Is it supposed to be this hard?

[jcniest5]

Here I took a pic. They all dont look as bad as this lol.

I didnt like force it. I just kept turning until it stopped you know? You would think they would give you washers or something. But no they didnt crack or anything just the paint peeled off. There isnt any circuitry around those screw holes right? Theyre just empty?

PS: You dont know how grateful Iam to everyones help and how quickly you all respond. Seriously thank u sooooooooooooooooooooo much

There are these red washers you can buy to ease your mind a little. They help with minimizing damage done to the PCB.

 

[TammiHearts]

There are these red washers you can buy to ease your mind a little. They help with minimizing damage done to the PCB.

But its ok right? Theres like no data or circuitry that can be damaged? As long asits covered and thats normal ill be fine even with my ocd lol

 

[Piroko]

Here I took a pic. They all dont look as bad as this lol.

I didnt like force it. I just kept turning until it stopped you know? You would think they would give you washers or something. But no they didnt crack or anything just the paint peeled off. There isnt any circuitry around those screw holes right? Theyre just empty?

Those screws and the chipped paint is okay. The screws are supposed to make contact with the solder/metal around the holes and there are no circuits right below the screw heads. Just don't force them in, the screws are only supposed to be fastened with a torque of ~2 NM afaik which really isn't a lot.

 

[mikeymikec]

The cases I've bought over the years used to come with those little red washers, but they haven't for a good few years now. I think mobo manufacturers purposefully don't put wiring near screw holes because they're a likely place to get a bit of damage.

 

[TammiHearts]

Ok thanks sooo much all. Such a big help im so so grateful. Going to go to bed and hopefully ill be one tomorrow and i can show you all how it looks. Sooo excited

 

[tracerbullet]

You question about the texture on the underside of the screw heads - it's to give them just a little grip so they don't back out on their own.

Something I do, well two things when assembling PC's, is / are: 1) Keep telling myself "it's a computer, not a tank, don't have to overtighten everything", and 2) I use a very small screwdriver with a skinny handle, so I can't get all that much grip and torque on it to start with. Keeps me from overtightening things if #1 fails to work.

Also - you shouldn't of course encounter any cracking / breaking type noises, but I will say that some setups do squeak and make noises when going together. Seems to be "normal".

Also, in the future, you may want to lay the motherboard on a towel or something on a table in a well lit area. Then install the CPU, RAM, etc. Then put it into the case and screw the motherboard down. You can more easily see how things are fitting, and don't take a chance on flexing the motherboard itself pushing things into it later when it's just held up by some screws.

One other thing - on getting answers to your questions, much of it has to do with how you ask them. You give lots of info, provide pictures, ask specific things, and are clearly happy to get the help. It makes it easy for people to give you help and want to do it. There's a lot of other newbies that could take an example from that. So - good job on your side too I guess.

 

[Ferzerp]

Every single IB cpu that I've installed has had the land for the clamp scored like that on installation....

 

[Muyoso]

One thing that always freaked me out was the sound that is made when clamping down a CPU. On my UD5H with a 3770k, it sounds like almost a crunching noise. It sounds like a noise you are NOT supposed to be hearing. Freaked me out more than usual, but everything runs perfectly fine. . .

 

[TammiHearts]

You question about the texture on the underside of the screw heads - it's to give them just a little grip so they don't back out on their own.

Something I do, well two things when assembling PC's, is / are: 1) Keep telling myself "it's a computer, not a tank, don't have to overtighten everything", and 2) I use a very small screwdriver with a skinny handle, so I can't get all that much grip and torque on it to start with. Keeps me from overtightening things if #1 fails to work.

Also - you shouldn't of course encounter any cracking / breaking type noises, but I will say that some setups do squeak and make noises when going together. Seems to be "normal".

Also, in the future, you may want to lay the motherboard on a towel or something on a table in a well lit area. Then install the CPU, RAM, etc. Then put it into the case and screw the motherboard down. You can more easily see how things are fitting, and don't take a chance on flexing the motherboard itself pushing things into it later when it's just held up by some screws.

One other thing - on getting answers to your questions, much of it has to do with how you ask them. You give lots of info, provide pictures, ask specific things, and are clearly happy to get the help. It makes it easy for people to give you help and want to do it. There's a lot of other newbies that could take an example from that. So - good job on your side too I guess.

Aww thank you I try to make it as easy to understand as possible lol.

And yeah its not cracking its more of what you describe, squeaking and noises like that. I dont really know the proper word to describe it so I guess that would be it.

Thank you very much for the response and to everyone else that posted too since my last post. I just woke up so Ill get to work on it in a few.

 

[ehume]

It is odd that you received nothing but screws with corrugations on the bottom of their heads. All my cases came with smooth screws to fasten motherboards to standoffs (those are the things that hold the motherboard away from it's tray; there are usually nine of them).

Generally motherboard screws need only to be made snug. But making them tight is OK. I would expect a corrugated screwhead bottom would scrape off paint if you tighten it.

I am grateful for your asking your questions and sharing your experiences. That and the answers you have gotten will help me when I get my own Ivy Bridge stuff later this year.

Good thread.

 

[Idontcare]

One thing that always freaked me out was the sound that is made when clamping down a CPU. On my UD5H with a 3770k, it sounds like almost a crunching noise. It sounds like a noise you are NOT supposed to be hearing. Freaked me out more than usual, but everything runs perfectly fine. . .

The crunching noise is actually from the pins in the socket, not the retention mechanism on the IHS.

And yes, it is a tad unnerving to say the least.

It is odd that you received nothing but screws with corrugations on the bottom of their heads. All my cases came with smooth screws to fasten motherboards to standoffs (those are the things that hold the motherboard away from it's tray; there are usually nine of them).

Generally motherboard screws need only to be made snug. But making them tight is OK. I would expect a corrugated screwhead bottom would scrape off paint if you tighten it.

I am grateful for your asking your questions and sharing your experiences. That and the answers you have gotten will help me when I get my own Ivy Bridge stuff later this year.

Good thread.

You absolutely do not want to be using the screws with the corrugations on your mobo. Those corrugations are there for metal-to-metal applications ONLY.

They are meant to be used for securing add-in boards to the case as well as securing side panels to the case, and the PSU, etc. You would use them to secure your graphics card to the case for example.

The corrugations will absolutely shred (technical term is "abraid") and destroy the PCB on the mobo in time. I have experience with this.

For the mobo you want to use screws which have a flat surface that makes contact with the PCB. Your mobo maker will refuse to honor your warranty claim, if you end up needing to make one, if they can visually observe any damage done to the PCB by those corrugated screws. I have experience with that as well (both Gigabyte and Asus).

Do NOT use corrugated screws on your mobo.

Second thing, do NOT use non-metallic washers on your mobo.

The reason you no longer find those plastic red washer, or the clear ones, these days is because your mobo is actually designed and manufactured with the need for making a grounding connection to the case through each mounting screw. That is why you see the alternating metal/PCB spacings around the mounting hole on the motherboard.

If you use those non-conducting washers when installing your mobo then you are interfering with the intended ground-plane distribution for your mobo in a bad way.

To sum up this post:

Use this -

Not this -

And not these -

 

[TammiHearts]

I don't understand though. I just checked again and it says on the manual for my case to use those screws.

http://www.coolermaster.com/upload/download/684/files/HAFX_USB3_ver_Manual.0pdf

See the M3*5 that says 20 of those and MB tray? Well the ones you are telling me not to use are the screws I was supplied 20 with. It's on page 3. The ones you are suggesting only has 8 (motherboard needs 9) and is recommending to use it for the power supply. Im so confused lol.

And I was wondering. How many devices can you hook up using a single sata cable?

For example if it has 4 of them is it okay to use up all 4? I want to power 2 SSDs a HDD and a blu ray drive off of one cable.

Or is that a bad idea.

 

[ehume]

For the record, what case do you have?

I believe you cannot overload a SATA cable with SATA devices, but I will let the experts speak to that.

 

[jcniest5]

I don't understand though. I just checked again and it says on the manual for my case to use those screws.

The other types of screws are the ones where the shaft is like that too and those would require force to put in and the other is very, very small.

And I was wondering. How many devices can you hook up using a single sata cable?

For example if it has 4 of them is it okay to use up all 4? I want to power 2 SSDs a HDD and a blu ray drive off of one cable.

Or is that a bad idea.

Use whatever your case manual tells you as long as you don't over-tighten, it's going to be fine. As for SATA cable, each one can only connect to one device, so however many devices you want to connect, you will need that many SATA cables.

For the record, what case do you have?

I believe you cannot overload a SATA cable with SATA devices, but I will let the experts speak to that.

You can't overload any SATA cables because they only have one header for one device. I have never ever seen a multi-header/connector for SATA cables. One end goes to the motherboard, the other goes to the device (SSD, HD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc...)

 

[TammiHearts]

For the record, what case do you have?

I believe you cannot overload a SATA cable with SATA devices, but I will let the experts speak to that.

A haf x

@ jc

All of mine have 3 or 4.

 

[crashtech]

Many of the more robust mobos I have worked with have steel grommets through the mounting holes, obviating the need for any special fastener consideration.I'm not shy about putting either one in pretty much any board, but the self-locking types want less torque.

And yeah, never use those stupid washers. Well grounded means less noisy, that can only be good.

 

[jcniest5]

A haf x

@ jc

All of mine have 3 or 4.

Oh, you mean the SATA power cable! Doh! You can use them all. I thought you were talking about the SATA data cable.

Be very careful different types of screws have different threading format, the standoffs determines what threading system screw you use, so if the manual says to use that type of screws, use that. Don't use something else because you will damage the threading and that's bad.

 

[TammiHearts]

Many of the more robust mobos I have worked with have steel grommets through the mounting holes, obviating the need for any special fastener consideration.I'm not shy about putting either one in pretty much any board, but the self-locking types want less torque.

And yeah, never use those stupid washers. Well grounded means less noisy, that can only be good.

When you guys say less torque.

Do you mean turn it until it stops and dont push on it anymore? Thats what I did. Just turned and as soon as it stopped turning I didnt push further.

Oh, you mean the SATA power cable! Doh! You can use them all. I thought you were talking about the SATA data cable.

Oh no Im sorry! That was my fault!

PS: seriously thanks for being so patient with me everyone lol

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't understand though. I just checked again and it says on the manual for my case to use those screws.

http://www.coolermaster.com/upload/download/684/files/HAFX_USB3_ver_Manual.0pdf

See the M3*5 that says 20 of those and MB tray? Well the ones you are telling me not to use are the screws I was supplied 20 with. It's on page 3. The ones you are suggesting only has 8 (motherboard needs 9) and is recommending to use it for the power supply. Im so confused lol.

Use the flat-edged screws, not the corrugated ones.
If there were only 8, then only use 8 screws on the mobo. Or buy/beg some more from a computer shop.

The ones with the corrugations, are for the HDDs and expansion cards.

Edit: I'm assuming that the threading is the same between the flat-edged and corrugated ones.

There will be screws with fine threads, and coarse threads. The coarse threads are for the expansion cards, and the HDDs. The fine threads are for the DVD drives and SSDs. The mobo standoffs could use either one, I always take a spare standoff and do a test-threading with my hand to find out which it is.

 

[jcniest5]

When you guys say less torque.

Do you mean turn it until it stops and dont push on it anymore? Thats what I did. Just turned and as soon as it stopped turning I didnt push further.



Oh no Im sorry! That was my fault!

PS: seriously thanks for being so patient with me everyone lol

Yeap, once it stops, don't force it. We call it "snug." But don't let it too loose, too, the screw might fall off and ground out your motherboard and you will be in deep trouble.

 

[TammiHearts]

Use the flat-edged screws, not the corrugated ones.
If there were only 8, then only use 8 screws on the mobo. Or buy/beg some more from a computer shop.

The ones with the corrugations, are for the HDDs and expansion cards.

Edit: I'm assuming that the threading is the same between the flat-edged and corrugated ones.

There will be screws with fine threads, and coarse threads. The coarse threads are for the expansion cards, and the HDDs. The fine threads are for the DVD drives and SSDs. The mobo standoffs could use either one, I always take a spare standoff and do a test-threading with my hand to find out which it is.

I guess the threading is the shaft? Like if its thick and has the spiral thing (god Im so bad with these terms). No the flat ones are more thick and they have this spiral thing going on. If I try to put them in it would require alot of effort and would from the looks of it chip around the circle of the motherboard holes. The motherboard hole is definitely small for those.

(sorry Im so bad I hope you understood what I meant )

This is why Im so confused. Getting different answers from people and my book. Book and some people say those are fine others say theyre not. What do I dooo lol

 

[jcniest5]

I guess the threading is the shaft? Like if its thick and has the spiral thing (god Im so bad with these terms). No the flat ones are more thick and they have this spiral thing going on. If I try to put them in it would require alot of effort and would from the looks of it chip around the circle of the motherboard holes.

(sorry Im so bad I hope you understood what I meant )

This is why Im so confused. Getting different answers from people and my book. Book and some people say those are fine others say theyre not. What do I dooo lol

Yes, threading is the spiral thing....some are very fine, for mounting CD drives. Sometimes the motherboard tray/Standoffs use those, too. I think you already damaged a few of your standoffs using the wrong threading screws.

 

[Ferzerp]

Also, from what I've seen from most standoffs, you're far more likely to strip the standoff than actually crush the motherboard.

At least in my experience. I've stripped quite a few standoffs, but never broken a motherboard.

 

[TammiHearts]

Yes, threading is the spiral thing....some are very fine, for mounting CD drives. Sometimes the motherboard tray/Standoffs use those, too. I think you already damaged a few of your standoffs using the wrong threading screws.

But I used the ones with the very, very small spiral thing. It seemed to fit perfectly. The others are the thicker ones and I dont think those would fit. Why would the ones with the finer threading damage it? If something is wrong theyll replace it right? I mean I can just show them the book and say thats what I was told...

Here we go. See the one on the far right with the skinniest threading? Thats what I used.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/imageview.php?image=6037

But the head isnt smooth like that. The smooth one is thick like the one in the middle and the hole looks too small for it.

 

[TammiHearts]

Okay I just took a extra standoff and used the smooth head bottom like you guys were saying. That has the thicker spiral.

It doesn't fit at all. But the ones I used with the corrugated (was that the word lol) head and thinner spiral fits perfectly. The one the book says to use.

But Im being told that head damages the motherboard. But thats the only option I have unless I go purchase screws.