Personal computing discussed

Moderators: renee, JustAnEngineer

 
K-L-Waster
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 576
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 8:10 pm
Location: Hmmm, I was *here* a second ago...

Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:42 pm

I have parts for a new build incoming, and one of the parts is a Cryorig R1 Universal CPU cooler. I'm of two minds about whether to mount the cooler on the motherboard before installing the motherboard in the case or after, and would like the opinions of the gerbil community.

Reasons to Install Motherboard First

1) Much easier to install motherboard without heavy CPU cooler attached
2) Less awkward, thus likely to damage anything while installing motherboard
3) Weight of cooler could lead to mobo flexing

Reasons to Install Cooler First
1) Some owners have reported getting the R1's mounting screws to bite on the pressure bar can require a lot of elbow grease -- easier to apply outside of the case
2) Reaching around the cooler to connect fan power could be very awkward due to limited space between case and cooler

Thoughts?
Main System: i7-8700K, ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-E, 16 GB DDR4 3200 RAM, ASUS 6800XT, 1 TB WD_Black SN750, Corsair 550D

HTPC: I5-4460, ASUS H97M-E, 8 GB RAM, GTX 970, CRUCIAL 256GB MX100, SILVERSTONE GD09B
 
DrDominodog51
Gerbil Elite
Posts: 716
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2015 12:23 pm
Location: Silicon Valley

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:50 pm

What motherboard size is your motherboard? With ITX and Micro-ATX, flex shouldn't be too much of an issue when installing the mobo.
A10-7850K; GA-F2A88XN-WIFI, 16 GB of 2400MHz DDR3, 500 GB Team Group L5 SSD
 
Redocbew
Minister of Gerbil Affairs
Posts: 2495
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2014 11:44 am

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:55 pm

I always mount the cooler before it goes in the case. In fact, I'd say the chances of damaging the board in the process are greater when having to work around drive bays and other components instead of just doing it on the desk or some other work surface. Unless your case has a cutout in the motherboard tray, then any cooler which has its own backplate is going to require you to do some part of the assembly outside the case anyway.
Do not meddle in the affairs of archers, for they are subtle and you won't hear them coming.
 
just brew it!
Administrator
Posts: 54500
Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2002 10:51 pm
Location: Somewhere, having a beer

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:32 pm

Unless I am replacing the cooler on an existing build, I always mount the cooler before installing the mobo. It's SOP.

Edit: To address your specific concerns:
1) Not really. Just do everything slowly and carefully, and don't slide the motherboard around to get the holes lined up without lifting up on it slightly to keep the standoffs from scraping the underside of the PCB.
2) This seems like it is just a rewording of #1?
3) Motherboards are stiffer than you may think, and regardless, you're probably more likely to cause flexing by installing the HSF after the mobo is in the case, vs. laying the mobo on a flat surface outside the case.

For me, the PITA of dealing with mounting pins/screws/clips after the mobo is mounted in the case is to be avoided whenever possible.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
 
K-L-Waster
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 576
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 8:10 pm
Location: Hmmm, I was *here* a second ago...

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Fri Dec 08, 2017 5:20 am

Thanks, everyone. So we have 2 votes for installing the cooler first.

To answer the various questions, it's an ATX motherboard going into my existing Corsair 550D case, which has a CPU cut-out.
Main System: i7-8700K, ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-E, 16 GB DDR4 3200 RAM, ASUS 6800XT, 1 TB WD_Black SN750, Corsair 550D

HTPC: I5-4460, ASUS H97M-E, 8 GB RAM, GTX 970, CRUCIAL 256GB MX100, SILVERSTONE GD09B
 
DPete27
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3776
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:50 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Fri Dec 08, 2017 10:30 am

Install the cooler first.
Main: i5-3570K, ASRock Z77 Pro4-M, MSI RX480 8G, 500GB Crucial BX100, 2 TB Samsung EcoGreen F4, 16GB 1600MHz G.Skill @1.25V, EVGA 550-G2, Silverstone PS07B
HTPC: A8-5600K, MSI FM2-A75IA-E53, 4TB Seagate SSHD, 8GB 1866MHz G.Skill, Crosley D-25 Case Mod
 
cheesyking
Minister of Gerbil Affairs
Posts: 2756
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:52 am
Location: That London (or so I'm told)
Contact:

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:22 am

cooler first here
Fernando!
Your mother ate my dog!
 
Kougar
Minister of Gerbil Affairs
Posts: 2306
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:12 am
Location: Texas

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Sun Dec 10, 2017 1:59 am

K-L-Waster wrote:
Thanks, everyone. So we have 2 votes for installing the cooler first.

To answer the various questions, it's an ATX motherboard going into my existing Corsair 550D case, which has a CPU cut-out.


Other people probably had better luck, but I have NEVER had the CPU cut-outs in motherboard trays align with my motherboards. :lol: And the cut-out alignment just gets even worse as the case ages with newer board designs.

So as long as you have the case flat and can simply place the board onto the standoffs to let gravity hold it there then I'd also say to install the cooler first. Never do it if you can't place the case completely flat on its side though.
 
K-L-Waster
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 576
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 8:10 pm
Location: Hmmm, I was *here* a second ago...

Re: Cryorig R1 - Before or After Mounting MoBo?

Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:35 am

Kougar wrote:
Other people probably had better luck, but I have NEVER had the CPU cut-outs in motherboard trays align with my motherboards. :lol: And the cut-out alignment just gets even worse as the case ages with newer board designs.


Well, we'll see. The existing mobo is an z97 and the incoming one is my first z370 build, so I really don't know if it will line up well this time.

Kougar wrote:
So as long as you have the case flat and can simply place the board onto the standoffs to let gravity hold it there then I'd also say to install the cooler first. Never do it if you can't place the case completely flat on its side though.


I will be able to place it completely flat. Given everyone's feedback I have decided to go with the cooler-first approach. Once it's assembled I'll report back on how it went.
Main System: i7-8700K, ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-E, 16 GB DDR4 3200 RAM, ASUS 6800XT, 1 TB WD_Black SN750, Corsair 550D

HTPC: I5-4460, ASUS H97M-E, 8 GB RAM, GTX 970, CRUCIAL 256GB MX100, SILVERSTONE GD09B

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
GZIP: On