Why do people build motherboards outside the case before installation?

[samsonwilliams]

I have only ever dabbled in computer building, but I really enjoy watching others do it. I am currently clearing out the couch right now looking for spare change to build another one and have been rewatching old LTT builds here and there to appease me while I try to fatten the piggy bank. Out of the blue I asked myself, out loud, why is it that ppl always seem to build the motherboard up with its parts before installing it into the case? The one I did I also built it outside of the case (monkey see monkey do!) but I’m curious if that’s just the way folks great grandpappy taught them or if there’s an actual purpose for this? 

[TatamiMatt]

5 minutes ago, samsonwilliams said:

I have only ever dabbled in computer building, but I really enjoy watching others do it. I am currently clearing out the couch right now looking for spare change to build another one and have been rewatching old LTT builds here and there to appease me while I try to fatten the piggy bank. Out of the blue I asked myself, out loud, why is it that ppl always seem to build the motherboard up with its parts before installing it into the case? The one I did I also built it outside of the case (monkey see monkey do!) but I’m curious if that’s just the way folks great grandpappy taught them or if there’s an actual purpose for this? 

The main purpose is for handiness, its much harder when theres case walls in the way etc to build the finnicky parts of the motherboard up, cpu, cooler etc.

And also to test the motherboard is working and running fine with everything plugged in before putting into case and cable managing etc. 

 

Basically make it as easily accessible for troubleshooting as possible so that testing everything works is easy before making in harder to access everything

[okkee]

9 minutes ago, samsonwilliams said:

I have only ever dabbled in computer building, but I really enjoy watching others do it. I am currently clearing out the couch right now looking for spare change to build another one and have been rewatching old LTT builds here and there to appease me while I try to fatten the piggy bank. Out of the blue I asked myself, out loud, why is it that ppl always seem to build the motherboard up with its parts before installing it into the case? The one I did I also built it outside of the case (monkey see monkey do!) but I’m curious if that’s just the way folks great grandpappy taught them or if there’s an actual purpose for this? 

when working on mine, it's honestly a lot easier to install the fan outside before bringing the mobo inside the case.

[emosun]

9 minutes ago, samsonwilliams said:

I’m curious if that’s just the way folks great grandpappy taught them or if there’s an actual purpose for this? 

it's to test the parts before assembling the machine. but i like the implication that millions of people hadn't questioned the practice and were just blindly participating in a tradition without thinking about it.

[PDifolco]

30 minutes ago, samsonwilliams said:

I have only ever dabbled in computer building, but I really enjoy watching others do it. I am currently clearing out the couch right now looking for spare change to build another one and have been rewatching old LTT builds here and there to appease me while I try to fatten the piggy bank. Out of the blue I asked myself, out loud, why is it that ppl always seem to build the motherboard up with its parts before installing it into the case? The one I did I also built it outside of the case (monkey see monkey do!) but I’m curious if that’s just the way folks great grandpappy taught them or if there’s an actual purpose for this? 

It's way easier to install stuff on the board outside of the case, especially coolers

But what's even more useful imo is that it allows you to test POST/boot without having to install everything and then realize it doesn't work (just jump the power pins to start)

[Doobeedoo]

Insecurity.

[manikyath]

to make sure the parts work before going trough all that effort.

 

also, some cpu coolers are hell to mount while in a case, so it's partially out of habit on that side.

 

on my Z97 system the cooler was such a horrible mounting system i ended up 'mounting the motherboard to the heatsink' outside the case, and then slice my fingers open to drop it in.

[venomtail]

36 minutes ago, Doobeedoo said:

Insecurity.

They're just non-believers that they'll get it working first time, every time

[Lurking]

Do it both ways and you see which is easier.

 

Some cheap cases also don't have a CPU cutout and some cooler mounting schemes require fastening from the underside of the MB. 

 

I build it outside, but I don't test the PC before everything is assembled in the case. I guess I just find it easier to see and access everything outside the dark case. I only build a new PC every 5+ years, though. So, efficiency doesn't matter much.

[DeerDK]

As a mITX owner... its going to be reeeally interesting to install CPU and CPU cooler in the case.

That said, I mostly work with the MOBO installed for anything else.

[Kisai]

On 4/8/2024 at 1:26 AM, samsonwilliams said:

 Out of the blue I asked myself, out loud, why is it that ppl always seem to build the motherboard up with its parts before installing it into the case?

Cause you want to make sure the parts work before you make a lot more work for yourself.

 

Generally you do this:

 

Motherboard (on insulated table)

RAM

CPU

Boot drive/OS SSD 

no GPU (unless CPU has no iGPU)

PSU

===

Test, install OS, Burn in Test

===

Install GPU, additional SSD or HDD, etc

===

Test

===

Remove PCIe cards, install straight into Chassis, don't tighten screws yet.

===

Test again

===

Reinstall PCIe cards

===

Test again, tighten screws

 

Now each of these "test" points are to make sure you plugged everything in. 

 

You can also skip all the test steps except the first one. But it will suck to spend 30 minutes screwing everything in, only to find out a stick of ram is dead or a SSD doesn't work, having to pull everything out of the chassis to get to it.

 

Generally the PCIe cards are the obstacle to getting to the M2's, while the CPU cooler is an obstacle to getting to the RAM, and many coolers obstruct the RAM slot closest to the CPU. So once you're sure the computer is "Ready to go" you put it in the chassis and continue to the PCIe cards.

[cmndr]

I feel like 20 years ago it was more common to build with the parts INSIDE the case. 

These are things which have changed since then. 
1. Tower coolers became a thing in 2006. 
2. It's harder to record a PC build INSIDE of a case. 


For most people it doesn't really matter one way or the other. In my own case, I slap in the CPU, slap the board into the case and then install an AIO cooler. 

I don't recall when I install RAM, it probably doesn't really matter to me. I also don't bother removing my system for RAM upgrades.