Just connect to computer equipment. How to assemble a computer yourself: connecting components. Connecting SATA cables

Additional devices can be internal (inserted into the system unit) or external (connected externally using connectors).

Internal additional equipment was considered. This includes a video card, sound card, network card, and disk drives. Why do I say that "can be attributed" to internal equipment? Simply because technology development is progressing so quickly that “everything secret becomes clear” and many internal components of a system unit (or laptop) can now be made external. This applies to the video card, sound card, network card, disk drives, and hard drive.

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Additional equipment is also called peripheral equipment or abbreviated periphery. Let's look at examples of peripheral equipment.

Modem

Let's start with a computer modem. The modem connects the computer to the Internet using a regular telephone cable. Accordingly, data reception and transmission occurs through the telephone network.

Another analogue for connecting to the Internet is an ADSL modem, which works much faster than its older brother and is an external device.

There are many other possibilities to connect to the Internet, for example, using wireless modems Yota, Sky Link, Megafon, etc.

A modem is needed to connect a fax to a computer and it is usually installed inside the system unit (fax modem).

Internal modem (fax modem)

Printer

The printer is designed for printing text and graphic information on paper. There are matrix, inkjet and laser printers, and in terms of print color - black and white (monochrome) and color.

The printing process is called printing, and the resulting document is a printout or hard copy.

Dot matrix printers are veterans of printing, as they appeared much earlier than inkjet and laser printers. Just as all old films are black and white due to the technology of their time, dot matrix printers are black and white. Many consider them outdated.

However, dot matrix printers are still actively used for printing where continuous paper supply (in rolls) is used, namely in banks, accounting departments, laboratories, libraries for printing on cards, etc.

Inkjet printers can be color or black and white. They print on paper using ink taken from cartridges.

The disadvantage of inkjet printers is that they are expensive to print; ink from paper is usually washed off with water. When the ink in a cartridge runs out, you need to buy a new cartridge or give the old one for refilling.

Laser printers Also available in color and black and white. They print using a laser beam. The laser beam bakes the toner onto the paper, which falls from the cartridge onto the paper.

These cartridges are filled with toner (powder). Laser printers have high printing speed and inexpensive printed sheets.

A scanner is designed to enter information from paper into a computer. Performs functions opposite to a printer, which outputs, that is, prints information onto paper.

If a printer prints a picture from a computer onto paper, then a scanner, on the contrary, transfers the image from paper to the screen.

Often a printer and scanner are combined in one device, which is colloquially called a printer, although the more correct name would be MFP - short for “Multi-Functional Device”.

An uninterruptible power supply for a computer is called an uninterruptible power supply (abbreviated UPS). It is indispensable if there are problems with energy supply. Electric grids are overloaded and blackouts are unfortunately becoming the norm. The laptop then switches to power from its own built-in battery.

And for stationary computers, a UPS is required: it maintains the power supply to the computer for some time (usually short) after a power outage or power surge. This allows you to save all your work and shut down your computer correctly.

Speakers, tuner, Skype

connect to the computer via a sound card. In principle, you can do without them.

But for listening to music and watching movies, sound speakers are indispensable.

TV tuner for a computer allows you to play a television signal (from an antenna or cable) on a computer and record television programs on it.

There are external and internal TV tuners. Typically, an internal TV tuner is used when it is necessary to use a computer as a TV.

An external TV tuner is used to turn a monitor into a TV, without the need for a system unit.

Skype(reads Skype) for a computer - these are free calls from one computer to another, with video communication possible.

You can make paid calls from your computer and to regular phones, and it will be cheaper than calling from phone to phone over long-distance or international calls.

It is sometimes called a USB flash drive because it connects to your computer via a USB port.

A very convenient thing: now you don’t have to carry a bunch of floppy disks or CDs with you, for example, to transfer information from one computer to another. The capacity of the flash drive can reach up to 256 gigabytes. I think that this is not the limit, over time there will be even more capacious flash drives!

Recently, it is not uncommon to meet a person who takes out an external hard drive instead of a flash drive. A very convenient thing, especially if you have a laptop!

External hard drive with USB connection

It works on the principle: “Just turn it on and it works!” In this case, there is no need to disassemble the computer to replace the hard drive with a more capacious one or to add a second, internal hard drive to the existing hard drive.

True, such simplicity and mobility in using an external hard drive will cost you more than replacing the old one or adding a second internal hard drive to your system unit. An external hard drive is usually more expensive than an internal one, but it is more convenient, including for backing up your valuable information!

The difference between an external hard drive and a flash drive is the amount of information that can be placed on them. There are external hard drives that are larger than a terabyte. However, the advantage of a flash drive is its small size - you can put it in your pocket.

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To connect a new device, open the menu with a list of equipment that your computer already works with. To do this, run the command Start > Control Panel. In the window that opens, select a category Equipment and Sound and point Devices and Printers- a window will appear with equipment that is already connected and ready for use.

Review and, if necessary, edit the settings for each device. To do this, right-click on its icon and select the item in the menu that appears Properties.

Make sure that the device you want to connect is not in the list of installed equipment. It happens that several users are working on a computer and the required device is already installed.

After viewing the list of equipment used, proceed to connect a new device to your computer.

1. Make sure that the device cable is securely connected to the correct connector on the system unit. If your device has an on/off button, set it to on mode.
2. In the window with a list of equipment, click the Add device button, which is located under the main menu, and a window of the same name will open.
3. Immediately after opening this window, the system will notify you about searching for new equipment. A list of devices that are connected but not yet ready for use will then be displayed.
4. Click the icon of the device you want to connect and click Next.
5. Follow the system instructions. Your steps will be pretty much the same no matter what device you're installing (although some quirks may apply). Their algorithm is simple and understandable, especially since during installation the system produces not only relevant messages, but also hints.

How to remove a device from your computer

If you no longer intend to use the device, remove it. To do this, you need to not only disconnect the cable, but also uninstall the driver so that it does not take up unnecessary disk space.

Sometimes this is necessary for its subsequent reinstallation: some software or hardware failures are successfully corrected in this way. The driver must also be removed if it conflicts with other installed software. There may be other reasons for uninstallation - much is determined by how they work on the computer, what tasks they solve and what software they use.

To remove the driver, follow these steps:

1. Open a window with a list of equipment.
2. Right-click the icon of the device whose driver you want to uninstall.
3. Select a team Remove devices context menu.

Removal will begin immediately after an affirmative response to the additional confirmation request issued by the operating system.

You have a new computer and are ready to install it, but don't know how. You may think that this is a difficult and impossible task for beginners. It's actually very simple. And it doesn’t matter what brand your computer is, because the connection diagram for all computers is similar.

If you want to connect a computer you just bought, which may still be in the box, then you will probably find instructions in it describing the connection process. Even if there are no instructions, you can connect your computer and peripherals with just a few simple steps. In this lesson you will learn step by step how to do this.

Laptop

If you have a laptop, the connection process is extremely simple: just open it and press the power button. If the battery is not charged, then you need to connect external power to the laptop. You can use the laptop while charging.

If the laptop has any peripherals, such as external speakers, then you can read the instructions below, since the connection diagram of a laptop and a desktop computer are basically the same.

Installing and connecting a desktop computer

Step 1

Unpack the monitor and system unit from the box. Remove all plastic protective films. Place the monitor and system unit on the table.

Think about where your workplace will be located, where the monitor, system unit, and peripheral devices will be located. It is recommended to place the system unit in a well-ventilated place. This will help avoid overheating.

Step 2

Find monitor cable. Typically this is either a VGA or DVI cable. It may look similar to the picture, or blue colors. (If you have an all-in-one computer, you can skip to step 4).

Step 3

Connect one end of the cable to monitor port on the back panel of the system unit, and the second - to the monitor. Tighten the plastic bolts tightly to secure the cable.

Many computer cables only connect to certain ports. Therefore, if the cable cannot be inserted, do not force it to avoid breaking the connector. Make sure the plug fits into the port and then connect the two.

To understand which cables belong to which ports, study our lesson.

Step 4

Unpack your keyboard and determine whether its cable connector is USB (rectangular) or PS/2 (round). If you are using a USB connector, connect it to any USB port on the rear panel of the system unit. If you are using a PS/2 connector, insert it into the purple keyboard port on the rear panel of the system unit.

Step 5

Unpack your mouse and determine whether its cable connector is USB (rectangular) or PS/2 (round). If you are using a USB connector, connect it to any USB port on the rear panel of the system unit. If you are using a PS/2 connector, insert it into the green mouse port on the rear panel of the system unit.

If your keyboard has a USB port, then you can connect the mouse through it rather than directly to the computer.

If you have a wireless mouse or keyboard, you may need to connect a Bluetooth adapter (via USB) to your computer. However, many computers have built-in Bluetooth, so you may not need an adapter.

Step 6

If you have external speakers or headphones, then you can connect them to the audio port (on the front or rear panel of the system unit). On many computers, ports are identified by colors. Speakers or headphones are connected to the green port, and a microphone to the pink one. The blue port is a line input that is intended for other types of devices.

Some speakers, headphones and microphones have USB plugs instead of regular audio plugs. They can be connected to any USB port. In addition, many monitors have built-in speakers and microphones.

Step 7

Take the 2 power cables that came with your computer. Connect the first cable from the back to the system unit and to the surge protector. Then connect the second cable to the monitor and to the surge protector.

Step 8

Finally, plug the surge protector into the wall outlet. You may also need to turn on the surge protector itself, if it has a switch.

If you don't have a surge protector, you can plug your computer directly into an outlet. However, this is not recommended, as a power surge can damage the computer.

Installation and connection of the computer is completed

Your basic computing devices are now ready to go. Before turning on your computer, spend a little time organizing your workspace. A well-organized workplace can increase productivity and improve health.

Last time we looked at the main criteria by which it is necessary to carry out selection of computer hardware. And now, having all the necessary components available, you can proceed directly to assembling the computer. Be careful, take your time and perform all actions carefully. Please read the accompanying instructions carefully.
Prepare your work area. It should have enough free space to accommodate all the details and good lighting. As for the working tool, all you need is a Phillips screwdriver. Assembly must be done on a surface that does not conduct electricity. Avoid the accumulation of static electricity. If your body is electrified, then touch some metal object to discharge it. Now we can begin.

Installing the processor and cooling system.

Let's start by installing the processor. Find the connector (socket) for it in the form of a rectangular shape on the motherboard.

Depending on the processor manufacturer (Intel or AMD), the connector on the motherboard for it can be of two types:

In our case, the Intel processor and the corresponding type of socket in the motherboard (LG-115).

Before installing the processor, you must remove the cover that covers the socket.
There is a lever on the side, lower it down with light pressure and move it slightly to the side.

Then lift this lever up, causing the pressure cover to open.

Now we take the processor and install it in the socket. You don't need to put any effort into it. To install in the correct position, refer to the joint cutouts. Intel has them in the form of semicircular recesses on the sides, while AMD has beveled corners.

Close the clamping frame (the protective cap on it should fly off and can be thrown away).

Let's move on to installing the processor cooling system.

Depending on the model and type of cooling system, the method of attaching it to the motherboard may differ. As a rule, it comes with detailed instructions for its assembly and installation. Therefore, we advise you to study it first and strictly follow the order of these actions.

Below we will look at the most common methods of attaching a radiator to the motherboard.

In our case, there are four holes on the sides of the processor socket.

The Intel processor comes with a cooling system that contains four legs for mounting, which must be inserted into these same holes. To secure, you need to press on them from above.

On motherboards with sockets for AMD processors, the standard cooling system is secured with two bolts.

Let's return to our motherboard. If you decide not to use the radiator that came with the Intel processor, but purchased a more advanced cooling system, then, in this case, a special additional frame is used to mount it, which is attached to the back of the motherboard.

It is necessary to attach this frame so that the holes on it and the board match. Then insert the screws into these holes (you will find them included with the radiator) and screw the screws onto them (on the other side of the board).

After applying thermal paste to the processor (see below), secure the radiator using a special clamping frame and tighten the nuts onto the previously installed screws.

Applying thermal paste.

The heatsink may come with thermal paste already applied to it, in which case skip this step. If you have a separate tube with it in your kit, then you need to apply it yourself.

Squeeze a small amount of thermal paste (about the size of a pea) onto the surface of the processor.

Distribute it in an even layer over its entire surface. To do this, it is convenient to use a plastic card (be sure to ensure that the thermal paste does not leak over the edges of the processor).

Now you can install the cooling system (see above).

All that remains is to connect the power supply to the fan (installed on the radiator) to the motherboard. Finding this connector is not difficult. It is located next to the processor socket, has four pins (contacts) and is often labeled “CPU FAN”.

If the power cord has only three pins at the end, still plug it safely into the specified connector.

Installing RAM.

The RAM slots are located close to the processor. In our case, there are four slots (two black and two blue).

For best system performance, it is necessary to install memory sticks in pairs so that they operate in dual-channel mode. Those. if you want to install 4 GB, then you should purchase two 2 GB sticks. If the final goal is 8 GB, then accordingly you need to take two 4 GB memories. They must be installed in the same bank (meaning slots of the same color).

You can see detailed instructions for installing RAM in slots in our previous article "How to install RAM on a computer", starting from the third point.

Preparing the body.

The motherboard and all other components are housed in the case. So let's start preparing it.

The first thing you need to do is remove the side covers.

Depending on the model of your case, the fastening of the covers may be very different. The most common are latches (they need to be carefully pressed out) or screws located on the back side (unscrew them and pull the cover towards you). We have just the second case, when the side covers are fastened with screws (top and bottom).

Inside the system unit case you will find some hardware components. As a rule, this is a power cord, a bag with mounting screws and instructions. Take them out. Do not touch the wires that come from the front panel (we will connect them later). As a result, the case is ready for further assembly and will look like this:

Installing the optical drive (DVD drive) and hard drive.

In the front part of the system unit case there is a special rack with compartments of two types of width. This is where hard drives, optical drives, and card readers are installed. In the side walls of the rack you will find holes and slots for attaching these devices with screws and special clamps.

Let's start by installing the DVD drive. Let's place it in the very top compartment.

Remove the front cover and slide the device from the outside into the compartment. Align all four holes (two on each side) at the unit itself and the sides of the rack. Secure with screws.

In the middle part there are compartments for another type of device.

Previously, they housed three-inch disk drives, but today they are obsolete. Therefore, today this compartment is used for card readers (memory card readers). Installing them is similar to installing a DVD drive.

At the bottom there are compartments for installing hard drives. The hard drive is mounted in the same way as in the situation with an optical drive, but unlike the latter, the hard drive is inserted into the bay not from the outside, but from the inside of the case.

That's all. We will continue further connecting the hard drive and optical drive below, in the section “Connecting SATA cables” and “Installing/connecting the power supply”. In the meantime, let's install the motherboard.

Installing the motherboard.

Place the case with the right side down.

Included with your motherboard should be a rectangular bracket with various holes for board connectors, which are used to connect external devices such as a monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, etc. It looks like this

Installation of the strip must be done from inside the housing.

Position it so that the holes match the location of the connectors on the motherboard.

If you look at the bar from the front side in a horizontal position, then on the left there should be one (maximum two) round holes for connecting a mouse or keyboard, and on the right there should be round holes (from three to six) of smaller diameter for a sound card.

Insert and install the strip into the rectangular cutout, pressing on it until you hear a characteristic click, indicating that it is seated in the grooves.

To secure the motherboard in the case, there is a large metal plate with holes into which you need to screw special brass stands (legs). The board is subsequently screwed to these racks.

However, the legs do not need to be inserted into all the holes, but only into those that correspond to the holes made in the motherboard. To understand which holes in the case you need to use, take and attach the board to the mounting plate of the case (when choosing the correct position of the board, be guided by the correspondence of its connectors to the previously installed bracket).

Note the location and number of matching holes. Take out the motherboard and screw the rack housings into these places.

Reinstall the card and secure it by driving the screws through the holes into the standoffs.

Connections of buttons, LEDs and connectors on the front panel of the case.

Let's now connect the wires coming from the front panel of the system unit to the motherboard.

Connecting them correctly will not be difficult, because... All wires and connectors for them on the motherboard are labeled.

PWR_SW(or POWER SW) - button to turn on the computer.

RST (RESET SW)– reset button.

H.D.DLED– hard drive activity indicator

SPEAKER– built-in housing speaker (speaker) for system warning sounds.

PLED– power lamps.

There are also two more cables required to be able to connect USB and audio connectors from the front of the system unit.

On the motherboard, all connectors for these cables are located in one row at the very edge.

With USB and AUDIO we think everything is clear.

SYSTEM PANEL is designed for connecting cables of power buttons, computer restart buttons, indicators and speaker. They are labeled similarly to the cable connectors that must be connected to them.

In some rare cases, the connectors on the motherboard may not be labeled. Then we recommend using the instructions (user manual) for your motherboard model. There you will find a detailed description of the purpose of all groups of connectors and contacts.

Connecting SATA cables.

Included with the motherboard you will find SATA cables. They are necessary to connect the hard drive and DVD drive to the motherboard.

We insert one end of the cable (with an angular shape) into the device connector, and the other into the motherboard connector.

On the motherboard, connectors for SATA cables are usually located in the lower right corner. You can recognize them by their L-shaped connectors surrounded by a frame.

They can be painted in different colors, indicating different speed throughput. In our case, blue indicates SATA connectors, providing a data transfer speed of 3 GB/sec, and white – 6 GB/sec. Connecting to a 6 GB/s slot currently only makes sense if you are connecting a solid-state drive (SSD).

Installing/connecting the power supply.

The place for attaching the power supply is located in the upper rear part of the system unit case. You will see a large rectangular cutout.

This will serve as your guide for installing it inside the case. Secure the power supply with screws in the four holes.

Now let's start connecting all devices to it. Let's start by connecting the necessary wires to the motherboard.

The largest 24-pin cable connector (ATX Power) is responsible for supplying power to the motherboard.

For compatibility with older motherboards, it can be divided into two parts (20-pin and 4-pin).

Finding a connector to connect it will not be difficult, because... he's just as big. As a rule, it is located near the RAM slots.

The second we connect is an 8-pin cable for additional processor power.

The connector on the motherboard for connecting it is located near the processor.

And the last thing we need to connect is the SATA power cables for the hard drive, optical drive, SSD drive.

Installing a video card.

To install modern video cards on the motherboard, use PCI Express x 16 connector

The PCI Express x 1 connector is intended for sound cards, wi-fi adapters, etc. You can also find the old type of PCI connectors. It can still be used to connect network and professional sound cards.

We hope that you have purchased a modern video card, and therefore we will be interested in the PCI Express x 16 connector.

If in your case, like ours, there is more than one connector of this type, then use the one that is closer to the processor heatsink.

Remove the plugs from the back wall of the case opposite the connector into which you will insert the video card.

Insert the video card into the connector slot, pressing it gently.

Screw the end of the board closest to the back of the case with a screw.

The video card we installed has two connectors (6- and 8-pin). It is necessary to connect the appropriate cables from the power supply to them.

Now we have finished installing and connecting all the components inside the case.

Put the side covers back on, connect the monitor, keyboard, mouse and your computer is ready to go. All you have to do is install your preferred operating system. If you have problems at this stage, we recommend reading our following articles:

Now, armed with the knowledge you have gained, you can always replace failed components or upgrade your computer yourself in the future.