Learn How to Install a Motherboard Guide
Without the Long Winded Approach

To begin with we’ll need the following tools

Flat bladed screw driver medium size
Pair of long nose pliers
Small pot , saucer etc to put screws in

At present you should have a skeleton of a computer .

Whenever working inside a computer case, watch your fingers on any sharp edges, usually the inside of the case is not finished as well as the outside.



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To begin with always make sure the computer is unplugged from the mains supply.

Secondly when touching any electronic components, always make sure you are earthed.

Otherwise you may damage your computers components with ESD “ Electro Static Discharge

Install a Motherboard
Fit the computers connections template first “ this normally comes with a motherboard and fits in the back of the computer“.

Carefully remove the new motherboard from it’s protective packaging, now see how it fits into the computers case .

Note..

See if the screw holes in the motherboard line up with the ones in the case.

If you find they don’t remove the motherboard and use the long nose plies to move them into position.

Once this is done refit the motherboard and secure it with the screws, be careful not to over tighten.

Processor Heatsink & Fan

Now install the processor, just lift the processor lock arm, next to the processor socket on the motherboard.

The processor will only fit in one direction, just match up the pins on the processor to the socket.
The process will fit in very easily. Not lock the processor in place by lowering the processor lock arm.

Now put the heatsink and fan onto the processor, here you have to be a little bit careful, pressure the heatsink and fan into place until it clicks in.

Now connect the fans power connector to the motherboard.

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RAM

Computer Cases Connectors

The exact connectors will be documented within the motherboards manual.

Normally you can work this out yourself as most motherboards do have the names of where the cables run to.

If you plug a cable in and find it does not work , just turn the connector and plug it in the other way around, as LED’s do not work in both directions like a light bulb.

Data Cables

Usually the cables will only fit in one direction, If using IDE some cables have no guide so make sure the connector on the motherboard and device end connects to Pin 1.

The cable will work either way around as long as both ends are the same way.

If you are fitting any of these drives from scratch , checkout our install guides.

Power cables

Now connect the power cables from the Power Supply to the motherboard “ Pentium 4 there will be two , Pentium 3 or below , there will be one “ .

Connect the identical power cable connectors to the Hard Drive(s) , & CD / CD Drive(s). Lastly connect the small power connector to the Floppy Drive

Cards

Sometimes they do require a little bit of persuasion , so if necessary use the flat bladed screw driver to break the connection so the relevant ones can be removed.

If you have a sound card connect the small audio cable, this runs from the CD/DVD Drive to the connector on the sound card.

Once any cards are fitted , remember to secure them in properly with the screws.

Double check to make sure everything is connected, replace the cover.

Power on and check to make sure it’s ok.

Hopefully everything will be fine, and you now know more about computer components and how they work together, and of course how to install a motherboard.

If you need help deciding on what to look for in a motherboard checkout our guide

Computer-adviser.com for help installing a motherboard and how to install a motherboard

computer adviser install a motherboard article