| The first step in installing the motherboard is to install the proper port cover on the back of the case. This is where the external ports on the motherboard will stick out to allow you to plug in external devices, such as a monitor and keyboard, in to the motherboard. Pictured at the right, our case came with a cover already in place, however our motherboard came with a custom cover, so we will use that instead. Notice that the cover is current held in place by two screws. Typically, this is not how they are held in place. The side of these covers usually have little notches so the cover locks in to place, not screws. This is how our new one works as well, so we will remove those screws completely and just save them for later use since they are standard case screws. Use your phillips screwdriver to remove these screws. We recommend keeping the original case motherboard port adapter, you never know if you will need it. Otherwise, you can just throw it out since we have no more use for it. |
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The next step is to install the port cover that came with out motherboard. Once you have removed the old one, simply take the new one and place it in the open space. It is installed from the inside and should just pop in to place. Be sure when you are installing it that you orient it with the correct side going in the right direction. Look at the mothernoard if necessary to determine correct orientation. While this is by no means a permanent installation, these covers are a pain to remove and you may bend the metal if you have to keep installing and removing it, but they can be removed if necessary. As you can see from the picture at left, the new cover has many more port openings on it compared to the original one in the photo above. Also, notice that the port openings are not the same on both covers. This is why the motherboard comes with its own cover. The ports on the motherboard may be standardized, however their physical location is far from it. Once the cover is installed securely, we can now install the motherboard itself. |
| This next step is crutial that it is done correctly. Before installing the motherboard in the system, you must first install the motherboard anchors. These were those little brass nuts that we showed you on page 4. To install the brass anchors, you have to know where to put them. All cases have more places to screw in these anchors than do the motherboard has holes for them. This allows the case to support different form factors of motherboards. The first thing to do, is hold up the motherboard in the postition in which it will be installed. Then mentally make notes of where the holes in the motherboard are and where the holes for the corresponding anchors will be. Once you have figured it out, screw in the motherboard anchors securely. Usually, you this can be accomplished using your fingers, how ever you may us a wrench or a socket (1/8 in.) to put them in more securely. NOTE: Make sure that every anchor point lines up with a hole in the motherboard. Do not install more anchors than you need. If you do, you could short out the motherboard. The image on the right shows the motherboard being held in place while we figure out where to install the anchors. Once the anchors are in, its time to secure the motherboard. |
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When screwing in the motherboard, we recommend laying the case on its side to allow gravity to hold it in place while you screw it in. Start with the top of the motherboard and work your way to the bottom. When you screw in these screws, you will be using the standard smooth screws. Make sure that you do not not over-tighten these screws, since you can damage the motherboard badly. Apply very little force. It is important that the anchors be installed in the right place. Now is the time you will realize that you missed one. If you did, you will have to remove the motherboard go back a put an anchor in the correct place. You will know which holes to use since they will have a metal ring aroung them. This helps keep the screws from coming out and it grounds the motherboard out from static electricity. Once the screws are in, the next step is to install the heatsink and cooling fan on the CPU. Leave the case on its side for the next step. |
| Installing the heatsink is a critical process. If the heatsink is not properly on the CPU, when you turn on the computer, the CPU will burn out in the first few seconds. Our CPU came with a heatsink/cooling fan combo, so this simiplifies the install. On the bottom of the heatsink is a thermal pad that will help contuct heat way from the CPU. It is CRITICAL this makes a solid conenction with the CPU. Remove the protective cover from the thermal pad (DO NOT touch the pad with your fingers, the oil from your hand will ruin its ability to transfer heat), if there is one, and position the heatsink over the CPU in the position it will go in. If there is no thermal pad, use a very small drop of the thermal compound on the middle of the CPU. Then install the heatsink. The image to right is us positioning the heatsink to be installed. On our heatsink there are four spring loaded posts that we lined up with four holes in the motherboard. Simply put the heatsink on the CPU and push down on the posts until the snap in to place. Make sure that the posts are completely and securely locked in place. If they are not, the heatsink may not be making full contact with the CPU and cause it burn out. |
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Now that the heatsink is place, connect the power to the systems cooling fans, including the one on the CPU. The image at left is power for the 120mm fan in the front of the case. Some cooling fans use a 3 pin power connector, which connects directly to the motherboard. This allows the system to monitor and control the speed of the fans. Other fans just connect to a standard 4-pin power plug, run at one speed and are not monitored. The fans that connected to the motherboard get connected to the motherboards headers. The image to the left also shows the region on our board where all of the motherboards headers are located for the LED lights on the front of the case.Once the 3-pin powered fans are plugged in to the motherboard, plug in the rest of the accessories that go in to the motherboard, including the 2 extra rear USB ports. Leave the 3.5in front header bay for later. |
| If you are not sure where the headres are on the motherboard, refer to the manual that came with the board. The image to the right shows the page from our manual that came with our motherboard. It shows all of the header locations on the motherboard and tells us where to plug in what. Don't forget you can click on any image in this how-to to make it larger. If you look at the detail on this image, it shows you which pins for each plug go where. There is a reason for this. These header connections accept plugs whether they are oriented properly or not. If you plug in, for example, the power switch header backwards, when you attempt to turn the computer on, nothing will happen or you will not be able to turn the computer off. The most common mistake in installing a motherboard is plugging in header plugs backwards. It won't cause any damage, but it is a pain to have to figure out which way each plug goes. You will not know if you did it right until we power on the computer, so don't sweat it for now. Just do your best, you can always come back to this later and fix them. Once all of your header connections are made, we can now start installing the other components of the computer. |
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