Repeat this step with any other memory
modules you want to install.FIT M.2 SSDS
The latest NVMe SSDs can get hot, so if
possible, we recommend fitting them to the
slots furthest away from your graphics card.
Check your motherboard manual first to see
which of your motherboard’s slots support
your chosen SSD’s protocol – some slots only
support SATA or NVMe drives rather than both.
Your M.2 slots may also only be accessible
by removing a shroud or heatsink from your
motherboard. If your board includes individual
M.2 heatsinks, and your drive isn’t already fitted
with a heatsink, we recommend fitting one to
your SSD if it’s an NVMe model.
To install your SSD, look at the slot and make
sure there’s a metal standoff screwed into the
appropriate screwhole for your SSD’s length –
the standoffs will be in your motherboard box,
and you’ll need to fit one in the hole that will be
under the notch at the end of your SSD. Then
insert your SSD into the slot at an angle, push it
down, and screw it into place using the screw
that came with your motherboard standoff.FIRST TEST
You now have the core system basically setup.
The next step is to check that it works, which
will mean plugging in your power supply,
graphics card, keyboard and monitor. We
recommend placing your motherboard on
top of its box for this step, as it lifts
the board off your table and gives
you room around the edge for your
graphics card’s I/O plate. Once your
motherboard is on its box, with the
back right against the edge, carefully
insert your graphics card into the 16x
PCI-E slot nearest the CPU.
We now need to hook up
the basic power connectors.
The first one is the large 24-pin
ATX connector on your power
supply, which needs to go into
the corresponding socket on your
motherboard, it’s normally on the
right hand edge. It will only go in
one way around, with the clip on
plug hooking onto the socket on
the motherboard.
Next is the 12V CPU power
connector, which usually has eight
pins, but isn’t to be confused with
your power supply’s 8-pin PCI-Epowerconnectors.Yourpowersupply’sCPU
12Vplugwillusuallyhavea largerclipthanthe
PCI-Eplugs,andit willoftenalsobelabelled
‘CPU’.Thispluggoesintothecorresponding
socketonyourmotherboard,whichyou’ll
usuallyfindonthetopleftoftheboardabove
theCPUsocket.
Finally,pluginanyPCI-Epowerconnectors
foryourgraphicscard– theyshouldbelabelled
‘PCI-E’onyourpowersupply’splugs.You’ll
usuallyfindthesocketsonthetop-rightedge
ofthecard,witheither6-pinor8-pin(or
sometimesboth)sockets.YourPSUwilllikely
have6-pinplugs,withoptionalpairsofpins
nexttothem,whichyoucanpushnexttothe
6-pinplugtomakean8-pinplugif youneed
one.You’llonlybeabletoinstalltheplugsone
wayaround,andyoucaneasilyseewhich
waybylininguptheclips ontheplugswiththe
protrusionsonthegraphicscard’ssockets.Screw in a standoff for your SSD
Insert the drive at an angle
Push it down
Screw it into place
FITM.2SSDS
Your motherboard box makes an ideal surface for
testing your core specPlug the large 24-pin ATX plug into the socket on
your motherboard – it’s usually on the right