I think I messed up...

[SteelXVII]

Hay guys, I recently built my computer about 3 months ago and it is working fine. I just re-read the Build your first computer walkthrough and I noticed something. I saw the stand off screws section for the motheboard, do I need to place anything below the motherboard or anything? Because if I did, I kinda didnt...:eek:. No where in my manual it doesnt say anything about stand off screws in my mobo manual! I have 3 plastic thing, about 9 brass colored screws with another screw in the head of them. Do I need to use these or what? I mean my computer has been giving me zero problems at all and it is running fine and such. Just this is really creeping me out... Also I needed 9 screws but I put 8 in because one screw held the mobo down too tight and stressed it. Another note is there is a screw behind the shield so yeah....I couldnt get it out and my freind told me it wouldnt be a real problem unless it was touching the motherboard. :eek: :eek:

[pam123]

Some people have all the luck.
Stand-offs are used to keep the motherboard from shorting out to the case if it touches the metal.
I've no idea why yours didn't other than the obvious, it isn't touching the metal.
Some day, if not today, though you should take it apart and put it back together with the stand-offs between the board and the case and all the screws in the right places.

[Strider]

I can't see how you put the motherboard in without stand-offs? What kind of computer case do you have? Some cases (a few) have it where you don't need stand-offs, I know because I just bought a case that didn't required stand-offs. I'm very very surprised that you got you got your computer to work without stand-offs. I would diffently get that loose screw out of the computer case for that is diffently asking for problems, specially if you move your computer to another location. As Pam wrote, put the stand-offs in (if it requires them) to give you some peace of mind.

[SteelXVII]

Hmmm its a rosewill case lol, this is it right here.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147011
So its not a huge problem or it is? Because if it is Ill fix it next weekend because I have absolutley no time.

[Cricket]

You really should put the standoffs under the motherboard. Even if you aren't having any problems now you may have problems later. Normally you would just get a blank screen on startup indicating the motherboard is grounding/shorting out to the case, but if the wrong part of the motherboard touches the case you could actually fry the motherboard and other components.

:) Cricket

[SteelXVII]

Ok well I guess I owned myself on that one gg. One last question, even if it isnt damaged yet or what not can there be any unseen damage? Or any perfomance lost? I think ill not do my hw monday night to fix this problem, kinda too expensive to blow off for a week lol. Oh and do the stand offs go below the motherboard, and what are these white plastic things Im holding inmy hand, they came with the case and stuff but I dont know wether to eat them or put them in there or something.

[glc]

White plastic things? Can you post a pic?

[SteelXVII]

Yeah ok well heres a general idea, my cam is awol at the moment.
http://www.tadara.com.au/images/k-mb-screws.jpg
The very botom white plastic thing is what they look like, except the dont have the white nipple at the top. Thats pretty much the only picture I found so ill go look for my camera. Thanks =D

[flanzig1]

Do the white things have a threaded hole in both ends? If they do then those are the stand-offs.

[pam123]

The "white plastic things" look like the stand-offs.

[SteelXVII]

So I put them where exactly? If those are the standoffs then what are the brass colored screws with the extra thread in the head for another screw to go into?

[sgtspector]

The white plastic things are standoffs. They can be slid into slots on the mobo. The pointed side with the flex sides goes up. The brass threaded hex pieces are standoffs also. If the holes in the mobo tray are threaded use the brass standoffs. You can use any combination of the two if the mobo has slots in some places and threaded holes in others. Make sure you only install standoffs that will line up with the holes on the mobo. A metal standoff in the wrong place beneath the mobo can also cause a short. A plastic can casue the board not to lay flat adn cause problems too.

[pam123]

Take the mobo out of the case and look at the mobo tray.
You'll see that it has various slots where the stand-offs go.
They can be either for the brass screws of the plastic stand-offs.
Look at the motherboard.
Where are the screwholes on in that line up with the ones on the tray?
These must match up.
Slide the motherbord back in and use the screws to tighten it down on the stand-offs.