[Urgent] It's official, my Cooler Master HAF X is indeed one of the faulty ones.

[DeltrusDisc]

So today I got my Asus Xonar DX and was all excited, yay I finally got a sound card! So I was going to install the sound card and lo and behold, if I want it all the way in the PCIe slot, then I can't screw it in to place, and if I want it screwed into place, it's not fully into the PCIe slot. BIG -.- face from me. I've always been able to do this just fine with my graphics card because the rear I/O panel kind of has some looseness to be pulled away from the PCB just barely enough to get screwed in to place, but no doubt that's what has contributed to some of the artifacting I have experienced in the past from time to time.

So I guess my question, is about how I am supposed to go about RMAing this, because this is just ridiculous. I'm pissed on all levels. I don't have the original HAF X box and I got it almost a year ago. I take it I should just call up Cooler Master's customer support for now?

In terms of what I'm thinking of doing for now, since I really want to be able to use my sound card... is I think I will build this thing up on my motherboard box, one box I do still have, though I am a little leery about it. I'm not sure which pin on the front panel connectors I want to short, unless there is only one power pin, I'll have to see when I tear this thing apart. Any precautions I should take for building a MoBox-based computer? I know I'll have to get a higher surface for it, but gah, this is going to be a real pain in the ass.

---------- Post added 2012-01-11 at 06:57 AM ----------

Okay I knew it.

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/a.../t-429984.html

Google is good.

---------- Post added 2012-01-11 at 08:21 AM ----------

Here's a couple pictures, help me decide - should I just keep the case even though it is so obviously faulty? Should I just have the sound card insecure like this or should I go ahead and RMA it?

[FlawlessSoul]

I had a similar issue with an Akasa case (one I still use, albeit as a browser). The GPU would have a small amount of strain when clipped into the slot on the motherboard and screwed into the case, but it wasn't enough to do any damage. The PCI-E x1 sound card would do the same as yours - either seat into the slot all the way, or screw in, but not both. However, in my case it was able to make perfect electrical contact while being screwed in.

How? I used fiber washers underneath the motherboard tray to raise the mobo a little under 1mm.

[DeltrusDisc]

dear God I don't want to undo my mobo. >_<

I think I'm just going to have the sound card not secured to the chassis for now and call up Cooler Master later. I had a friend-builder suggest that I try pushing the back panel in, and while I was able to, it pushed right back out. ._.

[haxartus]

Try on a different PCI-E slot.

[DeltrusDisc]

Try on a different PCI-E slot.

I did, this is a known issue with some HAF X cases, they are not aligned straight up from the motherboard side panel, they go out at a very slight degree and thus we have the problem in the pictures above.

[haxartus]

If you put a screw in, doesn't it support it just a little bit ?

[DeltrusDisc]

You mean a screw? It pulls it away from the motherboard and then the sound card isn't fully in the PCIe slot anymore.

[haxartus]

It doesn't need to be completely in to place, it just needs to hold it a little bit.
And why is the graphics card unsecured ?

[DeltrusDisc]

I only unsecured the graphics card for the pictures, to show that basically without forcing I cannot match up the screw holes.

[haxartus]

There are different ways to secure it without matching the hole correctly, but you have to show a bit of creativity.
Another thing you cold try is to align the motherboard manually. Unscrew it just a little bit and see how far you can move it.
I don't thing that it would be a huge problem to work unsecured tho. As long as you don't move the case at all. There is barely any weight on the sound card to pull it away from the slot.

[DeltrusDisc]

Yeah that's why I'm thinking I'll just leave the sound card like that for now.

[Lockmybllz]

Cant u bend the metal plate a bit? Like 10/15 degrees backwards

[Adorada]

I have the same issue with my HAF X. All I did was took a drill to the hole where the screw goes into the card and made that a little bit bigger. Works like a charm.

[DeltrusDisc]

Which metal plate? The one on the sound card... or?

[Lockmybllz]

on soundcard.

Or get a small tie-wrap get it trough both holes and yank it ;p

MacGyver in the house!

Nm just noticed that slot on sc doesnt have a hole.

[Milkshake86]

I had a similar problem w/ my first HAF 922 which i still have, my Mobo wouldnt sit anywhere near the standoffs unless i literally pushed hard as hell.

[DeltrusDisc]

on soundcard.

I would - as that is what I do with my graphics card - but unlike my graphics card, the sound card doesn't let that back-plate move AT ALL. It is very tightly secured, and since it is something this nice and all, I just don't want to mess with it.... so it can... hang around for now. lul

---------- Post added 2012-01-11 at 01:17 PM ----------

I had a similar problem w/ my first HAF 922 which i still have, my Mobo wouldnt sit anywhere near the standoffs unless i literally pushed hard as hell.

Uh... this has nothing to do with the motherboard and standoffs. O_o

[haxartus]

You can always RMA it and stay a few days without a case.

[DeltrusDisc]

You can always RMA it and stay a few days without a case.

well yeah, that would be what I would do. :P MoBox-computer anyone? ^_<

[haxartus]

It's definitely doable. You can start the pc by closing the circuit with a screwdriver so you don't need a start button.