Breathe new life into your ageing PC or use it as the basis for a completely bespoke configuration.
Is your computer getting on in years and the new off-the-shelf PCs on the market don’t meet your individual needs? Are you also looking for a cost-effective, environmentally friendly solution that saves you the hassle of new installations and configurations? Then an upgrade kit is for you!
In this How-To we will show you step by step how to build a powerful computer with the upgrade kits from JOY-IT or how to bring an existing PC up to date in no time at all.
Preparation and assembly of the components
Step 1: Define requirement
Before you rush headlong into the project, it is advisable to be clear about your individual requirements. Make a list and define your maximum budget, the desired purpose and, if necessary, the specifications. If you just want a performance upgrade and already have an upgradeable setup, then skip the next step.
Step 2: Choosing the right case
When choosing an enclosure, there are a few stumbling blocks to be aware of. First, you should find out about the different form factors (ATX, Micro-ATX, ITX, Mini-ITX, etc.) of a case. The form factor indicates the size of the components (motherboard, power supply, drive) so that they can be easily installed in the case. For most applications, the ATX form factor offers the perfect mix of size and features. Smaller form factors, such as ITX, have the disadvantage that they are often less well equipped and generally have worse “airflow” (airflow) than the larger form factors. However, ITX cases are very compact and particularly well suited for office PCs and occasional gaming.
Step 3: Selection of the main components
The main components of your computer determine its performance. It requires technical knowledge to assemble the right components. The mainboard (main board), the CPU (processor) and the main memory must be selected according to performance and compatibility. The number of cores, the clock speed of the CPU and the size of the main memory thus define the performance of your computer. With the upgrade kit from JOY-IT, you can buy your main components as a set without having to worry about the compatibility of the individual components. In every price range you will find a perfectly coordinated set that is equipped with the latest technology.
Step 4: Hard drive/SSD selection
The hard drive and/or the SSD indicates the size of your total storage space. If you have chosen a set with a built-in SSD, skip this step. If you attach great importance to a fast SSD, select a set without an SSD and buy an extra NVMe SSD with an M.2 form factor. It’s important to mention that there are also SATA SSDs, but they don’t come close to the NVMe SSDs in terms of read and write speeds. Both variants support the physical form factor M.2, but differ greatly in terms of performance. For more information on form factors, see this guide.
Step 5: Selection of the graphics unit
Some CPUs have an integrated graphics unit whose performance is completely sufficient for office work and less demanding games. The advantage here is that you do not need an additional graphics card. If you want to play demanding AAA games, we recommend installing a graphics card in order to have enough graphics performance. When buying a set, be sure to pay attention to the note: “You still need a separate graphics card for operation (see accessories)”.
Step 6: Selecting the power supply
The power supply is selected according to the required power and efficiency class. 200-300 watt power supplies are sufficient for simple office work. The efficiency class (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) indicates how high the efficiency of the power supply is. When it comes to gaming, the maximum performance required depends on the graphics card and the CPU. Before purchasing a power supply unit, be sure to determine the maximum power required by your components. You can find out how to find out what your power supply unit has to do here.
Assembly
The following explains how to tune your PC with the upgrade kits from JOY-IT. The set used for this is the ARK 00023 (current kits can be found here). Assembly starts with the housing. Make sure that all components are only connected when they are voltage-free, as they can be damaged in the event of a short circuit. First, open all covers of the case and remove any old components to create more space for assembly. Before installing the mainboard in the case, first equip the (included) CPU cooler. If you are using the supplied cooler (see Figure 3), you do not need to apply thermal paste to the CPU surface, as this is already on the cooler (caution: do not touch the thermal paste with your fingers!). The thermal paste between CPU and cooler is important for optimal heat transfer and should therefore always be used.
Use the supplied plate for assembly (see Figure 2) and insert it into the four pre-drilled holes from the rear. Then place the cooler vertically on the CPU. You should make sure that the four screws fit the thread of the mounting plate. You then need to connect the cooler to the 4-pin connector labeled CPU_FAN (Figure 4).
In the next step, we will show you how to install an M.2 SSD. Newer mainboards often have a passive cooler on the M.2 slot. Remove the cooler (Figure 5) and carefully insert the SSD into the slot (Figure 6). Then fix the SSD and the cooler with the supplied screw. As can be seen in Figure 7, the cooler sits on top of the SSD and provides sufficient cooling with the thermal pad located on the bottom side of the cooler.
If you want to use a 2.5″ and/or 3.5″ SATA hard drive, connect the hard drive to the SATA connector on the mainboard using the supplied SATA cable (Figure 8-10). In addition, the hard disk must be supplied with power. The power supply unit provides the SATA power adapter and must be routed to the hard disk in the housing.
Now you can install the mainboard in your case. An ATX motherboard typically has seven mounting screws, although not all are required.
To power the mainboard, connect the mainboard power supply (Figure 11) to the power supply. The power supply provides a 24-pin connection (Figure 12), which was also designed to be protected against polarity reversal. The more modern CPUs also require a 12V connection from the power pack (Figure 14). This connector is usually located on the top left edge of the mainboard (Figure 13) and is labeled “CPU_PWR” or “ATX_12V”.
Finally, you only have to connect the case fan, if necessary the LED lighting and other case connections to the corresponding slots on the mainboard. It is important to read the motherboard manual to find the right connections. Use the “SYS_FAN” designations for the fans and the “USB” designations for the USB connections on the housing.
You should now have connected all the important components so that your PC is upgraded. Now boot up your computer and enjoy the upgraded machine thanks to your JOY-IT upgrade kit.
Images: reichelt elektronik
Originally published on 10.01.2023, updated on 13.02.2025.
