How do you ground the PC Case?

Building a PC for the first time. Any tips for installing CPU heatsink?

• Going to build a PC from the ground up for the first time. I have been trained in the PC field, but I am a bit nervous when it comes to installing the heatsink since I'm spending near $600 which is a LOT to me. I know how to install everything else, I know about ESD prevention, etc. But I would like some tips. Like: should I install the MB into the case before I install the heatsink? (I'm getting a micro ATX MB, and have a fairly HUGE case) I've seen people install components (CPU, Heatsink & RAM) with the MB laying on it top of it's box, however I'm sot sure that's a safe place to have the motherboard. (small note: I will be installing the stack fan/heatsink that comes packaged with the processor [AMD Athlon II X4 AM3] from what I have seen/been told, it comes with pre-applied thermal paste) Throw your advice at me! It's all appreciated!

• Answer:

  Yes, it actually is more convenient to install most of the motherboard components (ram, cpu, heatsink, etc) outside of the machine. Take the antistatic bag that your board came in and set your board on top of that while you're working on it. That should be all the protection you need as long as you're careful and stay grounded. And you're right, the stock heatsinks that come with those processors have thermal solution pre-applied, so all you need to do is place it on the processor and bolt it down. If the heatsink has a four-bolt design (I don't think any of the AMD's do but I'll mention it anyway) then tighten down the same way you would when changing a tire: that is, try to bolt them in a star pattern instead of going around to each corner in order.