Brassed off




I purchased a Gigabyte ATX motherboard and a new case, and am in the process of building my first computer. The mounting separators that came with the case are made of brass. I am only used to seeing the nylon ones. These brass separators screw into holes in the case, the board sits on top, and then screws go through the top of the board into the separators. I am a bit wary of using these, as I am not sure if brass can short out the board somehow. Since there are no holes in the case to install "slide-into-place" nylon mounts either, I am stuck with these brass ones. The board came with orange fibre-type washers that sit between the board and the screws. Could you please give me your thoughts as to whether this is safe or not?
- Shane Rees


Since receiving this question, I have been opening the cases of as many computers as I have friends and colleagues foolish enough to let me. Almost all the motherboards I looked at were attached with little nylon lugs. I did find a Compaq with metal screws fastening the board to the case, and no plastic washers were used to insulate the board from the screws.
The fact that the metal is touching the motherboard is not a problem because the board is, well...a board. Its main purpose is to stop things rattling around inside your computer by allowing components to be stuck onto it. If the mounting separators touch only the board and no other components, there should be no problem.
- Roy Chambers


Category: Hardware
Issue: Jan 1998
Pages: 161

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