PCs have become dominant sufficient to act as media hubs for home. You can edit videos on PC and send them to TV, store big music libraries, and record high-definition TV right on PC.

Instructions

Step 1

Open case and check its internals for injure or free parts. For North America, confirm that voltage switch on back of power supply is set to 110 or 115 volts. Do not connect power supply yet.

Step 2

Install CPU on motherboard. Raise handle beside CPU slot on board. Check for a mark or arrow on bottom of CPU, and match that with a mark or arrow on one corner of slot, then drop CPU in and lower the handle. If you incident resistance, direction may be wrong. Attach CPU's fan to motherboard. A multimedia CPU must be at least dual-core, if possible quad-core.

Step 3

Install RAM in their slots on motherboard. The sticks will snap into place when safe. Install with gold "teeth" facing down. At least four GB is suitable for a multimedia PC.

Step 4

Mount nerve "standoff" screws on motherboard tray. These can be hand-tightened. Then put motherboard on top of standoffs and protect them by placing screws through already drilled holes in motherboard into standoffs below. Attach power supply to motherboard in accordance with manual's instructions.

Step 5

Install video card. It will fit in slot nearby to CPU. This card must have at least one DVI port and rather HDMI. You can buy a TV tuner card individually or obtain one with tuner included, like Radeon "All-in-Wonder" HD.

Step 6

Install hard drive and optical drive. Your case has "tool-less" drive bays. Slide drives in and protects them with screws. Ensure that faceplate on PC has been removed where optical drive is being installed. Connect data cables to optical and hard drives, and connect other ends of those cables to their headers on motherboard.

Step 7

Connect power and rearrange cables emerging from PC to their headers on motherboard. There also interior USB, FireWire and headphone cables coming from front too. Occasionally these headers and cables are badly labeled and you want to check documentation. Attach case fans to motherboard or power supply.

Step 8

Connect monitor signal cable and attach it to back of video card. Connect in its power cable, and then connect case power cable. If system has power currently, a small green light must activate on motherboard. Close the case. Now connect keyboard and mouse. If all is attached appropriately, PC must turn on when you push power button.