Build your own computer

Step 5 Installing the Motherboard

BEFORE DOING THIS STEP MAKE SURE YOU ARE EITHER GROUNDED OR HAVE TOUCHED THE CASE WITH THE POWER SUPPLY PLUGGED IT. DO NOT CONTINUE THIS INSTRUCTABLE ON CARPETING OR OTHER FABRIC! STATIC IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM TO MOTHERBOARDS.

I am doing this on my bed, but I am also grounded and am not letting the circuitry touch the fabric.

Be very carful with the motherboard as it is very sensitive. DO NOT PICK IT UP BY THE HEATSINK ON IT (the piece of metal with a bunch of fins sticking up).

Place the motherboard in the case and push the ports out the back (through the I/O plate). The I/O plate may need some holes to be poked open.

Make sure that the holes in the motherboard line up with the screws underneath and take the regular looking screws (that usually come with the case) and screw the motherboard down. Make sure it is tight but do not use power tools or excesive force. You do not want to crack it.

Comments

[thatkidwithayoyo]

Be sure to use the non conductive spacers provided when installing the motherboard to the case, or as soon as you power up, it will short out!

[bmlbytes]

My spacers are made of metal. They came with the case. The area around the screw holes are grounds. The metal screws provide a ground as a safety feature for the motherboard. So in a way, conductive spacers can be a plus. If you put spacers other than where the screws are, then you don't want conductive ones.