Motherboard sizes - types of motherboard form factors

How to Install the Motherboard in Your PC Case (2023)

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The motherboard is a significant element in the PC constructing course of. Most of your system elements, together with the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage, amongst different issues, are all put in on the motherboard. It is actually the spine of your pc and is certainly one of the first elements we set up whereas constructing a PC from scratch. So you want to be certain that the motherboard has been put in appropriately in the PC case earlier than you proceed to set up the GPU or join the energy provide. Now, putting in a motherboard inside a pc case isn’t as mountainous a process as some may need you imagine, however you want to maintain a couple of issues in thoughts. With that mentioned, in case you are constructing a brand new PC or upgrading your current one, let’s take a look at how to set up the motherboard in your PC.

Step-By-Step Guide to Installing Motherboard (2023)

We will even assist you plug in your case’s entrance I/O completely, a step that’s in any other case complicated for a lot of PC builders. This is a step-by-step information on how to set up the motherboard inside your PC case.

Things to Remember Before Installing Motherboard

Gather the Necessary Tools

Although this may look like an apparent prerequisite to constructing a PC, keep in mind to collect and arrange your instruments in your office. In this case, you’ll primarily want a Phillips Head screwdriver. Also, be sure your office is clear and floor your self earlier than beginning work on PC elements. Use an anti-static bracelet throughout the set up course of to keep away from electrostatic injury.

Check Motherboard Compatibility with PC Case

Picking the proper PC case is the subsequent necessary step in the course of. Depending on the dimension of your PC cupboard, it may both match a full-size ATX, microATX, or mini-ITX board. As we described in our in-depth information on several types of motherboards, you may be taught what motherboards can match into what sort of PC circumstances.

Motherboard sizes - types of motherboard form factors

So the PC case and motherboard you employ must be suitable. For occasion, a full-tower case can match all three kinds of motherboards however a case with a smaller type issue can solely match a mini-ATX motherboard.

Install Core Components on Motherboard

Before you mount the motherboard inside your PC, be sure to set up the core elements and full the fundamental construct exterior the case. We recommend you put in the CPU in your motherboard, together with the RAM modules and reminiscence sticks, earlier than continuing additional with this information. Also, you may set up an air cooler or AIO prior to inserting the motherboard inside the case.

Check for Required Power Connectors

Your motherboard both has a single 6-pin/8-pin CPU energy connector or two 8-pin energy connectors. High-end motherboards like the ASUS ROG Z790-E have a tendency to have two energy connectors to help larger energy limits for unlocked CPUs. So, put together your energy provide cables accordingly for a profitable set up of the motherboard.

Keep Your Motherboard Manual on Hand

Make certain you may have the motherboard guide helpful earlier than beginning work on the construct. If you’re lacking your motherboard guide, you may obtain it from the producer’s web site. Why do you want it? Since not all motherboards are constructed the similar, we’d want to refer to the guide to affirm connectors for USB headers, RGB lights, Front I/O, and extra.

Motherboard Standoffs Explained

So you unboxed your PC case and located small metallic screw-like items put in the place you want to place the motherboard. Now, you’re questioning what they’re and what are they used for. Well, these small metallic items are known as standoffs, and also you want to set up them in your PC cupboard to have the case prepared for motherboard set up.

motherboard standoff getting screwed in

Each motherboard screw requires a standoff for set up, and its positioning is decided primarily based in your motherboard’s dimension. As for why you want standoffs between your motherboard and case inside, the reply is easy. The standoffs make it possible for the naked PCB of your motherboard doesn’t contact the case’s electrically conductive inside.

Your motherboard screws into the standoffs you positioned in the case, which ensures not solely a safe set up but in addition helps keep away from the threat of short-circuiting the board. So by no means screw in the motherboard straight, as positioning the standoffs appropriately is a significant step for putting in the board.

How to Install Motherboard Inside a Case

1. As acknowledged above, we’ll first be sure the standoffs are in the proper place earlier than mounting the motherboard. Standoffs are normally pre-installed in the case for a selected motherboard dimension, however you may want to re-position them on your motherboard. So, get your instruments and motherboard to learn the way to place the standoffs appropriately.

asus rog motherboard

2. Now, place your motherboard inside the case above the standoffs put in in the case. The motherboard’s screw holes will line up to sure standoff positions. You may need to transfer your motherboard round inside the case and align the holes to the standoff factors. Next, assess whether or not the present standoff positions work on your motherboard set up or not.

In the demonstration under, we’ve highlighted a couple of of the motherboard screw holes to their standoff places. You can see that certainly one of the standoffs in the center row is lacking right here, so we’ll want to set up it manually. Move to the subsequent step to learn the way to do this.

motherboard standoffs highlighted

3. If the standoffs usually are not in the proper positions, you want to observe down the appropriate positions for putting in them in your case. Then, set the motherboard apart, and take away any incompatible standoffs (flip counter-clockwise and use a plier if they’re tight). Next, place your standoff at the appropriate screw holes on your motherboard and screw it in by rotating clockwise along with your hand.

Note: If none of the standoffs are put in in the case, you have to to observe down all the required positions primarily based in your motherboard. Then, screw in the standoffs at the corresponding positions one after the other.

motherboard standoff getting screwed in

3. Next, add in the I/O Shield if required. Don’t overlook about the I/O Shield as a result of it protects your motherboard’s ports as an alternative of leaving them uncovered. In our case, the motherboard comes with a pre-installed I/O Shield. But many low-end and price range motherboards include an I/O Shield (metallic sheet with I/O port cutouts) in the field, and also you want to set up it manually. For instance, right here’s what a motherboard appears like with an I/O protect overlaying the ports.

IO-shield-for-motherboard

5. Next, place the motherboard inside the case by first reducing the left aspect down. Make certain the varied ports align with the I/O protect cowl. Then, find the standoffs and decrease the proper aspect of the motherboard, ensuring they align completely with the holes and the board firmly rests on high of the standoffs. Once positioned correctly, screw down the motherboard along with your Philips head screwdriver.

Note: Never screw in the motherboard too tight. By screwing in the motherboard tightly, chances are you’ll injury the PCB of your board. This voids the guarantee if marks are left by the screws. Focus on tightening the motherboard screws until they really feel good, not too tight.

6. Well, you may have efficiently mounted the motherboard inside your PC case, however there are a few issues left for us to do.

Get the motherboard guide and navigate to the ‘Front I/O headers’ part. Here, you will see that an evidence of the place to plug in the entrance I/O ports, energy change, reset change, and entrance audio ports, amongst different issues. Plug in the entrance I/O connectors one after the other, in accordance with the data in your motherboard guide. In the guide, additionally, you will discover the location for USB headers, so plug in these to make the USB 3.0 or USB Type-C ports on the entrance useful.

Note: If you look intently, the correct places of the place to plug in Front I/O headers are additionally usually printed on the motherboard itself.

7. After that, you want to join the predominant energy cable and different element cables upon getting put in the PSU (energy provide) in your construct. We can’t elaborate the place to join every cable or connector on the motherboard in this information. But no two motherboards are made the similar, so you’ll have to use the guide to determine that out for your self.

8. That’s it! You have efficiently put in your motherboard inside the PC case. You can transfer on to placing collectively the remainder of your PC construct, putting in elements like the graphics card, PCIe add-on playing cards, and storage drives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the motherboard set up course of totally different for AMD and Intel?

No, the course of of putting in the motherboard inside the case shouldn’t be totally different for AMD and Intel motherboards. The solely factor to maintain in thoughts is the dimension of the motherboard, because it does impression the set up course of, and the place you may have to place the standoffs.

My motherboard dimension is just too large or small for my case. What ought to I do?

Verify that your case helps your motherboard by checking for compatibility in the specs sheet. The mini ITX, micro ATX, or Full ATX motherboards can all match in a full-tower ATX case, however a mini ITX case can’t take a micro ATX motherboard. So ensure you decide the appropriate case on your PC construct. You will want to use a special motherboard or case in the event that they’re not suitable.

I forgot to put the IO Shield. Is there any method I can set up it with out eradicating the motherboard?

No, you can’t set up the I/O protect with out eradicating the motherboard. So keep in mind to set up the I/O Shield earlier than mounting the motherboard in the PC case. You should take away all motherboard screws and cables, set up the IO protect, and repeat the motherboard set up course of in the event you overlook the I/O Shield.

How do I set up motherboard drivers?

You could get the driver packages for all the varied motherboard elements by the producer’s web site. Windows Update performs driver updates mechanically on your elements.

What if I don’t have sufficient standoffs for my motherboard?

You can purchase extra standoffs on your PC case by an area vendor or on-line by Amazon. If you may have a brand new PC case, you will see that standoffs pre-installed or in the case packaging, so you can begin putting in the motherboard straight away. But it must be famous that you just may want to purchase standoffs in case you are utilizing an older case.

Which motherboard is best – mini ITX or ATX?

If you need to stick to one graphics card, only some storage gadgets, and don’t want a big-size AIO or air cooler, mini ITX may be the proper alternative for you. With ATX motherboards, customers get to broaden their system with far more storage gadgets, a second graphics card, and extra issues too, which opens up many prospects.

Installing a Motherboard in Your Computer

That’s just about every part you want to learn about mounting a motherboard in a case in case you are constructing your first PC or upgrading an older pc. If you adopted the steps above rigorously, you’ll have put in the motherboard in your PC efficiently. Although you want to watch out of some issues, the course of was fairly simple, proper? Once you may have put in the board, you may join all the energy connectors, set up the air cooler on CPU (after making use of thermal paste on the CPU), and activate the PC to see if it really works completely. If you may have any doubts or face any points throughout the set up, do tell us in the feedback under.

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