| While building a system is not very hard, there are a few items to pay close attention to.
The Heat Sink Bracket: It's very important the bracket that holds the processor heat sink is installed correctly. If it is not mounted properly, the heat sink won't make full contact with the processor. If this happens, all the fans in the world won't keep your CPU cool. When installed correctly, depending on the processor type, the bracket will often actually bow the motherboard slightly. This will push the processor up tight against the heat sync. As a result, install this part before mounting the motherboard in the case.
Proper Thermal Grease Application: The processor needs constant contact with the heat sink. Since the metal of both the processor and heat sink expands and contracts, it doesn't always maintain a tight seal. That's where thermal grease comes in. You don't need to apply a lot, but you do need to do it correctly.
Start by applying a thin layer of grease to the heat sink and processor, then wipe both off. This will fill all the tiny pits and scratches in the metal. Next, apply another thin layer of grease to the heat sink and place it in the bracket on top of the processor. Be sure it attaches securely.
The Processor Fan Connector: The power connector for the processor fan is tiny and easy to miss. The fan won't operate if you don't plug it in. If the case is closed when you power up the system for the first time, you might not realize the fan isn't operating until the processor fails.
USB Connections: Some cases have USB cabling with individual connectors for each pin on the motherboard. Make sure you pay close attention to where each goes or you can seriously damage your motherboard.
Power Connections: The motherboard usually has one large connection to plug into. However, some power supplies have two small connectors that must be connected side by side to form one large one. Make sure these are connected in the right order or you can ruin the motherboard.
Jumpers: Don't forget to set the jumpers on your drives to the correct positions. Many times, the reason a drive won't mount is because the jumper is in the wrong position.
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