Mini Project — Part 2: Assembly and First Boot

Let's think about this for a second

Continuing from Part 1 — since your parts list is already sorted out, now you'll follow the steps from the Tools, Assembly, and First Boot chapters in order. Assembly is simple if you take it step by step — go slow and handle each component carefully, and you'll run into far fewer problems. The goal of this stage is to physically finish building the PC and get a successful first boot all the way to the POST screen. In Part 3, you'll move on to OS install and driver/software setup.

Let's build it for real

Touch the metal case for anti-static protection, then place the motherboard on its box and seat the CPU so it aligns with the socket mark. Mount the CPU cooler (stock cooler) with a pea-size dab of thermal paste. Press the two RAM sticks into the A2/B2 slots until you hear them click into place. Insert the M.2 SSD into its slot and screw it down. Set the motherboard onto the standoffs inside the case and tighten all the screws. Put the PSU into the case and connect the 24-pin, CPU 8-pin, and case fan/front panel cables. Connect the monitor to the motherboard's iGPU port, power it on, and check whether the POST screen appears — listen for a beep sound or check the motherboard's debug LED.

CPU, Cooler, RAM, and M.2 SSD are all mounted on the motherboard
Motherboard is fully screwed into the case and cables (24-pin, 8-pin, front panel) are connected
Powered on and successfully checked the POST screen/debug LED

Code Example

text

ASSEMBLY ORDER (Part 2)
-----------------------
1. Anti-static: touch case metal frame first
2. CPU        -> socket triangle mark align, no force
3. Cooler      -> pea-size thermal paste, diagonal screw pattern
4. RAM         -> A2/B2 slots, push until click
5. M.2 SSD     -> insert at angle, press down, screw
6. Motherboard -> lower onto case standoffs, screw all corners
7. PSU         -> mount, route cables
8. Cabling     -> 24-pin, CPU 8-pin, front panel (Power SW/Reset/LED)
9. Power ON    -> watch for POST screen / debug LED / beep code

You should see

The case fans and CPU fan light up, the motherboard logo (POST screen) appears on the monitor, and you're able to get into the BIOS.

5-Minute Try-It

Compare the front panel cables (Power SW, Reset SW, Power LED, HDD LED) against the pinout diagram in the motherboard manual, and spend 5 minutes marking the correct orientation with a marker.

A Quick Word of Caution

If you hear a RAM/GPU error beep on first boot, go straight back to the Troubleshooting chapter — reseating the RAM slot fixes it most of the time.