How to Install a New Motherboard
Remember the manual that comes along with your motherboard? It will be your bible throughout the process of motherboard installation. With this point in mind, let us now take a look into the requirements we need to have in our possession, when installing a new motherboard. Obviously, to start off, we will need a motherboard. The other requirements are a cabinet and a processor (CPU). I assume that since you are taking the trouble to assemble your computer yourself, you must be having the correct set of screwdrivers. A Phillips screwdriver set would be perfect for the entire operation.
Two important factors that you need to take care of, before starting your installation process are:
- Check whether your CPU is compatible to your motherboard
- Check whether your cabinet is of the right size for your motherboard.
I/O Core Shield
Let us start with the I/O core shield. First, we need to verify that the I/O core shield that has come along with the cabinet, is compatible with the I/O ports' socket of the motherboard. Motherboards that are available in the market, generally have new features, like an integrated game and integrated sound ports. So, it is probable the I/O shield of your cabinet may not match with the I/O ports' socket, that has come along with your motherboard. The motherboards that are manufactured nowadays, generally come along with an I/O shield. So, simply discard the I/O shield, that has come along with your cabinet, and fix the new I/O shield in the case. Be sure not to put any unnecessary force on the I/O shield, when pushing it into the cabinet. This may cause your I/O shield to be out of shape and it may never fit in properly into the cabinet.
Processor
Once you are done with the I/O shield, the next important step is installing your processor into the motherboard. This is a relatively simple task, but since the processor is a very delicate object, it needs to be handled with care. The processor socket in the motherboard is very easily identifiable. It generally comes along with a small plastic arm on its side. All that you need to do, is to simply pull up the plastic arm and open the socket grip. Now, check your processor. The processor will have a good number of pins below it, but one corner of the processor will generally have no pins. It is generally marked with a triangular symbol. Match the processor with its socket and place it into the socket. It will simply fit into its place. Now, lock the socket by pulling down the plastic arm.
Cabinet
The next step is fitting in the motherboard to your cabinet. The cabinets manufactured by various vendors normally come along with screw positions that match the screw positions of the motherboard. Mount the motherboard into the cabinet, aligning it properly to the I/O socket shield. Once the motherboard is mounted after proper alignment, simply start with the screwing process. The cabinet, as you must have noticed, comes with an SMPS and it provides power to the various components. The old motherboards like the ATX, generally have a 20-pin ATX connector, while the newer ones may come with a 2X2, 12V header and a 1X4 lead, in addition. Make the proper connections, to allow your motherboard to get the proper power supply. Refer to the motherboard's manual before proceeding along with the connection. You also need to connect the power supply switch. It is normally labeled PW-SW and on the motherboard, its appropriate connector is labeled as P-ON, PW etc. Make the proper connections. Finally, fix in the different adapters and when doing so, make it a point not to screw the adapters after fixing in each of them, rather screw in all the adapters after all the fixing is done. Keep referring the instruction manuals of the different adapters and the motherboard before fixing them in.
Assembling all the hardware components in a CPU cabinet is not a difficult task. All you need to do is handle each component with care. Fixing up the RAM and the hard disks are the post-assembly tasks, that can be very easily done. You just need to ensure that you have connected the power supply cables and data connectors to the right places.
