Weird Installation Problem - cannot tighten PCI card

[coolman217]

Hi,

First of all, I have the following configurations:

Asus A7N8X-X mobo
Samsung 2 x 512MB RAM
Seagate Barracuda 160gig HD
Leadtek Winfast Ti4200 128mb video card
SB Live 24-bit card


When I was installing my pci sound card, I notice that I cannot tighten the screw to secure the card. If I do that, the computer does not load (meaning I get nothing on the screen at all) . So right now, the card is a bit loose and running. If I secure it while the computer is on, it freezes.

Ok, you might say it is the sound card, but I did try it with another sound card of a different brand and same results.

Did anyone come across this weird problem? It could be many factors but if someone has this problem occurring, it will help reduce my costs for sure. I don't like any loose card in my case.

[SleepyGSR]

Have you tried a different PCI slot?
Is your motherboard aligned in the case properly?
Is the case slightly warped to prevent proper tightening?

[coolman217]

Have you tried a different PCI slot?
Is your motherboard aligned in the case properly?
Is the case slightly warped to prevent proper tightening?

1. yes
2. yes
3. no

I do have a netgear wireless pci card in there and it's tightened as well without a problem.

[deep]

Before you try tightening it, is the PCI bracket in contact with the case? Have you tried just putting a paperclip/other conductor from the bracket to the case without screwing in the card? It might be a short.

[Cafe_333]

So let me get this straight. You tried the soundcard in a different pci slot and you still cannot tighten the card or the same thing happens, correct?

It seriously sounds like your mobo isn't lined correctly. It wouldn't hurt loosening the screws and sliding your mobo over a couple millimeters to the right. Does it look like the gold connectors on the right side of the soundcard get raised when you screw it in tightly? Have you tried sticking another PCI card in that PCI slot - and do you get the same results? Make sure your soundcard isn't the culprit either. Put it into another computer and see if you can boot up with the card tightenned in that. Hardware troubleshooting is all about eliminating the possibility of each relevant component as the culprit, untill you've narrowed it down to one. Keep us posted.

[willy]

I think Cafe_333 idea is possible. But I need to confirm a couple of things ...

1. What kind of case is that ? Is it using all uniform mobo standoffs ? I mean those metal things underneath the mobo ... Are those standoffs the screw-into-your-mobo type ?

2. Try to tighten the screw of the sound card and carefully look at the golden pins of your sound card and the PCI slot. Are they all uniformly inserted into the PCI slot ? Or you see the pin away from the bracket are coming out from the PCI slot.

Please report. A pic would be nice.

[coolman217]

Thanks a lot guys! I tried untightening the mobo a bit and it worked. I think the mobo alignment was slightly off, therefore, when the sound card was fully tightened, I could see parts of the gold connectors were sticking out on the left while it was slotted perfectly on the right.


Thanks for all your help everyone. Really appreciate it.

[willy]

I think the mobo alignment was slightly off, therefore, when the sound card was fully tightened, I could see parts of the gold connectors were sticking out on the left while it was slotted perfectly on the right.

Based on my own experience, this problem is usually caused by uneven height of the mobo standoffs. This will make the mobo not perpendicularly aligned to the back side of the case.

Although they may look the same, they aren't !!! I have plenty of those brass/copper color standoffs. I need to sort them into different groups based on the height just to avoid this problem.

[coolman217]

wow. I never knew it could get so complicated. I thought...pop in mobo and everything else, and it would work fine! Funny thing though is that my other PCI card (closer to the CPU) is fine. the further down it goes, the worse connection it gets. I hope I've adjusted it right so that when I put in my tv-tuner, it will work fine.

[Cafe_333]

lol, i've seen this too. good thing i spotted the height differences on the floor before putting the brass standoffs into my case.

And not to freak out some newbies out there, but for the people who buy a new case and use the standoffs that come with it need not worry about this.

Based on my own experience, this problem is usually caused by uneven height of the mobo standoffs. This will make the mobo not perpendicularly aligned to the back side of the case.

Although they may look the same, they aren't !!! I have plenty of those brass/copper color standoffs. I need to sort them into different groups based on the height just to avoid this problem.

[willy]

Let's take a look ...