Testing parts without a case?

[Shargrath]

Hi,

As some of you know, I've just ordered a new build. Unfortunately the case suddenly went out on backorder and I will only receive it at best, a week or so after the rest of the parts. So, I will have all the parts except the case for at least a week.

Is there a safe way to test them outside the case, without plugging them into another system? I am guessing no, so I hope that I will receive the case in the 30 day period alloted for any RMA's.

Thanks...in case I am wrong, please tell

 

[Eureka]

Just place all the components on a plastic mat. The case is just to hold everything together and to provide some grounding for the components. You can run it as long as everything is connected and you follow ESD & shorting safety measures.

 

[Denithor]

Actually this is standard practice when building a new system (at least if you want to avoid potentially having to rip everything out of the case when you build it and press the power button for the first time - and absolutely nothing happens).

Just close the motherboard box, put the antistatic shield the motherboard was wrapped in onto the box and place the motherboard on that. Mount CPU/RAM/GPU, plug in HDD/DVD and use a jumper to connect the on/off header to switch the power on.

If everything's right you should get a signal to your screen and be able to go into the BIOS for any fine tuning you want to make. You can even go ahead and set up Windows if you like (and use it in this state until case arrives, although it looks rather messy on a desk like this).

 

[Eureka]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Actually this is standard practice when building a new system (at least if you want to avoid potentially having to rip everything out of the case when you build it and press the power button for the first time - and absolutely nothing happens).

Just close the motherboard box, put the antistatic shield the motherboard was wrapped in onto the box and place the motherboard on that. Mount CPU/RAM/GPU, plug in HDD/DVD and use a jumper to connect the on/off header to switch the power on.

If everything's right you should get a signal to your screen and be able to go into the BIOS for any fine tuning you want to make. You can even go ahead and set up Windows if you like (and use it in this state until case arrives, although it looks rather messy on a desk like this).

Actually, the anti-static bag (the silvery kind) actually can cause problems with the board. The way these anti-static bags work is that they're coated in a conductive material, so that it forms a faraday cage around your item. If you place something on the outside of it, it may cause it to short (it's happened to me before, we had a board not work while it was on top of a bag, but as soon as we took it off everything worked fine).

The better option is to use pink anti-static bags, in this case they're neutral (won't cause static electricity, but won't stop it either).

 

[Shargrath]

Hmph, maybe ill just take my luck and wait for the case to arrive...everything except the HDD is retail boxed, so I am guessing it shouldnt cause trouble...
I wont have any safe place to store it once I put it together in that state...

(I haz a curious cat that haz fur with static that even shocks me).

 

[JackMDS]

As we speak I am breaking in a new computer so I took a quick pic.

I have the case but I never put a computer together before testing the basic components on a table.

The most important thing is to put the Mobo on the static bag that it comes with.

Here you go, http://www.ezlan.net/example/table-test.jpg

During the years I put practically hundred times Mobos on their plastic bags and never had a problem.

 

[Shargrath]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
As we speak I am breaking in a new computer so I took a quick pic.

I have the case but I never put a computer together before testing the basic components on a table.

The most important thing is to put the Mobo on the static bag that it comes with.

Here you go, http://www.ezlan.net/example/table-test.jpg

I agree that it's a good idea.

My problem is that my monitor is upstairs. In a carpeted room. Its a CRT. (So heavy, but I like it and dont want to buy a new one). So, dragging it downstairs where there is no carpet, would be a pretty hefty task.

It seems ZipZoom has just issued me a tracking number, so I am guessing they will ship the case tomorrow rather than next week as they first estimated in an email to me. So hopefully, it will all arrive within a couple of days of each other...

Thank you guys all for the suggestions, its been extremely helpful as always. U dudes rock 🙂