NOW THE POWER SUPPLY is in, we can focus on the
motherboard and its components—starting with the most
important of all, the CPU. The new 12th-gen chips feature
a rectangular design, which makes this step even easier to
get the right way round. Before we get there though, we need
to lift the retention arm. Unhook the arm by gently pressing
down on it and then pulling it to the side to release it. When
installing the chip, always align the corner arrow on the
chip with the one on the motherboard to ensure the correct
orientation. Remember, don’t touch the pins when handling
the CPU, only the sides. Once this is rested in place, clamp it
down by hooking the retention arm back.4 CHIP IN
USING THE top M.2 slot, we need to add our sleek SSD onto
our motherboard. Our mobo comes with a heatsink shield,
so we need to take this off using a screwdriver. Once off,
slot the SSD’s connecting end into the board at a 30° degree
angle and then lower it down onto the screw mount. This
should line up with the cutout on the SSD and a plastic slider
will secure this into place. Next, grab the heatsink shield and
peel off the protective layer. Stick this back onto the board
and over the SSD, tightening up the screw in the process.5 STORING THE STORAGE
8 RAM INSTALL
ALTHOUGH MOUNTING our CPU cooler vertically gave us
enough clearance to use all four DIMM slots, we only need
to use two of those. On most motherboards when you have
a memory kit with only two sticks, like our 2x 8GB kit, you
only need to use slots two and four. Be sure to always refer
back to the motherboard manual to double-check though, as
incorrectly slotted RAM can cause the machine to post. To
install, release the clips on the necessary slots, line up the
notch on the RAM sticks with the board, and push into place.
You’ll hear a click when you have successfully slotted it in.9 IN GOES THE BOARD
WITH ALL BUT ONE of the motherboard components
installed, it’s time to get the motherboard into the case. Lay
the case flat then place the mobo into it by aligning the I/O
shield with the slot in the case. Once done, the screw holes
on the board should align with the case, tighten it with the
case screws. Use as many screws as possible and, ideally,
in all corners to get even pressure across the board. Using
a long-neck screwdriver will help here, as it can get fiddly
in the corners. Dropping a screw into the case is almost
inevitable, and there’s no denying how frustrating that is.$1300 12th-gen delight
22 MAXIMU MPCAPR 2022