MaximumPC 2004 11

Build It!

Step 9 : Power external peripherals

Connecting USB and FireWire ports is

simple. Today, case enclosures include

pre-configured connectors for each

type of port. All you need to do is line

up the connector with the header on

the mobo, and gently push down.

Both FireWire and USB cables are

keyed so they won’t go in if they’re

not lined up properly.

Occasionally, you’ll find a case where

the USB cables aren’t in a convenient

connector block, instead each wire is

separate. If that’s the case, your mobo

manual should include a pin-out dia-

gram that will show you how to connect

the wires.

Make absolutely certain you don’t

switch the USB (a) and FireWire (b)

headers—it’s not always easy to tell the

cables apart. Consult your case manual

if you’re not positive which is which. If

you make this mistake and then plug

a device into the wrong port, you can

destroy both the device and the moth-

erboard you’re connecting it to!

Many motherboards lack onboard

headers for front-mounted FireWire, but

there’s an alternative. Most Sound Blaster

Audigy 2 cards include internal FireWire

headers. When you install the soundcard,

just slip your FireWire cable onto the

header at the top of the PCI card.

Step 10 : In stall the videocard

Installing a videocard is super simple.

First, you need to remove the slot cover

that lines up with your AGP or PCI

Express slot. If you’re having trouble tell-

ing which slot is which, the videocard slot

is usually the one closest to your CPU.

The trick to installing any kind of card

in a slot is to apply gentle force evenly

across the length of the board. You

should not have to push hard at all to get

an AGP or PCI Express board into its slot.

Line up the card’s backplate (the piece of

metal with the output connectors on it)

with the slot on your case, make sure the

card is level with the slot (a) , and gently

push the card down into the slot.

Once the card is securely in the

slot, screw the backplate into the case,

and connect external power from the

power supply. If you’re using a card that

requires multiple power inputs—like the

GeForce 6800 Ultra (b) —you need to

use two separate power cables. Using

one cable with two ends doesn’t deliver

enough juice to the card.

 MA XIMUMPC NOVEMBER 2004

Caution! “If you plug a FireWire device into a USB bus, you can destroy both the

device and the motherboard you’re connecting it to!”

b

a

b

a

Step 11 : Alpha test: Take your rig for a test ride

Before we install the rest of the hard-

ware, let’s take a moment to power

up your rig and make sure everything

is working properly. First, verify that

the CPU fan is connected to either the

three-pin mobo header labeled CPU

or to a four-pin Molex connector from

your power supply (a). Then plug the

ATX power connector—it’s the big,

wide one that comes out of your power

supply—into the appropriate socket

on your mobo (b). It’s keyed, so it only

goes in one way. You should also con-

nect the ATX 12V connector to your

mobo (c). It too is keyed, and only goes

in one way.

Once your power connectors are

plugged in, connect your keyboard,

monitor, and power to the machine.

Now fire it up. You should see the

power-on self-test (POST) screen. If

you don’t, don’t get nervous! Even

Maximum PC editors occasionally

build machines that won’t boot

on the first try. If yours doesn’t,

turn to page 47 for some basic

troubleshooting tips that should

get you back on track. If it does, pat

yourself on the back and carry on

to step 12.

a b c