Asus Essentio CM6850-01 Motherboard/Case type

[BearATO]

I purchased the Asus Essentio CM6850-01 that is currently for purchase from Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Essentio+Desktop+-+8GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive/4602964.p?id=1218496160271&skuId=4602964&st=cm6850&cp=1&lp=1

I need help determining what type of motherboard is in this machine because I want to purchase another case but do not know if this is an ATX, Micro-ATX, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rolli59]

Looks to be a mini tower with mATX motherboard. The board will fit in any case that accepts a board with ATX std! mini, mid or full tower!

 

[BearATO]

I believe my old computer case was a full size tower but it didn't seem like it would fit into it. The old case was non-proprietary and seemed like the Asus wouldn't fit because of the size/shape of the area where the USB, color-coded mouse/keyboard, and audio input/outputs would go in the case. Is there a way to tell for sure? I haven't been able to locate the motherboard model number and called Asus support to ask if they knew which style the motherboard is but they told me they had no idea nor anyway to find out. Loads of helpful "support" from them! It amazes me to find that a company wouldn't have any information about their own products!!

 

[rolli59]

What is your old case? The pictures in your link show a std ATX IO panel!

 

[ko888]

The ASUS Essentio CM6850-01 uses the P8H67-M PRO motherboard that has a µATX (a.k.a. uATX or mATX or microATX) Form Factor 9.6 inch x 9.6 inch ( 24.5 cm x 24.5 cm ).

The rear panel I/O Shield, on the ASUS Essentio CM6850-01, should be removable and transferable to another case.

 

[BearATO]

I'm not sure to be honest but I do know my old MB was an ASUS P5Q-E Green:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3940038&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs

Does this help?

 

[rolli59]

Yes you should be able to change out the IO shields they are just pushed/clicked into the square opening on the case.

 

[ko888]

You may have to move three motherboard standoffs from the full size ATX position to the microATX position.

 

[rolli59]

It is just a matter of aligning the standoffs in the case for the motherboard!

 

[BearATO]

Thank you both for your help @ rolli59 & ko888! Last question I have is what are the "standoffs?"

 

[rolli59]

Usually little brass nipples screwed into the motherboard tray that the motherboard mounts on. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811993015
Some cases have raised areas on the tray instead of standoffs.

 

[BearATO]

Usually little brass nipples screwed into the motherboard tray that the motherboard mounts on. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811993015
Some cases have raised areas on the tray instead of standoffs.

Thank you for all the helpful information!

 

[ko888]

The motherboard is usually mounted to the motherboard tray of the case. Since the motherboard isn't suppose to come into contact with the motherboard tray directly, or it'll cause a short circuit, metal standoff posts are used on which the motherboard is screwed onto. The standoff posts provides the separation of the motherboard from the motherboard tray.

Cheap cases will use stamped mounting points on the motherboard tray.

Cases purchased separately will include all of the necessary mounting hardware like the appropriate motherboard standoffs for that particular case.