Punching Holes in X99 Socket Threads

[Sazexa]

Hello everyone, I'm looking for some advice on a bit of a not so common topic. As a lot of you know, many X99 motherboards do not have holes punched through the PCB on X99 motherboards, where whatever screws are used to secure CPU cooling devices mount into. I recently got an EKWB monoblock for my motherboard, and the instructions specifically say to (gently) use a small screw driver and poke holes through the screw sockets to install the monoblock. I did so, quite carefully and gently, and actually used a screw to thread through and remove the little bit I didn't punch through. Trouble is, when I installed the monoblock, I had some issues, and narrowed it down to one of my RAM channels no longer working. I can't think of anything else that would have caused this. I even heard rumors of if the block is too tight it can cause issues with RAM slots, but even leaving it as relatively loose as possible, I still had two dead slots. So, I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the best way to punch through. I've ordered a replacement motherboard, since installing the EK block voids warranty and I doubt ASUS would have honored it. And I'm just looking to get some tips before attempting it a second time, and possibly ruining another $600 motherboard lol

[79wjd]

Didn't JayzTwoCents kill an X99 board by punching out those holes?

 

[oskarha]

What?

I think you must have misread the instructions.

[Sazexa]

5 minutes ago, djdwosk97 said:

Didn't JayzTwoCents kill an X99 board by punching out those holes?

 

I believe I've seen this before. If that's an ASRock board, then I think so. But he used a drill if I'm not mistaken.
 

4 minutes ago, oskarha said:

What?

I think you must have misread the instructions.

Here's a link to the instructions. In step 3, it says to punch out "stickers" on the PCB. My board didn't have stickers, it was just PCB, with what appeared to have absolutely zero traces in it. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3831109821596.pdf

[oskarha]

1 minute ago, Sazexa said:

Here's a link to the instructions. In step 3, it says to punch out "stickers" on the PCB. My board didn't have stickers, it was just PCB, with what appeared to have absolutely zero traces in it. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3831109821596.pdf

Wow this is BAD.

People should NOT be drilling holes through their motherboards

[Sazexa]

1 minute ago, oskarha said:

Wow this is BAD.

People should NOT be drilling holes through their motherboards

I wasn't particularly fond of the idea either. But EK, supposedly, co-developed the block with ASUS. So I trusted them. I also didn't read the installation instructions before ordering, so, I was kind of in the mind set of "the instructions say to do it, might as well try it now that it's here."

Like I said, I can't prove necessarily it was the installation of the monoblock that killed my motherboard's RAM slots, but, I'm betting on that.

[tlink]

Just now, Sazexa said:

I wasn't particularly fond of the idea either. But EK, supposedly, co-developed the block with ASUS. So I trusted them. I also didn't read the installation instructions before ordering, so, I was kind of in the mind set of "the instructions say to do it, might as well try it now that it's here."

Like I said, I can't prove necessarily it was the installation of the monoblock that killed my motherboard's RAM slots, but, I'm betting on that.

it probably is imo, can be a microfracture in one of the traces. motherboards are multilayered so its near impossible to tell if there's a trace running trough the spot you stressed. even if it wasn't it might have been close and fractured under the deforming or internal pressure of it. the only real way of measuring this is by checking continuity with a multimeter but that's an extremely tedious job.

[Mr.Meerkat]

WTF EK? You telling people to PUNCH HOLES INTO THEIR MOTHERBOARDS? SERIOUSLY?

[Sazexa]

Just now, Mr.Meerkat said:

WTF EK? You telling people to PUNCH HOLES INTO THEIR MOTHERBOARDS? SERIOUSLY?

I don't fully blame EK. I mean, I was the idiot who willingly put holes in my motherboard. lol

The instructions, if you read, list the board to have a "sticker" on there. It was definitely more resistant than a sticker, I'd say. I wouldn't say it was like actually pushing a screw driver through PCB, I'd imagine that'd take quite a bit of force on a multi-layered board like this, but you get the point.
 

4 minutes ago, tlink said:

it probably is imo, can be a microfracture in one of the traces. motherboards are multilayered so its near impossible to tell if there's a trace running trough the spot you stressed. even if it wasn't it might have been close and fractured under the deforming or internal pressure of it. the only real way of measuring this is by checking continuity with a multimeter but that's an extremely tedious job.

That's what I was thinking. Or maybe even perhaps in the process of installing the block I might have nudged/bent the board a way it didn't agree without realizing it? I suppose that's possible too. It's not like this is my first system or that I'm in-experienced. I have plenty of electrical testing tools, but, as far as points on the board to test continuity for I wouldn't even know where to start.

As far as bad/broken RAM slots, it's my C-Channel on the board. RAM in any other slots works fine, and is fully recognized in BIOS/Windows. But when I place RAM into the broken slots, it recognizes a manufacturer and some JDEC specs, but no timings/latency, speed, or capacity. And trying to boot with XMP enabled with RAM in that slot causes the system to fail to post. So, something is definitely wrong with it.

[NumLock21]

1 hour ago, Sazexa said:

I believe I've seen this before. If that's an ASRock board, then I think so. But he used a drill if I'm not mistaken.
 

Here's a link to the instructions. In step 3, it says to punch out "stickers" on the PCB. My board didn't have stickers, it was just PCB, with what appeared to have absolutely zero traces in it. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3831109821596.pdf

Rule #1 

Never punch holes into a motherboard. If that area needs to have a hole. Asus or any other board maker will do it already. 

Rule #2

Read Rule #1

Rule #3

Read rules #1 and #2

 

The instructions to punch holes does not mean for you to physically make a hole. The holes are already there, just covered up. Asus x99 rog has a socket changer call x-socket. You need to remove the stock one and install the x socket version, then you can mount a ek  or others cpu block.

 

 

Default back plate

 

X-socket /II back plate

Notice the holes, your suppose to drill.

 

What board do you have $600?

Rampage V edition 10?

[79wjd]

@NumLock21 I don't understand. In that first picture, the left half has holes but the right half does not (motherboard is there). How does changing the socket remove the motherboard from those spots?

[Sazexa]

51 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Rule #1 

Never punch holes into a motherboard. If that area needs to have a hole. Asus or any other board maker will do it already. 

Rule #2

Read Rule #1

Rule #3

Read rules #1 and #2

 

The instructions to punch holes does not mean for you to physically make a hole. The holes are already there, just covered up. Asus x99 rog has a socket changer call x-socket. You need to remove the stock one and install the x socket version, then you can mount a ek  or others cpu block.

 

 

Default back plate

 

X-socket /II back plate

Notice the holes, your suppose to drill.

 

What board do you have $600?

Rampage V edition 10?

Yes, the R5E10. And the EK directions didn't specify to change a socket. If you read them. Where do I get the other socket type?

[NumLock21]

34 minutes ago, Sazexa said:

Yes, the R5E10. And the EK directions didn't specify to change a socket. If you read them. Where do I get the other socket type?

The r5e10 backplate is already the x socket type. Just look at the back of your board. For top part, need to contact asus to buy one. It comes with the rampage v extreme. Even if your board top side uses the standard socket. You should still see them holes.

 

Here is your board and with the EK monoblock installed. The top part is using the standard socket.

Spoiler

 

 

@djdwosk97

 

That picture is a comparison between a standard socket and a X-Socket. You unscrew the 4 screws that's on the socket. This lets you remove it from the board, then you remove the back plate and that's how you get that hole as shown in the picture.

https://rog.asus.com/articles/guides/guide-install-x-socket-ii-on-rampage-v-extreme/

 

[Sazexa]

1 hour ago, Sazexa said:

Yes, the R5E10. And the EK directions didn't specify to change a socket. If you read them. Where do I get the other socket type?

The back of the board does have that bracket. There's just something filling the socket holes still.

[NumLock21]

Try unscrewing the socket and see what's covering it. If it's a sticker. Try to peel it off.

[Sazexa]

5 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Try unscrewing the socket and see what's covering it. If it's a sticker. Try to peel it off.

I'll try that on the old board when the new one comes in.