Installation
Test Rig:
Intel i7 860 LGA 1156 CPU
ASRock P55 Deluxe motherboard
Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600 Low Voltage XMP 4GB Dual Channel memory kit
Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1GB video card
OCZ Z Series 650 watt power supply
Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU cooler
Ikonik Zaria midtower
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
I cannot stress enough the importance of using extreme care when the pins of the CPU socket are exposed. The LGA 1156 footprint is smaller than the LGA 1366, so it will be harder to damage the pins, but they are very fragile. I have damaged two LGA 1366 motherboards by accidently touching the pins.
The LGA 1156’s socket works a little differently from earlier Intel models. Observe the CPU and the socket to determine the location of the “keys” and how to orient the processor. VERY GENTLY place the processor in the socket. GENTLY close the retainer, and slide it under the locking lug mounted on the motherboard. GENTLY push the locking lever towards the motherboard, STOP IMMEDIATELY if there is too much resistance. Lock the lever.
Prep the CPU surface by cleaning with isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth. Prep the CPU cooler base in the same way. Apply thermal compound per the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are using a CPU cooler with exposed heatpipes that directly touch the CPU surface you will have to use extra compound and spread it out with a credit card or other thin flat flexible item. (direct touch heatpipe coolers do not spread thermal compound properly)
Install the CPU cooler as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Install the memory. IF YOU ARE USING TWO MEMORY MODULES PLACE THEM IN THE WHITE MEMORY SLOTS! You will not use the slot nearest the CPU unless you are using three or four modules. That is true for all P55 motherboards as well as X58 motherboards.
Install the optical drive into your case.
Install the power supply and hard drive(s) into your case. Install the motherboard’s I/O shield into the opening in the rear of the case. Put the motherboard offsets into the case and place the motherboard on the offsets. Install the motherboard.
Wire things up and install the video card. Double check your work, and you’re done.
