1. Before you start

  • A Phillips #2 screwdriver, a big table and good light.
  • Touch a metal surface to discharge static electricity.
  • Confirm part compatibility in the PcBuilder comparator.

2. Outside the case: motherboard first

Assemble as much as possible with the motherboard resting on its own cardboard box:

  1. Processor: lift the lever, align the CPU's triangle with the socket's and lay it down without force.
  2. M.2 SSD: insert at an angle and secure it with the screw or latch.
  3. RAM: in the slots shown in the manual (usually 2nd and 4th), until you hear the click.
  4. Cooler: follow the cooler's manual; plug its cable into the CPU_FAN header.

3. In the case

  1. Fit the standoffs and screw in the motherboard.
  2. Install the power supply and route the cables: 24-pin to the motherboard, 8-pin to the CPU, PCIe to the graphics card.
  3. Install the graphics card in the first PCIe x16 slot and connect power.
  4. Connect the front-panel cables (power button, USB, audio) — the manual shows each pin's position.

4. First boot

  • Plug the monitor into the graphics card, not the motherboard.
  • Enter the BIOS, confirm it recognises the CPU, RAM and SSD, and enable the XMP/EXPO profile.
  • Install the operating system from a USB stick, then the latest drivers.
Tip: the first boot can take 1–2 minutes with a black screen while memory is tested. That is normal. Plan my PC →