Installing the hardware, Part 1: Motherboard, CPU, and Memory

Choosing all the different brands and types of components can be very difficult and requires a fair amount of research, but once you’ve got all your parts, you’re ready to get down to business and start building the thing.

		This is the bay of your ATX case, the big open area into which most of the components will be installed
With a new case, a set of tiny screws or brackets are usually included. These are to keep the motherboard from coming into contact with the case and prevent any short that might thus occur.
		Insert them into the corner and side screw holes that you will use to attach the motherboard.
Then screw the motherboard into place.
		Most current CPUs come in a socket form.  You usually will have to lift a lever on the motherboard’s socket to install it.
The  CPU’s pins are configured in such a way that it can only be installed one way.  Do not force it into the socket! Make sure that you have it turned the correct way, and then close the lever.
		Clip the CPU cooler onto the processor socket and attach its power cable to the motherboard’s fan header.
These three long thin slots (called DIMMs) are for you memory modules.  Different motherboards have different numbers and types of DIMM slots.  These are for SDRAM.
		Like the CPU, there is only one proper way of installing the memory modules.  Align them with the slot but do not force them in.
When a memory module is properly installed, the clips on the slot’s sides will close into the its notches.