Youwillalsoneedtomakesureyour
motherboardandCPUarecompatible.If you
wanttouseoneofAMD’s3rd-genRyzen
CPUs,youideallywanta boardbasedon
AMD’snewX570chipset.Alternatively,most
B450orX470motherboardswillsupport
thesenewCPUs,buttheymayrequirea BIOS
update– asktheretailerif theycanupdate
theBIOStothelatestversionforyoubefore
youbuyone.Meanwhile,werecommenda
motherboardwitha Z390chipsetforIntel’s
9th-genCPUs(orB365if you’renotplanning
tooverclockyourchip).
You’llalsoneedtomakesurethatyour
chosenCPUcoolerhasmountsforyourCPU
socket,andthatyourpowersupplyhasenough
powerforyourchosensetup.If indoubt,
lookingatourElitelist(seep62)is a goodplace
tostart,wherewerecommendparticular
componentcombinationsfora fewbuilds.MINI SCREWDRIVERS
Some screwsrequirea smallertipt 2
screwdriver, such as the ones oftenfoundon
CPU cooler mounts. A simple pack of mini
screwdrivers will stand you in good stead here.
NEEDLENOSE PLIERS
A basic set of needle-nose pliers will be
handy for unscrewing any stubborn standoffs,
and any jobs where you need some grip.
PLASTIC CUTTERS
Although you can snip cable ties with scissors
or pliers, dedicated plastic snippers do it really
quickly and easily.
annnTOOLSYOU’LLNEED
INTELLGA1151
CABLETIES
These are the key to a neat and tidy system.
You’ll likely get a bag of cable ties with some
of your components, but we find we nearly
always need more and a bag of ties only costs
a quid anyway.
INSTALL CPU
Your first job is to get your basic system
up and running, so you can test the core
components. It’s incredibly annoying to find
out that you’ve got a faulty part after you’ve
built the whole PC, so it’s best to find out now.
Start with the CPU.
On an AMD AM4 system, remove any cover
from the CPU socket on your motherboard,
and lift the handle next to it to loosen the
socket’s grip. There will be a gold triangle
on your CPU, which denotes pin 1. Line up
this corner with the corresponding triangle-
labelled corner on your CPU socket and,
holding your CPU by the edges, carefully place
it in the socket without touching the delicate
pins. Once it’s in place, push down the handle
to secure the CPU in the socket.
On an Intel LGA1151 system, remove any
cover from the CPU socket, then push downNO. 2 PHILLIPS/
CROSSHEAD SCREWDRIVER
A No.2 Phillips screwdriver is essential for
most of the large screwing jobs in your
PC, from installing your motherboard to
tightening up thumbscrews. Get a long, thin
one, rather than a short stubby one, so you
can easily get it into tight spaces and have
plenty of reach. If your screwdriver doesn’t
already have a magnetic tip, slowly run a
strong magnet up and down it several times.
A magnetic tip is invaluable if you fumble any
of the screws inside the case, where they
then risk shorting out your motherboard.AMD AM4