A Few Questions about the installing a MB and Heat Sink

[Kanzo1]

My first question is about the mounting the MB to the case. I wanna make sure I am doing this right since my case didn't really come with instructions. First I screw in the standoffs ( not sure what they are called but brass screws you mount MB on) after that I got the screws, but my case also some came with little nylon/ some kind of cloth washers. Do I use those and if so they go between the Mb and screw correct? Second is regarding the fans, I connect all the 4 pin connectors to psu, but at the end of the line of 4 pin connectors from psu, there is a 3 pin connector. That connects to the MB via 3 pin connection where it states on the MB?

About the heat sink, if I already have thermal compound on my CPU, but awaiting a new MB. Do i need to remove that thermal compound and and a fresh coat when i reinstall into new MB? thermal compound is about 2 days old since i have taken CPU out of the MB. thanks again

[Dmitry]

I haven't seen washers like that before, but they might be for between the stand-off and the screw on top. For the 3-pin fan connector, you should see them pretty easily on your motherboard, most are labeled with some form of "fan" on the board.

As for the CPU, if you removed the heatsink from the CPU, I would probably clean it and put fresh thermal paste on it. You could always try starting it up and go into BIOS and check the temperatures, but personally I wouldn't risk it.

[Knyghtmayre]

Definitely remove the thermal paste from your CPU. 2 days is long enough for every kind of thermal paste except Arctic Silver 5 to cure completely. Clean it off really well and reapply it when you get a new heat sink. As for the fiber washers, I've never seen those either, but they shouldn't be used. I assume they shipped with your case, and in the distant past, motherboard screw-holes were not insulated so you had to put the washer in between the screw head and the board. Assuming your motherboard was made in the last few years, you're better off without them. Most motherboards have 3-pin connectors on the board labeled SYS_FAN1, SYS_FAN2, and CPU_FAN, or something to that effect. Obviously, CPU_FAN is for your Heat-sink fan, and the SYS_FAN#s are for your case fans. If you have more case fans than you have SYS_FAN connectors, then go ahead and use your PSU's Molex cable and plug the 3-pin at the end into the board. Also could use the Molex cable if your case fans do not have 3-pin connectors at all. Plugging the 3-pins into the board allows for software RPM control or at least monitoring, usually.

[Kanzo1]

First of all thanks, and this is my MB: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...8%20sabertooth

So Just the brass mounting screws and regular screws then( can take a pic of washers and post tomorrow if need be)? Also as far as removing the thermal paste, whats the best way to go about it? As for the fans, I have an Antec 900 two case, the case fans only have the four pin connectors (molex?), the way I currently have it rigged is all four of them on one molex cable, and then that three pin connector at the end of that molex cable connected to the MB (when MB arrives). Does that sound right? Also I have an additional fan that just has a three pin connector, can I plug that directly into the MB and it will receive power? Or do I need to use the adapter that has a 4 pin connector and a 3 pin connector? Thanks again and sorry for the noobness, just want to get it right this time.

[Boyiee]

70+% rubbing alcohol with q-tips/coffee filters always works for removing thermal paste. Just make sure it's barely wet in the alcohol so it doesn't drip or anything. Very slow and gently. You don't need to plug your case fans into mobo, just the psu 4pin molex's are fine. If you have a 3pin, and no 3pins coming from psu, then pop it into any mobo 3 or 4pin other than the cpu_fan one.

Fan headers on mobo's that are 4pin are deigned to have 3pins connected to them as well. They have tabs to click to for convenience.

[Amastacia]

I tend to always recommend splurging (it's like an extra $.50) for the 98% Isopropyl, and also tend towards coffee filters over q-tips. Q-tips are more likely, in my experience, to deposit fibers, plus it always takes me more time & effort to really clean the contact surfaces.

[Knyghtmayre]

I just use ArctiClean for TIM removal. Works really well and has enough to last a while. And yes, the molex -are- enough to simply power the case fans, but as I said, without plugging them into SYS_FAN headers, you have no readouts or control over them. 3-pins straight into the board do power the fans as well and don't need molex connections.

[Boyiee]

The fans in his case are all 4pin molex anyway, and there really is no need to have any control over them or monitor them.