Installing a motherboard and graphics card.

[kheraty]

I have just been putting only my 2nd pc together and I have a little concern.

The parts worrying me are the following:

Case: Chenbro Xpider II
Mobo: Abit AV8 3rd Eye
Graphics: Sapphire X800 XT PE

When I put the motherboard in the case it didn?t sit exactly on the standoffs near the back of the case. I needed to apply some pressure to get them over the holes. I didn?t have to ?force? the board, just apply some smallish pressure with my thumb to align the holes.

Then when I put the graphics card in, again some pressure was needed. It all seems to fit in pretty tight. Also the monitor slot in the back is almost touching the divider between the pci slots (if you look at the outside of the case), and so putting the monitor in requires again, a bit of pressure. I don?t think I have had to apply massive force anywhere, but things didn?t sit perfect and so some pressure was needed.

My question is, is this normal? Things are working fine, I am just a bit concerned that there could be some damage going on!

Any comments would be much appreciated.

 

[imported_Phil]

It sounds like the port surround (that metal plate that covers the holes around the ports, and fits onto the back of the case) isn't in place properly, which is causing the motherboard to be pushed forward.

You need to make sure that the little "knobs" around the edges of the metal plate are fully covered by the case- often, this takes a fair bit of force. Once it's in properly, then the motherboard shouldn't need force to get it to line up with the screw holes.

Lastly, if the monitor port is touching the edge of the PCI slot (when viewed from the rear), then simply lay the case on it's side, wiggle the video card into the desired position, and screw it back into place.

 

[kheraty]

If you mean the plate that the onboard devices sit through, then this is flush against the case. It could be that the thing hasn't been attached propertly to the mobo. So will check this out.

I do think that the size of the hole for PCI and AGP cards is thinner than "normal" on the Xpider case. I only say this as for example on my sound card, there is a IEEE port which very close to the top spacer, but the sound ports are very close to the bottom spacer.