I had a discussion with a fellow geek yesterday, and wanted to toss the question to the masters... (that's YOU guys I'm talking about :p )

So here goes:

When assembling a new system, which do you prefer:

1) get the mobo in the case first, then add ram and cpu
2) put in ram en cpu first, then put it in the case
3) depends on specific situation (case size for example)


Of course, if you have a very specific reason for your choice feel free to elaborate on it...

I put RAM, CPU, heatsink and fan on the motherboard first. Then install it as an assembly.

Beats trying to work in the case. :)

Much easier to put the ram, cpu, and heatsink on first. Who would want to work inside a case if you don't have to.

CPU, Heatsink/fan and RAM. Then try a boot, before fitting. If that's OK, then fit the assembly to case, and boot again.

I install CPU, HSF, Memory, set it on a non-conductive surface, connect KVM switch and spare PSU, and do a boot into BIOS. If this works, then I put it in the case.

Whoops, seems I was "wrong" then :D

I like to put the mobo in the case first, because when you do that with the hs, ram etc already attached it's much more cumbersome / heavier / difficult to manouvre, while working in the case never seemed that much of a problem to me.

Beeing able to testrun the mobo outside the case is of course a very good point...

I never had a problem working inside the case either. Shoving the mobo in the case with all that stuff on it was always a pain to me.

I don't think either way is wrong. I just don't like getting my knuckles banged up when working inside a small case, so I got into the habit of doing it this way. And as I said it is easier to do a preliminary boot outside the case to make sure the basic components work.

I like to at least install the memory while the board is out of the case because I don't like flexing the board with the force that is needed to seat a memory stick for the first time.

I have also assembled them both ways.
I prefer to mount the cpu, heat paste, heatsink out side the case
I use arctic silver on most of my builds .. It is not the easiest stuff to work with..

Another thing to remember .
Not everyone buys the best cases,, Having to assemble a unit for someone who saved a few bucks by picking up an in expensive case can cost you more then skinned knuckles ..
Sharp edges are a real hazzard inside a case..

Even putting my own system together would require more room than the inside of my server tower allows.. Putting in two AMD MP chips in this case requires out of case work..
Just too many capacitors in the way to risk a slip and damaging the M/B

I've done both ways, too. I agree with Reid about putting in the RAM first, regardless, but either way works. Just personal preference really. Although Rick also brings up a good point. Never work inside a cheap case! When working for others who bought cheap cases, I always assemble out-of-case, ever since my I/O shield incident... :rolleyes:

I once installed a CPU on a mobo that was already in the case (it was an upgrade job) and the I/O shield had empty ports with no covering; and it was one of those flimsy aluminum ones with no plastic on the outside. Well... you can perhaps guess what happened next! Yep! I cut myself pretty deep! No blood got on the parts (whew!) but boy did that hurt for a few days! I still get teased about cutting myself on something called a "shield". :p

I have also done it both ways. The preferred way is processor and HSF and RAM than install the motherboard in the case. Every motherboard manual that I have read instructs you to install the components out of the case.

I also install my video card and another PCI card before screwing the MB down to get the right distance between the MB and IO shield.

PS; If I can install my motherboard with the CPU and a huge Thermalright SLK947U HS and a 92X92X38mm Vantec Tornado anyone can. The thing weighs a ton and stands almost 4" from MB to top of the fan.

I also install my video card and another PCI card before screwing the MB down to get the right distance between the MB and IO shield.
Very interesting. Every video card I have installed(only a few), was a very tight fit. Usually having to put a fair amount of pressure on the backplate of the case to get it in. While PCI cards would go right in without any pressure on the backplate of the case, on the same system. I just assumed this is the way video cards are.

Anyone else experience this, or is it just me?

I'm with david eaton and jhorner, I never put a board in a case that hasn't been bench tested first, (learned my lesson long ago) so CPU/fan/heatsink and RAM are always already installed. And that initial bench boot has saved a LOT of troubleshooting...

By the way I keep a switch handy for ATX board startup, I took the LED wires off an old 386 or something, left 2/3 of the wires and two hole connector attached and soldered a momentary contact switch to the other end [after] putting heat shrink tubing over the wires. If you do this a lot or for a living, it's worth its weight in gold.

jlreich:

I've seen plenty systems, including factory machines from Dell, HP etc, that were a very tight fit and in some cases have had to flex the back panel of the case to get the tabs of a card in at all.

Very interesting. Every video card I have installed(only a few), was a very tight fit. Usually having to put a fair amount of pressure on the backplate of the case to get it in. While PCI cards would go right in without any pressure on the backplate of the case, on the same system. I just assumed this is the way video cards are.

That is the reason I fit the video card in the slot. I have had video cards that did not work because the board was installed too far to the rear of the case forcing the card to the front of the slot and the contacts out of alignment.