Is it my case? Is that why the z170 motherboards don't work...?

BakaGrappler

Reputable
Nov 27, 2015
10
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4,510
I've been trying to get my new rig up and running for 2 months and 3 motherboards! Motherboard 1 was sent back to the manufacturer because the combination of their extra national and highly accented tech support and my 10 year old computer assembly knowledge led to neither of us understanding that I inserted the ramm properly on only one side!

The second motherboard is the one where I figured out my mistake. But during pre-install testing I found the power light hook up wasn't working, and then after installing the power would not turn on, because the pins controlling the case interaction came went from half broke, to fully broke. So back to the manufacturer.

The third motherboard worked fine outside the case during the pre assembly test. So, third time's the charm, I finished installation of parts, screw everything down, and hit the power button. For a brief split second, the computer began powering up, but presumably for me, the graphics card load on the motherboard caused the board to break. All power flow through the card is gone. Before the power up, the LED showing my lan cable hook up was active was working, and now it isn't working either. And it's not the power supply, as I have 2 now and I swapped them for testing. Complete burn out. I'll be sending this one back, with choice words, for a 4th card.

SO. To the subject. During my exhaustive efforts in diagnosing and rebuilding my new computer, the Tech Support guy said that it might be my computer case that was causing the trouble. And with three dead ends, I need to pursue this rabbit hole and see what it leads to, just to make sure these burn outs are not my fault.

I'm using an AsRock z170 Fatality motherboard, because I was impressed by the articles and the manufacturer's rebate which made the card very affordable on top of being recommended. My computer case is the old Cooler Master COS MOS 1000 stainless steel tower from about 10 years ago. I'm using the default studs and screws in the CORRECT POSITIONS for mounting a z170 motherboard. I am using normal air cooling fans, no liquid, no gas, nothing fancy. The case is as it was when it came out of the box.

Is my case shorting out the new generation of motherboards? Will I need to shell out a couple hundred bucks I can't afford for a new case to finally get a working PC?

Thank you for your wisdom and time.
 
Solution
It sounds like the case is making contact with the board and shorting it out.

An easy and cheap way to fix this is to take ten pieces of paper, cut them to the size of the motherboard, poke holes in them with a screwdriver to fit the standoffs through, and put it behind the board before hooking up power.
It sounds like the case is making contact with the board and shorting it out.

An easy and cheap way to fix this is to take ten pieces of paper, cut them to the size of the motherboard, poke holes in them with a screwdriver to fit the standoffs through, and put it behind the board before hooking up power.
 
Solution