**How to Build a Gaming Computer: A Step-by-Step Guide**

Hey guys, this is Austin and today I'm here with a tutorial on how to build a gaming computer. This is based on my $600 Mini ITX PC inside the Bitfenix Prodigy, however most of this applies to building any computer.

**Preparation and Safety Precautions**

If you're interested in learning what parts I used feel free to check out my build guides. Before we begin, you should find a workspace on tile or wood floors to help prevent static electricity from building up. Touching the case is a great idea to discharge any static. As far as tools go, all you really need is a Phillips screwdriver, and building a PC is very simple, most of the time you can even use thumbscrews.

**Preparing the Case**

First step is to prepare the case, which here is a Bitfenix Prodigy. On the right side, you'll see the power and reset buttons, headphone and microphone jacks along with a pair of USB 3.0 ports. Around back is a 120mm fan, your motherboard tray, slots where the graphics card will reside, and the power supply. Start by removing the four thumbscrews on the back, you'll find one top and bottom on the left side, one on the bottom right, and finally one on the top right.

**Removing the Side Panels**

Now remove the left side panel by pulling it back and then off, then set it aside for later. Then do the same for the right side panel to free up some room to work on the case. Inside, you'll see a box which contains screws, so set that aside for now.

**Removing the Center Drive Cage**

Before working in the case, we need to remove the center drive cage by pressing on the tabs, so we have room to install the graphics card. Set the case aside for a minute and grab the motherboard. Inside the box, you'll find a pair of SATA cables for connecting a hard drive or optical drive, the I/O shield for mounting the motherboard, a driver's DVD, and case badge, and the manual which will be helpful in a few minutes.

**Handling the Motherboard**

The motherboard itself is sensitive to static and is wrapped in an anti-static bag. Gently pull it out by handling it by the plastic components and then set it down on the box the motherboard comes in. This is how we'll be working on it until it's installed in the case.

**Important Aspects of the Motherboard**

Before we get to work, let me take a minute and go over a few important things to pay attention to. Around back, you'll find all of your ports, including USB, Ethernet, and audio out which will be sticking out the back of the case when we're done. You'll see a pair of long blue connectors which is where your RAM will be installed.

**Installing the CPU**

Now it's time to open up the processor, in this case, a Core i3. Inside the box, you'll find the heatsink and thermal paste, so apply that according to the manual instructions. Now screw on the CPU cooler as per the instruction manual.

**Installing the RAM**

Once you've installed the CPU, now it's time to install the assembled motherboard into the case. The Prodigy mounts it laying flat on top of the four built-in standoffs. First, grab your I/O shield that came with the motherboard and pop it into the back panel. Press firmly until its snaps into place and don't worry; you'll probably need a minute to get it popped in correctly.

**Installing the Motherboard**

Handling the motherboard by the heatsink carefully align it over the four standoffs against the back of the I/O shield. Gently shift the motherboard back so that all of the ports are clear, make sure that the little metal pins are touching and that each and every port is lined up.

**Screwing in the Motherboard**

Now grab the box of hardware we pulled out of the case earlier, and you'll see a bag of screws. Open it up, and find four of the smaller screws. If you aren't sure which to use, the Prodigy manual shows the exact design. Now screw the motherboard into place.

**Tightening the Screws**

The best way to do it is to start with one corner and tighten it moderately but not all the way, then go to the opposite corner and do the same while double-checking that it's still in the correct spot, and everything is visible out the I/O shield. Then go back, and screw the last two screws into place.

That's it for part one of this tutorial! If you enjoyed don't forget to hit up that Like button and check out part two! Anyway guys, I'll catch you in the next one!

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHey guys, this is Austin and today I’m herewith a tutorial on how to build agaming computer.This is based on my $600 Mini ITX PC insidethe BitfenixProdigy however most of this applies to buildingany computer.If you’reinterested in learning what parts I used feelfree to check out my build guides.Before we begin you should find a workspaceon tile or wood floors to helpprevent static electricity from building up.Touching the case is a great idea todischarge any static.As far as tools go all you really need isa Phillipsscrewdriver, building a PC is very simpleand most of the time you can even usethumbscrews.First step is to prepare the case which hereis a Bitfenix Prodigy.On the right side you’ll see the power andreset buttons, headphone andmicrophone jacks along with a pair of USB3.0 ports.Around back is a 120mmfan, your motherboard tray, slots where thegraphics card will reside and thepower supply.Start by removing the four thumbscrews onthe back, you’ll findone top and bottom on the left side, one onthe bottom right and finally one onthe top right.Now remove the left side panel by pullingit back and then off thenset it aside for later.Then do the same for the right side panelto free up someroom to work on the case.Inside you’ll see a box which contains screwsso setthat aside for now.Before working in the case we need to removethe centerdrive cage by pressing on the tabs so we haveroom to install the graphics card.Set the case aside for a minute and grab themotherboard.Inside the box you’llfind a pair of SATA cables for connectinga hard drive or optical drive, the I/Oshield for mounting the motherboard, a driversDVD and case badge and themanual which will be helpful in a few minutes.The motherboard itself issensitive to static and is wrapped in an anti-staticbag.Gently pull it out byhandling it by the plastic components andthen set it down on the box themotherboard comes in.This is how we’ll be working on it untilit’s installed inthe case.Before we get to work let me take a minuteand go over a fewimportant things to pay attention to.Around back you’ll find all of your portsincluding USB, Ethernet and audio out whichwill be sticking out the back of thecase when we’re done.You’ll see a pair of long blue connectorswhich is whereyour RAM will be installed.On one side you’ll be able to press thewhite clipsback so that we are all ready to install thememory.The bottom of the board iswhere you’ll find the long darker blue connector,this is PCI Express which iswhat we’ll be using to connect the graphicscard in a few minutes.Beside theheatsink with the Asus logo are six SATA ports.These can be used for manythings but for this build we’re just goingto be using a single port for the harddrive.One thing to keep in mind is that the whiteports are going to be whatyou’ll use if you have an SSD as they’refaster than the blue ports.In the centerof the board is where the CPU is installedand it should have a plastic coverprotecting the socket for now.Now it’s time to open up the processor,in thiscase a Core i3.Inside the box you’ll find the heatsinkand fan which haspreapplied thermal paste on the bottom.Be sure not to touch this.There’s alsoa bit of info on the CPU as well as a Corei3 case badge if you want to use it.TheCPU itself is inside the cardboard and protectedinside a bit of plastic.Beforeremoving it keep in mind there are tiny goldpins on the bottom and you do notwant to touch these at all.Come over to the motherboard and remove thecoverby pulling on the tab labeled remove.Then push the arm to the side to getaccess to the socket.Grab the CPU by the edges and just rest itinto the socket.Don’t press it in at all, it should fitby itself.There’s a small golden arrow on theedge which will make sure you align it properly.Set the cover back down andpush the arm down to hold it into place.You’ll have to put a lot of pressure onitbut don’t worry, this is normal.Time to install the heatsink.Just align the fourpegs over the holes in the motherboard andpress each down until they click.Once you’re done you can now pick up themotherboard by the heatsink withoutany worries.Installing your RAM is up next.You’ll find a notch in the memory aswell as in the slot on the motherboard soit only goes in one way.Line it up witha thumb on each corner and press firmly untilit clicks into place.Grab thesecond DIMM, line it up and install it thesame way.Super easy stuff.Now it’stime to install the assembled motherboardinto the case.The Prodigy mounts itlaying flat on top of the four built-in standoffs.First grab your I/O shield thatcame with the motherboard and pop it intothe back panel.Press firmly until itsnaps into place and don’t worry, you’llprobably need a minute to get it poppedin correctly.Handling the motherboard by the heatsink carefullyalign it over thefour standoffs against the back of the I/Oshield.Gently shift the motherboardback so that all of the ports are clear, makesure that the little metal pins aretouching and that each and every port is linedup.Now grab the box of hardwarewe pulled out of the case earlier and you’llsee a bag of screws.Open it up andfind four of the smaller screws.If you aren’t sure which to use the Prodigymanual shows the exact design.Now screw the motherboard into place.Thebest way to do it is to start with one cornerand tighten it moderately but not allthe way and then go to the opposite cornerand do the same while doublechecking that it’s still in the correctspot and everything is visible out the I/Oshield.Then go back and screw the last two screwsinto place.Once you’re doneand everything looks good tighten each screwto make sure everything is fully inplace.Nicely done, you’ve got everything assembledon the motherboard and itsecurely installed in the case!That’s it for part one of this tutorial!If you enjoyeddon’t forget to hit up that Like buttonand check out part two!Anyway guys I’llcatch you in the next one!