How to Build a Computer with an
AMD Socket A Athlon or Duron Processor
Part 4 - Install the Motherboard and Display Adapter
Last updated: 4/18/2001

Install the Motherboard.  There are nine mounting holes on the motherboard:  three across the back, and two rows of three across the front.

32. Set the motherboard with the anti-static bag on top of the side of the case.  Use it as visual guide to screw nine standoffs to the case.  Screw-in the standoffs by hand and then use a socket driver to tighten them (you could use an adjustable wrench or pliers if you are careful). 

Do not over-tighten.  What remains when they break can be very difficult to remove.  Count them to verify there are nine of them.

33. Gently place the motherboard in the case so the mounting holes are centered over their respective stand-offs.

Don't force the motherboard into the case--wiggle it into place if you have to.  BE careful with the metal contacts on the keyboard connector.  they stick out so they will make contact with the case and can get hung-up in one of the holes.  If you see a mounting hole without a stand-off, you didn't install nine of them or, worse, one of them is in the wrong hole and under the motherboard where it will short-it-out.  I've done it more than once.   It is a very common mistake.

34.  Inspect the back of the computer to see if the I/O connectors are aligned with their respective cutouts.

35.  Mount the motherboard to the standoffs with nine M3*5L screws.  The correct screws look like chassis screws except they are smaller and have a finer thread.  I call them "Packard-Bell screws."

Other cases use larger screws.  I usually check alignment and screw-in one screw at the center of the rear of the board, check alignment again, and screw-in another at the front, followed by the remainder.  Do not over-tighten these screws. You could damage the motherboard.

I have installed two of these motherboards in two KS282 cases.  Either the motherboards or the cases were not punched correctly.  In both cases (pun?), the holes along the right side motherboard did not exactly match up with the standoffs.  This is not unheard of, but was more common a few years ago.  The way to handle this problem is to screw in all of the other screws loosely so that the motherboard can still be moved around.  Then screw in the screws along the right side without tightening.  If you are careful and patient you should be able to get all three of them in without using excessive persuasion and cross-threading them.  Once that is done tighten all of the screws and check them to be sure none of them are cock-eyed.

36.  Double-check that you have secured the motherboard with nine screws and that all of them properly seated (not cross-threaded). 

Besides securing the motherboard to the case, most or all--I can't see all four layers of the board--of these screws electrically ground the board to the case.

37.  Plug the chassis fan wire into the appropriate jack on the motherboard (the one marked FAN3 for this motherboard), coil-up the excess wire, and zip-tie it.

38.  Remove the rubber band from the front panel cables.

39. Attach the front panel cable labeled "POWER SW" to connector labeled "POW-ON" on the motherboard (Front right).

40.  Connect the front panel connector labeled "SPEAKER" to the motherboard connector labeled "SPEAKER."

It is important to connect the speaker now so you can hear any BIOS error beeps when you first power-up the computer.  I do not install the rest of the front panel connectors until I'm sure I do not have to remove the motherboard.

41.  Remove the rubber band from the power supply connectors, untangle them and connect the ATX motherboard power plug  to the socket on the motherboard just in front CPU with clip facing towards the right.  Firmly push it down until it snaps into place.  It will only plug-in one-way.

Install the Display Adapter.  

42. Unpack the display adapter and put the CD, etc. that came with it in the motherboard box.

43. Insert the display adapter into the AGP slot (the brown one), fasten the back of the card to the case with a chassis screw, and push firmly and evenly down on the card to fully seat it in the socket.

Sometimes an expansion board will pop-up a little at the front when it is screwed down.

44.  Inspect the sides of the AGP socket to be sure the display adapter is fully and evenly seated.

45.  Shake the case for loose screws.  If you see a small rubber standoff, it probably came from the CPU...

46. Visually inspect everything for possible mistakes and defects.  Check the display adapter and memory again.  Check the jumpers.

Your computer should look like the one in the picture at the top of this page.

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