By Michael Quarles

To build a computer, the only two tools you must have are a pair of screwdrivers, a Phillips, and a flat tip. Many first time builders may think they’ll need a wide array of items, but this simply isn’t so. Since many parts either plug in, or snap together, all you’re left with are the screws that hold the motherboard, hard drive, and other items to the chassis.

There are some things that are nice to have, like a nut driver. Since these grip the outside of hex sheet metal screws, the Phillips, or flat tip grooves are never scarred. This leaves the computer looking in pristine condition, as if a technician has never touched it.

One of the handiest gadgets to have is a retractor. They look somewhat like a hypodermic syringe, and are held the same way. When you push the plunger with your thumb, three wire "fingers" sprout from the tip. This is just the tool for retrieving screws that have fallen into hard to reach areas in the case.

Electrostatic discharge has the PC builder either constantly touching grounded metal to relieve the problem, or taking the much easier solution of wearing an anti-static wrist strap. Plugged into the ground of a wall outlet, they prevent a charge from ever developing, so you don’t have to worry about zapping a motherboard, or other delicate circuitry.

Ever notice how many little pins and protrusions there are on the underside of a motherboard? Having a soft rubber mat prevents these from being bent or broken. You can use the foam pad that comes in the box with a new motherboard, but they don’t give you much surface area.

Finally, there are those of us with eyes that are not as sharp as we would like them to be. Trying to puzzle out that tiny print on a motherboard, or a video card can be greatly aided by a magnifying glass. These are especially helpful when a board’s documentation is lost, and you’re trying to hook up the case wires, or a similar task.