cutting mobo tray

[Ch1m3r4]

so I know some of you cut a hole in the mobo tray to gain access to the backing plate.

here's a question...and yes I know that it probably isn't the smartest idea, but give me more useful opinions then OMGNO2U

If I carefully used a pair of snips, could I do it with out removing the mobo from the computer?

 

[Tigerbiten]

All it would take would be a small slip and its new mobo time.
Plus there is a risk of a small sliver causeing a short between mobo and case. Again new mobo time.

I dont see any problem with cutting a hole.
Just dont do it with the mobo in.

Luck........

 

[zer0signal667]

How would you even do it with snips? Unless your motherboard tray is made of some pretty thin foil, you'll have a hell of a time trying to cut a hole of any shape out of the middle of it. Not to mention the motherboard is about 1/4" away from it... Just take the motherboard out, it'll be easier to determine where to cut that way too because you'll be able to see where the mounting holes line up.

 

[ciggy50]

dont be lazy . remove the mobo and get a large holesaw .



even if you could cut it while the mobo was in place and even if you were a ninja with the snips......

you may still get a sliver or chip of the metal
down behind the mobo to cause a major short

 

[cornelious0_0]

Exactly, don't even think of chancing that dude.....I've seen stupider things done when there was less risk involved. I'm not saying you WILL mess up, but how long does it really take to remove your mobo??? Isn't that worth not having to chance buying a new one???

Thought so.

 

[Tanis143]

Originally posted by cornelious0_0
....but how long does it really take to remove your mobo??? Isn't that worth not having to chance buying a new one???

Thought so.

I wouldnt care how long it takes, if you're gonna do any cutting, remove all hardware. Now if your rich, and dont care about having to buy new parts all the time, hey go for it. But for us that penny pinch and like to keep our parts, well..... you know the answer

 

[Xeese]

To answer the original post, yes, you could. but you would need a starter hole, which may not be available near where you need it to be. The other problem you run into is in deburring the edges with the mobo in place.

 

[cornelious0_0]

Originally posted by Tanis143
I wouldnt care how long it takes, if you're gonna do any cutting, remove all hardware. Now if your rich, and dont care about having to buy new parts all the time, hey go for it. But for us that penny pinch and like to keep our parts, well..... you know the answer

Heh, I believe I fall into that second group.

 

[Ch1m3r4]

lol

i'm just lazy, looking for the simplest quickest way possible.

and buying a whole new mobo if I ruin the old one and then swapping everything over, etc, etc, is more of a pain in the ass then taking the thing out to begin with.

thanks for the answers.

 

[jpmkm]

Hey I'm with you man - lazy all the way. A few weeks ago I wanted to cut a hole in the motherboard tray so i could access the screws for my waterblock without having to remove the motherboard. I took the cards out and unscrewed my motherboard and pulled it out a couple inches. Then I used a nibbler to nibble away a small rectangle. It probably would have been faster to take everything out and just use a jigsaw to cut it out, but I didn't want to mess with all that. You don't need much clearance on the other side of the metal to use a nibbler. I still wouldn't do it with the motherboard attached, though.