Question Vertically mounted mainboard durability?

Leeea

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2020
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It has been many years since I mounted a mainboard vertically in a enthusiast setup. Sadly, my itx days are sadly coming to an end. I have a few questions:

How well do vertically mainboards stand up to something like a NH-U9S* heatsink mounted on the CPU?
*a NH-U9S is 155 mm tall and weighs in at 1.4 pounds

How well do mainboard gpu slots deal with having a heavy GPU hanging off them? It seems like the vibration of the fans over the years would slowly twist the slot.

Am I just being silly?

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I am aware that vertical is the most common configuration.
I get that for transport the case can just be laid on its side.
Horizontal configuration has its own issue, I have seen mainboard bending at the support peg nearest to the GPU. I stuff a spacer under there.
 

mv2devnull

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2010
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How well do vertically mainboards stand up to something like a NH-U9S* heatsink mounted on the CPU?
*a NH-U9S is 155 mm tall and weighs in at 1.4 pounds
https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-u9s/specification says "125 mm tall and 618 g (1.36 lb), with fan"

It's bigger brother, NH-D15, is mere "165mm tall and 1320 g (2.91 lb), with fan" https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-d15/specification

An example of big tower cooler in "vertical board": https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/anandtech-member-case-gallery.159088/page-20#post-36604855
Another one, but in special "90 deg rotated" layout
If people (well, some people) happily hang 3-pounders from their board, then 1.4 pounds is nothing.

Noctua even has a list https://noctua.at/en/support/compatibility-lists/case of cases that their coolers fit into. They would probably make a note, if the "vertical" were prone to break.


GPU, particularly the big ones, could use some support.
There are various products. See, for example https://offthebroiler.com/gpu-stand/


If you will carry your machine around often (to "LAN-party", etc), then you should pay attention.
 
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DeathReborn

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Oct 11, 2005
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As has been said you would have no problems with it, the ProSiphon Elite is a pretty big cooler that puts yours & the NH-D15 to shame (size & weight wise) @ a mere 2000g (4.4lb).

 
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Leeea

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Apr 3, 2020
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GPU, particularly the big ones, could use some support.
There are various products. See, for example https://offthebroiler.com/gpu-stand/

This is very useful information! I did not realize those existed. Thank you.

If you will carry your machine around often (to "LAN-party", etc), then you should pay attention.
I move twice a year, with my precious bouncing along for a 3 day trip in either direction in the car. So yea, that is great!
 
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