Installing the motherboard is pretty easy. The ultimate goal is lining up the holes on the motherboard to the holes on the computer case.

Read the motherboard’s manual:
I hate reading manuals as much as anyone else but this manual is important. In most cases you will only have to screw the motherboard in place and not have to do anything else. But, you need to understand how the jumpers work and how the components attach into place. One key section to read is the front panel connections. Every motherboard is slightly different and the front panel connectors are very tiny. They usually includes the light indicators on your case, such as H.D.D. light, Power Light, Power Switch, Reset Switch among others.

Installing the back panel:
Chances are the case you purchased already has a back panel on it and chances are it won’t fit your motherboard’s back connector configuration. Remove the back panel by either prying out out with the pliers, a screw driver, or just whack it out. It won’t be in there very tight. Install the back panel that came with your mother board by snapping it into place from inside the computer case. You may need to give it a little whack to get it to fit. Ensure that you are not installing the back panel upside down, compare the back with how your motherboard will sit in your case.

Installing the motherboard stand offs:
The standoffs are what hold the motherboard in place. In theory everything should follow a similar form factor but sometimes that isn’t the case. The simplest method is to hold the motherboard over the case and match the holes up then screw in the standoffs and tighten them with pliers.

Screw your motherboard into place:
The screws will screw into the standoffs. Be sure not to over tighten the screws… you do not want to crack your new motherboard.

Installing the front panel connectors:
Each switch and LED on the front panel has a connector attached to it that must be connected to the appropriate pins on the motherboard.

Some of the connectors (especially the LED’s) are polarized, meaning that they have to be connected in the correct polarity. Polarized connectors have a little arrow or a plus sign by the positive wire, but no there is no way to prevent you from attaching them backwards.

Unfortunately, there’s no universal rule about the positions of these pins. To determine the correct pins to attach the connectors to, you will have to consult the motherboard manual or look for the teensy lettering on the motherboard adjacent to the pins.

This video is a great example on how to install a motherboard.

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