quick, stupid question about a build

Deadwing · 10-09-2004 4:47pm #1

As the title suggests, yes this is a stupid question but i thought i better ask it before i continue builing my new pc!
I built a pc in my course the other day, and when i was putting in the mobo, i noticed there were little rubber washers under the spacers between the case and the mobo. I remembered my mobo and case at home, and neither one came with washers. I havent turned it on yet (namely cause ive no cpu yet) but just wondering, would it dmamge my mobo if i dont have washers under the spacers? I just thought it odd if they are critical to installing a mobo cause none came with my case or mobo.

Mutant_Fruit · 10-09-2004 4:50pm

Its a VERY VERY good thing you asked... DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TURN IT ON!

Take the mobo back out, use the washers, then put the mobo back in. They are there to keep the mobo from contacting with the case. If the mobo touches the side of the case, its likely to short out, destroying the mobo (and possibly some stuff attached to it, but thats unlikely).

Deadwing · 10-09-2004 5:02pm

Phew. Thanks mutant fruit!!...that wouldve been my 170 euro mobo wasted!! *runs upstairs to diassembe pc*

Capt'n Midnight · 10-09-2004 5:33pm

SOME of the contacts on a mother board are used to ground it. These are usually the middle two on the back (slots) of the board. They are fairly obvious one centimeter circle of solder on both top and bottom of board around the hole.

you can usually get by without making sure the motherboard is grounded.

other holes on the motherboard may not have a very obvious solder ring around the hole on both sides of the board - only use plastic studs on these !!!

If not sure then use insulating plastic connectors /washers on all holes .

Venom · 10-09-2004 7:04pm

Read the manual your motherboard came with to find out which holes the screws go into and which ones dont. Screws in the wrong hole will stop you motherboard from posting.

Deadwing · 10-09-2004 8:25pm

No it wasnt screws in the wrong hole venom, my mobo came with NO washers, so i wasnt sure whether they were that important. I know the screw heads should go past the border of the solder sround the hole on the mobo, but i just wasnt sure about the whole washer situation. Thanks everyone for the help

The Muppet · 10-09-2004 8:33pm

Not Using the washers will do no damage to your components. Rarely you can get earthing problems without them but that would manifest itself with errors while installing and running your pc. If you short anything your power supply will not start the machine.

Mutant_Fruit · 11-09-2004 2:29am

I spoke from experience with an epox board. it was my first build, and i forgot to put on the little "risers' that stop the board coming in contact with the side of the case. (little plastic things that the screw goes through, and stand between the board and case).

Well, basically i flicked the power switch a good few times (probably about 20

, moving some stuff around inside the case between flicks), wondering why the mobo seemed to power on, and shut off, and managed to explode it mildly, with the result being it didn't work anymore

So i definately recommend you put em in before powering on, just in case.

Deadwing · 11-09-2004 11:13am

Sounds nasty mutant

Ive got the risers tho, the mobo isnt touching off the case at all, but on the pc i built in my course there were wee rubber washers UNDER the risers, but none came with my board, only the risers themselves, if you smell what im cookin.

DoesNotCompute · 11-09-2004 11:44am

Deadwing wrote:

on the pc i built in my course there were wee rubber washers UNDER the risers

That's quite interesting.....I've never seen those before.

Deadwing · 11-09-2004 12:12pm

Yeah, never seen em myself, just small ones that went under the risers.

savemejebus · 11-09-2004 12:30pm

yeah i've seen them mentioned online a few times in build tutorials andput them on my first build as they came with the case. However i read that they are not strictly necessary, and that they're just extra protection for the mobo, in case the solder around the screw holes wears down. I'm not 100% on this though

Deadwing · 11-09-2004 12:49pm

Yeah, i was beginning to think that myself Jebus. Thanks for all the replies everyone!

Col_Loki · 11-09-2004 6:05pm

Well, basically i flicked the power switch a good few times (probably about 20 , moving some stuff around inside the case between flicks), wondering why the mobo seemed to power on, and shut off, and managed to explode it mildly, with the result being it didn't work anymore So i definately recommend you put em in before powering on, just in case.

That sounds more like a riser in the wrong place than not using the washers TBH. I has a simular problem with an MSI board about 2 years back (first build) and that was the problem (i was using the washers) . I had either a riser in a place where there wasent a hole or a screw in the wrong place. Took it out and refitted them and it was perfect (with out the washers funny enough).

Not Using the washers will do no damage to your components.

TBH yea they make very little difference and i just dont use them anymore and ive never had a problem without them ........
As jebus said, You will see that the wholes that are ment for screws are surrounded by a metal ridge\circle , that doesent make contact with any electrics of the mobo .

Deadwing · 12-09-2004 12:45pm

Cool, thanks guys. Cheers for all the replies

Now i just have to get a cpu and a geforce 6800 and she'll be ready to rock

Mutant_Fruit · 13-09-2004 1:10am

Col_Loki wrote:

That sounds more like a riser in the wrong place than not using the washers

Nah, that was because there were no risers in, i never put em in. I had no risers or washers

Twas quite stupid of me, but i thought they werent important. But i learned my lesson. It will never happen again.... til next time :rolleyes:

quick, stupid question about a build

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