First build is a disaster

sjt269 · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:50

Well, I got the package this morning. A PC7, a DS3P, an E2180, an HD2900 Pro and 2Gb OCZ DDR2. If you've waded your way through that string of gibberish correctly, I salute you.

Anyway, I set about installing things. I got the PSU, hard drive and DVD drive into the case with no probem. I got the processor, RAM and HSF onto the motherboard with no problem. I can't get the motherboard into the case, though - the screw holes are in slightly different places on the mobo and the case.

Eventually, I got the motherboard into the case (after a lot of effort). Then I put the graphics card on (also after a lot of effort - it didn't want to move) only to find that it didn't fit correctly. The back panel of the graphics card (where the outputs are) wasn't flush with the back of the case; it was around a centimetre and a half away, at an angle. I tried pushing it into place, but no go, the motherboard stopped it from moving. Then I unscrewed the motherboard and tried again, but then things took a worse turn. The only way I can get the graphics card back panel to the correct place (where the screw holes match up) is to tilt the motherboard so that one edge of it is about a centimetre off the case. I obviously can't screw it down when it's that high up, and at a crazy angle, and even if I felt like it, the holes on the motherboard don't match properly with the holes in the case - they're always a little out, and none of them all line up at the same time.

Before I go mad and take a screwdriver and/or a hammer to £500 worth of gear, someone give me some help please.

bandit · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:54

what case are you using?
cases and mboards match with specifications e.g. ATX, microstx etc.

DS3p is an ATX case. i have the same case and cpu and wacked it into an antex P182, this one..

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-070-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

as you can see from the spec:
"Motherboard: Up to Standard ATX (12” x 9.6”) "

sjt269 · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:57

It's in the OP, a Lian Li PC7. I've seen other people using PC7s and DS3Ps, so I'm in no doubt that this is my fault, but I can't for the life of me see how it fits together.

bandit · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:57

ah.
so whats the orientation of the board to the back of the case?
line up the outputs on the board to the back of the case first. forget the screw holes for the moment. does it line up?

if the board and the output backing board in the caseare different change that first. then line it up.

remove the gfx card that can go in later.

sjt269 · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:58

Servo · 18 Oct 2007 at 14:59

It's not the backplate that came with the motherboard, not fitted correctly?

All the holes will be right on the m/b and case, but if the backplate is not fitted right, then this will cause the problem.

bandit · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:01

just looking ofr a pic

the coloured thing is the io backplate. that needs to be changed as well often

google search IO Backplate.

helmutcheese · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:03

All Cases I have seen have differnt layouts of Mobo Standoffs, you can move them around to suit your Mobo.

Also I never use the I/O Backplate that comes with the Cases, always use the one thats suited to the Mobos and comes with it

sjt269 · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:04

The backplate that came with the motherboard has been fitted as well as I could get it. The thing is, the backplate matches up with the I/O ports fine, but the graphics card is definitely at an angle...I can't understand it.

Servo said:
All the holes will be right on the m/b and case...

I know, I already said this is probably my fault, not the case's.

:edit:

helmutcheese said:
All Cases I have seen have differnt layouts of Mobo Standoffs, you can move them around to suit your Mobo.

What be these, then?

bandit · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:05

TTIUWP

please post back with pics, its the easiest way!

sjt269 · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:07

bandit said:
TTIUWP

please post back with pics, its the easiest way!

Pics of what, though? I can't get the camera in close enough to show the motherboard tilting, I can't show you the holes don't line up, I can't show you if the backplate is fitted correctly...about all I can show is the graphics card being at an angle, and you can use your imagination for that.

Energize · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:09

Definatley need pictures, to even understand what could possibly be going wrong here...

I have no idea how the graphics card could be at an angle.

Servo · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:10

Piccys would really help

bandit · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:11

just take the pic you pc n00b

once we see it should be pretty much obvious what the problem is.

take one pic of the whole board

the reason the gfx dont fit is because the board is ont fitted properly, we need to see how your placing it

fini · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:13

a photo of:
1. when you think the motherboard is fitted correctly (so we can make sure it actually is)
2. a picture of the graphics card to make sure nothings bent or just broken on it
3. a picture of the mobo tray- i thought the pc7 has removable standoffs - so you just put them where you want them...

Kyle009 · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:15

you have installed the motherboard mounts havent you?

sjt269 · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:18

Kyle009 said:
you have installed the motherboard mounts havent you?

I think this may be my problem - my old motherboard (in this PC) has white plastic/rubber bits, and this one doesn't. I don't seem to have any of these bits included with either the mobo or the case, though...

:edit:

This is the only difference I can find comparing my current PC and the new build, but I haven't seen any of these white rubber bits in any of the boxes, otherwise I would have at least tried to do something with them.

Oh, and also, I've got no idea which screws I'm meant to be using to attach the mobo to the case. There are lots of different types, and nothing to indicate which ones. I've used the ones I thought were best suited to the job, they're all fairly similar in length and breadth.

AtreuS · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:21

Kyle009 said:
you have installed the motherboard mounts havent you?

Sounds very much like he hasnt to me.

You SHOULD have some little standoffs with the bag of screws that came with the case. NO NOT screw the motherboard DIRECTLY to the case... its supposed to be supported by the stand off that raise the board and prevent shorting. Make sure you ONLY use the raisers where you can screw them secure... meaning dont have a standoff where there is no corresponding hole on the motherboard or it will short the underside when you power it up and blow all your kit!

have a good read of this http://www.rackmount.com/pcwsupport/ChasisInstall/RM0211/RM0211-Installation-Sheet-v2.htm

V|per · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:23

Kyle009 said:
you have installed the motherboard mounts havent you?

Just what i was thinking....

You aren't screwing the motherboard directly into the case right... you are using brass standoffs such as these...

screw these into the case, and the motherboard into these...

sjt269 · 18 Oct 2007 at 15:28

That'll be my problem, then. I'll try it with them and report back. I wondered what they were for, actually.

In my defence, I've never built a PC before, and the instructions just said 'screw into case' or similar. Nothing actually mentioned standoffs, and they seem to be in a bad alongside some screws etc - I thought they were fancy screws. Yes, I'm vaguely embarrassed, and yes, I feel like an idiot, but hey...that's what forums are for, right?