Author: Michael Crider / Source: howtogeek.com
Upgrading and replacing PC components can be a little tricky, but it’s something anyone can learn to do. Let’s take a look at how to choose and install those upgrades.
We’ve spent the last few weeks systematically going through our How-To Geek test PC and swapping out every single part you might want to upgrade, replace, or improve.
Most of it’s simple, if somewhat tedious, but beginners might have a little trouble getting oriented. No worries! Follow the steps in the guides below, and you’ll be cruising along with your upgraded PC in no time.What Kind of Tools Do You Need?
You can disassemble almost all modern desktop hardware with just a standard Phillips-head screwdriver. Some parts don’t even need that—modern case and component designs use a lot of thumbscrews and plastic tabs to keep things as simple as possible.
That said, you might want to have a few different sizes of screwdriver handy, just to make it easier to get to smaller or hard-to-reach screws. A cheap kit with interchangeable driver heads should have you covered. If you’re working on a laptop, you might need a set of hex drivers and a set of spudgers (small prying tools) as well.
Anytime you’re working with electronics, you’ll want a well-lit, dry area to spread out. Any clean desk, kitchen table, card table, or work bench will do the trick, but if you’re low on space in your home, tile or wood floor will work in a pinch. Don’t work on carpet if you can avoid it, even if you’re using a table or desk: walking around on the carpet can build up static charges and damage components.
If you don’t have a non-carpeted area to work, consider investing in an anti-static bracelet.If you keep your old component boxes around, or you have a fresh new one, hang on to the anti-static bag. It’s a handy place to set down components, especially those with exposed circuit boards, without damaging them.
When you’re disassembling PCs you’re going to have a lot of loose screws. Before starting, grab a few bowls or cups from your kitchen and keep them handy. It’s a great way to make sure your screws don’t roll around, and to keep the screws with different sizes and threads separate. And speaking of keeping those screws straight: a telescoping magnet grabber can be very handy for those times when you drop a screw in your PC case and can’t reach it with your fingers.
If you’re planning on replacing a CPU or CPU cooler, make sure you have some thermal paste handy for re-applying it. (A small amount is sometimes included with an aftermarket cooler for free.) Cleaning the stuff off of one? Grab some Q-Tips.
The inside of your PC gets dusty quickly thanks to constant airflow and positively-charged components. If you’re opening it up, you might as well clean out the filters and blast it with a little canned air to clean things up a bit. You’re best off doing that outside if you’ve got a particularly dusty rig. If you’re forced to work inside, another trick is to turn on your vacuum cleaner, place the hose near the PC, and blow the dust toward it. Just never, ever try vacuuming out your PC or even touching the vacuum hose to it. Those things generate a lot of static.
If you don’t have any canned air, a dry cloth will work, just be careful of fibers snagging on sharp bits of the case or circuit boards.
Last but not least, keep your phone handy and snap some photos as you’re removing components and unplugging cables. Having something to refer back to will make upgrading or reinstalling much easier, especially your first time around.
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