February 4, 20179 yr I recently bought a Lian Li D600 and realized that I'll be needing to drill and tap a few holes in order to properly fit a SuperMicro motherboard. I heard that Lian Li uses the metric system and specifically M3 for their motherboard standoff holes. This will be my first case mod, so my question is will I be fine if I purchase a tap set that uses a 6-32 tap, and still be able to fit the M3 motherboard standoff into it?
February 5, 20179 yr In a word, no. Metric ISO threads and UNC threads are completely different in diameter, pitch and profile. If the metal is soft you might be able to kludge it and force the male thread on the standoff to cut a new female thread in the hole, like a self-tapping screw, but I imagine a quality brand like Lian Li would use something a little tougher. Use the correct M3 metric tap or buy some 6-32 UNC standoffs. You'll need the correct diameter drill bit too.
February 5, 20179 yr To expand on this a little, drilling and tapping in sheet metal is probably not going to yield desirable results. Most factory holes are die punched, which allows the sheet metal to form a short tube that can accept threads. To replicate that using home tools is difficult, if not impossible. You would achieve much better results by drilling the holes and attaching nuts with the correct thread on the back side of the hole. Super glue or epoxy with an oiled screw holding the nut in the correct orientation would be one way of attaching it. Once the glue dries, remove the alignment screw and thread in your standoff, or if you don't care about ever removing the standoff just epoxy the standoff and nut into the hole.
February 5, 20179 yr Author That's a good idea. Is it necessary to use the Super Glue or epoxy though? I'm considering just drilling the holes, and attaching a nut in the back and calling it a day. I'll know more of what I'm dealing with once I receive the case.
February 6, 20179 yr That's a good idea. Is it necessary to use the Super Glue or epoxy though? I'm considering just drilling the holes, and attaching a nut in the back and calling it a day. I'll know more of what I'm dealing with once I receive the case. If you've ever had to try to remove a motherboard with a standoff that spins out of the case instead of the screw coming out of the standoff, you'd know why I recommend making sure the standoff stays put. It's not the end of the world, and may not even be a big deal depending on which location it is and whether you can get a pliers on the backside, but better safe than sorry. Like you said, you will be in a better position to figure out the best method once you can look it over.
February 6, 20179 yr What size is the MB? I thought the D600 took most sizes without issue. My ASUS EEB sized board fits no problem.
February 6, 20179 yr Author What size is the MB? I thought the D600 took most sizes without issue. My ASUS EEB sized board fits no problem. It's an E-ATX. However, from what I understand is that there are 2-3 holes that don't align and requires you to drill your own holes into the case.
February 7, 20179 yr Based on Lian-Li http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-d600/ it should support E-ATX so I would think it would work without without problems. Based on what you are saying it sounds like E-ATX has more than one standard based on where you are in the world?
February 7, 20179 yr Author Based on Lian-Li http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-d600/ it should support E-ATX so I would think it would work without without problems. Based on what you are saying it sounds like E-ATX has more than one standard based on where you are in the world? I'm in the USA but I guess I'll know more once I receive my case and motherboard by the end of this week. I read that SuperMicro's E-ATX board doesn't really conform to E-ATX standards in terms of screw placement. The problem is that a few of the screws will not fit as they're far enough for you to have to drill a hole. However, they are in in spec in terms of motherboard dimensions for E-ATX.
February 7, 20179 yr Or you can use plastic standoffs that don't require a hole at all.... https://www.google.ca/search?q=plastic+motherboard+standoffs&rlz=1C1WPZB_enCA709CA709&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwifi-atg_7RAhUk1oMKHQpADY8Q_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=960
February 7, 20179 yr Author Or you can use plastic standoffs that don't require a hole at all.... https://www.google.ca/search?q=plastic+motherboard+standoffs&rlz=1C1WPZB_enCA709CA709&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwifi-atg_7RAhUk1oMKHQpADY8Q_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=960 Well damn, didn't even know these existed. I assume the height is the same as standard brass standoffs? So that the side with plastic standoffs isn't making the motherboard placement lopsided?
February 7, 20179 yr Standoff heights should be fairly standard as the I/O shield wouldnt fit properly if there was variation between cases.
February 7, 20179 yr Standoff heights should be fairly standard as the I/O shield wouldnt fit properly if there was variation between cases. The key is "fairly". I've seen a few oddball standoff heights. You are right, the standoff height is directly related to the distance of the I/O shield opening to the plate that the motherboard screws into. Enlight cases used standoffs that were about 4mm longer than "normal", meaning there was more empty space under the motherboard, but if you use the longer standoffs, the I/O shield was in the correct location. "Normal" standoffs would result in the I/O plate not fitting. "normal" = 6mm standoff distance
February 7, 20179 yr Based on Lian-Li http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-d600/ it should support E-ATX so I would think it would work without without problems. Based on what you are saying it sounds like E-ATX has more than one standard based on where you are in the world? I'm in the USA but I guess I'll know more once I receive my case and motherboard by the end of this week. I read that SuperMicro's E-ATX board doesn't really conform to E-ATX standards in terms of screw placement. The problem is that a few of the screws will not fit as they're far enough for you to have to drill a hole. However, they are in in spec in terms of motherboard dimensions for E-ATX. I was confused as to which was off too. If you do find it off that is too bad that the MB or Case can't follow the standard they say they used well enough for it to work
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