Newbie question alert - standoffs for a MB

[daw123]

Hello,

I am in the process of building my new PC and I'm having problems with the plastic push pins that come with the bracket for the Thermaltake Big Typ 120 VX - I can push two of the pins on one side (or diagonally) on the bracket, but as soon as I push the other two pins in, the original two pop out. It seems to me that the depth of the bracket is not deep enough to accomodate the depth of the socket, CPU and heat sink. i.e. the bracket is see-sawing between the push pins.

I have tried mounting the HSF 90 degrees to my original attempt without success. No matter the HSF orientation I have the same problems.

I have read other posts where people have had considerable porblems trying to get all 4 push pins locked in (and one person said that it needs 25 pounds of force to lock the pins - which is quite a lot). It seems that this plastic push pin design, although very cheap, is useless and fiddly to implement.

I am proposing to cut out the push pins on the Thermaltake socket 775 bracket and use the Thermalright bolt thru kit (others have mentioned the Sidewinder kit, but I couldn't source this from an UK online shop).

I figured that since the 4 bolt holes should be the same distance apart on every MB, then it shouldn't make any difference which bolt thru kit is used, provided you use the bracket on top which comes with your HSF.

What I'm a little concerned about is whether there is enough clearance provided by the stand offs between the MB and MB tray to accomodate the bolt thru kit on the back side of the MB.

Are the stand offs a standard size on all cases?

Does any one know whether the Thermalright bolt thru kit is insulated on the back side to prevent shorts between the MB and MB tray. Or is this an issue which I shouldn't be concerned about?

Any help in answering the above is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[error8]

If the Thermalright bolt thru kit would have not been isolated on the back side then it would kill your pc from the first boot. If people are using these then they should be isolated isn't it?

The stand offs between the MB and MB tray are different sizes between different cases if I'm not mistaken, but even the shortest of them should give you enough space to install the kit.

Just remember not to use the glue that comes on to the metal X bracket , since you might have serious problems when you'll try to remove it off the mobo.

 

[daw123]

A bloke on another forum recommeded wrapping the exposed metal of the kit with electrical tape, which I thought was a good idea - it resolves the problem of any shorts occuring between the kit, MB and MB tray.

I have had another look at the kit and the middle section of the X has a foam self adhered pad, which adheres to the back of the MB. I guess this is the glue that error8 is referring to in his post. Others have left the peal off plastic covering on the self adhered pad to stop it from adhering to the MB. I will do the same because I don't know if the MB is DOA and it also shouldn't make a difference if this pad isn't actually adhered.

 

[daw123]

Well I've managed to mount the HSF - it took two of us to do it because the mounting bracket I got with the BigTyp VX120 was so crap. I'll have to tighten the bolts using mole grips because there isn't enough room to use a screwdriver (they are thumb tight at the moment).

The bolt thru kit from Thermalright was a god-send and after I wrapped it with electrical tape to prevent shorts, it worked like a dream. It's a lot more sturdy than the plastic push pins.

I've installed the chip, HSF, tie wrapped a fan to the Northbridge, installed the RAM, graphics card, sound card and the two fans to the rear of the tray.

I'll complete the installation tomorrow when I get the PSU.

P.S. This is the third shop which I've ordered the PSU from (I cancelled the order with the previous two online shops because they falsely claimed that the item was in stock, when it wasn't). Anyway I have received the despatch confirmation and it will be delivered to my office tomorrow.