Q for The PC Builders

[GregE240]

Folks,

Quick Q: I've bought a new motherboard for the home PC - a Micro ATX board. However, looking at the connectors on the back of the new board I'm about to buy, they are laid out totally differently to the board I've currently got.

Do you get a new back plate with a new motherboard? By back plate, I mean the bit that the connectors poke through, with the little keyboard and mouse graphics on it. It looks like the plate just comes out with the board - am I right?

Thanks,
Greg

[Plotloss]

If its brand new you get a new backplate

[GregE240]

Plotloss said:

If its brand new you get a new backplate

Yeah, its brand new. Its an ASUS board, retail box....

Cheers Matt.

(I'll get this bloody PC built before long.... )

[victormeldrew]

You get different cases for different board types. For a micro ATX board you'd be wanting a micro ATX case methinks.

See [here|www.tomshardware.com/howto/20050105/[/url].

[GregE240]

I've got that already Victor.

Thing is, my old MOBO had a different layout to the one I want to buy - in my case the onboard NIC is in a different place - one my current one I've got 2 USB ports where the NIC is on the new one, so I wondered if I got a new backplate with the board - Plotloss says yes, you do.

I can't believe that Micro ATX boards are EXACTLY the same at the back in terms of connectors - certainly not the ones I've been looking at.

[victormeldrew]

Sorry Greg, my mistake, yes the IO port locations can vary but have to be within a restriced area on the backplate - and the motherboard should come with a microATX compliant IO shield to fit this area.

[digga951]

Yup, you should always get a new backplate with a new board. Especially if its retail boxed too.

I must admit, I rarely fit the backplates as they always seem to pop out again or not line up properly. You could always just chop your old one about too - its at the back of the PC so isn't seen... Even if its just temporary until you get one from Asus.

[Munter]

The last few i've upgraded all came with replacement "plates" for all the ports. So you can snap out the old one and put the new on in easy. Unfortunately I forgot to put the new one in before bolting the M'board into the case so I've just left it off.

[GregE240]

Cheers chaps - mind now put at rest!

Greg