My first ever PC build

It started with an Intel Core i7 2600K and a family PC that definitely did not need to be disassembled. But I took it apart anyway because I wanted to see how it all worked.

I am pretty sure I forgot to plug in the front panel headers the first time. The power button did nothing and I panicked for about ten minutes before realising. When it finally POSTed though, that feeling is hard to explain. Like your first hit of something you know you will be doing for a long time.

The i7 2600K was already ancient by 2022 standards but that was actually good. Old hardware means you are not scared to break it. And I made plenty of mistakes. Forgot standoffs once. Applied thermal paste like I was frosting a cake. Each mistake taught me something.

I did not know it yet but this was the start of everything.