Installing the Motherboard, CPU and RAM

In this series of articles (and accompanying video series), I am going to show you how to build a Blu-ray system step by step. In the previous article (Choosing Components for a Blu-ray Home Theatre PC) I discussed the hardware choices for building a Blu-ray HTPC.

In this article, I will demonstrate how to install the motherboard, CPU, and RAM.

Introduction

One of the most important things, before touching any electronic computer component, is to make sure that you are grounded - this means you will not get an electric shock or give off static electricity which could potentially physically damage your motherboard, CPU and other electronic parts.

Usually, if you touch a computer case (or any metal object), it grounds you or if you prefer you can use an anti-static wrist strap. Frankly, they're really old fashioned, but they do their job! Many PC professionals - geeks - wear anti-static wrist straps and attach the other end to the leg of a table to connect you to the ground.

Anti-static straps come with most PC tool kits.

Installing the Motherboard

Remove the lid of the case. You will see many cables there. This particular case comes with extra features which equip the front LCD display. The first thing to do is to clear out the area to make room for the motherboard. Keep these cables, which are for front connectors, fan power connectors, and other cables, out of the way.

Make room for the motherboard in the case

Next, install the back plate of the motherboard. The manufacturer of the case will provide a generic back plate but usually the ports don't line up with the slots so remove the generic back plate and install the one which is supplied with the motherboard.

To remove the back plate, just press it from the outside of the case. It should pop out easily.

This particular motherboard provides a back plate which has slots for three audio connectors, four USB ports, firewire etc.

The motherboard back plate

Before installing a back plate you need to remove the metal spacers to allow the back I/O plate of the motherboard to push through.

To install the back plate, push it from the inside of the case.It should theoretically go in easily but sometimes it may take an extra bit of effort to push it in place.

After installing the back plate, the next thing to do is to line up the motherboard with the spacers. Make sure the spacers are in the right spots. Look to see which mounting holes on the motherboard line up with the spacers in the case.

Pop the motherboard inside the case - it should slide in easily.

Mounting holes on the motherboard