Motherboard Installation

How to Install a Motherboard

In this page we will see how to install a motherboard into an ATX full tower-computer case. The procedure is the same for every PC case and for every motherboard form factor. Although it is very easy and straightforward you need to take some precautions to avoid damaging the motherboard. We will see all these in a while.

In this example we will see just how to install a motherboard. In real world scenarios you may have to install the CPU in the motherboard first before installing it in the pc case. Especially in case that you want to install a different cooler than the stock, you may need to install a back plate in the back side of the CPU socket. So check this first before installing a motherboard to the pc case.

 

Precautions

A motherboard is a big card containing many circuits and electrical elements such as capacitors, resistors etc. Any electronic equipment is vulnerable to electrical discharges. Before touching the motherboard, be sure that you don’t have any static electricity on you. Touch an earthed metallic object before handling the motherboard.

 

Avoid touching the pins on the back side of the motherboard for the same reason as above. Think that every time that you touch the motherboard’s metallic components you create a short. Static electricity can pass through the short and damage the motherboard’s elements.

 

Leave the motherboard on the bag that was initially bundled. This bag is anti-static so there is no risk for electricity to reach it.

 

OK as we assume that you understand how important is to avoid static electricity discharges to your motherboard. Let’s proceed to the interesting part and see how to install a motherboard.

 

Installing a Motherboard

 

 This is the PC case that we are going to install our motherboard.

 

Remove the side panel of the computer case and check inside. As you can see there are many holes on the inside metallic “wall” of the case. You guessed well; our motherboard is going to be installed at this place.

 

Let’s have a closer look. We can see a lot more holes that our motherboard has. This is because the pc case supports other form factors as well than the standard ATX. So according to your motherboard form factor, you just need to screw the motherboard stands to the correct holes.

Motherboard stands? You can see them in the following picture.

 These are screws that come with your pc case and must be installed in the correct places. As you can see they are male/female screws. The male side is going to the pc case and the female side is used for securing the motherboard on the stands using simple screws.

 Screw the stands to the correct holes with your thumbs. Caution: Every stand must be just under the motherboard’s holes or else it will touch the motherboard components and it will create a short. You don’t want to do that.

 

 

 

Our PC case is ready to welcome our motherboard.

 

 

Unpack the motherboard from its package and leave it on the anti-static bag. You need first to install the I/O shield before installing the motherboard.

 

 This is the I/O back panel.

Take the I/O back plate and install it on the back as the following picture shows.

 

 

 

Be sure that you placed it correctly and not upside-down. Usually the mouse and keyboard serial ports are on top.

Now is the motherboard’s turn.

 

 

Lift the motherboard carefully and handle it from its sides. Point it’s I/O connectors and ports to the I/O shield and push it so the connectors fit in the holes of the I/O plate. Then leave the motherboard to lay on the stands.

 

 

 

If the motherboard’s holes are not perfectly aligned with the stands then align them as the illustration above.

Now the motherboard is in place and ready to be secured in the pc case.

Tighten the screws and you motherboard will be secured.

 

 

 

We finished installing a motherboard in a pc case. Easy, don’t you think?

 

We repeat again that do not rush installing the motherboard before installing the CPU. There is a big chance that you will have to uninstall the motherboard to install the CPU and re-install it again.

 

This concludes the motherboard installation guide. Let’s summarize how to install a motherboard.

 • Remove any static electricity from your hands

• Screw the stands in the PC case to the correct holes

• Install the I/O back plate

• Align motherboard’s I/O back connectors and ports with the I/O back plate.

• Align motherboard holes with the stands and secure it with the screws.

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How to choose motherboard

Free computer tips on selection of motherboard

In this post you will get 9 free tips on buying a new motherboard. What points you should keep in mind before making a choice for motherboard. As you know creating a customized PC is much easier and fulfill your requirements. The most important decisions you will make for your customized PC is which motherboard to buy. Motherboard prices and features vary tremendously so you need to consider performance, Prices, and features in a new motherboard depending on your need and requirement.

Motherboard shopping tips

Tip 1 : take some time to think about how you will use your system.

Understand what kind of system you are building. Someone with a power meter that requires a serial port will care a lot more about the peripheral features than the average user will, while the hard-core gamer will probably focus on the GPU, CPU, and chip set while ignoring peripherals and form-factor issues.

Tip 2 : Selecting the chip set

If the CPU is the brains of the PC than the Chip set is the spinal cord. Chip set is the single and most important component of motherboard and it directly influence the performance. Chip sets normally employ two different chips referred to as the northbridge and southbridge.North bridge is responsible for dealing with high-performance devices while less sensitive devices are dealt by southbridge. Northbridge includes the memory controller and graphic controller while southbridge includes networking, storage, audio, general peripherals. Pick chip set first, then the motherboard. The difference is chip sets can be significant but two motherboard with same chip set will be nearly identical in performance.

Tip 3 : Selecting Memory

Stay with DDR2 memory unless you need the extra bandwidth and performance. A modern desktop PC should have at least 2GB of memory, possibly 4GB for more demanding applications. Most chip sets use DDR2 memory at up to 800 MHz but newer chip sets from Intel may also use DDR3. DDR3 offers more bandwidth and consume less power but its expensive also.Both DDR2 and DD3 uses 240 pins the difference is that the key ( a small gap between the pins) is closer to the center of the DIMM ( the memory module ) for DDR. while it is closer to the edgeof the DDR3 DIMM. Remember : If the memory module doesnt fit into the slot, dont force it!

Tip 4 : Selecting graphic Hardware

The graphic processing unit (GPU) is the third most important component of a system, right after the CPU and chip sets. You need to consider the cost, performance and upgradability. AN IGP is a fine choice for for users interested in a little multimedia, office work and other lighter workloads.

Tip 5 : PCI Slot

PCI express comes in two flavors. GEN 1 and GEN 2. The difference is that Gen 2 PCI express slot runs at 5GHz twice the speed of previous generation. If the price is no object and maximum gaming performance is your goal, your selection is bit different. True multi-GPU support is a your high-end is priced accordingly. The only options for multiple GPUs are SLI and Crossfile. SLI for nvidia and Crossfire for ATI cards. Remember nVidia is the clear performance leader and note that nVidia chip sets and intels Shulltrail motherboard.

Tip 6 : Sound card

AC97 is an older audio standard that has been superseded by HD audio or Azilla. For the dedicated enthusiasts who would benefit from a discrete sound card an = extra PCI-E slot is enough to find.

Tip 7 : Networking

A good chip set will always have at least one integrated gigabyte Ethernet port. simply check it before buying.

Tip 8 : Associated Peripherals

On the motherboard, the peripherals can include USB 2.0, fireWire, PS/2, serial and parallel ports, and a floppy drive. OF those options, USB 2.0 is an absolute necessity and fire Wire can be nice obsolete unless you pretty much specific peripheral device.

Tip 9 : Form factor

The last aspect of the motherboard to consider is form factor. Most motherboard uses the ATX form factor, with the microATX design meeting the needs of space conscious user.

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