Hi everyone!

[linnemeyerhere]

I would suggest you locate the balance of the case standoff's and install only to the new mobo's locations before proceeding!
If needed you may need to take a flyer to the best computer store or call ahead for stand off's and matching screws and then replace all with the new stand offs in the proper locations. You want the new mobo supported properly.

 

[Dom]

I would suggest you locate the balance of the case standoff's and install only to the new mobo's locations before proceeding!

Balance? Don't worry I won't carry on unless everything has been confirmed by you guys

The motherboards mounting locations fit perfectly with the layout of the standoffs in the case. I have even triple checked it!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Yes if you only have 6 stand offs mounted to the case and the new mobo requires 9 or 10 then you should add those other stand offs before proceeding. This adds support to the mobo as well as proper grounding, if the stand offs are in the wrong place then you may ground out (short) the mobo. Take it from me having just done this myself it's a 50/50 shot at having to purchase a brand new mobo.....not good !

 

[Dom]

Well I have looked at the manual. and only 6 screws are supplied according to the package contents. I'll google around to confirm if I only need 6 standoffs

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Is this a brand new case? Odd as all other cases I've used have a bag of additional stand offs and screws as needed. You may want to call and double check, maybe 6 will do but that'll be a first for me. Maybe someone else can chime in on this?

 

[Dom]

The case came with a lot of extra screws in a Zalman plastic bag, but no standoffs. I seem to be having trouble as there are no screws for the motherboard to screw into the standoffs. I'll contact ASRock about that.
Also, when i lay down the motherboard where i have located the standoffs, there does not seem to be much space between the motherboard and the motherboard tray. It is a couple of mm space, is this normal?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Yes the spacing is normal. But you'll need to contact the case manufacturer for the stand offs and screw issue as no screws or stand offs are ever provided by the mobo mfgr.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

As mentioned before your time and energy could be best utilized calling around for a handful of matching standoffs and screws so you can move forward. Any shop repairing computers will have these for cheap.....I hope!
Ultra Deluxe Screw & Accessory Kit at TigerDirect.com

 

[linnemeyerhere]

It looks like your case was supplied without the additional stand offs:

::: Zalman, leading the world of Quiet Computing Solutions :::

 

[Dom]

So its advisable buying 4 more standoffs and 10 motherboard screws? I have a local PC shop, I'm sure they'd sell some. Thanks for the help!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Yes but !!! there isn't a standard so take one of the stand offs with and make sure the new ones are similar and the screws have same thread pitch.

 

[Dom]

The case has a lot of screws, and it seems there are small black screws that are able to thread into the standoffs perfectly. I think the motherboard only requires six mounting holes.
I would go for using the screws supplied with the case, but as you said, it may short out the motherboard. If you want i'll take a photo

 

[Dom]

They are the bolts as described in the manual:
- B Bolts (PWH M3*5) [M/B, FDD, SSD Installation]
So I'll assume they are used to attach the motherboard to the supplied standoffs. You would recommend buying additional standofffs to make use of all 10 holes in the mobo?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Yes read the mobo manual and it will confirm the number as 10 is odd.

http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx2_2.pdf

 

[Dom]

I've just installed the mobo using just the standoffs... I know there is a risk of shorting out but I want to get most of this done tonight :/ I have pressed in the location where there are no standoffs corresponding to the motherboards holes, and there is no give whatsoever; therefore I think we're safe (until I find out my mobo dies on startup ). Here is what I have done so far:
Installed HDD, ODD, USB 3 Header onto case
Installed PSU
I secured the mobo to the case using 6 standoffs (i checked a lot of time to make sure no standoffs were in the wrong place)
I fitted the backplate, I may have a shot at applying thermal paste and installing heatsink.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

You should be ok and it's better to have too few than too many or one in the wrong place.

 

[Dom]

Didnt actually do too much last night, spent most of my time pondering over the standoffs. Because there is a CPU cutout in the case, I figured it would be easier to install the heatsink as I could have the motherboard upright, and have access to both sides of the mobo. Installing the backplate was fairly easy:

Hardest part of the build so far (and probably will be the hardest out of everything) was putting that damn heatsink on. After applying thermal paste on top of the CPU (I may have slightly overdone it - pea sized amount), the heatsink, due to the design of the bracket, kept slipping and sliding. Very tedious process, but it is down firmly and straight and does no longer move

I guess all I have left to do is wire up all the motherboard headers necessary, install the GPU and then I'm more or less done.

 

[A Guy]

Welcome back Little Dom Good to see you again

A Guy

 

[Dom]

Welcome back Little Dom Good to see you again

A Guy

Haha, I still feel like a little kid compared to some guys here on SF....

 

[Dom]

Well I'm down to two chassis fans due to my impatient to get cables looking tidy, but I was going to order new fans anyway.
I think I'm finished now, everything is installed. I'm going to go over everything again and then test

And yes, that is an IDE cable... IDE optical drive not SATA. Oh well


I am quite proud of how this looks. Just wish that graphics card was blue!