BItFenix Merc Alpha do i need standoffs?

[JoeyMacleod]

I am building my first motherboard, and all the screwholes to go into the motherboard are raised off the base of the case, thus making nothing touch the bottom of the case. but i am clueless on what the science behind short circuits are and idk what im doing, but if i screw my motherboard into the raised screw holes will that short circuit my board since the area to screw it in is touching the metal raised part? Pic of inside case.

 

[ksham]

The standoffs is to prevent the motherboard from sitting against a conductive surface, causing a short circuit. I don't have any experience with the BitFenix Merc Alpha case so I cannot say. But usually, without standoffs, motherboard won't line up with the backplate.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

I have worked with cases where the raised surface is indeed supposed to be what you directly screw into, the backplate is isolated somehow so it wont shortcircuit. On the other hand, your case may not be one of those cases.

So the easiest way to tell is, like ksham said, see whether the motherboard lines up with the I/O plate, or see if standoffs were included in the screwpack with the case. If it does line up, with out the standoffs, then its by design. If not, then put the standoffs included to use 😉

 

[JoeyMacleod]

Well it only came with 2 standoffs (need 5 to secure MB) in the bag of bolts, so i assumed that it would just sit on the risers, but now that i did it and screwed it in, the back plate and motherboard ports sit a little lower, so im really skeptical... pic comming soon Look at the Usb ports? then this one here u can see the MB lifted a bit off the ground

 

[ksham]

@wasabi-warrior: how did your post get before mine?

@JoeyMacleod: both links are the same.

 

[JoeyMacleod]

@wasabi-warrior: how did your post get before mine?

@JoeyMacleod: both links are the same.

click fisrt image and second image too see each, do you think it needs to line up better than that or is that fine?

 

[Vic 40]

@JoeyMacleod: both links are the same.

When i open them they are not,and even if they are just click second image in the first one.

From what i can see the raised parts are indeed the stand offs,the two extra are probably for when you want to use a micro atx board.
From what i just read in a review states the same.

 

[JoeyMacleod]

@JoeyMacleod: both links are the same.

When i open them they are not,and even if they are just click second image in the first one.

From what i can see the raised parts are indeed the stand offs,the two extra are probably for when you want to use a micro atx board.
From what i just read in a review states the same.

do u see the ports pic tho? are they sitting too low? and yeah it says standoffs are for a micro ATX, but im skeptical of the port position

 

[Vic 40]

do u see the ports pic tho? are they sitting too low? im skeptical of the port position

Does an usb stick go in there without problems? then it should be alright.

 

[JoeyMacleod]

do u see the ports pic tho? are they sitting too low? im skeptical of the port position

Does an usb stick go in there without problems? then it should be alright.

Its easy to put in but hard to pull out, i guess ill just have to try it out to see

 

[Vic 40]

Its easy to put in but hard to pull out, i guess ill just have to try it out to see

I guess so too,maybe over time it will get easier.

Otherwise you might try to put flat rubber washers in between the motherboard and the stand offs like the next ones,
http://www.bootbouwer.nl/matill/ringen-rubber-k.jpg
just an example by the way.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

@ksham: I have no idea, its glitched like this on me three times today. Weird.

@Joey: That IO backplate looks OK to me. Its common for some motherboards, it just depends on the quality of their IO plate. I also agree with Vic40, the standoffs are probably there for fitting different sized motherboards, the raised parts are non-conductive and should not short out the motherboard.

If your USB's and other peripherals fit snugly without catching or bending the IO plate, I would say its close enough. It depends on how fussy you are if you want to put rubber gromets or washers there.