This past summer, I interned at a startup called untapt, a company that uses artificial intelligence to improve recruiting outcomes. During my internship, I helped build a computer that would run the deep learning models (more on that here, and here) behind the product. This post isn’t a guide to the process so much as it is a record of how we built the computer, and a reflection of what we could’ve done better.

All the parts before unboxing

The first step towards having your own desktop heater, otherwise known as a computer, is deciding which components to use, and which case to put them in. PC Part Picker is a great resource for this; you can browse, compare, and select the parts for your job, and before you make your purchase, the website notifies you of any compatibility issues among them. A full list of the parts we used in this project can be found here.

Once all the components arrived, we were ready to start assembling the computer. This doesn’t take long; we had the computer up and running in under 3 days, even accounting for the technical issues. The tools required are minimal: a humble Philips screwdriver got us through the entire build, but if the case needs any modding, a different size screwdriver is necessary.

Putting It All Together

The case should be the first thing you open and assemble, and a quick skim through the manual at this point will pay off when you connect your other components later. Our case had a specific order in which components should be installed, and we followed those guidelines as best we could.

The first order of business was securing the motherboard within the case, which was simple enough — 8 screws and we were all set. Next came installing the CPU and RAM in the motherboard. We gently rested the CPU on the contacts, closed the cover over it, and clicked the RAM into 2 adjacent slots. This turned out to be a mistake, and testament to the point that you should thoroughly read through the motherboard manual before you start. On the board we used, the MSI X99A, and most boards in general, RAM placement depends on how many sticks of RAM you’re planning on using. Each board has different configurations, which are listed in the manual. Ignoring those instructions meant that we spent an hour and a half later in the day, scratching our heads, trying to understand why our new machine wouldn’t boot. However, after a simple skim through the manual, we found the correct RAM placement, and we were ready to proceed.

We put 2 types of internal drives into the computer: a Seagate Barracuda HDD for long term storage, and a BPX PCIe SSD for quick data transfer. These were both simple to install. The HDD simply needed to be plugged into the right ports, and the SSD was plugged into a port on the board and screwed down.

Next came the CPU cooling system, a Corsair H100i. The fans were easily mounted by removing the top of the case, and the heatsink was attached just by screwing it down over the CPU.

At this point, we were left with the most critical focus of this build: the GPU. This is the processing beast that will handle most of the complex calculations for our model, and we chose an ASUS GTX 1080Ti for the job. After removing the correct covers on the back of the case, the GPU clicks into its slot like a RAM stick. Using screws, we secured it in place, and we were all set.

Lastly, we needed to screw in the power supply unit — otherwise known as the PSU — and we were ready to try and power up our new computer.

Connecting Power and Data

Now that everything was in place, we connected the data cables with the assistance of the motherboard manual. SATA cables and cooling system cables were plugged in, and we went on to connecting power.

There were a few things we missed the first time around. Obviously, the motherboard needs power, so we plugged that in. The SATA power for the hard drives was also an easy win. Next, the GPU had two separate ports for power, and needed both to be plugged in. The CPU cooler had a few cables that needed to be connected, and the manual provided detailed instructions on the correct method. Plugging in the fans is easy: just choose any 4-pin port on the motherboard and stick it in. It’s probably helpful to note that fans with 3-pin connectors will work just fine with the 4-pin plugs. We ran into trouble when it came to the CPU power. On our motherboard, there were two plugs; one powers the CPU for regular use, the other provides extra power for overclocking. The CPU requires the cable not used for overclocking to be plugged in, otherwise it won’t work. We missed this the first time, which meant we had to go back to connect and rewire some cables.

Clean Up

Once everything was connected in place, it was time to group cables together and tuck as many away as possible. This step is optional, since it doesn’t affect your computer’s performance, but it improves the aesthetics inside the case and it makes it much easier to work on the computer in the future. Velcro cable ties are critical for this step. Once you’ve organized the cables in the front as much as you can, secure them with cable ties. Try to group wires that connect to the same place, or perform similar functions. We went with the former option, simply because our wires were all plugged into the same area.