IT self care

First of all make sure you have all the right tools and all the pieces at hand. For this demonstration we’re installing a P5QL-E motherboard from ASUS and a OCZ MODXSTREAM PRO 700 W power supply on a THERMALTAKE SOPRANO DX case.

Rule no. 1 is that no matter what, you MUST install the power supply first, otherwise you may have big troubles trying to fit it in its designated place. As shown in the video, it’s an easy process, the biggest problem you may encounter is your ability to move it into its place. If you find yourself unable to make it fit into place, you may wanna check if it’s not upside down. Once you got it right, it’s a matter of screwing 4 screws on the outside of the case and it’s all done.

Before you can install your motherboard you must install the I/O shield that comes with every motherboard. The I/O shield is a thin sheet of aluminum that fits the I/O options of the motherboard, that’s why all motherboards come with its own shield. You have to remove the shield already in place on the case (if that exists) and snap the new shield in the place. It’s only a matter of aligning the shield and press it from the inside of the case until it snaps in.

Now you’re ready to install the motherboard. Check the mounting holes on the case. Usually the cases have mounting points to fit all motherboards, which means that not all the holes will be used. You can grab your motherboard, align it with the I/O shield and notice which mounting holes you will be using. You should use all those spacers into the mounting points to avoid motherboard touching the PC case. Just screw them by hand, because they will tighten up when you screw the actual screws on the motherboard.

Aligning the motherboard can be tricky and frustrating, specially if it’s your first time. Try to align it with the I/O shield and the center mounting point of the case. Screw all screws on a zig-zag pattern and don’t tighten them until they all are in place. The trickiest thing is to connect the pins of the front panel of your case. These are: USB ports, power switch, reset switch, hard drive activity LED, power LED and internal speaker. The pins are clearly marked as which one is which so you won’t have any problem to identify them. The motherboard connectors are also marked, but you may have troubles reading that fine writing. To clearly identify them you should check the motherboard manual.

Attaching the power connectors to the motherboard is as simple as aligning the connector’s locking tab with the latching key and push it straight down. Don’t forget the 4 pin connector which connects in the same way. That’s all the connector will be using so far, more will be attached to the hard drives, DVD writer, card readers, etc. and they will be covered on future tutorials.

Since the beginning of Thermaltake in 1999, it has been at the forefront of creating new and exciting products at a time where most computer users were provided little to no choices for components that may seem irrelevant, but in reality crucial to the performance of a PC.

Thermaltake Server Series solutions, with years of thermal experience and industry leadership, sets its goal on reforming total thermal management in server segment by formulating the perfect mixture of versatility, efficiency and thermal management with each respective server product category: Rackmount Chassis, Server Fixed & Redundant Power Supply and Server CPU Cooling Management Solutions.

With its comprehensive line of products available, it enables Thermaltake’s core customers to enjoy a one-stop-shop experience, reduce product design-in evaluation period and most important of all, flawless integration process. Each of Thermaltake’s strengths enables its customer to focus on their core business while taking advantage of the skills and efficiency of a single thermal management solution partner.

Thermaltake

Key 3 Spirit

_____Key 3 Spirit initiative is based on the strength and know-how that Thermaltake has mastered through innovation and continuous research & development that encompasses crucial components of a personal computer responsible for thermal management. The same initiative is instrumental in establishing groundwork for the Thermaltake Server Series solutions that offer unparalleled integration across 3 major server thermal management product lines: Rackmount Chassis, Server Fixed & Redundant Power Supply and Server CPU Cooling Management Solutions.