for me and review it and most importantly give me the perspective of someone who has the opportunity and the ability to test it all. Shopping for the components is the biggest barrier to building a PC, next chapter could be a video on how-to shop for parts?
P.S. I subsciribe to only a few mags, Wired, Harper's Magazine, The Journal of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Variety, the National Enquirer, and the only two I read from cover to cover as soon as I get them are MaximumPC and the National Enquirer.
Submitted by sinan on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 5:53pm
Why is Santa Claus building a PC instead of having one of his elves do the work?
Nice beard. It could be a static-electricity-hazard though!
That PC Sucks
Submitted by drunkalien6 on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 12:14pm
What a non-maximu PC, im so un subscribing to your mag right now.
Submitted by s3kShUn7 on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 11:29am
My first build took me 4 hours. But, then was when I had less knowledge. Not to mention the fact that I was 10 when I built it. And i didnt have any video like this. And my case blocked the holes in the motherboard where the CPU fan needed to go. But, all in all, It was a fun build. And It got me into building things. Like I'm currently building a surface computer, with a large amount of help from maximum PC.
Submitted by popstop785 on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 8:53am
I built my first PC back in 06 based off a 1k gaming budget build that was shown on this site. Since then I have always built my own.
I love how non proprietary things are when you construct it on your own. Don't have to worry as much about the "warranty void if removed" stickers when opening your baby up... yes when you build it it becomes "your baby" lol
Good video! :)
Submitted by dracoress on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 8:34am
A good reason to go to comic con for the the MPC purists out there.
Bring other people into PC Gaming by showing them how easy it is to build one!
Great job Will!!
This isnt Will Smith, he
Submitted by WindowsXP on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 8:05am
This isnt Will Smith, he doesnt have a beard D:
Submitted by Strider on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 7:40am
If you want the quality of a PC then the best bet is to build it yourself and you will save a little bit of money on your builds. Don't forget when you build a computer you are usually putting in top of the line or near the top of the line PC Parts, sure you could buy a computer for less money. However, you get what you pay for.
he looks more like Tim
Submitted by Dick Motorman on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 6:55am
he looks more like Tim Heidecker of Tim and Eric, more than anybody.
Submitted by AZWizo on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 6:06am
Sadly, it is cheaper to go out and buy one than it is to build one. Back in the day (late 90s) I could go to the local computer show and buy parts to make several PCs and turn a nice profit. Not anymore.
RT
www.online-privacy.tk
Submitted by comptech08 on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 8:20am
actually your wrong, its cheaper to build then to buy. Go customize a comp at dell or hp or w/e and then go find similar parts at newegg or tigerdirect (or use both sites) and come up with final prices and see.
Submitted by mesiah on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 9:26pm
Wether its cheaper depends on what you are looking to get out of it. If you are just looking to build an ultra budget PC and you aren't using brand name parts to begin with, then there is no way you can build one for the same price as buying one. If you are looking to spend less than $400 and you are starting from scratch with no case or parts you are far better off buying one premade. If you have to put windows on the machine and are doing it legit theres atleast $100 right off the bat. Cheapest case/psu your going to find is going to be in the neighborhood of $40. $30 or so for mobo, another $30 for cheap cpu, $25 dvd drive, $20 ram, $40 HDD, $20 video card, factor in keyboard and mouse and shipping and you are well over $300 for parts that probably wont last 6 months.
On the other hand, I purchased a machine I could use just for surfing the net and not having to worry about it getting mucked up and losing all my critical data or dealing with system downtime. I paid $299 and got a small form factor case with dvd writer, athlon 64 cpu, 3 gb of ram, on board video and audio, keyboard, mouse, speakers, windows vista home premium, a canon printer, AND an 18" lcd monitor. I challenge you to touch that deal for $300. Its emachines so the components aren't exactly the highest quality (gateway owned) but it comes with a waranty. I'm not going to be playing crysis on it at 60fps but thats not what it was intended for. Would a tech savy person use this as their main machine? no way. Could your mother use it to check her email? absolutely.
Only if you're willing to
Submitted by horzo on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 7:13am
Only if you're willing to select from a limited list of components. If you care what's going into your machine, you still need to do it yourself.
Interesting
Submitted by maniacm0nk3y on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 10:13pm
The first time I built a computer...
It was almost too easy. I thought I was in over my head. But then I read the AMD instruction manual and then the motherboard manual afterwards. It was like building your first birdhouse. Learning everything else was just as easy. I am never arrogant but I never seem to understand why people practically assume I'm very smart, just for the fact that I build and maintain computers. Sorry if it sounds like it?
4 systems so far: 1 AMD, 3 Intel. Only one faulty motherboard so far. The darn Asus PxT-E Dexlue...something like that.
Thanks for the video, though. Anything can help the avid beginner.
....Newegg FTW.
Submitted by horzo on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 10:01pm
Wonder if anybody's ever told Will he looks like Joss Whedon.
Submitted by Shalbatana on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 9:48pm
[sorry, this was supposed to be a response to your comment down below]
RE: looking to do more....I'll do it, but it'll have to be remote, as I'm in NY.
By the way, I'm a little confused... where's the blue gloves???? My how we've fallen from grace ;)
_______________________________
"There's no time like the future."
Will's Beard
Submitted by ArrecBarrwin on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 8:37pm
Will- I love the beard, it works for you
Awesome video
-AB
Thanks will, now if I can
Submitted by DBsantos77 on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 7:01pm
Thanks will, now if I can only scavange enough cash for a new build :/
Donations accepted!
Very nice!
Submitted by the_crowbar on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 6:38pm
Extremely well done video, and I'm lovin the beard!
Only forgot one thing!
Submitted by Cache on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 5:46pm
Unpacking every little piece of packaged, bubble-wrapped component. I swear, it takes almost as much time to unpack (and clean up the mess) all the parts to the computer as it is to put it together.
Submitted by Evasive on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 4:25pm
I used the how-to books you guys put out to build my first two systems about two years ago. I'm going to to build another one as well as update the first two in about a month. This is good stuff....just can't show it to the family so they see how easy it really is :) Thanks.
Submitted by comptech08 on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 6:33pm
haha i know what you meen. Its really simple but some people think I am a genious, i just laff.
The beard is power.
Submitted by nedwards on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 3:40pm
The beard is power.
HOLY CRAP!!!
Submitted by Devo85x on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 3:40pm
wow... I always wondered what will looked like... guess now I know :)
Submitted by mesiah on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 8:59pm
Did you expect anything less fly from the fresh prince of personal computing? :D
Erecting a Desktop...
Submitted by Havok on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 3:23pm
I JUST FRAKIN' BUILT A RIG TODAY!!!! I was listening to the Podcast music also, and I also documented it!
Too bad I was done like 4 ours ago, this would have been very handy.
Antec Three Hundred
Antec EarthWatss 650W PSU
AMD Phenom II 940 BE
Gigabyte Ultra Durable 3
WD 640 GB HDD
Samsung Optical Drive
2 GB Crucial RAM
ATI 4850 (Saphire)
Win7 RC
OMGWTFBBQ
Submitted by Pureoverclocking on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 3:11pm
A++++ Video.
Submitted by Vegan on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 5:50pm
It's good for anyone to get a refresher course. As hardware evolves, the process of building a computer can change.
Submitted by RedRage on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 2:52pm
Very educational. Now how do download it for later reference?
Create a Vimeo account and
Submitted by TheMurph on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 3:42pm
Create a Vimeo account and you *should* be able to download the original video from a link that will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen...
Submitted by RedRage on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 4:31pm
I hate having to sign up just to do one thing, but in this case it was worth it.
I LIKE THIS VIDEO!
Submitted by bingojubes on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 2:34pm
cool video! now if it would load up here at work, i can finish it.
Submitted by comptech08 on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 2:29pm
You guys should definatly make more videos. MaxPC has done really good jobs on the videos they have put out. Maybe you can put a video section in your "new" site?
It's definitely something we
Submitted by willsmith on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 4:38pm
It's definitely something we want to do. We're figuring out a way to pay for a video guy to help us, as it takes a lot of time to do a shoot like this.
"Really easy Building a PC"
Submitted by JMG760 on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 2:19pm
Really easy building a PC for the ones that know what they are doing, wouldn't encourage anybody to build one. The trick is making sure that everything is compatible. But great video for the ones that are serious in building their own PC.
Great video guys! This will
Submitted by Tunnel_Vision on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 1:58pm
Great video guys! This will definitely be useful for people who are just starting out at pc building.
Submitted by Techie714 on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 1:53pm
Dude WTH, Will has a crazy beard going on. With a beard like that I expect his next video to be some Linux based educational video...LOL! =)~
Submitted by Hg Dragon on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 1:45pm
A nice, big, and hearty F-U!
lots of Beard
Submitted by hellomms on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 1:39pm
how do they let you pass airline security?
JK. thanks for the video. Should do more of these.
Submitted by willsmith on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 4:39pm
They always do a double-take, because my drivers license and passport photos are old and sans beard. It's only a matter of time before I get the cavity search becauase of it.
Awesome
Submitted by gorkon5567 on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 1:16pm
I bookmarked it for reference. You guys are amazing
Submitted by pacaton on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 12:35pm
Good content. I'm going to be sending this video around to a lot of people.
Next time make sure to record progressive video, or at least de-interlace it.
Submitted by Dick Motorman on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 10:36am
thanks for this, will! Great video.
beard looks badass too.
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