Construction questions

riley454

New Member
I picked up my parts a few hours ago and am keen to start building, but I have come across a couple of things that aren't in the "How to" or "101" guides.

My first question is regarding the rear I/O panel that came with my ASUS P8Z68-V-LX motherboard. Are all those little tabs meant to be bent back or only the bigger ones or none of them? Either way doesn't quite seem to fit for a novice like me.

Also the el cheapo case I got only has 4 of the hex head screws I'm supposed to secure the mobo with but quite a few other round head screws that are the same thread but are a tiny bit(1mm or less) shorter than the hex heads. Does this matter for the mobo?

Lastly, for now at least, in the screw pack with the case there was also a round piece of ??graphite maybe?? about an inch in diameter with a big hole in the middle that sort of looks like a big lifesaver lolly/candy. Any ideas what I'm meant to use that for?
 
As you are sliding the motherboard into position, just make sure that none of the tabs actually slide into any of the motherboard ports. Usually the one near the ethernet port must be bent a little bit to stop from going inside the ethernet port.

You need to find out what screws will screw inside the brass standoffs and use those. You also need to make sure you have all the required standoffs and in the right places.

That ring is for cable management for the case connections I believe, I never use it.
 
Thanks johnb, managed to get it after a few trial runs outside the case and a few rechecks on the photos OMEGA supplied on his tutorial. Once the wider tabs with bent ends were bent a bit further back as in the tute photos and I got the approach angle right all went well.

Got plenty of screws that fit the standoffs but wasn't sure if the hex heads had some super-specific function. I assumed not and used the other ones anyway.

The ring thing, like you said, for cable management must be along the lines of the clip on graphite thingy that came with my latest TV surround sound system that supposed to reduce RFI interference from the cabling. Never needed that in the past but obviously today's engineers and technicians(and salesmen) realise the need more than the average Joe.:P
 
All cases vary with what screws they ship, but they all perform the same. Basically you will notice that some have fine thread and some have courser threads. Once you find out what threads the standoffs take its pretty easy. The course threads are usually for attaching hdd's to the cage. I can't figure out why they need so many different type of screws. Make everything standard with one screw. These articles may help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_case_screws

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/arti...d-To-Know-About-The-Screws-Used-on-The-PC/405
 
Thanks mate. My mechanical background helped me assume no difference but wasn't sure on my first pc build if the actual screw design was for a certain reason on such a delicate (by my standards) piece of equipment as a motherboard.:D

One other question though, the i5 CPU package says it contains thermal solution. I'm assuming the gray tacky looking stripes under the heatsink is the thermal solution as there is nothing else in the box. Is this correct?
 
Back
Top