My first computer build

Stephen Cross
4 min readJan 12, 2020

Over the past two years, I switched from Mac to Linux. I’ve also been breathing life into old computers with upgrades and Linux. With some projects coming up that need more computing power, I decided to build a desktop. After some research, advice from friends, posting questions on forums, and watching many YouTube videos, I built the courage to get started.

I didn’t have a budget, per se, but didn’t want to spend more than necessary. I decided to go with an eight core AMD CPU instead of Intel. A middle of the road GPU. A motherboard and power supply that will handle growth. All wrapped in a low-end case.

Parts

  • AMD Ryzen 7 2700 CPU
  • MSI x470 Gaming Plus Motherboard
  • AMD Radeon RX 580 GPU
  • Corsair 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MHz DDR4 DRAM
  • 500MB m.2 SATA Drive
  • ROSEWILL ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case
  • Rosewill ARC Series 750W Power Supply

The Build

A pile of parts, where to begin? I had different advice on where to start. I put the CPU, heat sync, RAM, and m.2 on the motherboard first. I then attached the motherboard to the case. I then installed the GPU and plugged the case cables for the front panel buttons and ports into the motherboard. The last step, connect the power supply.

Due to inexperience, I made some minor mistakes and struggled through a few steps.

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Stephen Cross

A web developer for 25+ year. Drupal developer, podcaster and Linux enthusiast.