Question about fitting a new cooler

BluSky · 8 Feb 2012 at 14:56

Hi all

I currently use an old full tower case that has no cut out in the motherboard tray for a cpu cooler backplate. This has never bothered me because up until now I have never used a cooler that has actually required a backplate... however I am thinking of upgrading my cooler to a much larger one, which will need a backplate.

My question is will I have to cut a hole in my motherboard tray? or will the backplate just rest against the motherboard tray without issue. I suspect the former but never having fitted one I am not entirely sure how it works

Thanks in advance!

reflux · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:02

What case is that you have?

BluSky · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:14

Its a Coolermaster stacker stc-t01 as pictured here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/atx-btx-cases,1187-6.html

wazza300 · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:17

you need to lift out the motherboard,the backplate has sticky pads on each corner,it sticks to the underside of the mb then when mb is screwed down you can locate the holes and mount the heatsink

either that or take a dremmel to your case and cut your own hole to mount backplate without removing mb

BluSky · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:32

Hi wazza, thanks for the reply.

I was more concerned though that with a backpate on, and with no hole in the tray to accommodate it, it would protrude from the back of my motherboard and prevent me from screwing the board in properly? Because the board wouldnt be able to sit flat on the tray?

Thanks

IvanDobskey · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:33

The brass standoffs should provide a plenty big enough gap for the backplate.

reflux · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:35

BluSky said:
Hi wazza, thanks for the reply.

I was more concerned though that with a backpate on, and with no hole in the tray to accommodate it, it would protrude from the back of my motherboard and prevent me from screwing the board in properly? Because the board wouldnt be able to sit flat on the tray?

Thanks

Standoffs usually give a cm or so of space, so unless you're going commando (not recommended

) you should be fine. A tray gap is only present on cases so you can change the backplate without disassembling the machine. I've installed backplate coolers on several cases with no gap

BluSky · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:39

Okay thanks for clarifying that guys. It was just that I have never fitted one before and I wasn't exactly sure how it worked, or how large the backplates were etc.

That makes me feel a whole lot better though

Cheers

reflux · 8 Feb 2012 at 15:58

Yeah I'm pretty sure you'll be OK. Backplates are usually only a few mm thick

IvanDobskey · 8 Feb 2012 at 16:04

Yep, the hole in the back of some motherboard trays is just to make it possible to change the backplate without removing the board. The standoffs will make sure neither the board or the backplate touch the tray.