Crooked mobo ports
October 8, 2013 11:45 PM Subscribe
Three ports on my computer's motherboard are crooked. Is this easily fixable?
Noticed today that two USB ports and my PS/2 port on my mobo is crooked. See image 1, image 2. First picture: note the two silver fin thingies are actually not overlaying the rectangle in between the two ports, but half-covering a port itself. And I swear the picture inside the motherboard looks like the port itself is skewed (slightly wider gap in one than the other).
The PS/2 port is just barely usable. Neither of the pictured USB ports are usable; I cannot plug anything in there, as it seems like the ports are sitting too low and leaning forward. I have checked the motherboard is screwed in securely AND that it looks pretty level to the computer case. But what's the likelihood of the port itself being soldered onto the mobo crooked? Low, right? I poked at the port from the inside just to see; it was not loose.
The finishing (or whatever you call the silver plate that actually has the cutouts for the ports) is flush and sitting correctly in the case.
So...I have plenty of USB ports. All the lower ones are accessible. This annoys me on principle, but it's not devastating. I'd like to fix it if I could...keeping in mind my mechanical aptitude is limited to screwing screws on/off.
Is this fixable? Or, if not, would the crookedness cause stress/issue with my mobo down the line? This computer was bought from Newegg preassembled, so it's not worth it to ship it back just for this. (This is more motivation to learn how to build my own computer, sigh.) I will say the PS/2 port work just fine (my keyboard is PS/2).
Thanks, MeFites. And sorry for the deluge of computer questions.
Noticed today that two USB ports and my PS/2 port on my mobo is crooked. See image 1, image 2. First picture: note the two silver fin thingies are actually not overlaying the rectangle in between the two ports, but half-covering a port itself. And I swear the picture inside the motherboard looks like the port itself is skewed (slightly wider gap in one than the other).
The PS/2 port is just barely usable. Neither of the pictured USB ports are usable; I cannot plug anything in there, as it seems like the ports are sitting too low and leaning forward. I have checked the motherboard is screwed in securely AND that it looks pretty level to the computer case. But what's the likelihood of the port itself being soldered onto the mobo crooked? Low, right? I poked at the port from the inside just to see; it was not loose.
The finishing (or whatever you call the silver plate that actually has the cutouts for the ports) is flush and sitting correctly in the case.
So...I have plenty of USB ports. All the lower ones are accessible. This annoys me on principle, but it's not devastating. I'd like to fix it if I could...keeping in mind my mechanical aptitude is limited to screwing screws on/off.
Is this fixable? Or, if not, would the crookedness cause stress/issue with my mobo down the line? This computer was bought from Newegg preassembled, so it's not worth it to ship it back just for this. (This is more motivation to learn how to build my own computer, sigh.) I will say the PS/2 port work just fine (my keyboard is PS/2).
Thanks, MeFites. And sorry for the deluge of computer questions.
But first, loosen all the motherboard screws and then screw them back in. If one of the screws makes the mobo flex then get rid of that screw. If everything is flat and level then get rid of the I/O shield.
(If this is the case then an RMA may be in order for a warped mobo/case; someone else probably knows more about that than me)
posted by clorox at 12:33 AM on October 9, 2013
(If this is the case then an RMA may be in order for a warped mobo/case; someone else probably knows more about that than me)
posted by clorox at 12:33 AM on October 9, 2013
I've had issues before with cheap cases where the I/O shield didn't line up properly with the mainboard. Cases are often very cheaply made, and sometimes get a bit bent in transit from the manufacturer.
Check the case to make sure it's completely square; you may find that a bit of 'persuasion' will square it up enough to fix this issue.
You could just take the I/O shield out altogether. It's there to provide a bit of RF shielding, but the computer should work fine without it.
posted by pipeski at 12:54 AM on October 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Check the case to make sure it's completely square; you may find that a bit of 'persuasion' will square it up enough to fix this issue.
You could just take the I/O shield out altogether. It's there to provide a bit of RF shielding, but the computer should work fine without it.
posted by pipeski at 12:54 AM on October 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The easy immediate fix would be to just remove the I/O shield. Your computer doesn't need it to function properly, and it beats messing around with the motherboard mounts. It's entirely possible that the shield itself is the thing out of alignment, especially if it was bent or seated improperly to begin with.
That said, from the pictures it looks like your motherboard itself is out of alignment. It may be worthwhile to check that the motherboard is firmly screwed into the standoffs and that the standoff posts themselves are properly screwed into the case, aren't bent and aren't at differing heights with respect to one another. Also check to make sure any components aren't putting stress on the motherboard that would cause the top edge to bow outward.
posted by Aleyn at 3:53 PM on October 9, 2013
That said, from the pictures it looks like your motherboard itself is out of alignment. It may be worthwhile to check that the motherboard is firmly screwed into the standoffs and that the standoff posts themselves are properly screwed into the case, aren't bent and aren't at differing heights with respect to one another. Also check to make sure any components aren't putting stress on the motherboard that would cause the top edge to bow outward.
posted by Aleyn at 3:53 PM on October 9, 2013
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posted by clorox at 12:25 AM on October 9, 2013 [1 favorite]