Building a computer has many advantages compared to just buying one that has already been built and sold in store.
The biggest one being that you can customise it to fit your needs which will also help you save money as you will only be buying components that you need.
If you haven’t built a computer before, it might seem like a daunting task and you might have a million questions, like what tools you might need to build it.
Be rest assured building a computer does not require a bachelor’s degree or fancy tools.
But, do you need a soldering iron to build a computer?
No, you do not need a soldering iron when you are going to build a computer. Computer parts are designed to snap into place without the need of a soldering iron. A tool that will come in handy when you are going to build a computer will be a screwdriver, as certain parts will need to be screwed in.
Why you do not need a soldering iron to build a computer
Let’s take a look closer at the process of what is involved in building a computer which will help you understand why a soldering iron is not needed.
Maybe you are creating the ultimate gaming computer, or maybe you just need to build a computer with the basics so you can save money.
Whatever your reason, the process of building one is the same.
Main components of a computer
Before you start assembling a computer you are going to need the components that make up the anatomy of a computer.
Below are the common components that you will need to build a computer;
- Case
- Power supply
- Motherboard
- CPU (Central processing unit)
- RAM
- Graphics card
- Hard Drive
- Display and Peripherals (Computer screen, Mouse, Keyboard etc)
- Operating system
Each of the parts mentioned above are pieces of a puzzle that make up the entirety of the computer. Omitting either one of them from the build will end in your computer not working or not functioning as it should.
Also these components come in a variety of specifications which plays a role in the performance of the computer.
So, why don’t you need a soldering iron for these components to build the computer?
The great news for you, me and everyone else on their journey of building a computer is that the individual components of a computer come assembled for us.
The main component of the computer is the Motherboard. This is the main board where all other components get placed.
The beauty is in how the motherboard as well as the other components are designed so that no soldering iron is needed.
To better understand this, let’s take a closer look at the motherboard and one of the components that gets placed onto the motherboard.
Below is what a motherboard looks like.
In the picture you can see arrows pointing at many different slots/sockets in the motherboard.
The slots come empty when you unpack the motherboard.
What are these slots for?
As you saw earlier, there are many components that make a computer. The motherboard is the main board that all the other components (RAM, Graphics card, power supply etc) get connected to.
So, the slots are designed specifically for each component.
Now let’s take a closer look at one of those components, in this case a RAM chip as seen below.
You can see the RAM chip is created so that it can slot into one of the designated slots of the motherboard. They have circuitry at the ends which when connected to a slot become part of the motherboard circuitry.
The components are placed into the socket by applying a force (a gentle one of course), and snap together like LEGO.
This is why you do not require a soldering iron when you build a computer.
What tools will you need to build a computer if no soldering iron is needed
But, surely building a computer isn’t just snapping things together and will require some tools, right?
Yes, you will need some certain tools.
The tools, along with other materials that will come in handy in the build of a computer include;
- Screwdriver
- Cable Cutter or Scissors
- Cable ties
Screwdriver – No matter what the build, a screwdriver will most likely be needed, as there will be screws involved. Building a computer is no different. There are many instances when screws are used to secure things in place, like the motherboard to the mounting holes on the case. So, have a screwdriver as part of your arsenal.
Cable tie – There are a lot of wires involved in the build of a computer. Things can get messy fast. Trust me! While not entirely necessary, cable ties will save you a lot of stress by managing those wires and making things tidy. I strongly suggest them.
Cable cutter / Scissors – All these parts are going to come in some sort of protective packaging that always seems to be easy to pry open with your hands but prove otherwise. Scissors will give you the ability to slice through the packaging with ease.
Also, if you are using cable ties, cutting the excess with scissors is near impossible. A pair of cable cutters will be a much better option for the job.
When you might need a soldering iron when you build a computer
While a soldering iron is not needed, there might be possible scenarios where you might need it to lend a helping hand.
Life throws curve balls at us now and then and sometimes things do not always go as planned.
It is very rare, but sometimes wires do break, or come loose from their connections.
Having a soldering iron will be beneficial to fixing these issues as re-soldering will be needed.
But, to reiterate, it is very rare for this to happen, so have no fear, you do not have to go and invest in an expensive soldering iron to rectify this issue.
If you do come across something that is broken, or come loose from its connection and do have a soldering iron, contact the manufacturer and let them know that there is an issue.
They will either send you replacement parts or will have their technicians rectify the problem for you.
However, if you do have a soldering iron, and are skilled enough to sort the issue out by yourself, do so.
