TechZone the best place for info on how to build your own computer

You need to buy the right case for your motherboard. Most mbs ship in the ATX form factor, so you want an ATX case with an ATX power supply. But there are other form factors. If you have a 2-GHz or faster processor, you need a Pentium 4 compatible ATX12V power supply. You can't use an older ATX-style power supply with a Pentium 4 processor. However, you can usually get away with running an older motherboard and processor from a newer power supply. I assume that your power supply is already installed in your case. They usually are.

Install the motherboard or mb

1. Open the case and set it on its side, with the open side facing up. If your case has a hinged mb panel, open it and lay it flat on the table.

2. Take the mb out of its protective bag. Next, take the mb and lay it in the case. Carefully examine how the mb should fit and take note of where all the mounting holes line up.

3. Find and attach the plastic mounting brackets. You need to attach the plastic brackets to the mounting holes at two corners of the mb. You should notice some L-shaped slots on the mb mounting panel. These are where the plastic brackets should slide in.

4. For the rest of the mounting holes you need to use hexagonal-shaped mounting screws. Place the mb back in, making sure the brackets slide into the L slots. Make sure that the port in back of the mb fits securely with the breakout plate of the case. Sometimes it's easier to attach the breakout plate directly to the mobo first, and then slide the whole thing as one unit. This may take some practice. Use the mb mounting screws to secure the mb to the mount screws.

5. Line up the holes on the mb with the corresponding holes/brackets on the mb panel. The mobo will fit onto the mb panel only one way.

6. Close the mb panel (if necessary) and slap the template onto the back of the case (again, if necessary).

7. Finally, attach power. You'll notice power tails streaming out of the power supply. Grab the mb power supply cable, usually the widest of the bunch, and attach it to the power connector on the mb. All mbs are different, so check your manual first.

8. If you have a high-powered chip running at 2 GHz or faster, you'll find an extra power connector on the mb next to the processor. This is a specialty connector and only one type of power tail will attach to it. It'll be narrow and you won't be able to plug it into anything else.

All done
Ok there you go your new motherboard is installed.

Back or Next

Contiued
CPU & Memory
Install Your Hard Drive & DVD-R
AGP, PCI and ISA Cards
Final Steps