Choosing a motherboard for the Corsair 500R. Help Please!

[cooloneinca]

Being new to pc building i was wondering how in the world I am to mount a motherboard to the 500R. The case comes with 6 standoffs and 3 mystery standoffs near the top of the case. Using PCpartpicker i am looking at ATX AM3+ boards but none of the boards fit the pre-installed standoffs. My question: Is it ok for the board to not match perfectly with the pre-installed standoffs? Hope someone can help me cause i dont want to screw up

 

[J_E_D_70]

I have the 500R and the preinstalled standoffs are ATX-standard. I didn't have to add or remove any.

 

[ksham]

What do you mean by "3 mystery standoffs"? An ATX uses 9 standoffs.

 

[geofelt]

Some cases use a fixed pin to help position the motherboard for installation in the case.

Regardless, the 500R accepts M-ATX and full ATX sized motherboards.
The hole positions are standards.

Even then it is not necessary to install screws on all of the possible positions.
You really only need enough to keep the motherboard in place and keep it from flexing too much.

 

[cooloneinca]

I have the 500R and the preinstalled standoffs are ATX-standard. I didn't have to add or remove any.

Sorry to bother you but could you show me some photo references to the motherboard placement. I dont know exactly how to mount the board. Yes I am a noob. Also is the mounting points the same on teh Intel and AMD versions of your motherboard the ASRock 970 EXTREME4.

 

[J_E_D_70]

http://imgur.com/cxdseTY

Only pic of the inside of my case I have.

 

[geofelt]

The motherboard can go in only one way. Do not force anything.
1. mount the motherboard rear panel plate in the opening of he case. It is a press fit, and you need to push firmly all the way around to seat it properly.
2. Position the motherboard so that the rear ports match up with the I/o plate. Note where the motherboard holes match up with where the standoffs are. That is where to insert standoffs. Do not put in any standoffs where there is not a matching motherboard hole, or you will cause a short.
3. To install the motherboard, you need three hands One to hold the motherboard in place, one to hold the screw, and one to hold the screwdriver. I solve this with a #2 magnetic tip screwdriver. Do not tighten the screws initially. Get them all in, then tighten them one by one.
Snug is enough. If you overtighten, you may later have a hard time removing them without undoing the standoffs too.

 

[geofelt]

http://imgur.com/cxdseTY

Only pic of the inside of my case I have.

Nice! That must be the cleanest Install I have seen. Good job.

 

[cooloneinca]

The motherboard can go in only one way. Do not force anything.
1. mount the motherboard rear panel plate in the opening of he case. It is a press fit, and you need to push firmly all the way around to seat it properly.
2. Position the motherboard so that the rear ports match up with the I/o plate. Note where the motherboard holes match up with where the standoffs are. That is where to insert standoffs. Do not put in any standoffs where there is not a matching motherboard hole, or you will cause a short.
3. To install the motherboard, you need three hands One to hold the motherboard in place, one to hold the screw, and one to hold the screwdriver. I solve this with a #2 magnetic tip screwdriver. Do not tighten the screws initially. Get them all in, then tighten them one by one.
Snug is enough. If you overtighten, you may later have a hard time removing them without undoing the standoffs too.

For note 2. You mentioned not to put the board on standoffs where there is no standoff holes. So since this case has pre-installed standoffs i would need to remove them so not to cause a short, right????

 

[geofelt]

Yes, if there is a standoff under the motherboard where there is no hole, then remove it. But, look carefully because that should not be the case.

 

[cooloneinca]

Yes, if there is a standoff under the motherboard where there is no hole, then remove it. But, look carefully because that should not be the case.

Thanks! It must be annoying to have to deal with morons like me on a daily basis on this forum. Sorry for all my ineptitude.

 

[J_E_D_70]

Not at all. Everyone has to learn And better to ask then to fry a mobo!

And the pic of mine isn't a perfect example since the Extreme4 mobo is actually a couple inches short of being ATX (left to right - you can see the three right-hand standoffs are exposed). But it wasn't a problem.

 

[cooloneinca]

Not at all. Everyone has to learn And better to ask then to fry a mobo!

And the pic of mine isn't a perfect example since the Extreme4 mobo is actually a couple inches short of being ATX (left to right - you can see the three right-hand standoffs are exposed). But it wasn't a problem.

I am going to get the same board you have, except i will be getting the AMD version not the Intel one. Did you have to remove any standoffs or add any for your board, which would be mine as well? Also those top weird looking standoffs, the pic shows that you did not use the far right upper one.

 

[J_E_D_70]

Don't think i did but always visually verify the standoffs are right

 

[J_E_D_70]

Nother tip on that case - unless your cpu power cable is super long you'll have to route it out the small rectangular cutout in the upper left to keep from just stretching it across the front of the motherboard... You can just see it in the photo.

I also did something a little funky with the rear fan. I plugged it into cpu2 (evo on cpu1) since it's also temp controlled. So, if the cpu fan spins up the exhaust fan does as well. Dunno if that's even a good plan but has worked over the past year.