new builder - progress and issues

[obmot]

Well, all my bits arrived yesterday so I got underway about 5pm. Boy this is a learning experience! I experienced a few minor issues:

1. the mobo (ZOTAC H55ITX-C-E) ended up about a quarter inch 'too short' mounted within the case (LIAN LI PC-Q08R) such that the i/o ports are about 1/4" recessed behind the i/o plate. Only thing i can figure is that the mobo and case are not quite perfectly 'aligned' for each other (there is no way to shift board, etc.) weird, but it will still work

2. the backplate of the CPU cooler (thermaltake basic cooler) doesnt fit flush to the back of the mobo because of some small square circuits on the back of the mobo; no way around this one that I could find; the backplate still allowed the cooler to be firmly screwed into place

*3. the case has two fans, but the mobo only has one case fan socket; this is a bit disappointing as I can only hook up the front fan and not the top fan; QUESTION: is there some sort of jumper or splitter, or way to maneuver hooking up both fans to the aforementioned mobo?

By midnight I had all components installed and hooked up (yes, 7 hours, but this is my very first build). Not much space to work inside that case! Raw fingers! I powered it up and amazingly I got the POST screen. But I was so tired and sore at that point I just hit the sheets. Tonight will be testing components, tweaking bios, and perhaps install OS. I will also attempt some wire management although there really isnt any space in there to manage the wires, I'm just trying to keep them off the CPU fan and front fan. Thank goodness I opted for a modular PSU.

[Nikon]

there are adapters to turn a 3 or 4 pin fan connector to a molex (4pin) psu connector.

[Raiden619]

If there is no other socket to connect the other fan..your gonna have to go with what Nikon said..


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...in+fan+adapter

[obmot]

Thanks Nikon.

Actually, the LianLi case fan wires (x2) (one is a 3-pin, front fan) (one is a 2-pin, top fan) each came with a white (male) molex adaptor.

My (modular) PSU also came with a wire option that is tagged "peripheral" and has a PSU attachment end and then two (or three) female molex-looking attachments along the cord. This cord looks just like the SATA power cord except with molex female receptacles instead of SATA connections.

But I sat and looked at this situation for probably 30 minutes and couldnt figure out:

1) whether this PSU 'peripheral' cord with molex-looking receptacles was appropriate for the case fan male molex adaptors; and

2) even if so, the fans would then be connected directly (via the molex adaptor for each fan wire) to the PSU, and not to the mobo - hence no front fan heat/speed detection (?)

clearly I am lacking something in my understanding...and I do apologize for my ignorance!

[obmot]

Raiden, thanks for that link. That part is *exactly* what I felt I was missing last night (i.e., a way to connect the provided fan wire molex adaptors to the board).

Do you think radioshack or bestbuy would sell this adaptor?


EDIT: now that I look more closely at that newegg adaptor, I note that the 3-pin end is male, but so is the fan socket on my mobo.

[Raiden619]

1) whether this PSU 'peripheral' cord with molex-looking receptacles was appropriate for the case fan male molex adaptors; and

All of the molex connectors from the PSU will work with the fan

2) even if so, the fans would then be connected directly (via the molex adaptor for each fan wire) to the PSU, and not to the mobo - hence no front fan heat/speed detection (?)

Correct...the fan is just going to operate at full speed since the mobo is not controlling it.

[obmot]

Thanks Raiden, total brain block I got it now:

1) Front fan - connected via 3 pin directly to mobo (speed controlled)

2) Top fan - connected directly to PSU via provided 2pin/molex adaptor (will run at full speed).

Your/nikons insight + night of sleep = obvious solution. Thanks!

[obmot]

Another question, related to my #2 in first post above - i.e., the CPU cooler backplate not fitting flush. If you look at the back of my mobo, after going to this link and then viewing the back side picture, you will notice that there are a few circuit parts on one side of the CPU square (the back side of the mobo. This is where the "X" shaped backplate for my Thermaltake CPU cooler goes, and because of those little circuits, it doesnt sit flush against the back of the mobo.

Am I missing something terribly obvious here?

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

[flanzig1]

It looks like that motherboard is designed for heatsinks with the pin style latches only.
If the CPU came with the Intel CPU heatsink, use that.

[obmot]

thanks flanzig, i think youre right; PC is all built and up and running, and i am not gonna take it apart now after fiddling all those wires into place in the tiny case; CPU cores staying 35-50 degrees with use of PC (non-gaming) so I think it will be ok. On max core test (4 cores at 100%) they topped out at 80 degrees. But the PC will never be taxed that much.

[David M]

Did you ever figure out the problem with I/O ports?

[obmot]

David M, nope, I think the Zotac board is just a bit too short for the particular case. Totally weird.