How to Hookup a Motherboard
After a motherboard has been mounted into a computer case, it must be hooked into the rest of the system. The motherboard acts as a communications backbone for the entire computer. Despite this responsibility, the installation of a motherboard is made simple thanks to keyed connector specifications that are unique to each device. Furthermore, motherboards have printed on them the names of each connector on the PCB (printed circuit board) itself to remove ambiguity from the connective process.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Locate and become familiar with all connector types on the motherboard and their locations. Motherboard manuals contain illustrated pictures of the motherboard detailing not only these locations but the proper installation orientation of the connectors that use them.
-
2
Connect the data cables from the hard drives to the data connectors on the motherboard. These connectors are most commonly SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) plug-type connectors, though some legacy IDE (integrated development environment) connectors still exist. Data connectors are commonly found in the lower right corner of the motherboard.
-
-
3
Connect the RAM (random-access memory) sticks into their respective slots. Consult the motherboard for its specific RAM installation needs. Multichannel ram, such as double and triple channel, require that the RAM be installed into specific slots. For example, triple channel RAM often requires chips installed into slots 0, 2 and 4 rather than 0, 1 and 2. These slots are often color coded to guide you in selecting the correct slot.
-
4
Connect any add-on cards into the motherboard. The slots for these cards are located in the bottom left corner of the motherboard adjacent to the expansion slots on the rear face of the case. Ensure that any cards requiring addition power connectors are connected to the power supply at this time, such as high end graphics cards.
-
5
Connect the case fans to their power pins located on the motherboard. Fans use small three and four pin power connectors. These connectors appear as small metal pins protruding from the motherboard with a small plastic backing. These pins are delicate and often covered with a small plastic cap which must be removed prior to installation.
-
6
Connect the motherboard power cables. There are at least two, and sometimes four, power cables. The primary power cable is a 20- or 24-pin "main" power connector that supplies power to the motherboard itself. There is at least one additional power connector known as the "P4" connector, so named due to its release at the time the Intel Pentium 4 was released, that supplies power to the processor. On some models of motherboards, there are two "P4" connectors to supply extra power to the processor for extreme over-clocking. Additionally, very high end enthusiast motherboards have Molex connectors that attach to the motherboard to supply additional voltage for high-end graphics cards and to regulate voltage across the board for north-bridge and memory over-clocks.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
All connectors on the motherboard, such as power and data connectors, are keyed to only allow installation in one orientation. The connectors should not take much force to install, and the refusal of a connector to properly insert is often an indication of it not being held in the proper orientation.
Though the installation steps may be performed in any order, the connection of the motherboard to the power supply unit must be performed last. The connection of devices to an electrified motherboard can lead to device damage.
Use anti-static precautions such as an anti-static wrist strap or touching a metal part of the case to dispel static before touching the internal components of the computer.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
