Spacers?? Are they really required?

[Edgy]

Got a question about the darn spacers that comes with the cases...

I've never used them to install a MB to a case before and have never had problems with any pcs I've built...

Just out of curiousity, are they used at all nowadays when the MBs have metal ridges around the mounting holes to ground the boards?

And why are there two types - metal & plastic? Any differences?

Thx

 

[Lord Evermore]

I've never heard them called spacers before, since they don't actually do any spacing.

Most people don't bother with them. The metal ring around the holes is intended to prevent any grounding. Someone has suggested that they're still provided in order to protect against "thermal expansion" of the motherboard and screws, so the motherboard isn't cracked (they'll provide a tight enough fit normally if you don't tighten the screws too much, but compress to allow for expansion). I never got any documentation of that being true though.

I wouldn't think using metal washers would be of any use, since they'd both conduct electricity and not be compressible and those are the only reasons I've ever seen for them.

 

[MedicBob]

Spacers? Do you mean stand-offs made of brass or do you mean non-conductive washers?

 

[Lizardman]

i think he means the washers. I dont use them because like lord said most mobos have a grounded screw slot any way.

 

[Edgy]

What I mean is the plastic spacers for those MBs that don't fit certain cases exactly AND the brass(ish) hexagonal spacers with screw on one end (to the case) and a hollow screw hole at the other end.

The only reason that I can see why these spacers might be needed is the concern that the soldering on the back of the MB will contact the metal of the case hence causing a short.

So, y'all experienced builders out there - what's the verdict? Do y'all use spacers when installing MBs onto cases or do y'all just screw the MBs directly to the case with regular screws?

 

[Bluefront]

Those "spacers" (I've always called them stand-off screws) are designed to prevent the back of the motherboard from shorting out on the case, and are really necessary. They also raise the motherboard slightly so the edge ports contact the back of the case at the correct angle.

Why did you think the makers of the boards included trhem if they were un-necessary?

 

[Edgy]

The reason I asked was that I haven't put them in when installing MB's before and haven't had problems.

Originally posted by: Bluefront

Why did you think the makers of the boards included trhem if they were un-necessary?

First, it's not (at least to my experience) the boardmakers that include the stand-off screws as you call it, but it's the casemakers that include them. Further, there are many other screws, washers, spacers etc that comes with the case most of the time, but that doesn't mean they all get used, or at lease I don't use everything.

 

[Bluefront]

OK...they also come with cases. They were pre-installed on my last three Antec cases. Use them or eventually you'll smoke a board...or worse. You have something against stand-off screws?

 

[HowAboutBob]

I've had to use those spacers, I think in pre-ATX mobos, because there weren't stand off screw.
I don't know why they continue to ship both, unless as a courtesy, if your case isn't fully ATX compliant.
I also have used them as a little extra support behind PCI slots, so that the mobo won't crack if I push too hard.
Bob

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: Edgy
The reason I asked was that I haven't put them in when installing MB's before and haven't had problems.

Originally posted by: Bluefront

Why did you think the makers of the boards included trhem if they were un-necessary?

First, it's not (at least to my experience) the boardmakers that include the stand-off screws as you call it, but it's the casemakers that include them. Further, there are many other screws, washers, spacers etc that comes with the case most of the time, but that doesn't mean they all get used, or at lease I don't use everything.

If you never used them how did you get the back I/O plate to match up?

 

[Edgy]

Originally posted by: OulOat

Originally posted by: Edgy
The reason I asked was that I haven't put them in when installing MB's before and haven't had problems.

Originally posted by: Bluefront

Why did you think the makers of the boards included trhem if they were un-necessary?

First, it's not (at least to my experience) the boardmakers that include the stand-off screws as you call it, but it's the casemakers that include them. Further, there are many other screws, washers, spacers etc that comes with the case most of the time, but that doesn't mean they all get used, or at lease I don't use everything.

If you never used them how did you get the back I/O plate to match up?

Hrmm... Maybe it's the case that I've been using to build my pcs... I noticed that it was different from most other cases i've seen and after careful inspection just now, I noticed that the all the MB mounting holes are already raised away from the back metal plate by some sort of metal molding. And all the i/o plate holes line up when I just screw the mb to the case directly. I'm thinking this case is designed to accept boards directly without spacers. Anyone had similar cases that didn't require spacers?

 

[Lord Evermore]

I think he left out the brass standoffs and just left the area behind the screw holes empty, with brass standoffs in the places that could be lined up. There'd be no possible way to secure the motherboard without at least one brass standoff in place. And unless there were at least 3, the motherboard would mount at an odd angle to the back panel, and possibly be cracked by the force of the screws and mounting devices on it.

Anyway, the nylon standoffs (spacers is not the right term for them) are included because there are times that they're good to use. Sometimes it's hard to get a screw into place, and easier to just put a nylon standoff in place, especially in corners where there's little force being applied by installing or removing things (a nylon standoff can't prevent flexing when you PULL something from the board). It's also common to lose the brass standoffs or run out when working on cases that didn't come with any so you have to use your own stockpile. Some motherboards may also just have more holes than you have brass standoffs. I've also ended up using a nylon standoff in one case where I broke a brass one off right at the level of the panel, no way to grip it to get it out easily.

In general, brass standoffs and screws are the best thing to use. The nylon isn't intended specifically to prevent grounding or anything; nylon is just cheap and effective and metal standoffs would be harder to use due to the "flex clip" part that goes through the board.

Ah, seeing your reply. I assumed you'd used many different cases. Most cases have a board panel that requires using standoffs to raise the motherboard to be level with the I/O panel. Some cases, especially cheaper ones, have a standoff built into the motherboard tray that replaces the need for a standoff. Nylon standoffs are included so that if you have a board that uses holes in different places than those standoffs, you can use the nylon ones.