PART SEVEN - FINISHING THE SYSTEM
The Motherboard Jumpers : Before fitting the cables there is a few important things to check, using the manual you got for the motherboard check to see if
a) the processor needs configured on the motherboard. If so see the set up jumpers as instructed in the manual. Although most modern boards do not require this as the bios automatically sets the processor speed or you set in the Bios.
b) Make sure the system is not in maintenance mode, set this jumper as prompted by the manual on first boot.
C) If for example you have onboard network and you wish to disable it, check the manual to see if this is done on the motherboard. Once again most new system do not require this as you can switch it off in the bios.
By default on most motherboards the above is all set to auto
The Floppy Cable : Starting off with floppy drive ribbon cable connect it up to the floppy drive and then to the FDD slot on the motherboard. (there is only one of these, so you can't go wrong)
The IDE Cable : Now you remember we said to get an extra IDE cable this is why. Use this to connect the DVD/CD Drive and the CDRW (If you have one) together on this cable (remember one should be jumpered as master and the other as slave as per part five). and now connect this to your motherboard IDE2 connection. This is also know as your secondary controller. Refer to your manual for exact location.
The Hard Drive Cable : The hard drive, should always be on it's own cable. This is because most modern hard drive's use UDMA cables and connections, and attaching a CD-Rom along with it will only reduce performance of the system. So connect the Ribbon Cable to the Hard drive and then connect the other end to to your motherboard's IDE1 connection. This is what is know as your primary controller (sometimes coloured blue on new motherboards ). Refer to your manual for exact location.
The CD Audio Cable : So that you can play Music CD's through your computer you will need to connect the CD Audio Cable (Molex to Molex connection). Plug this first into your DVD drive then into the appropriate connection on the sound card. (refer to sound card manual/documentation for exact location) You will now be able to use the DVD drive as a Music CD Player.
The CPU Fan : This can be quite tricky to fit, it usually consists of connecting to metal connecters to the motherboard which are on both sides of the processor. Be very careful, you do not want to damage the motherboard. I would advise that you refer to your manual if you have any problems at all. I have at times had to use a screw driver to get fans connected to the motherboard.
Once the fan has been fitted, you will have to connect it to the motherboard (That's if you have an ATX case and board) or to the power supply (That's if you have an AT case and board), the connection is usually near to the Processor (ATX case and board), but just incase refer to you manual for the exact location.
The Case Fan : Most new motherboards will have a connector on the board to connect this, if borad or fan does not have this then connect it to a power cable.
The Power Supply : If you have removed the Power Supply then it is time to reconnect it. Once connected start connecting up to the components. Firstly connect the motherboard (one long connector for ATX motherboards (plus a separate square connector for P4 and modern Athlon processors) or 2 connectors, with black cables to center for AT motherboards). Now connect your hard drive, CD-rom/DVD drive, CDRW, and floppy drive.
Case Connectors : You will see several cables now at the front of the machine, usually to the bottom, these are for your power light, hard drive light, speaker, reset switch, power switch and keylock. I would advise quite strongly to refer to the manual to find out exactly where these go. Each connector should have an abbreviation of their full name written on the connector, fit these accordingly.
NOW YOUR SYSTEM IS BUILT, IT IS TIME TO TEST IT. AT THIS TIME DO NOT CLOSE UP THE SYSTEM, AS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS (ITS ALSO BAD LUCK). SO CONNECT UP YOUR KEYBOARD, MOUSE AND MONITOR, AND PLUG INTO YOUR POWER SUPPLY OR EXTENSION CABLE. THE TIME HAS NOW COME TO SEE IF ALL YOUR HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF.
a) the processor needs configured on the motherboard. If so see the set up jumpers as instructed in the manual. Although most modern boards do not require this as the bios automatically sets the processor speed or you set in the Bios.
b) Make sure the system is not in maintenance mode, set this jumper as prompted by the manual on first boot.
C) If for example you have onboard network and you wish to disable it, check the manual to see if this is done on the motherboard. Once again most new system do not require this as you can switch it off in the bios.
By default on most motherboards the above is all set to auto
The Floppy Cable : Starting off with floppy drive ribbon cable connect it up to the floppy drive and then to the FDD slot on the motherboard. (there is only one of these, so you can't go wrong)
The IDE Cable : Now you remember we said to get an extra IDE cable this is why. Use this to connect the DVD/CD Drive and the CDRW (If you have one) together on this cable (remember one should be jumpered as master and the other as slave as per part five). and now connect this to your motherboard IDE2 connection. This is also know as your secondary controller. Refer to your manual for exact location.
The Hard Drive Cable : The hard drive, should always be on it's own cable. This is because most modern hard drive's use UDMA cables and connections, and attaching a CD-Rom along with it will only reduce performance of the system. So connect the Ribbon Cable to the Hard drive and then connect the other end to to your motherboard's IDE1 connection. This is what is know as your primary controller (sometimes coloured blue on new motherboards ). Refer to your manual for exact location.
The CD Audio Cable : So that you can play Music CD's through your computer you will need to connect the CD Audio Cable (Molex to Molex connection). Plug this first into your DVD drive then into the appropriate connection on the sound card. (refer to sound card manual/documentation for exact location) You will now be able to use the DVD drive as a Music CD Player.
The CPU Fan : This can be quite tricky to fit, it usually consists of connecting to metal connecters to the motherboard which are on both sides of the processor. Be very careful, you do not want to damage the motherboard. I would advise that you refer to your manual if you have any problems at all. I have at times had to use a screw driver to get fans connected to the motherboard.
Once the fan has been fitted, you will have to connect it to the motherboard (That's if you have an ATX case and board) or to the power supply (That's if you have an AT case and board), the connection is usually near to the Processor (ATX case and board), but just incase refer to you manual for the exact location.
The Case Fan : Most new motherboards will have a connector on the board to connect this, if borad or fan does not have this then connect it to a power cable.
The Power Supply : If you have removed the Power Supply then it is time to reconnect it. Once connected start connecting up to the components. Firstly connect the motherboard (one long connector for ATX motherboards (plus a separate square connector for P4 and modern Athlon processors) or 2 connectors, with black cables to center for AT motherboards). Now connect your hard drive, CD-rom/DVD drive, CDRW, and floppy drive.
Case Connectors : You will see several cables now at the front of the machine, usually to the bottom, these are for your power light, hard drive light, speaker, reset switch, power switch and keylock. I would advise quite strongly to refer to the manual to find out exactly where these go. Each connector should have an abbreviation of their full name written on the connector, fit these accordingly.
NOW YOUR SYSTEM IS BUILT, IT IS TIME TO TEST IT. AT THIS TIME DO NOT CLOSE UP THE SYSTEM, AS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS (ITS ALSO BAD LUCK). SO CONNECT UP YOUR KEYBOARD, MOUSE AND MONITOR, AND PLUG INTO YOUR POWER SUPPLY OR EXTENSION CABLE. THE TIME HAS NOW COME TO SEE IF ALL YOUR HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF.
