Barebone: So how hard is it to put together?

Am having a look at this one: http://www.excaliberpc.com/Asus_Z84...02000L0Z_90NN0G311102/partinfo-id-574020.html

Need to keep it under $1,000 to import into Australia without paying GST + duty (works out to around 20% extra!!), so thinking about buying the other bits separately, but my question is of course, as someone who's never actually "built" a system before, just changed over RAM ...etc, will I be able to put the hardware together myself?

And is ASUS the easiest barebone to buy, or is there and easier brand?

 

I have the Z84J and i've assembled a few barebones in the past. Its VERY easy to assemble. Just remove a few screws to gain access to the ram slots wifi slots and the cpu area. From there you just pop the cpu in and throw on the heatsink. All totally it took me maybe 15 mins for me to assemble. The gpu and its heatsink will come already assembled. If you have anymore questions just PM me and i can help ya out.

 

I'd advise you to not build your own barebone if you have no experience with building desktops. If you've at least built some desktops, then you'll have some idea on notebook making. Remember, its a very delicate process!!

 

Well, it is delicate in getting the heatsink properly attached to the CPU and GPU: I have broken one or two desktop CPUs by applying too much force in the wrong way so I should know about this

I'm not sure how this is possible but I haven't built laptops so it may be so.

But other than that, you just need to screw in the proper places. Of course, delicately, but it's not like you can't do it if you haven't done it before.

 

It's pretty easy though dont' get too nervous. . So far i've take out many laptop from SOny, HP, IBM , Dell , Asus and Compal. Their design is similar to each other.


Z84J is great machine up til now, its price haven't drop ever since Only parts drop price.

You can buy the barebone from Excaliber and buy other parts from Ebay, they know how to ship to you without paying taxes.

Putting the Z84j is fairly simple.

First: Insert the CPu, and note the arrow on the CPu matches the direction on the slot. Tighten the CPu slot with a "-"screw driver . Remember to turn it all the way to locked position.

Apply Thermal Compound if needed if you dont' have one it'll do fine but it will get hot easily and the CPU won't last for long .

Sec: Put on the heat sink and genly insert it into the slot, it's kinda tricky but u' can do it. I don't remember if the fan of the CPU come separately or not but u will insert it after u fit in the heatsink.

- Wireless card: use two small screws to screw in the mini pci slot next to the CPus.
- RAM : push them in the 2 slot there

Third, Hard drive. Put in the caddy and the hard drive in there to see which direction you supposed to fit in then begin to put on the screws. ( 4 short screws are used on the hard drive.)

Power it up and install windows.

 

Actually I find installing a barebone laptop easier than a desktop. Yes, the parts are a bit more delicate and needs more precautions, but there's much less stuff to fiddle with. Pull out the heatsink, drop the chip in, put the sink back in, open the hard drive cover, plug it in, close the lid, and install memory (some machines have it onboard). Then install OS and it's done.