The cord that connects your computer to the AC power source has the distinction of being just about the only thing on your computer that has remained relatively unchanged since the early days of the PC. A power cable from a year-old computer will probably fit the one you're building today just fine. The power cable actually has an official name, by the way. So go have some fun. Just don't blame me if they slap you or think you're a nerd. SATA drives use a power connector that's specially designed to enable "hot-swapping" the drives, something that would have been rather difficult using the older Molex connectors.
It's never been easier to build a computer. Parts just plug right in, most drivers install themselves, and the components you need for a stellar desktop PC are cheaper than ever. Here's how we did that. But it's still easy to screw it up if you're not careful. Here are five of the simplest, most boneheaded mistakes we've ever seen made -- and how to avoid them. We assume you're smart enough to plug everything in.
How to install a computer motherboard
This guide was developed to instruct readers on the proper procedures for installing a power supply unit PSU into a desktop computer case. It includes step-by-step instructions with photographs for the physical installation of the PSU into a computer case. As a result, it is generally not possible to buy a replacement power supply and install it into these systems. If your power supply is having problems, you will likely need to contact the manufacturer for repairs. All power supplies contain various capacitors inside of them that retain power even after the power supply had all power turned off.