Overview: This was my first experience building a computer. Although I've taken mine apart before, it was always for little things (upgrading RAM, changing out a bad video card, etc.). But this time, I would see how system building actually is in practice and not just in the textbooks.

Steps: First, I found all the parts. This part was relatively easy. I just needed to match up a good but cost-effective CPU with the socket and thermal design power of the motherboard. Then, I needed to find a case fitting the form factor of the motherboard. I then picked up some RAM (matching the speed and type on the motherboard) and a terabyte hard drive. I decided against getting a video card, as the motherboard had usable onboard video and, since it would be a server, would not be using it much anyway. I added up all the power requirements of all the hardware together and decided on a cheap 300 W power supply, which would be more than enough. Once all the parts arrived in about four days, I went to work on putting it together.

First, I secured the motherboard to the case with mounting screws. Then, I installed the power supply.

Problem: The power supply didn't fit the case. The screw holes on the power supply did not correspond to the ones on the case. Although not an extreme problem that would require a return (Do you know how expensive Newegg's shipping is?!), as I could fit in one screw and somewhat hold it together while using it, it's still kind of loose.

I then installed the CPU, making sure the pins lined up to the ones on the motherboard. I installed the RAM and hard drive (one SATA cable to the motherboard). I applied thermal compound to the top of the CPU (maybe too much, but I always like to be safe), and secured the CPU fan on top of the CPU. Finally, I plugged in all the power cables (24-pin main power and 4 pin AUX power to motherboard, SATA power cable to hard drive), plugged in the jumpers for the power switch and lights at the front of the case, plugged in the power supply to the wall socket, plugged in a VGA cable (to my TV!), and turned it on.

It worked. For a while, anyway. When I moved it to the office, that's when I discovered another problem.

Problem: As soon as I plugged in all the cables in the office, nothing showed up on the screen. After attempting solve the problem by plugging in the VGA cable about fifty times, I finally just gave up, took the motherboard out, and tried to start it with the CPU, a stick of RAM, the main and AUX power, and the jumpers for the power switch. It took me a while to figure out why that actually worked. It turns out, the case didn't exactly fit the motherboard. There was a tiny little part of the case which, if I were to screw in the motherboard all the way, would snap the motherboard in half. This section was actually deseating the CPU fan, which pulled the CPU out of the socket. After I finished raging at it (it took about five minutes) at the case, I unscrewed the plastic rail on the case that held the CPU fan in place and just secured the fan with thermal paste, and it successfully got to BIOS. I plugged in the external DVD drive and installed a copy of Ubuntu 11.04 Server I had lying around.

What I Learned: No video doesn't necessarily mean something's wrong with the onboard video on the motherboard. Don't get your hopes up until the machine is up, running, and usable. PICK AN APPROPRIATE CASE!!!

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