Motherboard Wire Connection

[Keola]

Hey, LinusTechTips forum. This is another one of my first posts in this forum and I really like the community.

I plan on building my first ever computer for my family to use as the home PC and later on I will do a personal build for myself. No one in my family is crazy about specifications or in need of high-end components, so I'm going to do a low-end, gets-the-job-done build. What I wanted to ask was a question that's been on my mind since I first began interest in PC's- how do you know where to plug things in on a motherboard? Are there labeled places on the motherboard? Does it come with instructions that say "this is where you plug in the power supply, this is where you plug in the SSD"? It may sound dumb to a few but I've only been involved in this stuff for 3-4 months, haha. Thanks, everyone! (I'm 14, practically a beginner.)

[incarnate]

there are diagrams in the instruction manual, there is small labeling printed on the circuit board and really, most of the time only one connector will fit in a given slot. the trickiest things to plug in are the power switch, reset switch, power led and hdd activity led, for these it will be listed in the manual with a clear diagram. honestly the power connectors on the board are pretty much idiot proof as connectors are designed to only plug in where they are supposed to and usually only the way they are supposed to.

 

the only exception is the front panel switches and leds. but again, take your time and consult the manual, it will be in there and it will make it clear.

[TheKDub]

The manual says where most things are plugged in, though a lot of it can be done via common sense.

 

Perhaps watch a couple videos on how to build a PC.

[thatguyyouknow75]

watch this video as well as 2 and 3

read the manual, go slow youll be fine

[GlassBomb]

Things generally only have one place where they will fit. Which makes it a whole lot easier.

[W-L]

Hey, LinusTechTips forum. This is another one of my first posts in this forum and I really like the community.

I plan on building my first ever computer for my family to use as the home PC and later on I will do a personal build for myself. No one in my family is crazy about specifications or in need of high-end components, so I'm going to do a low-end, gets-the-job-done build. What I wanted to ask was a question that's been on my mind since I first began interest in PC's- how do you know where to plug things in on a motherboard? Are there labeled places on the motherboard? Does it come with instructions that say "this is where you plug in the power supply, this is where you plug in the SSD"? It may sound dumb to a few but I've only been involved in this stuff for 3-4 months, haha. Thanks, everyone! (I'm 14, practically a beginner.)

 

In general things are pretty straight forwards the manual for your motherboard will have everything labeled and tell you which slots or ports to populate first. Basically all the connectors are keyed or made in a way where you cannot connect the wrong power cable into the wrong slot. A few assembly videos online and just going slow will guarantee no problems. 

[Keola]

Thanks, guys. It's something that's been confusing me for a while because nobody really shows themselves connecting the wires to the motherboard in videos. Now I see why, it must be fairly simple!

[incarnate]

Thanks, guys. It's something that's been confusing me for a while because nobody really shows themselves connecting the wires to the motherboard in videos. Now I see why, it must be fairly simple!

 

pretty much. once you've done it once you'll know what to expect with any motherboard. just take your time and consult that wall of text that is the manual lol.

 

the nice thing about motherboard connections is that they usually have a missing pin on one side of the connector that you can use as a point of reference.

[GlassBomb]

Thanks, guys. It's something that's been confusing me for a while because nobody really shows themselves connecting the wires to the motherboard in videos. Now I see why, it must be fairly simple!

The power to the motherboard, CPU, and most stuff are all different and keyed as well, meaning that they will only go in one way.

What might cause you the most trouble would be the case connectors. Power/reset, harddrive indicator and such.

Not because they are hard to deal with. But because of their small size.