How to Build Your Own PC - Save A Buck And Learn A Lot  9  Chapter 4: Installing The Mainboard In The Case       9  Test Fitting and Installing the Mainboard

Choosing and Installing Standoffs 1 Securing the Mainboard to the Case

As you place the mainboard, you might notice that it wants to sit about a quarter inch back from the I/O shield. This is natural. Move the board around just a bit, and push it toward the I/O shield. It should pop into location. Then, the screw holes of the standoffs should be centered under the screw holes of the mainboard.

The I/O shield has little fins sticking out which are designed to press against the I/O connectors of the mainboard. These fins help ground the mainboard (in theory, at least. If your I/O shield is plastic, I don’t see how this can work!) Plus, the pressure from these fins helps secure the mainboard in place.

After you push the mainboard toward the I/O shield and the board is properly lined-up, examine the connectors through the I/O shield. Sometimes, one of the metal fins will get in the way and be smashed so that it sits in front of the I/O connector, effectively preventing the connector’s use (Figure 68).

Simply remove the board and bend any offending I/O fins back and out of the way and try again to seat the mainboard. Be sure that any fins you bend back don’t touch any part of the mainboard, or, if they do, try to make the fins only touch the metal case of the I/O connectors on the board.

Choosing and Installing Standoffs 1 Securing the Mainboard to the Case