When installing a motherboard in the case, should it be completely
isolated from any other part of the case? My brother told me that the
mounting holes with the steel rims are grounding points. I am a bit unsure
about this and am looking for informed opinions. Ken
You should absolutely not isolate the motherboard from the rest of the
case. Doing so will result in excessive RF noise from the motherboard,
prevent it being grounded properly, and make it run hotter.
Yes, the mounting holes are grounding points. Motherboards are
composed of several layers, one or more of which is a copper layer
designed to connect to an earth ground and to dissipate heat. Providing a
proper earth ground to the motherboard is important to minimize RF
interference. By mounting the motherboard to the case with metal
standoffs, you provide the motherboard with an earth ground, and the
metal standoffs conduct heat from the motherboard to the case.
This is why it is a good idea to use all of the motherboard mounting holes
that your motherboard can accommodate.
In the days before the ATX standard, it was common to see motherboards
mounted with plastic or nylon standoffs, but even then, there was always
at least one metal standoff with a screw. Nowadays, most cases include
only metal standoffs. There is never any need to use pads or any kind of
shield between the screws and standoffs and the motherboard. Just don't
over tighten the screws.
Phil D.