How to safely fit a motherboard

Bolton_99 · Jun 13, 2014

I am just about to fit my new motherboard and I am getting quite worried about breaking or damaging the board.

InvalidError · Jun 13, 2014

Unless your case is a tight fit affair, motherboards usually go in relatively easy. If you are doing an Intel build with the stock HSF, you might want to install the HSF and RAM first - at least I personally find it easier to install those with unrestricted access to support the motherboard from behind. If you are doing an Intel build, do not remove the LGA cover until you are ready to put the CPU in since the LGA fingers are very fragile and should not be left exposed to potential harm any longer than necessary. If you put the CPU on the socket correctly, it should drop in and align itself under its own weight or gentle taps at most; do not force it in.

Aside from that, you may want to triple-check your motherboard tray's metal stud locations to avoid misplaced extras that could cause shorts.

Once that is done, all that is left to do is drop the motherboard in and slide it into position - you cannot drop it in directly in line with studs since it won't clear the IO shield's "fingers" so you will need to drop the motherboard ~1/4" off the rear edge and slide it back to compress those IO shield fingers and align the board with mounting studs - keep an eye on those fingers as you go so they do not slip inside connections and cause shorts there.

Bolton_99 · Jun 13, 2014

InvalidError :

Unless your case is a tight fit affair, motherboards usually go in relatively easy. If you are doing an Intel build with the stock HSF, you might want to install the HSF and RAM first - at least I personally find it easier to install those with unrestricted access to support the motherboard from behind. If you are doing an Intel build, do not remove the LGA cover until you are ready to put the CPU in since the LGA fingers are very fragile and should not be left exposed to potential harm any longer than necessary. If you put the CPU on the socket correctly, it should drop in and align itself under its own weight or gentle taps at most; do not force it in.

Aside from that, you may want to triple-check your motherboard tray's metal stud locations to avoid misplaced extras that could cause shorts.
Should I worry about static?

Once that is done, all that is left to do is drop the motherboard in and slide it into position - you cannot drop it in directly in line with studs since it won't clear the IO shield's "fingers" so you will need to drop the motherboard ~1/4" off the rear edge and slide it back to compress those IO shield fingers and align the board with mounting studs - keep an eye on those fingers as you go so they do not slip inside connections and cause shorts there.

Bolton_99 · Jun 13, 2014

InvalidError :

Unless your case is a tight fit affair, motherboards usually go in relatively easy. If you are doing an Intel build with the stock HSF, you might want to install the HSF and RAM first - at least I personally find it easier to install those with unrestricted access to support the motherboard from behind. If you are doing an Intel build, do not remove the LGA cover until you are ready to put the CPU in since the LGA fingers are very fragile and should not be left exposed to potential harm any longer than necessary. If you put the CPU on the socket correctly, it should drop in and align itself under its own weight or gentle taps at most; do not force it in.

Aside from that, you may want to triple-check your motherboard tray's metal stud locations to avoid misplaced extras that could cause shorts.

Once that is done, all that is left to do is drop the motherboard in and slide it into position - you cannot drop it in directly in line with studs since it won't clear the IO shield's "fingers" so you will need to drop the motherboard ~1/4" off the rear edge and slide it back to compress those IO shield fingers and align the board with mounting studs - keep an eye on those fingers as you go so they do not slip inside connections and cause shorts there.

Should I worry about static?

InvalidError · Jun 13, 2014

Bolton_99 :

Yes, as with any electronics work.

As long as you leave your parts on anti-static bags and handle them by metal (locally grounded) parts, you should be fine static-wise. Also make sure you are touching the case as you bring components in to avoid building a charge differential between the two in the process.

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How to safely fit a motherboard

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