You MUST NOT skip steps

The instructions below get you unpacked, set up and ready to use in the quickest possible time, whilst ensuring everything is done safely. If the instructions are not followed and damage is caused, that is not covered under warranty

⌛ It will only take 10 minutes and ensures a smooth set up 😊

Set up aspects for specific cases

If your build uses any of the cases listed below, there are additional instructions at the bottom of this page to view BEFORE beginning the set up guide below. We will update this over time

  • Fractal North (as used in the Nord series)

Step 1 - Unbox Your Parcel

Your PC is delivered in a large exterior box. Use scissors, not a knife. This reduces the risk of damaging your hardware during unboxing

Cut along the top to release and open the box tabs

Your PC will be inside another box (the case box). You will also have component boxes. The power cable, spare screws, and WiFi antenna are normally inside the motherboard's box

The other boxes may also contain spare parts

Do not throw away the packaging

A lot of the packaging is bespoke for your PC so if you throw it away, it can make returns and warranty claims very difficult to process. You cannot return the PC to us without the packaging fully intact (unless faulty)

Step 2 - Unpack the PC

Use scissors to open the case box, and gently invert the box so that the PC slides out. Remove the foam blocks and plastic bag
We recommend you protect your work surface to prevent damage

Remove the glass or mesh panel - usually there are screws on the back that are loosened to allow this to slide off. Sometimes they are toolless so can just be pulled off. If unsure please contact us

Most PCs will ship with expanding instapak foam to protect the graphics card (small form factor builds may not have this).

Gently wiggle the foam out. Be patient and careful so as not to unplug anything

If your PC has a tower air cooler (i.e. not a liquid cooler), you will also need to remove the foam blocks that sit to the left and top of the CPU cooler, as shown in the photo

If your PC has a tower air cooler (i.e. not a liquid cooler), there will be a plastic cable tie to support the CPU cooler in transit. This needs to be cut prior to use. You can cut it at any point of the loop but you have to be very careful not to cut any of the cables in the case. The loop will be secured to the top of the case on the fan rails

Step 3 - Inspect ❗

This is vital

Have a general look around the interior of the case - if anything looks loose, unplugged, bent, or otherwise unusual - please contact us rather than attempting changes yourself. Pay particular attention to the cable that plugs into your graphics card and ensure it is fully seated (fully plugged in)

Step 4 - Connect up cables

Plug in the PC's power cable - please use the one we supply you with. If you wish to use a longer cable, it must be a C13 cable and rated for 13 Amps. Do NOT use a smart plug with a PC - smart plugs cannot handle the changing power requirements a PC has

Do not use an international plug adapter, and do not place the PC's power on the same extension lead as lots of other power-hungry devices

Flick the power supply switch to the "I" position. If there is no switch, that's because the case design means the unit is located elsewhere in the case. We will have switched it on for you so you can simply plug in and not worry about this

Plug in your display cable (from your monitor/TV) into the ports on the graphics card. You can use a DP cable or HDMI. We recommend DP but both will work. Old cables can cause issues, so if you get no display, or a flickering display, try a new cable

This is vital - you must ensure your monitor or TV is set to the correct source to receive the signal (eg HDMI/DP etc)

‼️Critical Step

(this is responsible for 90% of support tickets and is easily avoidable)

Do NOT plug your monitor into the display ports up here by the USB ports (unless your system is an office PC rather than gaming/creator). These will not provide the full performance you paid for, and in many cases these are deactivated regardless

Attach the WiFi antenna. These come in the form of sticks or magnetic base blade units. Most of them simply screw into the gold posts as shown here. Some motherboards have antennae that are simply push-to-fit.

Even if you don't plan to use WiFi we recommend attaching them, because they help with Bluetooth as well

You can connect your USB devices here - keyboard, mouse etc. Blue and red ports are typically faster, which is useful for high-throughput devices like external hard drives, cameras, capture cards. For keyboard and mouse any port is fine

For your first boot, keep things minimal - just connect your keyboard and mouse - other items can be attached later. This ensures a smooth first boot

If you use wired internet (ethernet), you can also plug your network cable in here

If your audio device uses 3.5mm plugs these can be plugged in here. Green = headphones, Pink = microphone. If not coloured, they will be labelled with either text or a symbol

If your headset has just one plug for both headphone and mic functions, you will need to purchase a USB adapter, or a splitter. USB recommended

Step 5 - Time to have fun!

Thanks for sticking with the process - doing it properly the first time gets you on the right path

You can now boot up your PC, get your games and apps installed, and enjoy! 🙌

It can take up to 5 minutes for your PC to boot the first time, and the fans will initially spin at full speed - this is normal

To connect to WiFi, click the globe icon in the bottom right of the screen at the Windows desktop. Upon first connection, Windows will grab some updates so your PC will be doing a little work in the background during this time

Any questions or queries - just drop a live chat. If anything looks amiss, it's always safer to ask before that first boot

Specific Case Set Up Info

Fractal North (Nord Series)

These steps make it much easier to remove the internal foam

There is a small thumbscrew towards the front-top of the case. Loosen this to enable you to remove the small steel panel here

Slide the panel back and remove it. Now you can more easily remove the packing foam

Once you've got the foam out, you can slot the panel back in, slide it forwards, and re-secure that screw