Question about transferring motherboard

[Xerin7]

When moving a motherboard to another case, do you need to remove the RAM, CPU, and HSF first? Or can you just disconnect the cables and cards, and move the motherboard over with everything still attached?

 

[lehtv]

Yes, you can move the whole thing in one go if you're careful. It depends on the heatsink though. If the heatsink is very heavy, you should grab and move the bundle by the heatsink while avoiding damaging the metal fins. That's what I did when moving my stuff from Antec 900 to Fractal R3. I have the Scythe Mugen 2 heatsink, it's quite a brick.

If it's a small heatsink then you should be fine handling the thing as if handling a motherboard only. If you're worried about damaging your hardware, it's safest to remove the heatsink, but you can leave the RAM in.

 

[piasabird]

If there is enough room to remove the motherboard without damage, keep the cpu cooler and RAM on the motherboard. This is where you have to use some common sense. In some smaller cases you need to remove a drive cage just to take the motherboard out.

Generally I always assemble the CPU, COOLER, RAM on the motherbord outside of the case, before assembly. Helps to have a place like an empty motherboard box to place the motherboard after you take it out. If the cooler is one of those really large heavy ones you may want to consider if it puts a lot of strain on the motherboard. I usually just use the stock cooler that comes with a retail CPU.

 

[Xerin7]

Thanks, that makes sense.

 

[corkyg]

Yes - with care it can be moved. OTH, I would use that as an opportunity to remove all components, clean all the contacts and fingers, and refresh the interface between CPU and cooler assembly.

And, if you have a digital camera, take close up shots of all connections, especially the bank of LED plugs - that makes it easy to put things back together as you had them. 🙂