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(test) Case-Related Questions

(test)

Product FAQs

motherboard screw holes don’t align with the standoffs in your case

, don’t force anything — that can damage the board or cause shorts. Here are the main things to check:

👉 Look at the labeling near the standoff holes in the case; many cases print "ATX," "mATX," etc. next to them.

👉 Remove all standoffs, then reinstall only where your motherboard actually has holes.

(test)
If your motherboard screw holes don’t align with the standoffs in your case, don’t force anything — that can damage the board or cause shorts. Here are the main things to check:

1. Check Form Factor





Motherboards come in standard sizes: ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, E-ATX.



Cases are drilled with standoff positions for specific form factors.



If your board and case don’t match (e.g., ATX board in a Micro-ATX case), the holes won’t line up.

👉 Look at the labeling near the standoff holes in the case; many cases print "ATX," "mATX," etc. next to them.



2. Verify Standoff Placement





Standoffs are small brass spacers that should only be installed where the motherboard has a hole.



If you have extra standoffs in the wrong places, they can block alignment or even short the board.



If you’re missing some, certain parts of the board may sag.

👉 Remove all standoffs, then reinstall only where your motherboard actually has holes.



3. Case Compatibility





Some budget or unusual cases don’t support all hole locations, especially for larger motherboards.



In that case, a couple of holes may go unused — that’s usually fine as long as the board is stable and not bending.



4. Don’t Drill or Force





Never drill new holes or overtighten screws.



If one or two holes don’t line up but most do, it’s usually safe to install and just leave those unsupported.

Motherboard screw holes don’t align

🔌 1. Check Cable Management Routing





Many cases have cutouts around the motherboard for routing. If the cables feel short, sometimes running them directly across instead of through the back panel helps.



The CPU EPS 8-pin (top left of the board) is often the hardest to reach — don’t worry if it doesn’t go behind the motherboard tray, as long as it doesn’t touch fans.



🔌 2. Use Cable Extensions





24-pin ATX, 8-pin CPU, and PCIe GPU cables are commonly sold as extension cables.



These give you more length and also make cable management easier.



Look for brands like CableMod, Phanteks, EZDIY, or generic PSU extensions — they’re cheap and safe.



🔌 3. Check PSU Orientation





If your PSU is mounted upside down (fan facing the wrong way), the cables may exit further from the routing holes.



Try flipping it — this often gives you a few extra inches where you need them.



🔌 4. Use the Right Path





Sometimes the shortest visual route isn’t the most efficient.



Try threading cables diagonally across the back panel instead of straight up/down — often makes them reach.



🔌 5. Last Resort: Replace PSU





If your PSU is older or came with a prebuilt, the cables might just be too short for a modern mid/full tower case.



A new modular PSU will give you longer, detachable cables and cleaner routing.

Power cables are too short or hard to route

1. Check case specs





Look up your case’s maximum CPU cooler height (usually in the specs sheet).



Compare with your cooler’s listed height. This tells you how far over you are.

2. Options to fix





Reseat cooler orientation: Some coolers can be rotated so the fans clear tall RAM or side panels better.



Use slimmer fans: If your cooler has standard 25 mm fans, swapping to 15 mm “slim” fans may shave off 1 cm of height.



Remove / modify side panel: Some people add mesh side panels, bulged panels, or cut-outs to fit taller coolers — not the cleanest solution, but it works.



Upgrade the case: Get a case with better CPU cooler clearance. Mid-towers usually handle 160–170 mm; compact cases may only allow ~150 mm.



Switch to a shorter cooler: Many air coolers are under 155 mm (e.g. Scythe Fuma 3, be quiet! Pure Rock 2, Noctua NH-U12S).



Go AIO liquid cooling: A 120 mm or 240 mm AIO avoids height issues since the radiator mounts to the case.

3. Temporary fixes





You can run the system with the side panel off while waiting for parts, but dust and airflow may become an issue.

CPU cooler is too tall and side panel won’t close

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