HOW TO BUILD A PC

A COMPLETE
HOW-TO
PC BUILDING
GUIDE FOR
BEGINNERS
 CONTENTS

PART 1 : PART 2 :
INTRODUCTION TO PC COMPONENTS PLAN YOUR PC BUILD
01~02 CPU 07 HARD DRIVE 11~12 HOW TO BUILD A STREAMING PC
03 CPU COOLER 08 POWER SUPPLY 13 HOW TO BUILD A GAMING PC
04 MOTHERBOARD 09 CASE 14~15 ADD SOME RGB TO YOUR PC
05 MEMORY 10 PERIPHERALS 16 USEFUL TOOL : PCPARTPICKER
06 GRAPHICS CARD
 CONTENTS

PART 3 :
HOW TO BUILD A PC

17 STEP 0 : PREPARATION 23 STEP 6 : STORAGE INSTALLATION

18 STEP 1 : CPU INSTALLATION 24 STEP 7 : GRAPHICS CARD INSTALLATION
19 STEP 2 : MEMORY INSTALLATION 25 STEP 8 : POWER SUPPLY INSTALLATION
20 STEP 3 : M.2 DRIVE INSTALLATION 26 STEP 9 : FRONT PANEL CONNECTORS AND CABLE MANAGEMENT
21 STEP 4 : CPU COOLER INSTALLATION STEP 10 : OPERATION SYSTEM INSTALLATION
22 STEP 5 : MOTHERBOARD INSTALLATION
 WHY WE BUILD
WHY SHOULD YOU BUILD YOUR OWN PC?
We choose any combination of components we want to fit our requirements.
We make the best use of our limited [or unlimited] budget.
We can upgrade and maintain our PC with ease.
In a nutshell…
Building it yourself is just cooler!
 PART1:

INTRO TO PC COMPONENTS
WHAT DO I NEED TO BUILD A PC?
Although building a PC is as easy as putting together a LEGO set, you should know about the building blocks before starting.
PC builds can have many styles and uses, but some components are fundamental and must be a part of every PC.
Let’s learn the basics of each part, shall we?
 CPU Intel
CPUs are essentially the brains of computers – responsible for interpreting Here’s Intel’s CPU lineup:
instructions and processing data. There are two major high-performance • Celeron series: A series that houses Intel’s entry-level products. It caters to
desktop CPU players in the market: Intel and AMD. users who don’t need to handle CPU-intensive work. Celerons are suitable for
users who just need something to handle tasks like watching/streaming
videos, surfing the web, or running Office applications (word processing,
AMD spreadsheets, presentations, and so on).
• Pentium series: Offers a higher level of performance than the Celeron but
AMD’s CPU lineup: features weaker integrated graphics performance and a smaller cache than
AMD starts with Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5, an upgrade over legacy Athlon and the Intel Core series.
Sempron lines. • Core series: The current mainstream Intel CPU lineup.
• Ryzen 3 and 5 : Suitable for casual gaming and office applications. Core i3: Perfect for tackling daily tasks, light gaming, watching videos,
Although most Ryzen 3 and 5 processors offer simultaneous multi- and browsing the web.
threading (SMT), the very entry-level Ryzen 3 products do not. Make sure Core i5: The Intel 12th generation i5 processors have up to 6 cores and
you check before you buy. AMD processors with “G” at the end feature 12 threads. They (the non-F models) also come equipped with
integrated graphics; all other Ryzen processors will require a separate decent integrated graphics, making them suitable for light
graphics card even to display an output. gaming/graphics editing.
• Ryzen 7 : The Ryzen 7 has more cores, and this line is suitable for Core i7: Deliver exceptional performance and boast significantly better
gaming at a mid-tier level. multitasking abilities than the weaker processors in Intel’s
• Ryzen 9 : Ryzen 9 chips currently have the most cores when we’re talking lineup. It can run most games and heavier applications like
about the mainstream consumer CPU segment – making them great for graphics editing software programs effortlessly.
both high-end gaming and CPU-intensive tasks like video editing and Core i9: The most powerful processor in the Intel Core family. They are
rendering. The top-end Ryzen 9 processor boasts 16 cores and 32 perfect for hardcore gamers, streamers, and content creators.
threads.
• Threadripper and Epyc : AMD’s top-tier Threadripper and more powerful • Core X and Xeon:Tailored for workstations and servers. These processors
Epyc CPUs are geared towards the workstation and server market. usually feature higher core counts and more enterprise features than other
processors in Intel’s product lineup.
1
Here’s a list of the mainstream intel and AMD CPU compatibility with
motherboard:

Processor Socket Compatible Motherboard

Core i9-14XXX / Core i7-14XXX

LGA1700 Z690 platform/Z790 platform
Core i5-14XXX

Core i9-13XXX / Core i7-13XXX

LGA1700 Z690 platform/Z790 platform
Core i5-13XXX / Core i3-13XXX

Core i9-12XXX / Core i7-12XXX

LGA1700 Z690 Platform
Core i5-12XXX / Core i3-12XXX

Core i9-10XXX / Core i7-10XXX

LGA1200 Z490 Platform / Z590 Platform
Core i5-10XXX / Core i3-10XXX

Core i7/i5/i3/Pentium/Celeron LGA 1151 Z390 Platform

Core™ X-Series Processor LGA 2066 X299 Platform

AMD Ryzen AM4 B450/A320/X470/B550/X570 Platform

AMD Ryzen
sTRX4 TRX 40 Platform
Threadripper

WATCH
THE VIDEO

2
 CPU COOLER When choosing a CPU cooler, make sure you consider the
following:

CPUs produce a lot of heat. High temperatures can cause the system to • Coolers need to provide compatible brackets, as bracket positioning may
vary slightly depending on the motherboard socket.
shut down in order to protect important components, and may even cause
permanent damage. Fans and heatsinks are therefore necessary in order to
keep the CPU running cool. Except for some high-end CPUs, most boxed
CPUs are bundled with a corresponding CPU cooler which can meet basic
demands for heat dissipation.
For better system performance, it is suggested to buy a better CPU cooler.

The cooler can be classified in terms of heat dissipation medium into two
types: liquid cooling and air cooling. Air coolers can be further classified into
tower-style, downdraft and updraft coolers, depending on their appearance
and airflow direction. Users should choose a cooler that fits their product
and circumstances.

AMD Stock Cooler Air-cooling AIO Liquid-cooling

• Each CPU cooler supports a different thermal design power (TDP), indicating
the upper range of heat output that it can handle. More powerful CPUs need
better coolers to ensure stable operation.
WATCH • Choose a cooler that fits your case. High-performance coolers often have
THE VIDEO large heatsinks, so it’s critical to pick a cooler that can fit into your case
without obstructing other components.
3
 The motherboard is the second most important choice when building a PC. The

MOTHERBOARD motherboard, also called the mainboard, links all the components of your
computer, connecting your processor, memory modules, graphics and expan-
sion cards, hard drives, and connections for your network, keyboard, mouse, and
more.
The motherboard is a platform that holds all the parts and components in a
computer. It links the various components of a computer, including expan- Intel
sion cards, hard drives, memory and peripherals such as keyboard and Intel’s 14th gen CPUs work with B760 and Z790 chipsets, with the two to
mouse, as well as handling communication and transmission between these support CPU and memory overclocking.
devices.

The following considerations should be taken into account when AMD

choosing a motherboard: For AMD, high-end Ryzen CPUs should get a B650 or X670 chipset. You can pair
mid or entry level with B650, or older B550 chipset.
Motherboard Dimensions:
Just like clothes, motherboards come in different sizes.
Common sizes include: If you get a motherboard that supports overclocking, it may require dual ATX 8pin
for the CPU, check to make sure your power supply has them.
• Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX and E-ATX, four types of motherboard
dimension.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

Mini-ITX Micro-ATX ATX E-ATX

17 cm x 17 cm 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm 30.5 x 24.4cm 30.5 x 27.7 cm
4
 MEMORY
In simple terms, memory is used to store data temporarily, increasing the
speed at which the CPU can access data from the hard drive. Both memory
capacity and frequency affect computer performance. The higher the
memory frequency, the faster it is. Having more memory means more space
for temporary storage, and better performance as a result.

DDR4 is the current mainstream, starting at DDR4-2133 for entry-level

computers. Higher frequencies such as DDR4-2400 and DDR4-3000 are
typically targeted at hardcore gamers and overclockers.

The latest desktop version is DDR5, which start at 4800 megahertz. Also the
RAM can come with RGB lighting on top to match your build and theme.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

5
 GRAPHICS CARD
The graphics card takes data from the computer and outputs it as text,
images and colors on a display monitor.

At present, the two main graphics manufacturers are NVIDIA and AMD.

NVIDIA AMD
The two leading GPU manufacturers are NVIDIA and AMD, and at MSI we offer
cards for both GPU brands, ranging from entry-level to ultra high-end.

NVIDIA : GeForce RTX 40 series cards offer a huge leap over the RTX 30 series.
The current RTX 40 series models are mostly enthusiast cards from RTX 4090 to
RTX 4060. The “R” stands for “Ray Tracing”, Ray tracing is the holy grail of
WATCH
gaming graphics, simulating the physical behavior of light to bring real-time, THE VIDEO
cinematic-quality rendering to even the most visually intense games.

AMD : we have Radeon RX 7000 series cards for enthusiasts (RX 7900 XTX to RX
7900 XT) and performance levels (RX 7600).
6
 HARD DRIVE
The hard drive is the computer's storage device.

Whether we're talking hard disk drives, solid state drives or SSDs, or NVMe Originally connected with SATA, the new versions connect directly to the
or SATA m.2 drives, these are all forms of storage for files in your comput- motherboard's PCIe lanes to provide blazing fast speed. These are called
er. Storage has evolved from hard drives that use magnetic technology to both NVMe or PCIe m.2 drives. Gen3 PCIe m.2 already had speeds
store data on spinning disks. Reaching 20 terabytes or more, 4 to 8 reaching 3500 megs a second for reads and
terabyte hard drives are a cost-effective option for mass storage. But, with 3000 for writes, but PCIe Gen4 allows this
data transfer around 140 to 180 megabytes a second, speed is far format to reach an astonishing 7400 megs
surpassed by SSDs and m.2 drives. Solid state drives, whether SSDs or M.2 a second read and 7000 megs write, up to
drives, use memory to store data. Whereas the DDR4 memory in your a 14 fold increase in read speed, and
computer is emptied when there's no power, SSDs and M.2 drives can write speed increase.
store data without power. For SSDs, they use the same SATA connectors as
hard drives, but good drives offer read and write speeds of over 500 megs a
second, triple the speed of hard drives. These go up to 2 terabyte capaci-
ties, some reaching 4 terabytes.

SATA WATCH
THE VIDEO

SATA interface M.2 interface

7
 POWER SUPPLY Power Supply Design
The power supply converts AC power into DC power for computer
components. Full Modular Semi-modular Non-modular

The following considerations should be taken into account when choosing

a power supply:

Excellent air flow due to Good air flow with good Bad air flow due to
Wattage Air Flow
less cable clutter cable management cable clutter
General guidelines- a PC for the web, word and excel can get by on 500 to
Low temperature reading Good air flow with good Poor cable management will
Temperature
600 watts. For NVIDIA GPUs, a last gen RTX 2000 series needed about due to less cable clutter cable management result in high temperature

650 to 750 watts. The new RTX 3080 GPU requires 750 watts, and the Easy to organize and Good looks with good Messy looks due to too
Aesthetics
manage for good looks cable management many cables
high-end RTX 3090 needs 850 watts or more.
Easier PSU replacement Need to remove all the
Convenience Convenient PSU replacement
with less cables to unplug cables when switching PSU

Energy Efficiency Limited customization

Customization Can be fully customized Customization not an option
options
The 80 Plus certification program for power supply units features the
following ratings – 80 Plus, 80 Plus Bronze, 80 Plus Silver, 80 Plus Gold, 80
Plus Platinum, and 80 Plus Titanium. The most efficient (and most expen-
sive) Titanium tier offers more than 94% energy efficiency at 50% load.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

Titanium Platinum Gold Silver Bronze White

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 CASE
Selecting a case can be done mostly to personal taste, but there's a few
factors to keep in mind.

1. Airflow: The case needs to have good airflow, so there should be lots of fan
mounting spots. Also look for wide openings at the front for air to enter, and
having them filtered will help keep dust out of the case.
2. Dimensions: Check what size motherboard your case will accept, most
motherboards are ATX sized and won't fit in smaller cases. Check the case
specs, or consider a smaller case to match. Also you'll need to check the
length of the graphics card the case accepts, as newer graphics cards can
reach 27, 30 or almost 33 centimeters in length. And do you need spots for
SSDs or hard drives? Check the case has mounting spots for your storage.
Next, what kind of CPU cooling solution will you be using? For air cooling,
check the case's maximum CPU cooling height in millimeters, at least a few
mils more than the height of your actual cooler.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

9
 PERIPHERALS Monitors
A monitor connects with one DisplayPort or HDMI cable, and high-end models may
have a USB-C video input. Often there's legacy VGA, also known as D-Sub, or DVI
inputs.Monitors can be flat or curved, and 1080p is the basic resolution, but 1440p is
becoming the gamers choice as you can see more game detail. There are 4K screens
Keyboard
for high resolution media playback, and creative professionals.Refresh rate is import-
The keyboard is mainly used for text input. Keyboards use the USB or PS/2
ant for gamers; most 1080p and 4K screens have a 60 hertz refresh rate, but 1440p can
interface.
do 120 or 144 hertz, this is often a TN type display. Your display can update twice as
USB keyboards are the norm, with only a few high-end or low-end products
fast, and the split-second difference may help you win competitive online games. AMD
employing PS/2.
Freesync or NVIDIA G-sync features can reduce screen tearing.
You should pay attention to contrast and especially brightness, rated in candela or nits,
The mechanism and actuation method on a keyboard determines its tactile
same thing. Panel type can be In-Plane Switching or IPS, with better color accuracy
response when typing.
and wider viewing angles, or Twisted Nematic or TN, known for its ultra-fast refresh
The two main switch types are membrane and mechanical.
rate. Vertical Alignment or VA panels used to sit in-between these two.
• Mechanical keyboards are actuated by an independent physical switch.
Different mechanical switches have different tactile responses; the main
types are brown, blue, black and white.
• Membrane keyboards are cheaper and make up a majority of the market.
One problem that membrane keyboards may encounter is registering
D-SUB DVI HDMI DP
simultaneous key presses, so competitive gamers may want to choose
keyboards that support N-Key Rollover (NKRO).

Mouse
Mice are typically classified according to their method of connection - wired
or wireless. They can also be classified according to their sensor type, WATCH
depending on whether they employ optical or laser sensors. THE VIDEO

Wired mice typically connect via a USB port, while Bluetooth and 2.4GHz
WIFI are the norm for wireless mice.For gaming, we recommend using a
wired mouse to avoid wireless signal and battery life issues.
10
PART2:

PLAN YOUR PC BUILD

HOW TO CHOOSE PARTS FOR MY PC?
Do you need a PC for intense gaming or heavy multimedia production? Here are some tips you need to
take into consideration when choosing your parts.
 STREAMING PC
A POWERFUL STREAMING PC IS ALL YOU NEED.
You may be a relatively new or even a pro streamer who
needs a powerful streaming PC to broadcast your game-
play. When you’re streaming a game, your system has to
handle two heavy tasks simultaneously, and a more pow-
erful CPU will come in handy. That said, your requirements
would be highly dependent on what games you play, its
graphics settings, and your streaming quality.
We’ll go through a few considerations when building a PC
for streaming.
HOW TO BUILD A STREAMING PC
Live streaming has become an indispensable form of new media in the Is your Internet fast enough?
Internet Age, enabling you to share your gaming skills and experiences with A 20Mb/s connection is more than enough for most streaming purposes. You can
friends remotely. Building a streaming PC may sounds professional, but even have a smooth streaming experience just by tethering an internet connec-
don't let it intimidate you. Here are some useful advice you should know tion with your cell phone if you have consistent signal strength and speeds in
before you start. your area.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW WHEN BUILDING A STREAMING PC ?

Gameplay and Streaming Quality

Every game has its minimum and recommended hardware requirements,
but when it comes to streaming it at a decent quality, minimum require-
ments will not be good enough. In general, a 1080P, 60fps/30fps stream is
an excellent point to start. Your CPU and GPU performance plays a crucial
Reference Link https://www.speedtest.net/
role when it comes to this particular workload.

11
1
SINGLE OR DUAL PC ? Choose your live streaming software
Single :As the name implies, a single PC is all you need to start streaming with Regardless of the type of streaming setup you pick, you'll need applications that
this setup. But if you're streaming a game, your system has to handle two heavy capture and livestream your content to your audience. Although there are numerous
tasks simultaneously, which is why having a powerful CPU and GPU is essential ways to do this, the most popular ones used by streamers today are:
for this kind of setup.
• XSplit Gamecaster: https://www.xsplit.com/gamecaster
Dual : In this type of setup, you offload the streaming workload to another PC so
• OBS Studio: https://obsproject.com/
that your primary gaming PC can focus on doing one thing – gaming. The other
• StreamLabs OBS: https://streamlabs.com/streamlabs-obs
PC will need a capture card and all the other streaming peripherals (mic,
camera, so on) connected to it. However, this setup does increase the costs
involved because you need an entire PC and a capture card in addition to your
gaming PC.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT CPU

The CPU affects both livestreaming and gaming performance, so with a single
PC streaming setup, make sure your processor is up to the task. In this type of
streaming setup, sub-par streams are usually the result of a weak/inadequate
processor.
For casual streamers, intel’s i5/i7, AMD’s R5/R7 series should work just fine. For
serious streamers who are more likely to stream the latest games at the best
HELLO!
possible quality to their audience, we'd recommend intel’s i9 and AMD’s R9
range CPUs.

PRO TIPS
We recommend at least 16GB DDR4 RAM for live streaming.

12
 GAMING PC
TRUE GAMER DESERVES A MONSTROUS GAMING PC.
It’s all about ultimate gaming experience, nothing is more
satisfying than playing games at the highest resolution
and graphics settings, which you’ll need a mighty gaming
PC. Here we will go through a few considerations that
you have to keep in mind when building a PC for gaming.
Let’s get started!
HOW TO BUILD A GAMING PC
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW TO BUILD A GAMING PC? Decrease the loading time of games with an SSD
Loading times are an issue for many gamers around the world. It’s primarily affected by
Every game has a set of minimum system requirements. For example, AAA
your network speed and storage. Hence, another way to improve your gaming experi-
games place great importance on graphics and sound quality, while FPS
ence is to use an SSD (Solid State Drive) drive that offers a higher read/ write speed. It
games may be less demanding on those but emphasize good connection
will decrease game loading times and increase the general responsiveness of your
quality. Before building a computer, visit the right websites to learn about
system.
your game’s system requirements. This will help you avoid spending too
little or too much on your PC. PRO TIPS
Reference Link: http://gamesystemrequirements.com/ Choose the right motherboard
Not only does a good gaming motherboard allow for future upgrades, but it also offers
low-latency voice communication for an enhanced gaming experience. The MSI official
Best Of The Best website can help you find the best motherboard for gaming to perfectly
suit your gaming requirements.

Choose the right graphics card

The two leading GPU manufacturers are NVIDIA and AMD. At MSI, we offer
cards for both GPU brands. For NVIDIA, GeForce RTX 40 series cards offer a
huge leap over the RTX 30 series. The current RTX 40 series models are
mostly enthusiast cards from RTX 4090 to RTX 4060. As for AMD, we have
Radeon RX 7000 series cards for enthusiasts (RX 7900 XTX to RX 7900 XT)
and performance levels (RX 7600).
You'll need to consider the amount of VRAM on the card too, crucial to your
GPU's performance, along with fans for good cooling. Gaming in 1440p
requires almost double, and 4K requires 4 times as much power as 1080p.
Fast 120 or 144 hertz display rates are double the normal 60 hertz, so
there's another doubling or more of the power required. Reference Link:
https://www.msi.com/Landing/best-motherboard-for-gaming-pc-build
13
1
 ADD SOME RGB TO YOUR PC
In a addition to performance, there are also a lot people paying more atten-
tion on making their PC look great and unique from others. One of the easiest
way is adding some RGB lighting for your rig, there’s only a few simple steps
away from making your PC different from others. Let’s get to it.

Start with the color scheme

In recent years, various manufacturers have begun releasing products with
striking color schemes, such as:
• White: MPG Z790 EDGE TI MAX WIFI/ MAG B760M MORTAR MAX WIFI
• All-black: MEG Z790 GODLIKE MAX
Reference Link: https://www.msi.com/Landing/mystic-light-rgb-gaming-pc/
As a starting point, getting matching components from the same series
helps maintain a consistent color theme throughout your rig.

Add RGB Lighting

Nowadays, many computers are equipped with RGB lighting devices. You can
add RGB lighting by installing a LED strip, or choosing components that come
equipped with lighting. Proper mixing and matching is the key to getting good
lighting effects. MSI's Mystic Light Sync allows you to connect and control
RGB devices inside and outside the case, delivering a brand new visual
experience through a variety of color and mode settings.
While RGB lights typically run on 12V power, digital LEDs that run on 5V
power are also available. Digital LEDs offer greater potential for customiza-
tion by allowing the user to adjust lighting color on an individual basis.The
user is free to configure lighting effects according to their own taste.
14
How to install RGB device
1. Check the definition of pin headers on the purchased RGB accessory and the
motherboard (for example, 12V/5V)
2. Plug the 4-pin (3-pin) RGB connector to the RGB header on the motherboard
3. Plug the power connectors additionally when connecting an RGB accessory if
necessary
ØFor fans, connect to the fan connectors on the motherboard
Ø For non-fan products, connect to the 4-pin connectors of the power supply

5050 LED strip

Extension
JLED1 cable

15
USEFUL TOOL : PCPARTPICKER
PLAN YOUR BUILD LIST: PCPARTPICKER All you need to do is to enter

PLAN YOUR BUILD LIST: PCPARTPICKER https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ and you can choose your parts.

READY AND GO
The most crucial part of building a PC is not the “building” itself; it’s crafting a part list
that aligns with your needs. After all, what significantly affects your PC’s performance is
its hardware. To help you tailor your own build list, we recommend using a helpful
resource like PCPartPicker(https://pcpartpicker.com/)

CHOOSE THE PARTS

PCPartPicker offers stunningly detailed product information, including user reviews, When you finish creating your ideal build list, there are a few functions you can
and even offers links to buy said product. By switching the website to different leverage:
regions, buy links will correspondingly link to the local e-tailer website. It not only Save. Simply save the planned build list first if you haven’t yet decided to purchase
provides a wide selection of available products, but it also gives you a reference of your rig at the moment. Take your time to compare and consider.
price and place to buy them – helping you save both time and money. Share. You can share the build list with your friends or to the forum for more opinion
on you PC build.
Buy. An easy button for you to buy the product on the e-tailer sites with ease.
16
 PART3:

HOW TO BUILD A PC
STEP-BY-STEP BUILD GUIDE IN 10 STEPS
Time to get your hands dirty! With hands-on PC building instruction, even first timers can build a gorgeous,
high-performance PC. Grab a screwdriver, up that passion, and you’re good to go!
STEP 0. PREPARATION
Before start, some simple things to be prepared:

1 A magnetic screwdriver.
2 Some zip ties /velcro strips and a pair of scissors.
3 A clean non conductive surface to build your PC onto.
4 Take a deep breath, read the manuals first and you are good to go!

Caution:
Pins on the motherboard are vulnerable, so be careful to not bend them.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

17
STEP 1. CPU INSTALLATION
1 Unlatch the lid of the CPU socket. Caution:
2 Line up the notch printed on the CPU with the guiding notches marked on the Be careful with the CPU socket pins (or CPU pins), as it is made of gold,
socket; carefully insert it inside the socket. which is soft material. They are exceedingly fragile, any slight collision can
3 Make sure the CPU is placed properly then resecure the lid and lock it onto the bend the pins, which might cause functional errors.
processor.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

18
1
STEP 2. MEMORY INSTALLATION
1 Pressing down on the lock/ejector tabs that are located at the ends of the Tips:
memory socket. The suggested sequence of which memory slots to be installed first may differ
2 Check the memory module installation order outlined in the motherboard due to different motherboards. Take MSI motherboards as example, you are
manual, and make sure which the suggested matching memory slots to insert suggested to insert the memory kit into Dimm1 slot first.
first.
3 Push the modules down until you hear a “click” as the retention clips are pushed
upwards and lock the module.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

19
STEP 3. M.2 DRIVE INSTALLATION
1 Move and fasten riser screws on the M.2 standoffs. Tips:
2 Take your drive and gently insert it into the connector at a 45 degree angle. Some high-end motherboards come with special cooling solution for M.2,

3 Push it down towards the standoff and secure it with the little screw. such as M.2 shield and M.2 FORZR. You can refer to motherboard manual
for additional installation steps.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

20
STEP 4. CPU COOLER INSTALLATION
1 Mount the back- plate onto the back of the motherboard. (If you have one) Caution:
2 Apply a drop of thermal paste onto the surface of the processor. Make sure you apply thermal paste with the right amount. Too little or too much
3 Connect CPU Fan Cable to CPU Fan Header on the motherboard. will cause bad contact or get paste into the socket relatively.
4 Lower the cooler vertically and place it onto the CPU. Make sure the screws are tightened properly, and the pressure applied at the
Secure it evenly tightening opposite screws progressively. corners is even to avoid CPU damage and cooling performance degradation.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

21
STEP 5. MOTHERBOARD INSTALLATION
1 Install I/O shield onto the back of the case. Tips:
2 Take your motherboard and gently lower it at a 45 degree angle into Don’t leave out screws - a solid mount will be very helpful to secure the
the case. motherboard in place to avoid unsteady movement.
3 Match the mounting holes on the motherboard with the stand-offs in
the case.
4 Secure the board with each of the supplied screws.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

22
STEP 6. STORAGE INSTALLATION
1 Connect one end of the SATA cable to the SATA ports on the Caution:
motherboard, and the other end to the storage devices Make sure you mount the hard drive tight to avoid damage.
(2.5’’ inches / 3.5’’ inches) itself.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

23
STEP 7. GRAPHICS CARD INSTALLATION
1 Remove rear PCI-e bracket from the case. Caution:
2 Unlock the PCI-e slot by pushing back the small plastic lock Some high-end cards are longer or use up even more PCI space. Make sure
located at the rear of the slot. to check that beforehand to choose the appropriate case that could fit the
3 Hold the card with two hands, lower the graphics card into the graphics card.
case and install into the PCI-e slot of the motherboard.
4 Secure the graphics card with the required screws to the back of
the chassis.

WATCH
THE VIDEO

24
STEP 8. POWER SUPPLY INSTALLATION
1 Mount the Power Supply (PSU) into the chassis and secure it with all Tips:
the screws. Choosing the appropriate wattage for a Power Supply is essential. You can
2 Connect 24-pin power connector into the socket on the motherboard. use online PC build simulators such as PC Part Picker or MSI Power Supply
3 Connect 8-pin CPU power connector to motherboard. Calculator tool to get an estimation of the power required by your build.
4 Connect 6+2 Pin PCI-E Cable to graphics card (it may vary by graphics Make sure to purchase a Power Supply with a little headroom to account for
card products). future upgrades.
5 Clip in your SATA power connecter to hard drive.
6 Connect other Molex connectors(with 4 horizontal pins) to extra
devices (e.g. DVD/CD Optical Drives).

WATCH
THE VIDEO

POWER
25
SUPPLY
STEP 9. FRONT PANEL CONNECTORS AND STEP 10. OPERATION SYSTEM INSTALLATION
CABLE MANAGEMENT
1 Connect Power switch / Reset switch / Power LED/ HDD(Hard Drive) LED Prepare an 8 gigabyte or more USB3 thumb drive
Cable to motherboard JFP1 Pin header. On a computer with internet, search “windows 11 media tool*”, download 11
2 Connect front USB cables to USB pin headers on the motherboard. installation and run it, and choose to create the image on the USB, the program
3 USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 Cable to USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 Pin Header. will format, or wipe, the drive
4 Front USB Type-C Cable to Front USBType-C Pin Header. Plug the installation USB in a motherboard rear USB port, choose a fast red USB3
5 Connect the Audio(Speaker) Cable to the motherboard JAUD1 Pin header. port or normal USB3 with blue insert. Turn on the computer, usually on first boot
6 Use zip ties or velcro strips to secure the cables in tight bundles to the back the BIOS will load, you can save and exit, restarting the PC. The USB should load
of the case. and you can proceed with installation.

Tips: * Depends on the latest/suggested version you want to install

Check the maximum amount of USB ports on the motherboard before
purchasing a PC case. Make sure the case you want to purchase also
Tips:
support enough USB ports as the motherboard does.
If your system can’t be booted from the installation devices, enter the BIOS
and prioritize the boot sequence.

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