Motherboard Preparations
Remember: ESD (you know what to do - see Introduction).
The first thing you should do before preparing your motherboard is to read the manual. I know, I know, I hate hearing those words too, so I will give you the inside goods on the few key areas that need to be perused (although, if you are confronted by a problem that you cannot explain, reading the entire manual would be a good idea). You need to know the location of the following items:
- CPU Socket -- large square cream-coloured thing with a grid of pinholes
- CPU Fan connector -- small cream-coloured square with 3 prongs near CPU socket
- DIMM Sockets (memory) -- a set of 2-4 long plastic modules with clips on both ends
- Power Connector -- a plastic module with a bunch of segregated metal connectors inside *
- System Panel Connectors -- usually comprised of two rows of metal prongs near the lower-right edge of the motherboard
- IDE connectors -- Two parallel rows of 20 pins housed in a shroud of plastic
- Floppy Connector - similar to the IDE connector, but smaller
- I/O Ports (Keyboard, Mouse, USB, Serial, Parallel) - these can be found on the rear, exterior edge of the motherboard
* Pentium 4 motherboards have two power connectors. One as described above and one that is made up of four connectors in a square patterns that is usually near the CPU socket.
Place the motherboard on a flat, solid surface such as on the box it came in. This will support the motherboard and allow you to apply the necessary pressure to install the RAM and peripherals.
Step 1: Install the CPU
More CPUs |
Lift the lever on the side of the CPU socket. Usually the lever is held into place with a tab, so you will need to pull the lever away from the socket slightly before lifting it up.
Look at the arrangement of pins on the bottom of the CPU and line them up to those on the CPU socket. All current CPUs use ZIF or Zero Insertion Force sockets, meaning gravity is the pressure that you need to properly place the CPU into the socket. If it is not falling into place, recheck the pins - there is only one possible orientation.
After ensuring the CPU is correctly in place, lower the lever into its original position.
Step 2: Install the Heatsink / Fan
More heatsinks/fans |
Now we need to install the HSF (Heatsink/Fan combo - also referred to as the CPU cooler). There are many ways to do this as the process varies from cooler to cooler and from socket to socket. The best way to ensure you are doing it properly is to refer to your mobo and cooler manuals.
Here is a generic overview of the process. Prepare the cooler by removing any plastic covers etc… You may see a square pad of goop on the bottom of the heatsink; this is a thermally conductive substance which increases the heat transfer between the heatsink and CPU (which is very important for keeping your processor cool). The thermal goop may also be included in a small, separate package in which case you will need to apply it yourself. This is an optional step, one which you may prefer to do at a later time. Check out
Overclockers.com for more information on CPU cooling, which is varied and in-depth topic.
There should be a metal clip running through the heatsink. This is what you use to affix the cooler to the motherboard (unless you have a Pentium 4 motherboard, in which case you should follow the instructions in your manual as you will need to install two braces on either side of the CPU socket before install the heatsink). One side of the clip should have a tab for holding on to. This end clips onto the tab on the "top" side of the CPU socket with the thick plastic border that most like has "Socket xxx" printed on it. First hook the other end of the clip around the opposite side (or "bottom") of the socket and then line up the cooler so that it is sitting square on the CPU. Then with slow and steady pressure, firmly place the remaining clip around the tab on the top side of the CPU socket. Make sure not to press down on the cooler itself as this could put too much pressure on the CPU itself.
Once you have ensured that the cooler is correctly in place, MAKE SURE YOU PLUG IT IN!! If you don’t do this, your CPU could overheat and die. Use the CPU Fan connector you found in the previous section to do this. Just plug the wire coming from the cooler fan into the connector (making sure it is lined up properly because there are plastic tabs on one side of the connector).
Step 3: Install the Memory (RAM)
Open the clips on either side of the memory slots you wish to use. Line up the notches in the memory module with the gaps in the slot and apply even pressure to both sides. If necessary, apply slightly more pressure to one side of the module and then to the other side until it clicks into place. The clips should automatically flip back into place, securing the module in the slot.
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