For detailed steps on opening your computer’s case, see our article on how to open a standard screw-secured computer case. For screwless cases, look for buttons or levers on the sides or rear that are used to release the case. This is usually a good step to complete when opening the case, but if you haven’t done so yet, now is the time. There may be many styles of power connectors inside your computer, but all of them, aside from the large one connecting to the motherboard, will be small and relatively flat. If you have any doubt as to what is a power connector, follow the cable. If you can trace it back to the power supply, then it’s a power connector. All peripheral devices inside your computer will have a power connector, including hard drives, optical drives (like CD/DVD/Blu-ray drives), and floppy drives. The motherboard itself will also have a large power connector and very often also a small 4, 6, or 8-prong power connector near the CPU. Most high-end video cards also require independent power and thus have power connectors. Some additional devices you might have that use data cables include hard drives, optical drives, high-end video cards, sound cards, floppy drives, and more. As we briefly talked about in Step 1, desktop computer cases come in many forms. If you need help closing your PC’s case, please check your computer or case manual.
