The Motherboard...

Mounting the motherboard properly is crucial. If you do not properly secure the board inside the case, making sure that it is properly spaced away from the case and is not making contact, there is the potential that you could short the enitre board out.

To the right is a fairly typical motherboard. We'll go over what most of these slots mean a bit later, but for right now we're going to focus on mounting the motherboard in the case.

Motherboard Riser - Build PC Guide - FAST PC

 Motherboard - Build PC Guide - FAST PC

The picture shown on the right is what you really need to focus on right now.

These holes, known as the motherboard mounts, are the holes that you use with the screws, pictured above, to secure the motherboard onto the case. The above motherboard riser is the most commonly used one, but there are the occasional plastic ones used as well.

 

 Motherboard mount - Build PC Guide - FAST PC

You do not necessarily have to use a screw with every mount, but I recommend mounting the 4 corners and at least 2 mounts on the inner part of the board.

If the board is still in direct contact with the case, the motherboard has a very real possibility of shorting out in the not-too-distant future.

After you have properly mounted the motherboard within the case, we're going to move on to mounting the processor on the motherboard.

We will come back to the motherboard in a sec, when we will attach cards, drives and such. But first, let's move on to the processor!

Next - Assemble a Computer: Installing the Processor »

 

Tip: If I didn't stress it enough, make sure you have used enough risers to physically separate your motherboard from the case! The board will settle after you've jostled the case around; making sure to use a minimum of six risers, strategically placed, should serve you and your motherboard well.