Cut hole in motherboard?

[CDC Mail Guy]

Stupid question, maybe...but I see a lot of cases with a hole on the motherboard tray under the CPU area. With the PITA it is to remove MB everytime I want to remove/replace the HSF, couldn't I just cut a hole in the tray? Or would that ruin the "stability" of the tray itself?

See...I told ya'll it was a stupid question

 

[Rubycon]

Ok I read this as cutting a hole in the motherboard! That would be very bad! (unless you wanted to mount it on the wall!)

Opening up the area behind the cpu socket mounting lugs to facilitate bracket swapping without removing the motherboard from the chassis is a good idea if you change cooling frequently. Just be careful of the standoffs and allow yourself sufficient room to clear the bracket wings. Remember these extend a few mm past the screw holes.

I can post a picture of one of mine that was opened up.

 

[Red Squirrel]

a few small holes should not do anything bad. This would be equivalent to holes made in house joists to pass electrical. One, or two, is not a big deal. Now start making it look like Swiss cheese and you'll have problems.

And do this when there is no motherboard on the tray!

 

[ehume]

What case would you be holing?

 

[WoodButcher]

No problems, don't cut into struts or bent metal edges like the outside edge of the tray. The bend is what gives the metal it's rigidity.
Here are pics of one I did a few years ago, as close to swiss cheese as a case can be, cuts for brackets, wire and rads. I glued on rubber sheet after painting to prevent vibration / noise and possible grounding.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

What case would you be holing?

Antec 900

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

No problems, don't cut into struts or bent metal edges like the outside edge of the tray. The bend is what gives the metal it's rigidity.
Here are pics of one I did a few years ago, as close to swiss cheese as a case can be, cuts for brackets, wire and rads. I glued on rubber sheet after painting to prevent vibration / noise and possible grounding.

Thanks for the pics....will be useful. Also plan on a couple more WAY smaller holes for un-needed cable etc....But,RedSquirrel, I will NOT turn the tray into swiss cheese...lol

Rubycon....would gladly appreciate pics if you can upload them.

Running out to find me a Dremel now!

 

[Meghan54]

Here's an example of how much you can remove from behind the cpu area on a motherboard tray and not compromise structural integrity. Motherboard tray from a Silverstone TJ07 w/factory cutout:

 

[aigomorla]

some spots u dont want holes.

The mounting area behind the ram, do not cut that, because u will need support when you push the your ram in.

Also the pci card sector.
You will need to use force once again to push your cards in, so you want support there.

 

[Rubycon]

some spots u dont want holes.

The mounting area behind the ram, do not cut that, because u will need support when you push the your ram in.

Also the pci card sector.
You will need to use force once again to push your cards in, so you want support there.

As long as you don't cut areas where standoffs are you are OK.

Like I said my PC80 tray was pretty hacked up to accommodate several boards including the LONG(cat) Classified 4X SLI 762 board!

ALL holes have standoffs even the bottom three! It was a real cluster to mount as everything runs BEHIND the board or tray. The long oval holes behind the CPU socket were turned into an open area so cooler backplates can be swapped with the board still in the system.

 

[peonyu]

If you hooked up a small fan, so that it blows air onto the back of the CPU socket, would it lower temps at all ?

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

My only wish is that the MB tray was REMOVABLE...and it is not in the Antec 900

I don't know if a fan would affect cooling or not, probably wouldn't hurt...but not doing it for that reason.

 

[Rubycon]

If you hooked up a small fan, so that it blows air onto the back of the CPU socket, would it lower temps at all ?

No it does NOT affect temperatures much at all!

I even had a plate made to fit on the back of the motherboard (got pretty hot too!) and this was bonded to the motherboard tray turning the entire tray into a heatsink. The tray also got warm as well. It affected temps a full degree at the MOST! Of course VRM temps probably dropped but back then we did not monitor them.

 

[Modelworks]

Make sure you do not warp the metal when you do the cutting. If you warp the metal then when you screw the board to it the board will try to correct the bending of the metal and that stresses the motherboard.

 

[BadOmen]

Just be sure that you don't even think on snips. The mere thought can start messing up your work.

 

[robphelan]

i have a coolermaster scout - the mobo tray had a hole cut out specifically to aid in mounting a cpu fan after everything has been installed.

i bought a Scythe Mugen 2 recommended by misterdonut. I was able to install it in 10 minutes - because I didn't have to remove the mobo. this is probably the most underrated feature on a case.

btw, that thing really is huge. I had to remove one of the 120mm window fans in order to get it to fit. it is dead quiet though.