The motherboard is the base of the assembly of any computer. The entire further platform is built on its basis and how trouble-free the further upgrade will be depends on it. If choosing a motherboard is a theoretical question, installing it inside the case is a matter of practice.
However, even though there are instructions and special signs on the components of the components, there are cases when users need to correct things which can lead to some problems when installing components.
In today’s material, we will try to help novice users “make friends” with the motherboard and case with minimal hassle.
Motherboard form factor
The first thing you need to decide on when the question arises about choosing a motherboard is its standard size, also known as the “form factor,” also known as the physical size of the motherboard. There are several of them: EATX, ATX, Mini-ATX, and Micro-ATX (mATX). All of them differ in physical size and the amount of onboard logic and capabilities.
The description for each motherboard always indicates its standard size:
After we have decided on the size of the motherboard, we should select the case. Usually, beginners, guided by the rule “you can take any case for change,” forget this detail - support for motherboard form factors. The point here is not that the user will try to stuff a motherboard with this standard size into a case that does not support the ATX form factor, but that cases have their standard sizes, ranging from Full Tower to Ultra Tower.
Pro Tip: Explore a wide range of laptop prices in Pakistan. Discover the latest models from top brands, offering competitive rates to suit every budget and meet all your tech needs.
We will not dwell on this in detail; it should be understood that when choosing a case, you should pay attention to what form factor motherboards the case supports.
Delivery kit for motherboards and cases
Modern motherboards, as a rule, come with a standard set of components: a disk with drivers, instructions, a set of SATA cables, a plug for the rear panel, and a screw for securing M.2 SSD drives. The scope of delivery depends on the cost of the motherboards. For example, in more expensive options, the kit does not include a plug for the rear panel (it is installed directly on the motherboard).
It should be noted that the cases are also equipped with a certain set of fasteners necessary for installing motherboards inside. If the user bought a motherboard for an existing case, and its kit is lost, then you can purchase the necessary parts
Preparing for installation
So, to install the motherboard you will need:
Phillips screwdriver (aka “positive”). It should be noted that the size of the screwdriver should not be too large or too small. In the first case, the screwdriver will not fit into the grooves of the bolts, and a too-small one will turn inside them. For convenience, it is advisable to use a screwdriver that is adjustable in height and has a magnetic tip. Head with an internal hexagon (5 mm). If you don’t have them at home, you can get by with pliers or pliers.
For ease of motherboard installation, it is advisable to place the case in a horizontal position. There is an opinion that to avoid the formation of static voltage, it is necessary to work with gloves.
Installing the board
The process of installing a motherboard is not regulated uniformly and depends on many factors: the form factor of the case itself, the cooling system, and the presence of a discrete video card. However, we will try to minimize all difficulties during the installation stage.
As a recommendation, before installing the motherboard into the case, you should install the cooling system, and then install the motherboard into the case.
- We check that the mounting holes on the case correspond to the mounting holes on the motherboard. To simplify this procedure, many cases have special markings:
- The first type of label is alphabetic. Opposite each mounting hole there is a letter marked by the form factor of the motherboard, and the table contains separate decodings:
- The second type, the most common, is when the form factor of motherboards is marked directly with the mounting hole:
- Cases that do not have such designations:
In this case, you need to attach the motherboard to the wall of the case and thus determine under which holes in the board you will need to screw in the support posts. As you can see, three racks turned out to be superfluous, even though the motherboard has an ATX form factor.
- Let’s try another motherboard:
- All racks correspond to their positions.
- The fitting procedure is also important because the following problem can be identified at an early stage of assembly:
If there are no supports for the upper and middle parts of the motherboard PCB, the 24-pin block bends when you press it. To avoid mechanical damage when connecting the 24-pin power cable, it is recommended to hold the edge of the PCB with your free hand and make the connection. Therefore, the fitting procedure is important, especially since it does not take much time.
After this, we screw special bolts into the corresponding holes on the body of the racks. They may differ in appearance, but their characteristics are usually identical. At the same time, one bolt should be noted, which acts as a “center”.
It differs from all others in its shape, which has special edges on its upper part on which the motherboard mounting hole is mounted, thereby simplifying the “fitting” procedure. It is screwed into the very center of the rear wall of the case.
Further, if your motherboard provides a “plug” for the rear panel, then it must be installed in the case immediately, otherwise after installing the motherboard it will simply be impossible to do this. If such a plug is not provided, then the installation of the motherboard occurs without it.
Cooling Installation
It will be easier to do this on a table than in the case itself, especially if it does not provide a special hole for quickly replacing the cooling system. In addition, to avoid the risk of distortion, it is better to do this when the motherboard is in a horizontal position.
As you know, water cooling systems of the All-in-One type - AIO - are now quite common. The process of installing a motherboard with such a cooling system is not fundamentally different from installing it with an air cooling system, but it has its distinctive features. In the case of AIO, the first step is to install the radiator itself inside the case and remove the water block to the side.
- Next, we install special fasteners by the installed processor and install the CO.
- In this case, the installed frame is from AIO Arctic Freezer III 420 ARGB
- An example with the ID-Cooling SE-224-XT ARGB cooler installed (an example from the test bench of the previous review):
Pro Tip: Discover the latest MacBook Pro prices in Pakistan. Get the best deals on Apple’s powerful laptops, with various configurations to meet your needs and budget. Shop now for premium performance.
Further examples will be given with AIO installed.
After the cooling system is installed on the motherboard, some users install RAM next. In our material, we will move away from this tradition and the next step will be to install the motherboard directly into the case. Important! If you have a cooler that, due to its size, blocks the RAM slots, then it is better to install the latter outside the case!
Depending on the size of the VRM zone cooling system of your motherboard and the design features of the case, it is better to install using the “scissors” principle: first, we attach the back panel of the motherboard into the case at an angle, and then, lowering the right edge, install the motherboard on the landing bolts. If the mounting holes are positioned correctly to each other, they should be without distortion.
Next, use a special screwdriver to tighten the bolts.
Important! The bolts must be tightened freely until they stop, without applying force. There is no need to over-tighten them. To avoid thread stripping. In some places, a long screwdriver may be required, because… It’s quite difficult for a regular person to get into these. After fixing the motherboard to the mounting bolts, you can begin connecting all the peripherals. It should be noted that the most difficult wires to connect are the motherboard power supply (24 pin) and the processor power supply (8 pin).
They are difficult to connect not only because they have bulky connectors compared to others, but they are also located in inconvenient places for connection. If you have a fully modular power supply, then depending on the design of your case, these wires can be connected to the motherboard immediately, thereby slightly simplifying their final connection to the motherboard. However, this method has a drawback: two wires interfere when installing the board inside the case.
As noted above, it all depends on your power supply and the design of the case. In our example, the test Lian Li III and the Fractal Design Ion 760p power supply allow you to connect these wires after installing the motherboard inside the case. Important! The 24-pin wire must be connected without applying excessive force, until it clicks, to ensure better contact.
The remaining wires are connected to the corresponding connectors on the motherboard. If marking is difficult, please refer to the instructions for your motherboard. Lastly, we connect the RAM modules and the video card, if available.
Modern components are carefully designed by qualified specialists and manufactured using robotic technology. Then the test is carried out on test benches. Cases of mismatched mounting holes, or inconsistencies, usually occur for several reasons: a single defect, incorrect selection of elements or user fault, or inattention.
In this material, we tried to convey the procedure for installing the motherboard into the case as briefly as possible, so that assembling a computer would be enjoyable even for beginners.