At what point do I mount the motherboard in the case?

[Felecha]

I'm replacing my motherboard (new CPU, RAM, PSU). Never tried this before. ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 and an AMD Athlon 64 X2.

Reading the manual from ASRock, I am pretty confident I can do all the steps correctly, but I wonder at what point do I mount the board in the case (InWin full tower ATX).

I sort of expect to mount the CPU while the board is flat on the bench. And the DIMM then, too. But when it gets into installing PCI cards and reconnecting my IDE cables etc, that surely needs to be done when the board is in place in the case.

So, CPU and DIMM, then mount it?

 

[thescreensavers]

Install the Cpu then Ram when the mobo is out then mount the mobo in the case then your front panal connectors then pci cards

Or

You can mount the mobo then install the cpu then ram then the front panal connectors then the pci cards.

 

[tweekah]

So, CPU and DIMM, then mount it?

Typically yes. Some cases have a removable motherboard plate, that makes mounting easier. Later on when you get good, it won't really matter.

Make sure you have standoffs that extend to the furthest ends of the motherboards especially where you'll be plugging in your ide/floppy/sata cables. You want to prevent any mobo flex.

 

[Felecha]

um, what's a standoff?

and reading along I get to jumper settings where I see PS2_USB_PWR1 options for +5V or +5VSB which looks like it handles waking the dog up when any PS2 or USB event happens. Is that needed for waking up when it's been on standby? I return to my desk and wiggle the mouse to wake up normally. Does that have to be set here in order to work?

 

[tweekah]

Read this site if you haven't already. http://www.mechbgon.com/

 

[Felecha]

OK, back in a bit

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: tweekah
Read this site if you haven't already. http://www.mechbgon.com/

The Case Prep 2 page has info on standoffs, if that helps. An Inwin Q-series full-tower is probably going to have the mix of pre-formed dome-shaped ones and thread-in ones.

 

[Felecha]

More to read, but I see a picture of a standoff. The current board must have them since the board stands off from the panel. Presume I can use those. And I will have to reuse the current screws, since the board doesnt seem to have any with it. Interesting. i expect the shop that built it just has all that stuff.

 

[mechBgon]

Out of curiosity, what is the current motherboard that is being replaced? I'm asking so I can look at whether the hole pattern matches.

Also, you may be aware of this already, but Windows2000 or WindowsXP will undoubtedly freak out if you yank the motherboard out from underneath them. So... (1) did you back up all your stuff, and (2) are you up to snuff on getting Windows reinstalled without getting immediately 0wned by worms? The "Security during Windows Setup" part is intended to help with the essentials of that, which boils down to "firewall first, all other possible security measures next, and then you plug in the network cable last of all."

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Felecha
More to read, but I see a picture of a standoff. The current board must have them since the board stands off from the panel. Presume I can use those. And I will have to reuse the current screws, since the board doesnt seem to have any with it. Interesting. i expect the shop that built it just has all that stuff.

standoffs and screws tend to come with cases, not motherboards.

 

[gw186]

The screws and standoffs come with the case and not the motherboard. You can use the old ones. As far as the wake on USB thing, I always ignore that. It will still wake up when you move the mouse.

 

[Felecha]

old board is ABIT KT7RAID

I see now that the backside shows brass threaded items so it's the brass standoffs I have.

Is that your site, mechBgon? Very nicely done. Just about exactly at the level that I can handle with my current experience.

Windows (XP Pro SP2), on a group license from my job. The boss agreed to let me install one copy at home since I do a lot of work from home for him.

I expected that it would squawk when it booted and object to the Activation thing. I understand I have 30 days to resolve it, calling MS to tell them what I did. I have had to call them once before about an issue and they were cooperative that time.

And yes, I plan to Ghost my first hard drive to my second before I jump off the cliff. I have installed XP maybe 10 times at work.

 

[Felecha]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Out of curiosity, what is the current motherboard that is being replaced? I'm asking so I can look at whether the hole pattern matches.

But doesn't the hole pattern belong to the ATX form factor? Would they not HAVE to match?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Felecha

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Out of curiosity, what is the current motherboard that is being replaced? I'm asking so I can look at whether the hole pattern matches.

But doesn't the hole pattern belong to the ATX form factor? Would they not HAVE to match?

They would be one of two patterns. The difference is a single hole, the one circled in this picture. The danger would be if your old mobo had a standoff under that location, but your new motherboard didn't have a hole there. In that situation, you'd have a metal standoff touching the underside of the motherboard where it wasn't expecting one, possibly shorting something out.

Happily, your new motherboard has a hole there, so that scenario won't happen. As you were, sir...