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Decided not to get a PS4 or Xbox1 but going to build a Gaming PC. Any advice


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Posted
The mounting points on the motherboard are insulated from the tracks on the PCB. You won't short anything, so long as you don't try to use oversized head screws into the standoffs.
Posted

Standoffs - mobo - screws.

 

That's how ive always done it.

 

No issues... and this is with me having a minimum of 4 powercuts in a year while gaming.

 

I mean if your are REALLY worried, go about...

 

Standoffs - washer - mobo - washer - screw.

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Posted (edited)
Better guide on how you would / can install the motherboard onto the standoffs if you don't require plastic washers or similar?

As @Sunnyknight mentioned, place the motherboard onto the standoffs (make sure you fit the I/O shield first though), then use the supplied screws to secure the motherboard to the case.

 

I have never put anything between the standoffs and the motherboard because there isn't any need to.

 

TnedS9VNTFkw.jpg

 

^ The screws fit within the white circles to prevent any shorts like @3s-gtech said.

Edited by Arthur
Posted (edited)

@mac_shinobi - I know what you're talking about! Way back when, you used to get a set of washers to insulate the screw heads from the mobo. These days they're unnecessary as they leave space enough for the screw head on the PCB so that you won't damage anything.

 

TBH, I'm not sure it was ever necessary to use the washers, but I do remember you used to find them in most old PCs; I panicked a little too the first time I built a PC that didn't come with washers :)

 

EDIT: I know others have already told you this and given you guidance, just wanted to reassure you I remember what you're talking about, you haven't gone mad (well, maybe, but this isn't evidence of it)

Edited by LosOjos
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Posted
As @Sunnyknight mentioned, place the motherboard onto the standoffs (make sure you fit the I/O shield first though), then use the supplied screws to secure the motherboard to the case.

 

I have never put anything between the standoffs and the motherboard because there isn't any need to.

 

TnedS9VNTFkw.jpg

 

^ The screws fit within the white circles to prevent any shorts like @3s-gtech said.

 

Lost me - I/O Shield first , what is an I/O Shield ?

 

Not built a PC in years so seems alien to me now * yipes *

Posted (edited)

It's that metal bit that goes around the USB/Ethernet/etc ports at the back :)

 

Edit: You slot it into the blank slot on the back of your case, then slip your motherboard in after it. This can be a bit tricky depending on some. Some have a sort of spongey layer, others have metal tags that sort of spring against the ports and make it a bit awkward.

Edited by Garacesh
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Posted (edited)
It's that metal bit that goes around the USB/Ethernet/etc ports at the back :)

 

ok - so fit the I/O Shield onto the ports and then install the motherboard and screw it down into the stand offs through the relevant holes in the motherboard etc or put the I/O Shield into the rear of the pc case and then install the motherboard thus pushing the I/O Ports through the relevant holes in the I/O shield ?

 

Will try without washers - not something I am used to but okay ....

 

Found a picture via google images : [ATTACH=CONFIG]28405[/ATTACH]

 

http://www.distris.de/ebay-Dateien/io-shield_asus199.JPG

Edited by mac_shinobi
Posted

What the f......

 

Lol

 

Mac. Google i/o shield.

 

You attach that to the rear inner side of the case. Then install the mobo. Top and bottom pins go above and below the rear socket.

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Posted (edited)
What the f......

 

Lol

 

Mac. Google i/o shield.

 

You attach that to the rear inner side of the case. Then install the mobo. Top and bottom pins go above and below the rear socket.

 

I did - edited my above post , top and bottom pins where go above and below what rear socket , what ?

 

So basically insert the I/O Shield into the case --> Install motherboard at a slight angle so the rear I/O ports go through the relevant holes in the I/O shield itself and then slowly place the motherboard down so that the stand off's go into or through the relevant holes on the motherboard itself and then screw the motherboard down ( not too tightly ) just enough to hold it in place etc ??

Edited by mac_shinobi
Posted (edited)

What! Gosh yer such hard work.

 

I will train you to become a lethal force of the galaxy uoung padawan.

 

The top and bottom of the i/o shield pins go above the rear panel (with the usb ethernet sata sound connections) and below it. Sort of like....

 

....

---

- -

- -

---

....

 

Dots being the io shield and the lines accounting for the panel.

Edited by Sunnyknight
Posted (edited)
What! Gosh yer such hard work.

 

I will train you to become a lethal force of the galaxy uoung padawan.

 

The top and bottom of the i/o shield pins go above the rear panel (with the usb ethernet sata sound connections) and below it. Sort of like....

 

....

---

- -

- -

---

....

 

Dots being the io shield and the lines accounting for the panel.

 

Don't do well with written instructions - any photos / video on youtube maybe ?

 

I/O Shield Pins ?

 

Thought the I/O shield clicked / clipped into the rear of the case and then install the motherboard ?

 

Sorry - not trying to be hard work

Edited by mac_shinobi
Posted

This is an IO Sheild.

 

Look at the back of a Windows computer case and you'll understand what it is you just push it in real simple takes 5 seconds to do.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]28410[/ATTACH]

Posted

Yes. That bottom thing is the I/O Shield.

 

  • It should have a little metal 'rim' around it with lots of little bumps. From the inside of the case, push it into the hole, they're standard sized. It'll clip in, make sure it's clipped in all the way around.
  • Screw the motherboard mounts (the brass coloured ones in this picture), paying attention to where the holes are in the motherboard. And make sure they're screwed in tight!! If they're loose, when you unscrew the screws that hold down the motherboard, instead it will unscrew the motherboard mounts underneath. Don't put in more motherboard mounts than you need else they might just poke something they shouldn't and cause a problem.
  • Finally, place the motherboard on top of the mounts and screw the supplied screws into the holes to hold your motherboard in place. You might have to go in at a bit of an angle depending on the I/O Shield.

  • Thanks 1
Posted (edited)
Yes. That bottom thing is the I/O Shield.

 

  • It should have a little metal 'rim' around it with lots of little bumps. From the inside of the case, push it into the hole, they're standard sized. It'll clip in, make sure it's clipped in all the way around.
  • Screw the motherboard mounts (the brass coloured ones in this picture), paying attention to where the holes are in the motherboard. And make sure they're screwed in tight!! If they're loose, when you unscrew the screws that hold down the motherboard, instead it will unscrew the motherboard mounts underneath. Don't put in more motherboard mounts than you need else they might just poke something they shouldn't and cause a problem.
  • Finally, place the motherboard on top of the mounts and screw the supplied screws into the holes to hold your motherboard in place. You might have to go in at a bit of an angle depending on the I/O Shield.

 

How do I know which stand off's to install onto the motherboard tray so that I am not using the wrong one's / too many or whatever

 

This makes sense aside from bullet point 2 regards to this ^^^^

 

see what holes are on the motherboard and then some how establish which holes in the motherboard tray these correspond to so I can insert the stand off's on the motherboard tray and go from there

 

Side note : What is the best method to apply thermal paste ? Little pea sized blob in the middle of the CPU ( ensure plastic is taken off the copper base ) and install the copper base of the S36 onto the CPU etc etc ?

Edited by mac_shinobi
Posted (edited)
How do I know which stand off's to install onto the motherboard tray so that I am not using the wrong one's / too many or whatever

 

This makes sense aside from bullet point 2 regards to this ^^^^

 

see what holes are on the motherboard and then some how establish which holes in the motherboard tray these correspond to so I can insert the stand off's on the motherboard tray and go from there

 

Side note : What is the best method to apply thermal paste ? Little pea sized blob in the middle of the CPU ( ensure plastic is taken off the copper base ) and install the copper base of the S36 onto the CPU etc etc ?

 

The case will most likely have lots of different holes to accommodate different sized motherboards, but your motherboard will only have the specific holes it needs. Just take a moment to compare the two :) You'll be fine.

 

Thermal paste, I usually put 5 half-pea sized blobs, one in each corner and one in the middle, then gently spread it with any kind of plastic card (I actually have an Akasa card that's made for spreading thermal goo, but any kind of plastic card will work. Union card, store loyalty card/bank card, etc.) Have some tissue ready in case you go over the edge.

_______________
|              |
|  O        O  |
|              |
|       O      |
|              |
|  O        O  |
|______________|

Edited by Garacesh
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Posted (edited)

Will watch that tonight - thanks

 

Will look at the motherboard manual to see if it tells me letters or numbers etc of where to install said stand offs inside the case and that looks fairly straight forward

 

Any card ref applying TIM so old bank card or what exactly ?

Edited by mac_shinobi
Posted

Building a PC really is just advanced Lego these days. It's laughably simple. I find it almost anti-climactic to have spent days and weeks looking at components and making selections and planning builds and imagining the technical heaven I'll be in and then... it's all done and over in under an hour.

 

It's all straightforward. You'll struggle to mess it up. You can relax about it :)

 

This is a good article if you want a written reference to proceedings as well as that video: How to build a PC: The Tech Report guide - The Tech Report - Page 1

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Posted

If you are not overclocking the CPU, then the stock paste and heatsink/fan will be designed and rated for that CPU and be sufficient for your needs (provided you don't screw up cooling elsewhere). The Intel CPU I purchased came with paste already applied to the underside of the heatsink and was a simple "put it on top of the CPU and clip it down" job.

 

Changing a motherboard and CPU is a somewhat intimidating experience the first time you do it, but doing such a big job once is enough to give you the confidence to go poking around in future installs. ;)

Posted
If you are not overclocking the CPU, then the stock paste and heatsink/fan will be designed and rated for that CPU and be sufficient for your needs (provided you don't screw up cooling elsewhere). The Intel CPU I purchased came with paste already applied to the underside of the heatsink and was a simple "put it on top of the CPU and clip it down" job.

 

Changing a motherboard and CPU is a somewhat intimidating experience the first time you do it, but doing such a big job once is enough to give you the confidence to go poking around in future installs. ;)

 

I never use pre-applied paste. It's often begun to dry and never seems to be fully enough. Call me paranoid (I probably am, it's probably perfectly fine to use..)

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Posted

Standard paste is normally fine never had an issue over the numerous computer builds I've done over 3 years with the stock paste. Though if I was overlocking I do wipe it all off and use some type of third party paste like Antec etc....

 

But if I'm keeping the stock cooler then yes, pre-applied paste it is.

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