Recently one of my desktop PC running Windows just burnt and went up in smokes (yes - literally burnt). Definitely needed a replacement soon and was contemplating if should go for the latest Intel i7-6700K with DDR4 RAM. After some research and looking at my budget, decided to build the desktop PC using an AMD FX-8350 and DDR3 RAM.
So, how does one get started to build a desktop PC ???
The site PC Part Picker is very useful in guiding one pick the various components (especially the CPU, Motherboard, and the Memory) that go into a build.
Here are the steps to get started:
-
Decide on a CPU. For my build, went with the AMD FX-8350
AMD FX-8350 -
Decide on a CPU Cooler. The AMD FX-8350 runs quite hot and definitely needs a good cooler. The stock cooler that comes with the official AMD FX-8350 kit is not that great. Hence, for my build, went with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Hyper 212 EVO -
Pick a compatible Motherboard. For my build, went with the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0
ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 -
Decide on the amount and type (DDR3 or DDR4) of Memory and pick a brand of Memory from the supported list for the specific Motherboard. For my build, decided to max out memory (32GB) and use DDR3 1866. From the ASUS M5A99FX Qualified Vendor List (QVL) picked Corsair Vengeance 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 1866
Corsair Vengeance 32GB -
Decide on the Video card. For my build, went with the EVGA GeForce GTX 750Ti SC
EVGA GeForce GTX 750Ti SC -
Decide on a good Power Supply. As you pick your components for the build, the site PC Part Picker would suggest the minimum required wattage. For my build, went with the be quiet! PURE POWER L8 700W
PURE POWER 700W -
Decide on a decent Case. For my build, went with the NZXT Source 210 Elite Black. This case comes with two fans - a 120mm fan in the back and a 140mm fan at the top
NZXT Source 210 Elite -
Decide on additional Fan(s) for cooling. For my build, went with an additional 140mm top fan Cooler Master Essentials 140mm
CM Essentials 140mm -
Decide on storage. For my build, went with HGST Deskstar NAS 4TB 7200 RPM 64MB
-
Decide on a DVD and/or a BluRay Drive. For my build, went with a DVD Burner ASUS 24X DVD Burner
Once we have the necessary components, here are the steps to assemble the new desktop:
-
Prepare the desktop case NZXT Source 210 Elite Black first by mounting the be quiet! PURE POWER L8 700W power supply
-
Mount the additional fan Cooler Master Essentials 140mm to the desktop case NZXT Source 210 Elite Black
-
Next, start with the cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. One needs to take out the default mounting brackets from the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard and use the AMD specific mounting brackets that come with Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
-
Mount the AMD FX-8350 CPU onto the motherboard
-
Apply a small amount of thermal paste that comes with the cooler on top of the AMD FX-8350 CPU and then mount the cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO on top of the CPU
-
Install the Corsair Vengeance 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 1866 memory onto the memory slots on the motherboard
-
Mount the prepared motherboard (with the CPU, cooler, and memory) into the computer case NZXT Source 210 Elite Black
-
Connect the USB header and Audio port from the front of the computer case NZXT Source 210 Elite Black to the appropriate slots on the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard
-
Connect the fans from the computer case NZXT Source 210 Elite Black and the cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO to the appropriate fan slots on the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard
-
Mount the ASUS 24X DVD Burner in the computer case NZXT Source 210 Elite Black and connect one end of the SATA connector to the DVD drive and the other end to an open SATA port on the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard
-
Mount the HGST Deskstar NAS 4TB 7200 RPM 64MB in the computer case NZXT Source 210 Elite Black and connect one end of the SATA connector to the storage drive and the other end to an open SATA port on the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard
-
Install the EVGA GeForce GTX 750Ti SC video card onto a PCI slot on the motherboard
-
Finally connect the power cables to the AMD FX-8350 CPU, DVD drive, and Storage
-
Here is the fully assembled desktop:
Assembled Desktop
Now power-on the newly built desktop and it should come alive. If there are any issues, the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard has the appropriate diagnostic LEDs baked into the motherboard and will light up accordingly for troubleshooting.
Loaded my newly built desktop with Linux Mint and has been running along very well for about a month now.