Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
in the board. Then count the number of standoffs that are already installed in
the case, if any. Lower the motherboard into position, as shown in Figure 5-13,
and slide it into full contact with the I/O shield.
Figure 5-12.
Install the custom I/O shield supplied with the
motherboard
Figure 5-13.
Lower the motherboard into the case to determine
which positions require stand-offs to be installed
Look down through each motherboard mounting hole to determine if a
standoff is already installed in the corresponding position. (Don't confuse CPU
cooler mounting holes with motherboard mounting holes; our motherboard
had four CPU cooler mounting holes.) Take note of how many and which of
the preinstalled standoffs are in the proper positions, which positions have a
standoff installed but no corresponding mounting hole, and which positions
require a standoff to be installed.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Before you proceed, make absolutely
certain that no “extra” standoffs are
installed. That is, no standoff should
be installed that doesn't correspond
to a motherboard mounting hole.
An extra standoff may contact the
bottom of the motherboard, causing
a short circuit. If this happens, at best
the system may not boot. At worst,
the short circuit may damage the
motherboard or other components.
In our case, the Antec DF-85 had six standoffs preinstalled, all of which cor-
responded to mounting holes in the motherboard. The motherboard has 10
mounting holes, so we needed to install four more standoffs. We counted out
four standoffs from the parts bag, and installed them.
You can install standoffs with your fingers or by using a 5 mm nut driver, as
shown in Figure 5-14. If you use a nut driver, be very careful not to overtorque
the standoffs. They're made of soft brass and the motherboard tray is made
of thin steel, so it's very easy to strip the threads by overtorquing. Just finger-
tight plus perhaps a quarter turn is sufficient.
Figure 5-14.
Install standoffs at all required positions
