Lesson 1Network and backup device choices: onboard Ethernet, Wi-Fi card options, external NAS/backup driveThis section explains how to choose reliable networking and backup solutions, including onboard Ethernet, Wi-Fi cards, and external NAS or USB drives, emphasizing redundancy, throughput, and practical backup strategies for home and office use.
Onboard Ethernet speeds and featuresSelecting Wi-Fi adapters and antennasBasic LAN topology for small setupsExternal USB backup drive choicesNAS basics and RAID level optionsScheduling and testing backup jobsLesson 2Cooling and case rationale: stock cooler vs aftermarket, fan placement and noise vs airflow tradeoffsThis section explains how to plan cooling and case choices, comparing stock and aftermarket coolers, fan sizes and placement, airflow patterns, dust control, and acoustic tuning to achieve a quiet yet thermally safe microcomputer build.
Stock vs aftermarket CPU coolersCase form factor and layout impactIntake, exhaust, and pressure balanceFan curves and acoustic tuningDust filters and cleaning intervalsCable management for better airflowLesson 3Creating a full BOM: CPU, motherboard, RAM, storage, PSU, case, GPU (if any), cooler, fans, peripheralsThis section teaches how to assemble a complete bill of materials, listing every required component and accessory, checking compatibility, balancing the budget, and documenting part numbers for ordering, assembly, and future maintenance.
Listing all core system componentsIncluding cooling and airflow itemsAccounting for cables and adaptersChecking cross-component compatibilityBalancing performance against budgetDocumenting SKUs and revision notesLesson 4Monitor and peripherals rationale: resolution, color fidelity for light image work, ergonomic choicesThis section guides the selection of monitors and peripherals by analyzing resolution, refresh rate, color accuracy, ergonomics, and input devices, ensuring comfortable daily use and adequate quality for light image or video work.
Choosing resolution and screen sizePanel types and color accuracyRefresh rate and response time needsErgonomic stands and VESA mountsKeyboard and mouse selectionAudio devices and basic calibrationLesson 5Motherboard selection: socket compatibility, VRM quality, ports, expansion and future upgradesThis section covers how to choose a motherboard by matching CPU socket, chipset, and BIOS support, while evaluating VRM quality, connectivity, expansion options, and upgrade paths to ensure long-term stability and flexibility.
Matching CPU socket and chipset supportEvaluating VRM phases and coolingRAM slots, speeds, and capacity limitsRear I/O ports and internal headersPCIe slots and lane distributionFirmware features and update supportLesson 6Explaining CPU choice: cores/threads, base/turbo clocks, integrated graphics considerationsThis section details how to justify a CPU choice by analyzing core and thread counts, clock speeds, cache, power limits, and integrated graphics, aligning these factors with workloads such as office tasks, gaming, and light content creation.
Assessing core and thread requirementsBase, boost clocks, and power limitsCache size and architecture impactIntegrated graphics vs discrete GPUPlatform features and instruction setsThermal behavior and cooling needsLesson 7Memory selection: total capacity, speed, timings, ECC vs non-ECC considerationsThis section focuses on selecting memory capacity and speed, understanding timings and dual-channel operation, and weighing ECC versus non-ECC options, so the system remains responsive, stable, and appropriate for the intended workloads.
Determining total RAM capacitySingle, dual, and multi-channel setupsFrequency, timings, and real latencyXMP, EXPO, and memory profilesECC vs non-ECC use casesCompatibility with motherboard QVLLesson 8Power supply rationale: wattage headroom, protections (OCP, OVP), reliability brandsThis section covers how to size and select a power supply, considering total system draw, efficiency ratings, protections, build quality, and brand reputation, ensuring stable power delivery and headroom for future component upgrades.
Estimating system power consumption80 PLUS efficiency and heat outputOCP, OVP, SCP, and other safeguardsSingle vs multi-rail 12V designsModular vs non-modular cablingBrand reputation and warranty lengthLesson 9Storage selection: primary OS NVMe SSD, secondary mass-storage HDD/SSD planThis section explains how to design a storage layout, selecting a fast NVMe SSD for the operating system and key apps, plus additional SSDs or HDDs for bulk data, backup, and performance, while considering endurance and interface limits.
Choosing NVMe SSD capacity and interfaceRandom vs sequential performance needsEndurance ratings and TBW considerationsUsing SATA SSDs for secondary storageWhen HDDs still make practical sensePartitioning, labels, and drive organization
