PC Build – Installing IO plate, motherboard, GPU, cables, SSD – DIY in 5 PC Build Part 6

Опубликовано 26 января 2018, 18:00

This is the final episode of our “Build your Own PC” series. If you’ve followed along up until this point, you’ll have all your components picked out according to the type of PC you want to build, and have it partially assembly. If you are just tuning in to this series and need help choosing components, or installing the PSU, CPU and CPU cooler, or RAM, see other videos in the series here: youtube.com/watch?v=pQfTftCrPx...

The I/O plate should come with your motherboard and labels each of the ports and closes off the back of the computer from dust and debris. Line it up and push until it locks into place. Check that the small metal tabs on the backplate touch the metal parts of the connections from the motherboard. This is to ground them. If they don’t bend them into place with needle-nose pliers.

Now we’ll install the motherboard. Most cases don’t come with pre-installed risers. These keep the motherboard from directly touching the metal of the case. By placing your motherboard inside the case, you’ll see which holes line up with the case and that’s where you should screw in the risers - they should have come with your case. Gently slide in the motherboard, pushing the rear panel ports through the I/O plate, then set the mother board on top of the risers. The screw holes should align and you should be able to screw the motherboard in. I recommend only screwing things down halfway until you know you’ve got it positioned right.

Now install the dedicated GPU if you will be using one. The longest PCIe slot is usually the first in the series of slots. Install the video card there. Line up the video card’s backplate with the slot and the gold connectors - don’t touch them! – and push it in until it clicks. If one side looks higher than the other, pull it out and try again.

Now we will install the drives. Depending on your case, installing your hard drive might require screws, tool-free mechanisms, a caddy or tray, or an adapter. If you’re using mSATA or an M.2 drive, these are typically installed into particular slots on the motherboard or the PCIe slots. Consult your motherboard and hard drive manuals to make sure they are installed in the right place.
Now let’s connect all of the cables. Run data cables from your drives to the motherboard. Then, run power cables from the PSU to the motherboard, you might need two here. Next, run power to your video card and your drives. The connectors for your drives are usually thin and black. Once you know where the cables should go, do some cable management. If you can run cables around the back of the motherboard or through specific cable management devices your case look better and there will be better airflow and heat management. Now onto wires, although often confused, they are different than cables. Connect the power wires from the CPU cooler & other fans to the correct pins on the motherboard - they are usually clearly marked. Connect the wires from the front panel to the appropriate headers. Connect the wires from your case lights, power, and reset buttons to the pins on the motherboard. These are also normally labeled. Consult your motherboard manual for help.

It is now time to boot the computer for the first time. Some PC builders will power up through each step of a build, but for first time builders, we recommend putting everything together before booting up. If you used an anti-static wrist strap, take it off now. Leave the case open so you can watch it closely. Connect and turn on the monitor, press the power button, and watch the machine turn on with the case still open, but don’t touch anything while it’s powered! Check that your fans are spinning, especially the CPU fan - if not, power down right away! If fans are spinning, check the monitor to see if your motherboard manufacturer’s logo has appeared. If it did, you have successfully built a computer! If not, power down and double check all your work. If you saw the motherboard splash screen, everything is good. Now let’s adjust BIOS/UEFI by pressing F1 a few seconds after boot to set date, time and default boot order. Now you can install your OS from a USB or optical drive.

Now that you’ve created your masterpiece, show it off! Tweet us pictures of your rig using #DIYin5 Tell us in the comments what kind of build you did and how it went. If this or any other videos in this series helped you, please give us a like and brag to your friends about how easy the whole process was once you broke it all down. Now, enjoy your rig for years to come! As an added bonus, you’ll probably be more likely to update components now that you’ve been inside the guts of your tower and it’s not so intimidating.

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