Motherboard, IO Shield, Case misalignment

[jablonx]

Hi community,

I read here several other posts with similar problems, but I still can't figure out what to do, so I'm writing this post in hope you can help me.

I built my PC and to test it I was trying to plug a USB keyboard and noticed i couldn't because all of the back USB ports were blocked by the IO shield.

Case is carbide 600q and Mobo is Asus z270e.

While case is lying on the side, board is too low, or IO shield is too high.

While trying to figure out the culprit, I took apart the build (except have cable that is stuck, similar problem on other post suggested to leave it connected), and found these:

a. The board in place without the IO shield reveals the board is a bit unflat with a bit if a valley in the mid of the IO panel and higher on the far sides of the IO panel.

b. Trying to align the IO shield with the board, outside the case, they don't perfectly align. Some of this could be because the board is not flat, but there is also some misalignment on the axis perpendicular to the valley.
I have an enormous and heavy NH-D15 cooler, but I tried lifting it up into "zero gravity" and it doesn't cancel the valley effect in the IO panel area. In other words, it doesn't seem to be the source.

c. If I apply a bit lift pressure the valley area comes up and it could make it work but a) I don't know ow if it's healthy, b) I don't know to to do it permanently.

d. I could try to bend the IO shield side-springs in, so that the cutouts will all move lower relative to where they are now, and widen the spring on the opposite side, so it still fits in the case.

e. I could file down, or widen the cutouts with a file or Japanese knife. I'm just worried about small metal particles that could short my mobo down the road.

I am disappointed by Asus. Initially I thought the problem was the case, but as I investigated I can say for almost certain now that it's the motherboard and IO shield bad manufacturing.

Going to sleep. Waiting for your suggestions and will work on it tomorrow. Thank you.

 

[Gam3r01]

You can either bend the I/O shield to fit, or simply dont use one.

You can also contact ASUS to simply try a new shield.

 

[jablonx]

Thsbks. I feel the post is too long.

tl;dr:
Finished build.
Connecting a keyboard, find out IO panel is blocked by IO shield.

Took apart the build:
Asus Z270E board is sitting in place in the Carbide 600Q case.
IO shield is sitting well in place in the case, clicked in and all.
No flaps of the IO shield are bent or pushing back on board.

Found out board is not flat. It has a depression around mid IO panel. Too much to be from pressure from heatsink. Was very careful when building not to overdo screws.

In addition, IO shield cutouts are too high, bit centered.

Together it's between 1-2 mm off and blocking most ports on the mobo.

* Is this bend okay/normal/livable with?

* I don't want to be without IO shield. Is widening holes/bending the IO shield voiding warranty?

 

[jablonx]

I did some modding.

1. I squeezed the IO shield spring on one side and spaced it on the other as far as I could.

2. Then I cut a rectangular foam from the noctua packaging and placed it between the board and the motherboard. It puts some pressure under the board, enough to push it up to just barely align with the IO shield and fit all connectors.

My questions now are:
1. Does this foam have any conducting properties?
2. Will it melt with time with heat from the motherboard?

Thank you

 

[Gam3r01]

I dont know about any conductivity of that foam, I would assume not, but you can always use folded cardboard.
I doubt it would melt.