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

Connecting the Components to the Motherboard

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

Power Supply
CD ROM Drive
3.5" Floppy Drive
Hard Drive
Case Fan
Connecting the Panel and Jumper Pins
Installing the Video Card

Once you're this far, it's time to start connecting the various components to the motherboard. Don't connect anything to the expansion slots (except the video card) until you get the system up and running. Your computer will have enough new devises to install when you first power up.

Power Supply

Unwrap the bundle of wires that are attached to the power supply. Find the ATX Main Power Connector (20 Pins). On this power supply, the cords from the Main Power Connector are bundled with a black mesh so it is easy to identify (see the picture on the left). Plug it into the motherboard in the socket labeled ATX power. There is a clip on the Main Power Connector and a hook on the ATX power socket, make sure these connect and that they click into place. Next, connect the power supply fan. Find the Fan Monitor Connector (3 pins) and attach it to the three-pin connector on the motherboard that reads "Power Fan". You may also connect the Aux Power Connector or the +12V Power Connector, depending on you system. This system will not be using them. Next, connect the power supply fan. Find the Fan Monitor Connector (3 pins) and attach it to the three-pin connector on the motherboard that reads "Power Fan". The rest of the plugs and connectors are for your devices. We'll hook them up as we come to them.

CD ROM Drive

When connecting the drives, attach the connections that are closest to the motherboard first. This makes it easier to reach the remaining connections on you drive. Also, start from the top most drive and work your way down. Attach the sound cord for your CD ROM drive first. This drive can use either an analogue or a digital cable to attach to the sound card. The analogue cable (or "black to black") is the one used here. Attach one end of the cable to the CD ROM drive (there is only one socket that it will fit) and then attach the other end to the CD Audio Line In socket on the motherboard (consult your motherboard manual).

Next attach the IDE cable to the back of the CD ROM. IDE (or EIDE�E for enhanced) cables will have a connector to connect to the IDE slot on the motherboard and then one or two more IDE connectors on the cable. With two IDE slots on the motherboard, you can have up to four IDE devices attached. To do this, you attach two devices per cable, and you need to make one the master and one the slave device. You will have a master and a slave for each cable. If you want to make a device a slave, you have to set the jumpers in the back of the device to the slave setting. Devices are usually shipped as master devices, so you will not need to do anything to make a device a master for that cable, but check it to make sure the settings are correct. When inserting the IDE cable into the device, insert the top connector in the master device, and then insert the connector in the middle (actually upper third) of the cable in the slave device. This is important, because for some systems, (namely those using Cable Select) the position of the device on the cable determines whether it is a master or a slave. You can only attach the IDE cable one direction, since there is a knob on one side of the connector that fits into a hole on the IDE slot. The red line of the IDE cable identifies pin 1.

After you have attached the IDE cable to the CD ROM, put the other end of the cable in IDE 2 (I will be putting the hard drive cable in IDE 1) on the motherboard. Lastly, insert the Peripheral power connector from the power supply. Notice that the top of the connector is beveled while the bottom is square. This makes it impossible for you connect the power connector improperly (see the picture on the right).

3.5" Floppy Drive

Unfortunately, connecting the floppy drive is not as straightforward as it should be. There is a special 4 pin floppy connector from the power supply. Find that, and connect it to the back of the floppy drive. The cable for the floppy drive is smaller then the IDE cable. It will have a twist in it at one end. This twist must be connected to the A: drive. If you have a B: floppy, it will be connected below the twist. The red strip on the cable must be connected to pin one on the drive. Sometimes, the pins are not labeled. Pin one is often the one closest to the power connection of the floppy. Sometimes, the cable is keyed so that it will only go in one way. This may not be the correct orientation, however. The bottom line is red strip = pin one. You may have to find a way to insert the cable "backwards". The other end without the twist connects to the floppy slot on the motherboard (right next to the two IDE slots, photo 41). Again, the red strip is pin one. If you get the cable in the wrong way, the drive will not operate properly. This does not seem to damage the drive, however, so don't panic (it will probably ruin any floppy disks that you try to read from the improperly installed drive). Just open up the computer and reverse the cable connection. (When will they phase these useless drives out, anyway?!)

Hard Drive

Connect the IDE connection from the hard drive just like you did for the CD ROM drive. This time, insert the other end of the IDE cable into IDE 1 on the motherboard. Connect a peripheral power connector form the power supply.

Case Fan

Connect the case fan power cord to one of the peripheral connectors from the power supply, or, if you have a motherboard connection (small three pin connector), connect the fan directly to the motherboard at on of the connections labeled "system fan". Consult your motherboard manual for the location of fan connectors.

Connecting the Panel and Jumper Pins

Consult your motherboard manual for the location of the Panel and Jumper pins on the motherboard. There should be two rows of pins, 9 pins on the top and eight pins on the bottom. The connectors from the case will connect to these Pins. They are the HDD Led, the Soft Power Connector, the Power Led, the reset switch and the system speaker (see the picture on the left). Consult your motherboard manual for the proper alignment of these connectors.

Installing the Video Card

If your motherboard has no built in video, you will need to install a video card or else you will not be able to see anything from your monitor. You can install an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) video card or PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) video card. PCI video cards are now being phased out in favor of the faster AGP type, so if you are buying a new card, it will likely be AGP. In the picture below, the AGP expansion slot is the top most slot. The five white one below it are the PCI expansion slots. The small slot below that is the AMR slot (Audio Modem Riser) and then the large black one on the bottom is the ISA slot (Industry Standard Architecture).

To install the graphics card, just fit it in the appropriate slot (PCI or AGP). Make sure the card is completely in the slot. You will not be able to install any software for the new card until the system is up and running, but the card will give you basic video output until then.

NEXT: | 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 | IV. Mounting the Components |
OTHERS: | Go to Top | Directron Home | Other System Manuals |

Customer Feedback through Yahoo!
	Join our Newsletter

Shipping Policy	Customer Services	Payment Policy
Est. Shipping Cost Time-in-Transit Map FAQ - Shipping Top Reasons for Delays UPS, FedEx, Postal Office Walk-in Sales APO/FPO Shipping International Tracking Orders	Return Rates Store Statistics Customer Satisfaction Account Applications Frequent Errors FAQ-Services FAQ-Tech Support Newsletter Order Status	Credit Card via Phone Purchase Order Prepay, PayPal Resellers Corporate Schools, Government Terms & Conditions Price & Tax FAQ-Payment
Top Brands
Abit, Acer, AMD, Antec, AOpen, Asus, ATI, Biostar, Buffalo, Cooler Master, Corsair, Creative, Dell, D-Link, Enermax, FSP, Gigabyte, Hauppauge, HP, Intel, InWin, Kingston, Lenovo, Lian-Li, Linksys, Lite-On, Logisys, Logitech, Maxtor, Microsoft, MSI, Mushkin, Netgear, OCZ, Seagate, Shuttle, Sony, SuperMicro, ThermalTake, Vantec, ViewSonic, Western Digital, XFX, Zalman.

Have a question about our products, services or technical issues?
Find the answer instantly! Type your question or key words in English: 95% email/ phone questions already have answers on our web site.
Please check the answer online before calling or e-mailing.

Copyright (c) 1997-2009 Directron.com, Inc., Houston, Texas
Buy - Sell - Trade - Build - Repair - Upgrade - Help - Troubleshoot - Shopping
Computers - Laptops - Servers - Hardware - Parts - Software - Peripherals - Services
High Quality - Low Prices - Discount Shop - Large Selection - Free Products - Fast Shipping
Affiliates: Dallas Computer Store - San Antonio Computer Store - K12 Education Computer Systems

My Cart

Tracking

Order Status