How to Build a Quiet PC with AMD 850MHz CPU-Mounting the Components-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

Mounting the Components

Part IV in How to Build a Quiet PC with AMD 850MHz CPU by Taliesin Akin

Installing the Motherboard
Installing the CPU
Installing the Heat Sink/CPU fan
Installing the Memory

Installing the Motherboard

This case has a removable motherboard tray, making it much easier to install the motherboard. To access this tray, remove the right side panel. Then remove the screw in the back that holds the motherboard mounting tray (see the picture on the left). Push the tray forward and remove it from the case.

There are more mounting holes on the motherboard tray than you will need for your motherboard. To determine which holes you will use for your motherboard, align the motherboard to the holes on the mounting tray. For this motherboard, each mounting hole has a silver ring around it. For each hole that aligns, attach one of the metal spacers by inserting it lengthwise into the hole on the tray. The spacer just snaps in (see the picture on the right). When all are inserted, place the motherboard on the spacers and secure it to the tray with the mounting screws (see the picture below). Use a washer for each screw. The washers keep the screw head from coming against the circuitry of the motherboard.

Installing the CPU

I am installing an AMD Athlon Thunderbird 850MHz Socket A / Socket 462 CPU. Now that you have the motherboard mounted, you are ready to install the CPU. Find the Socket where the CPU attaches. It is a white square that will have Socket 462 printed on it (photo 29). On one side of the socket, there is a lever. Gently pull the lever away from the Socket until it is free to move. Lift the lever up to prepare the Socket for the CPU. Remove the CPU from its packaging and examine the bottom side. There you will see a pattern of pins in a square (see the picture on the left). On one side (bottom), the pattern is angled and on the other side (top), it is beveled. You can see this same pattern in the Socket on the motherboard (see the picture on the right). Line up the bevel side with the bevel on the socket and place the CPU on the Socket. Gently press the CPU until it is firmly in the Socket and lower the lever to its original position (see the picture below).

Installing the Heat Sink/CPU fan

I chose the Z1-DS Quiet CPU cooler to help reduce noise coming from the CPU fan. To attach the heat sink / fan, first apply a thin layer of heat sink compound to the top surface of the CPU. This helps heat transfer from the CPU to the heat sink, keeping the CPU cool. Too much of the heat sink compound is worse than too little, so make sure it's a thin layer (see the picture below).

Find the shorter curl of the CPU cooler's fastener. The CPU socket has a shoulder side, which is the side that has Socket 462 written on it (the side not covered by the CPU in the picture above). Place the large curl of the cooler's fastener on the shoulder side and the small curl on the opposite side. You will notice that there are tabs on either side of the Socket. The curl fasteners of the CPU fan fit under these tabs. Attach the short curl of the fastener by engaging it under one of the tabs (see the picture on the left). For the long curl, rotate it clockwise until it fits under the tab (see the picture on the right). Be very gentle when attaching this fastener and be careful not to force it or let the metal curl slip. People have been known to break AMD Socket A CPUs when installing the heat sink fan. Use only AMD approved heat sink fans and do not use excessive force. This has happened mostly with CPUs of 1 GHz or larger. After the heat sink fan is attached, you can attach the cooler's power connector to the three-pin connector on the motherboard that reads "CPU fan".

Installing the Memory

I am installing 256MB PC133 SDRAM. With the motherboard still outside the case, find the DIMM slots (see the picture above). There are three DIMM's on this motherboard. Install memory chips into DIMM 1 first, and then if you have more than one chip to install, install them in DIMM 2 and 3 respectively. (On some motherboards, the numbers may read DIMM 0, DIMM 1, DIMM 2). There are clips on either side of the DIMM slot. Release these clips before inserting the memory chip. You will only be able to install the memory chip in one direction. Examine the DIMM slot to discover which direction to align the chip and gently press the memory chip into the DIMM slot. As you press the chip in, the clips will move into slots on the chip to secure it. When you have the chip all the way down, make sure that the clips are completely in the slots on the chip.

Before you install the mounted motherboard you will need to examine the integrated I/O ports at the back to see if you need to pop the covers out of those that you will be using. For instance, the Sound Card interfaces need to be uncovered if you have installed a sound card or there is sound built into your motherboard. You can take the I/O plate off the case easily. It just snaps out (see the picture on he left). If you place it against the I/O ports of the back on the motherboard, it will become obvious which covers need to come out (see the picture on the right). Pop out the covers for the I/O ports you will be using and snap it back in place when you're done.

Return the mounted motherboard to the case. Set the bottom of the tray in the groove at the bottom of the case, and then align the hooks at the top of the tray with the holes for them. Slide the tray backwards into place (see the picture on the right), making sure that all the I/O ports align properly with the I/O plate. Secure the tray with the screw at the back. Replace the right panel.

NEXT: | V. Connecting the Components to the Motherboard | VI. First Power Up | VII. Sound Assessment |
BACK: | I. Reasons to Build a Quiet PC | II. Choosing Components | III. Case Work for a Quiet PC |
OTHERS: | Go to Top | Directron Home | Other System Manuals |

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