How To Install A Motherboard?

I am going to show you how to install a motherboard in no time and effortlessly. By following this guide, the precautions and suggestions, you will laugh to the end seeing how easy it is.

Did You Know?
By installing a
motherboard yourself
you will save up to 40$.

Before we start to install a motherboard, I want you to go at the end of this page to read the disclaimer, so you are familiar with the terms.

Step 1

What do we Need?
The only tool we need is a Phillips screwdriver. Be sure it is not a magnetic screwdriver.

Standoff And Regular Screws

Nowdays the hardware is not so fragile, but it does not mean it is entirely safe even today to do a motherboard installation with bad tools.
After all, you just bought a new motherboard and you want to install it, not take the risk to destroy it. Are you?
We also need some standoff and regular screws to fix the whole thing together.

Step 2

Dirty Works First
Open the computer case by removing the left panel and find a suitable and clean area where you can work.

Step 3

Clean up
Wash your hands and be sure they are perfectly dry at the end. If you ask why, then take a look at this little story that badly ended.

Long time ago a friend wanted to upgrade his computer and bought a new motherboard for that purpose. My friend had not much experiences at that time, but he had enough knowledges to install a motherboard by himself.
Everything was going right until his little dog comes to bother him. At the same moment, he was manipulating the new motherboard.
For a second he lost the grip with his left hand. He managed to retake the grip by holding the bottom left side of the motherboard putting his fingers on circuits.
"Everything is fine I took the control back" he thought.
As you can imagine, he did not wash his hands first, result? A nice fingerprint showed up on the circuit he touched.
When he finally finished mounting the new motherboard, he booted up the computer. At the start of the booting process he heard a little noise coming from inside the case, then total silence. "Something is wrong" he thought.
He reopened the computer case to find out where the fingerprint was; now a broken circuit is.

Impossible you think? Well, I would have agreed before this incident, but now I wash my hands before any computer hardware manipulations.
Moral of the story, do not take any risks if you do not like wasting moneys like me.
Today's circuits are not so fragile, but still, taking precautions have never hurt anyone.

Step 4

Scouting time
Holes, lots of holes, which one to choose hmm?
Look carefully on your motherboard and the case's right panel; you should see several holes that can be used to install the motherboard, around 9 to 12 usually.
Spot the right holes where the motherboard will fit on the right panel, then fix the standoff screws in those holes. We will use them to fix the motherboard as shown on the image below.
 

Where To Fix The Motherboard

Step 5

Fixing time

Computer Case Back Panel

We will now fix the motherboard on the standoff screws. You will find out that the motherboard will not fit perfectly blocked by the case back panel. Do not worry, it is perfectly normal.
Take your time and gently push to continue the motherboard installation until it fit perfectly in the panel holes.
Now your motherboard should be in perfect position. Fix it with the regular screws.
Congratulation you just installed your motherboard by yourself.

[I hope you appreciated the install a motherboard guide
and I invite you to take a look at the other guides.]