Here is a good walk through, might point out a few things and make you fill more comfortable when you start.
Some basic but useful information and links.
Let us know if you have any questions that your brother won't help you with
And, your progress.
I have a small battery powered LED light fixture that has a clip that I put on a flexible stand. (Any light will do). Very necessary when working in the dark corners inside the case!
I also have a reading magnifying glass. Necessary for reading the nano-printing on the motherboard case connectors with old, tired eyes!
You should download and prepare a CD or USB stick with Memtest Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool. After you get the rig all put together and fire it up and it works (of course!) you will want to give your RAM a full memory test (5 or more passes) before you install the OS. That will save a lot of head-scratching and labor later if you have received any dodgy RAM sticks.
I also run Prime95 "Stress Test" overnight to really shake out any bugs:
Prime95 (32bit) - 25.11 Download - EXTREME Overclocking
Free Software - GIMPS
In all likelihood you will fumble and drop some screws during the motherboard or drive installation.
Naturally, the screws will fall into some area that you can't easily retrieve them and you will cuss a bit. You gotta retrieve them--otherwise you could short something out if they are just rattling around.
To avoid this: get a smallish screwdriver with a magnetized head. The screws stick to the head of the driver and are much easier to insert into the threaded hole without being fumbled.
You may want to leave the case open for the first day or so because you will be poking around in there constantly, re-routing cables. But you can't properly evaluate temperatures until you shut the lid and run a stress test of some kind. There are a bunch of those out there. Intel has a good one.
Make sure you have a dozen or so cable ties so you can group cables together and tuck them away for orderliness and improved airflow.
Find out how many fan headers you have on the motherboard and how many of them are "PWM" controlled. PWM control is generally a good thing if it is properly implemented by your motherboard manufacturer. The fans slow down when your PC is idling and speed up automatically when you crack the throttle--if you have fans that accept PWM control.
The 1st thing I did after getting windows updates and AV and drivers, necessary programs, etc. installed, was make a complete system image. I used Acronis True Image, but Macrium, or even the built in imaging should work. This gives you a nice, clean image should you ever want to reinstall. Obviously I recommend making system images regularly as it can (and will) save your bacon when/if something goes wrong. The new, clean image is much preferable to a clean install for time savings as well. No matter what, I suggest a 2nd HDD (either internal or external), and complete system images. Great peace of mind and insurance against issues whether self inflicted, or out of your control. A Guy
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