Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3-30.
Install screws in all six mounting holes to secure the motherboard
With high-quality products like the Antec case and the ASRock motherboard,
all the holes usually line up perfectly. With cheap products, that's often not
true. At times, we've been forced to use only a few screws to secure the mother-
board. We prefer to use all of them, both to physically support the motherboard
and to make sure all of the grounding points are in fact grounded, but if you
simply can't get all of the holes lined up, just install as many screws as you can.
Connectingpowertothemotherboard
With the motherboard installed and secured, the next step is to connect pow-
er to the motherboard. In the bundle of cables coming from the power sup-
ply, locate the ATX12V cable. Depending on the power supply, this cable may
be labeled ATX12V, CPU Power, or something similar. It uses a four-pin (2
×
2)
keyed connector with two 12VDC wires (yellow) and two ground wires (black)
diagonally opposite in the connector body. (The Antec power supply actually
provides two of these connectors; use one and tuck the other aside.)
Align the ATX12V cable connector with the motherboard ATX12V jack. One side
of the cable connector has a plastic latch that snaps over a protruding ledge on
the motherboard connector. Make sure those are oriented properly relative to
each other and then press the cable connector into the motherboard socket, as
shown in Figure 3-31. Make sure the connectors mate and latch.
The next step is to connect the 24-pin ATX main power connector to the
motherboard. Locate the main power cable from the bundle coming out of
the power supply and route that cable to the front edge of the motherboard.
Like the ATX12V connector, the ATX main power connector is keyed and has a
latch. Orient the cable connector properly relative to the motherboard socket
and press the connector into place, as shown in Figure 3-32. Make absolutely
sure that the connectors mate and latch.
