ISSUE 382|COMPUTER SHOPPER|DECEMBER 2019 9595
cooler clipoverthe remainingretention
frame anchors and pull the handle closed.
You’ll need someforcetodothis properly,
but thecooler will lock into position when
the handle is all thewaydown. 5
ATTA CHATHIRD-PARTY
COOLER
Third-partycoolers areall alittle different,
so you’ll needto followthe bundled
instructions.Typically,you lo werthe cooler
down onto the CPU and then use the
supplied screwstosecurethe unit into the
backplateyou fitted before youinserted
the motherboard.Youcan read more
about customcoolers inAdvanced Projects
(page 124).
PLUGINTHEFAN
Look forthe CPUfanheader onyour
motherboard, and then plug in thefan
connector fromyour CPUcooler to powerit.
Your motherboardwill most likely havea
four-pinPWMconnector,which gives finer
cont roloverfan speeds. Ifyour CPUcooler
has only three pins, this will stillconnectto a
four-pin header.Tomakethe connection,
line up the ridges in the CPUcooler’sfan
connector with the plastic stand-up on the
motherboardheader.Push gently down
until theconnector is securely in place.
FITTINGTRADITIONAL
STORAGE
U
nlessyou’vegone fully M.2, chances
arethat you’ll needto fit traditional
storage: harddisks, SSDsand maybe
even aDVD drive.Here,we’ll sho wyou
howtofit traditional storage devices.FITA2.5inSSD
If you’reusing a2.5in SSD,you should find
that moderncases will havebaysespecially
forthis typeof storage.Look at therear of
the case to see if thereare vertical mounts;
thesekeep the SSD outof the wayfor a
neater finish.
Forvertical mounts,you’ll haveto
remove the mount(typically with a
thumbscrew), scr ew the SSD into place
underneath and thenreattach the mount
on therear of the case.
If youhavetraditional 2.5in drivebays,
slide the SSD into place, with theconnectors
pointing outwards. Securethe SSD using
the methodyour case pr ovides: thiscould
be screwless connectors, thumbscrewsor
old-fashionedreal scr ews. 1FITAHARDDISK
Find a3.5in drivebay and slideyour
harddisk in, so that the ports stick out
the back, eitherfacing youortowards
the motherboard, depending on the
orientation of your drivebays. Securethe
disk in placeusing the methodyour case
provides: screwless connectors,
thumbscrewsorreal screws.FITANOPTICALDRIVE
Usethe 5.25in bay whereyou removedthe
panel at the startof this guide and slide the
driveins othat it sits flush with the front
panel. Secureusing the screwless mounts,
thumbscrewsoractual screws, depending
on your case. 2FITSATACABLES
All traditional storageconnects viaSATA
cables to the motherboard.Modern boards
will haveall SATA3connectors; ifyours is
alittle older orabudgetmodel andyou
haveamix of SATA3and SATA2ports
(check your motherboard’smanual), then
youneed to connectyour storage devices
to the rightports. SSDsand newerhard
disksare best suitedto SATA3ports, while
optical drives operatefine withSATA2.
Finally,ifyou fittedaSATA M.2 drive,
then your motherboardhas probably
disabledaSATA3port. Check the manual
to see which one(s) havebeen disabled,
and then don’t use them. AllSATA ports
will be clearly numberedto help you
makethe rightdecision.
Take the SATA cables fromyour
motherboard’sbox.Ifyour cables havea
right-angleconnector on them, that end is
forthe storage device; the straightend is
foryour motherboard. Ifyou’veonly got
straightconnectors, thecable canbe
connected eitherwayround.
SATA connectorscanonly be fitted one
way, so plug one end into your drive, and
the other end into the SATA portsyou
identified earlier onyour motherboard.
Forneatness,youmay want to routethe
cables through the backof your case, using
the cutouts provided.TOPTIP
If your cooler isn’tfitted
tightlyenough,your PC
can overheatand even
crash.Make surethat
there’satight fitwith no wobble
before youcontinue.TOPTIP
Make surethatyour
drives, particularlyhard
disks,are firmlyinplace.
Mechanical harddisks
vibrate in operation andaloose disk
will makealot of noise.