[lloydwoodford91]

Having just bought a new thermaltake soprano case I am looking for advice on swapping all the hardware across from my standard Acer case. Here's just some questions that I would like to know, but if you have any more/better advice please add it on.

- How do I disconnect the system/CPU etc. fans from the m/b? I've never done this before but they sort of look like small phone sockets.

- I want to run more rans on my case but there appears to be no more m/b connections. Is it possible to get some kind of adapter to allow 2 fans to come off one supply? Or do I just have to run them off molex?

- Any particular order that hardware should be installed in to make for an easier installation

- After having a quick peek inside my case that I have at the moment I noticed that there is quite a build up of dust. Any way to prevent this in the new case and what is suggested in the way to clean these components

- Also any general observsions any previous owners of a soprano case have had, Good/bad points

Thanks, especially if you actually read all that and posted a reply.

[pete21]

disconnect the system/CPU etc.- just need a little pull :)
id run all extra fans of a molex leed
advice-make sure you install motherboard spacers. obvious but it happens alot :)
were an anti static wrist before hutching components if you have no wrist band. tutch your case while its plugged in BUT ternd off! that will get rid of eney static.then unplug from the wall and start dismantling
to get rid of dust you can use cans of compressed air..i per fer to use a small paint brush
to stop dust in the future you can get fan filters..they do need a good clean often tho as the dust soon builds up and they strangle a fan as the fan finds it hard to take air in from them

[lloydwoodford91]

Cheers for that Pete. About m/b spacers though - are they likey to come with my new case otherwise I'll use the ones in my old case? I'm guessing their function is to stop static charge building from the case and help heat dissapation?

Another quick question - How do I find out the output wattage of my PSU. I may be looking at getting a more powerful one to run extra stuff off. I've looked at labels on my existing one but it doesn't really have to much info other than the input power. Also, are all PSU's 'standard' i.e. all are compatiable with all m/b?

Thanks

[redden137]

This your first time swapping over the insides of a pc m8?

[pete21]

yerr you should be given some with your new one..if not use the ones out of your old case :) the spacers are mainly to stop the motherboard sorting out on your metal case :)

as for psu should tell you somewhere on it :) if not there is software that tells you. am sure they be a free one on the net :)

if your motherboard is atx get a atx psu :) also make sure if you get a new psu it will fit into your new case some have different mounting holes :)

[lloydwoodford91]

Right thanks for answering all my questions so far!

Now, I'm just wandering;

The connections to the power/reset buttons, Front USB/mic/headphone ports and power LED's etc. Where do these plug in on the m/b or what are they likely to be labelled as (for example system fans connection point is called sys fan)

I'm also asking, as the soprano case has a reset button, whereas my case before did not, does this mean my m/b won't support it?

If someone could do a little list of what the labels are likely to be, that would be much appreciated. i.e

COMPONENT LABEL
System fan = sys fan
Headphone = ????
USB = ????

etc.

Sorry for all the questions but yes this is my first case change over, whereas I have only previously installed basic hardware (RAM, dvd drives) and expansion cards (GPU, TV cards)

[redden137]

Do you know what m/b you have?

[lloydwoodford91]

Yes I do and unfortunately its a stock one that came in a prebuilt acer! But dont worry I am slowly upgrading all my parts.

Here's what Belarc advisor says it is;

[SIZE=2]Board: Acer EM61SM/EM61PM
Bus Clock: 201 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A2 09/14/20[/SIZE]

Thanks

[redden137]

this your board?

[lloydwoodford91]

Going by that picture I would say that could be it. it's just a bit low res. to see.

The layout looks similar but it's not as colourful as that

[lloydwoodford91]

Right thanks for all your help, especially Pete.

I have successfully mangaged to swap the case around and am happy that everything is working correctly. *YAY*

Finally, to finish can someone please tell me where the reset button connections connect on the m/b I managed to do all the other front panel led's and buttons but because my old case didn't support reset then I have nothing to go by.

Thank you

[lloydwoodford91]

No worries. After much gormless staring I've just discovered the shcematic layout for the front panel board printed on the m/b Reset button is up and working

Thanks anyway

[Cew27]

i havent read the above posts so i dont know where you stand but i can tell you these tips
1 you WILL need to buy some more thermal grease
2 the psu goes in first, then the hdd and cd drives, then the motherboard, then the cpu, then the cpu cooler then the cables