Question Case Swap Advice Please

[Mantrid-Drone]

For GPU upgrade reasons I've needed to replace my existing mid-tower case with a bigger one. This means effectively rebuilding the PC.

I do not really want to remove the CPU cooler etc from the MB if I do not have to but what is the best practice in this sort of situation?

Obviously I have to fit the MB and screw it to the new case's standoffs which I'd imagine will be awkward with the cooler still attached. However this is actually a fairly new build so there is no need to remove it for any other reason either ie. renewing the thermal paste. The prospect of having to release/detach the cooler's push pins does not thrill me either.

 

[Markfw]

You don't need to remove the cooler. Just unscrew the motherboard from the old case, remove/replace the IO shield and put the motherboard in the new case. It actually makes a nice handle, as the Heatsink to motherboard connection is very secure. Use the HSF to hold the motherboard and put it in the new case.

 

[Mantrid-Drone]

Thank you, if that is accepted and safe practice then that's what I'll do.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Thank you, if that is accepted and safe practice then that's what I'll do.

Oven done it before, just be careful and don’t rush anything. Plan the move out and what screws go where before doing anything

 

[Mantrid-Drone]

Thanks again.

I'm always very careful and meticulous particularly when it comes to handling components I can not afford to replace. When I built the system (my first) in the original case the checks and rechecks after installing or doing anything inside the case were at almost OCD levels.

In fact checking the standoffs is very important with the new case as it has some pre-fitted ones which may need to be removed depending on the MB design. That sort of thing I guarantee I'm going to triple check.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Thanks again.

I'm always very careful and meticulous particularly when it comes to handling components I can not afford to replace. When I built the system (my first) in the original case the checks and rechecks after installing or doing anything inside the case were at almost OCD levels.

In fact checking the standoffs is very important with the new case as it has some pre-fitted ones which may need to be removed depending on the MB design. That sort of thing I guarantee I'm going to triple check.

Don’t forget cables & wires

 

[Mantrid-Drone]

I haven't 🙂. Ensuring that those case front panel wires with their tiny spade connectors are all attached and orientated correctly is a problem for me with my less than 20/20 eyesight. Checking and rechecking that they are all plugged in the right place has always made the use of a magnifying glass vital for me when PC building.

On my second build I was actually sidetracked by cabling issues when I started to get into cable modding. All my SATA cables were neatly re-sheathed in colour matched braid and heat shrink. I was going to do more than that ie. the fans and the case cables too (not the PSU - far too big a job) but by then I'd spent so much time (and extra money) on something that would not be seen by anyone else I decided to stop.

I'm was still quite pleased with the results but there's going to be non-of that with this re-casing project. I want the PC back up and working again with the new GPU ASAP so as long as it is neat and tidy what it looks like inside I'm not too bothered about.