A NEW GO-TO AMD GPU FOR 1080P GAMING?

LENGTH OF TIME: 1-2 hours

DIFFICULTY: Easy

1 The housing

As usual, we like to know exactly what we are working with before diving head first into a build, and this involves stripping the case down by removing all the side panels and any mesh filters on the chassis, too. This enables us to plan potential cable routes and have easier access to fit all of our components. Trust us, you want as much space as possible when building PCs, and starting a build this way saves you a lot of time and hassle down the road.

To begin, you need to remove the four thumbscrews from the front of the tempered glass panel. Lay the case on its back before doing this to avoid dropping the glass (we’ve been there, it’s not pretty). Next, remove the two thumbscrews that hold the back panel on—these require a Phillips screwdriver if they are too tight to undo by hand. The front panel pulls off without requiring any tools, but be careful not to damage the clips. With these removed, you can take off any magnetic mesh filters at this stage, too, and put all the panels in the original box for safekeeping.

2a Adding the CPU

and focus on what makes this machine tick: the processor. This, of course, needs the motherboard to function, so unpack that, and place it on top of its box when adding parts to it. This protects the back of the board more than a flat hard surface, such as a table, would. Release the retention bar on the CPU socket and it opens up. Then, grabbing the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X by its sides, align the triangle on the CPU with the one on the motherboard, and gently rest it on the socket. After this, pull the retention bar back into its original position, and it should lock the CPU down.

2b CPU cooler bracket

Before installing the AMDWraith Prism cooler, needs the correct bracket in place. This is the standard stock AMD cooler bracket. First, you need an AM4/ AM5 backplate to go behind the socket; the screw holes should line up perfectly and come through the back of the motherboard. Then, using the original AMD stock cooler brackets, rest these above the screw holes (one above the  socket and one below). Afterward, use the stock screws to secure these to the backplate and the motherboard. The clips on the brackets should face outward from the CPU—this is what the cooler is going to clip on to.