Custom PC - UK (2020-01)

through the bottom cable-routing holes earlier.
It’s much easier to fit these connectors now
than when the motherboard is screwed into
your case, so offer up your motherboard to
the case and hook them up. If you’re using an
all-in-one liquid cooler, make sure the radiator
doesn’t suddenly drop onto the motherboard
and damage it.
You can now carefully put your motherboard
in place, making sure it slots into the I/O plate
at the back (if it uses one) and that the
screwholesalllineupwithyourcase’s
standoffs.If you’reusinganall-in-oneliquid
cooler,restit carefullyontopofthe
motherboard,oroverthetopofthecase,soit
doesn’tsuddenlydroponthemotherboard.
Beverycarefulnottoscrapethebottomof
yourmotherboardonthestandoffshere– put
themotherboardintothecaseatanangleand
thendropit down,ratherthanslidingit across
thestandoffs.Whenit’sinplace,useyourcase’s
motherboardscrewstosecureit. Youcanthen
plugallthecablesintoyourmotherboard.
If you’reusinganaircoolerforyourCPU,
youcannowskiptothenextstep.If you’re
usinganall-in-oneliquidcooler,threadall
ofyourCPUcooler’sfanandlightingcables,
excepttheoneforthepump(whichshould
beattachedtothemotherboard),throughthe
holesabovethemotherboardtray. If yourCPUcoolerhasmultiplefansthat
needtobehookeduptoa singlemotherboard
header,it shouldhaveanadaptorcablethat
takesallthefancablesanddivertsthemtoa
singlecable.Connectthisupnowaroundthe
backofthemotherboardtray,androutethe
cablebackthroughtothefrontandplugit into
yourmotherboard’sCPUfanpowerheader.
Nowholdtheradiatorintheroof,andlineup
itsscrewholeswiththecorrespondingholes
inyourcase’sroof.Youcanthenscrewit into
placeusingthescrewsthatcomewiththe
cooler.Finally,if yourcoolerhasanycablesfor
lighting,hookthemupnow– eithertoitsown
lightingcontroller,ortotheRGBheaderson
yourmotherboard.

SATADRIVES

Nowis a goodtimetoinstallanytraditional

SATAdrives,suchas2.5inSSDsor3.5inhard

disks.Eachdrivewillrequirea SATAdatacable

thatconnectstothemotherboard(usually

inthebottomrightcorner),aswellasa SATA

powerconnectorfromyourpowersupply.As

withtherestofyourcables,havea lookatyour

casebeforeyoustartandthinkabouthow

you’regoingtoroutethewirestoyourdrives.

Manycases,suchasourThermaltake

CommanderC34,have2.5indrivemounts

onthebackofthemotherboardtray,which

aregreatforkeepingdrivesandwiresoutof

sight.Youcanhookupthepowerbehindthe

motherboardtray,androutetheSATAdata

cablethrougha holenexttothebottomright

cornerofthemotherboard.

Youwon’tbeabletomounta harddrive

behindthemotherboard,astheygethotand

ideallyneedsomeairflow.Mostcaseshave

harddrivemountsincagesatthefront,and

they’reoftenremovable.Werecommend

removinganycagesthatyou’renotusing,so

youcanmaximiseairflow.

If you’reinstallinga harddrive,choosea

mountnexttooneofyourcase’sfrontfans,so

it getsplentyofairflow.If possible,mountthe

drivewithitsconnectorsfacingtherearofthe

case,soyoucanhookupthepowerbehindthe

mainmotherboardarea,androutea SATAdata

cablethrougha cable-routingholenexttothe

bottom-rightcornerofthemotherboard.

INSTALLGRAPHICSCARD

Onceallyourcablesareconnectedtoyour

motherboard,andnoneofthemis trailing

Mounting 2.5in SSDs behind the motherboard is a
great way to keep them (and their cables) out of the
motherboard area

SATA drives need two cables – one for power and
one for data

Unscrew and remove the expansion slot covers

next to (and below) your top 16x PCI-E slot

Carefully plug your graphics card into the slot, lining

up the I/O plate with the case’s expansion slot holes

Finally, connect your power supply to your

graphics card

FEATURE / CUSTOMISATION