PlanYourPC. One step at a time
THE PLANYOURPC FIELD GUIDE

Your parts.
Your first power-on.

A little patience. A clear plan. Ten steps to bring your build together.

Beginner friendly10 illustrated stepsProgress saved here
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A simplified PC tower showing motherboard, cooling, graphics card and power supply.GPUPSUCOOLINGGRAPHICSFROM A PARTS LIST TO YOUR PC

Your manuals come first. This is a general desktop assembly guide. Socket mechanisms, headers and case layouts vary. Use your exact parts’ instructions alongside these diagrams.

01Make a little room.

Prepare your parts

Lay out your parts, manuals and a Phillips screwdriver on a clean, non-conductive surface. Keep the mains cable unplugged during assembly.

Check CPU/board support, BIOS requirements and clearances in your parts list. Handle boards by their edges and follow the manufacturers’ anti-static guidance.

Check before moving on

Keep screws sorted. Open your exact motherboard and cooler manuals before starting. Never open the power supply casing.

Manufacturer reference ↗
A board, parts and manual laid out before assembly.CPUMANUALParts checkedPower unplugged
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
02Start at the centre.

Seat the processor

Open the socket using your board’s instructions. Match the processor’s alignment marks to the socket and lower it into place.

Close the retention mechanism as the manual shows. Avoid touching pins or contact pads.

Check before moving on

The CPU should sit flat without forcing it. AMD AM4, AMD AM5 and Intel socket mechanisms differ; this diagram shows alignment only.

Manufacturer reference ↗
Match the corner marks on the CPU and socket.CPUSOCKETMatch the corner markers. Lower gently.
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
03Make space to think.

Fit the memory

Use the RAM slots recommended by your motherboard manual. With two modules, A2 and B2 are common on four-slot boards, but check yours.

Open the appropriate latches, align each module’s notch and press evenly until it seats and the latches engage.

Check before moving on

This is an example layout, not a universal slot order. Do not force a DDR4 module into a DDR5 slot. Check that both ends are fully seated.

Manufacturer reference ↗
Four slots labelled A1, A2, B1 and B2; A2 and B2 highlighted as an example.CPUA1A2B1B2Example: two sticks on a four-slot board
Example slot layout — check your manual
04A home for everything.

Install the M.2 SSD

Choose a compatible M.2 slot and move its standoff or retention latch to suit your SSD’s length. Remove the slot heatsink if fitted.

Insert the drive at the angle in its instructions, lower it and secure the screw or latch. Refit the heatsink as directed.

Check before moving on

Remove protective film from heatsink thermal pads where instructed. Keep the SSD’s product label on unless its manufacturer tells you otherwise. Some M.2 slots share lanes or disable other ports.

Manufacturer reference ↗
An M.2 drive inserts at an angle, then lowers to its retention point.M.2 slotScrew / latchInsert, lower, secure
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
05Give it room to breathe.

Mount the CPU cooler

Use the mounting kit for your socket. Remove any protective film from the cooler’s contact surface.

If paste is already applied, do not add another layer. Otherwise follow the cooler’s paste instructions. Secure the cooler evenly and connect its fan to CPU_FAN.

Check before moving on

Follow the exact cooler manual for brackets, backplate and tightening order. For liquid cooling, follow its radiator, pump-header and power instructions too. Never power the CPU without a fitted cooler.

Manufacturer reference ↗
A cooler sits above the processor with a downward mounting arrow.CPURemove protective film · Use the correct mount
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
06Bring it together.

Fit the motherboard

Check the case standoffs line up with the board’s mounting holes; remove any extras underneath. Fit a separate I/O shield if required.

Lower the board into the case and secure it with the correct screws. Support the board and avoid overtightening.

Check before moving on

Check the case and cooler manuals for assembly order; cramped cases may need the cooler fitted later. Keep loose screws out of the case.

Manufacturer reference ↗
A motherboard positioned over matching case mounting points.CPUStandoffs only beneath mounting holes
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
07The right cable, every time.

Connect the power supply

Mount the PSU as its case instructions show. Connect the board’s 24-pin power and the required EPS/CPU power cables.

Use only cables supplied for this exact PSU, or explicitly confirmed compatible by its manufacturer. Reserve the correct GPU power cable for the next step.

Check before moving on

EPS/CPU and PCIe/GPU cables are not interchangeable. Match labels and connector keys; never force them. The diagram shows destinations, not pin wiring or every required connector.

Manufacturer reference ↗
Three labelled routes from the PSU to motherboard, CPU power and graphics card.PSU24-pin → BoardEPS → CPU powerGPU cable → GPUUse cables supplied for your exact PSU
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
08Add the graphics.

Seat and support the GPU

Remove the matching case slot covers. Install the card in the motherboard’s recommended full-length PCIe slot and secure its bracket.

Fit a support bracket if needed. Connect every required GPU power plug using the card and PSU instructions; make sure it is fully seated and latched.

Check before moving on

Leave cable clearance so the side panel does not pull on the connector. Follow the cable maker’s bend guidance. Skip this step only if your CPU has integrated graphics and your board provides usable display outputs.

Manufacturer reference ↗
A graphics card lowering straight into a motherboard PCIe slot.Seat in the recommended PCIe slot
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
09Finish the small connections.

Connect the case and fans

Connect the case power switch, USB and audio cables to the headers shown in your exact motherboard manual. Check LED polarity where required.

Connect fans to the proper fan headers or powered controller. Follow airflow arrows on the fan housings and keep cables clear of blades.

Check before moving on

Header pin layouts vary. Never use this simplified drawing as a pinout. A 3-pin 5V ARGB plug must not be connected to a 4-pin 12V RGB header.

Manufacturer reference ↗
Case fans and front-panel cables connect to separate motherboard headers.HEADERSCASE FANCASE I/OFan arrows show airflow. Header layouts vary.
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
10Your first power-on.

Check, then install

Connect the monitor to the graphics card when one is installed. Attach a keyboard, reconnect mains power, switch on the PSU and press the case power button.

Enter the firmware/BIOS using the key in your manual. Confirm the CPU, RAM and SSD are detected. Check cooler operation and temperatures before proceeding.

Check before moving on

First-start memory setup can take time: follow your board’s guidance. If there is no display, check the monitor input and board diagnostic indicators. Switch off and unplug before reseating anything.

Manufacturer reference ↗
A firmware screen listing CPU, memory capacity and SSD detection.FIRMWARE / BIOSCPU recognisedRAM capacity correctSSD detectedCheck first. Install your OS next.
Simplified diagram · follow your exact part manual
THEN MAKE IT YOURS

Install. Update. Enjoy.

For Windows, create installation media using Microsoft’s official tool and a suitable blank USB drive. Creating the installer erases that USB; back it up first. Install onto the intended SSD, then add official motherboard/chipset and GPU drivers and run system updates. Confirm stability at default settings before trying optional memory profiles.

Check your PC with DxDiag ↗Back to your build

Guide reviewed 5 November 2026. Original schematic illustrations by PlanYourPC. Sources are linked beside the relevant steps. This checklist does not certify compatibility or installation.