Easy way to test motherboard

[Dia]

This is how I enjoy building my PCs. I take the mobo box and place the mobo ontop and build my pc out of the case. This provides me a lot of room to test my entire system before finalizing my build inside of the case. I dont connect any switches to the motherboard but I just a copper key across the power switch connectors to jump start the board. This way if something is going wrong I dont have a hard time with a case and cables being in the way.

I do suggest however if your gonna connect the HD to mount that into the case and run the pata/sata cable to the motherboard. You dont want a HD to move while the read/write heads are moving across the platter.

If you have an anti static mat you can use that instead of the mobo box.

I started to do this method after one problem build where I had to keep taking the mobo in and out of the case, which was very irritating. Now with any unknown working builds I use this method before affixing anything to the case (well other then the HD).

[Alaron]

We have been recommending that very procedure for years: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409