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Computer Assembly
10. Connect the case wires to the Motherboard
This is a step where it pays to check and double check your work.
Often times a computer's initial problems can be attributed to not connecting everything correctly. In this section we will go through each and every possible connection you will make in your computer to get it up and running.
Keep in mind:
You want to make sure that none of the wires obstruct the movement of the processor fan. I have done this before and it WILL cause the processor to overheat, halt the computer, and possibly damage the processor itself. Zip ties are a good way to clean up the inside of the computer and allow you to bundle the wires together.
Connect the power wires:
The power wires are the most foolproof wires that you will be connecting in this part. Each connector coming from your power supply is made so that it can only attach in the correct manner.
1. Motherboard: 
Pictured right, this connector has the most wires leading to the power supply. Locate the plug on the motherboard and plug it in. That's it. It will only go in one way, unless you force it of course, and once it's in it will be secured by a clip that you can see in the picture on the right. You won't be able to pull it back out without pressing this clip and lifting at the same time. To make sure it's secure go ahead and try lightly pulling on the connector without pressing the clip. If it stays seated, then you're done with this connector.
2. Hard Drive, CD/DVD, and Zip/Jaz Drives:
The connectors for these devices have four wires stemming from them (pictured right). If you look closely you'll see that two of the four corners have notches in them. This is to ensure that the connectors only go in one way. Before actually connecting each drive you should make sure that each connector will be able to reach that drive. If you have a couple of short wires and more devices that are a further distance away from the power supply, then you may need to rearrange some of your devices so they all are able to have a power connector. Connecting it is simple, just make sure it's seated properly and is snug enough where some force is needed to pull it out again.
3. Floppy Drive: 
The floppy drive power connector is much smaller and has only four wires coming from it. It used to be easy to connect these connectors backwards but now they are keyed to fit only one way like the rest of the power connectors stemming from the power supply.
4. Other Power Connections:
Some motherboards have other places that may or may not require a power connector to be connected. Some of these seem extraneous but can really help the performance of the computer. First, look at your motherboard manual to see if you have any of these connections. If you do then make sure you have the appropriate power connectors stemming from the power supply. Computer building is becoming much more "plug and play" so chances are if a connector looks like it will fit then it probably will. Of course, when in doubt, look it up in your manual.
Some places to look on the motherboard would be somewhere else near the processor, and somewhere near the AGP slot. With video cards becoming more advanced, many may need that extra boost of power from the power supply to perform at full potential. Another place that may require an extra boost of power is near the processor somewhere on the motherboard. Before plugging any of the extra power wires to the motherboard, make sure you check the manual to see what they are for sure.
5. Front Panel Connector
This connector makes sure the buttons and lights on the front of your panel know how to work. It also powers the speaker that makes that "beep" sound when you turn on your computer. Each motherboard may be different but the instructions will look very similar to what is shown below.
It is very important to consult your manual to make sure you make all the appropriate connections. One thing to keep in mind, the wires leading from the front of your case will have black connectors on the ends of them that look like the picture on the right. Each of these connectors has a wire that holds the positive charge. If you look above, for example at the four orange pins on the top illustration that signifies the speaker, you'll see that one end of that row has a plus sign next to it.
To locate the wire that has the positive charge on the connector, find the tiny triangle on that connector, as pictured to the right. This is where patience and small hands come into very good use. Just take your time and make sure you consult the manual for all your connections.
USB/Firewire/Audio Connections:
Another possibility is that your case has either USB, Firewire, or Audio connections available on the front of the case. It is very important that you look at your motherboard manual for these connections. If it looks like your connectors from the case and the connectors on the motherboard don't match up, then DON'T MESS WITH IT! It is very easy to fry a motherboard since these types of connections require a lot of power to travel through them. When in doubt, consult the manual or call the case or motherboard company to get some help there. Better yet, check the Message Boards to see if anyone else has had similar problems.
Remember
Once you make sure everything is hooked up, double check it!
Once you're sure everything is hooked up,