Maximus XI Extreme clearance issue on Evolv X

[MorePower]

I have some clearance issues with the Evolv X and the Maximus XI Extreme. The case is E-ATX compatible but the RGB back plate sticks out just enough to touch those slanted braces (red line). Can I removed that entire RGB backplate without having any issues with the other RGB lighting on the board?

[Feklar]

fLxXx wrote:
I believed the same thing, the backplate shouldnt lead to a short.

However the mobo didnt work in the case, but it worked outside it. It did work when i lifted the right side, then shorted as soon as i let it touch the case. It also worked fine in the case when i unscrewed the backplate and leds. After i wrapped the plate and right hand side in the case in 3m foil as insulation it also seems to work fine.

What happend when it shorted was that all rgb leds would stay lit on mobo, but the only thing that would happen when trying to boot was fans twitching half a turn and rgb on ram lighting up. No post, no qled, no anything else.

Im 100% sure it is the backplate shorting on the chassi. But the reason why i cant tell.

As I have shown I'm using the same motherboard and same case without issues. Phanteks tested the Zenith Extreme also without issues. If yours has an issue others would have the same issue. In the end, do what is comfortable for you. I do have to agree with the other post though and would absolutely NEVER modify a $600 motherboard for a $200 case. If necessary modify the case not the component.

[fLxXx]

Feklar wrote:
As I have shown I'm using the same motherboard and same case without issues. Phanteks tested the Zenith Extreme also without issues. If yours has an issue others would have the same issue. In the end, do what is comfortable for you. I do have to agree with the other post though and would absolutely NEVER modify a $600 motherboard for a $200 case. If necessary modify the case not the component.

Mayne as someone stated my backplate are touching some solder points and hence is conducting electricity, i suppose that would be a defect from asus.

Either way, the fact that it is touching the case should mean asus or phanteks are not following eatx standards i suppose?

It seems it works now after i insulated it so i will just leave it as is. No one has the m11e in stock here anyway and i dont have time for an rma...

[MorePower]

The board is within the EATX width standards but they didn't factor in the thickness of the RGB and backplate. If there was no backplate there would be no issues. Phanteks and ASUS did not correctly test this. I understand that testing every single case on the market isn't going to happen but there should be some kind of standard that needs to be followed especially with these high end high priced products.

[MorePower]

Feklar wrote:
I seriously doubt the issue you are having is due to the backplate shorting something out as you describe. More likely the cause is different. Even if the backplate does touch the metal brace (which it appears to do) no shorting should occur. I's a backplate for stability and some cooling with leds attached but it's not a live circuit. As I said I have mine installed and running perfectly at 5Ghz on all cores. Never a single shutdown error or anything. I have a few photos as well.

Yeah yours is touching those braces too. Its definitely flexing the motherboard near that end. I know its probably too difficult now with the fans/rad installed but take a look from the top if you can and look down at the profile of the motherboard edge.
I'm thinking of removing the 3 screws on that end just to ease the tension. I contacted ASUS and Phanteks on this issue because one of them is not EATX compliant. If the backplate wasn't there is would fit perfectly with room. On the other hand if those braces were designed differently, then the mobo with the backplate would fit. So who is the one that is not EATX compliant?

[MorePower]

fLxXx wrote:
Thats wierd, ive had mad problems getting my m11e working in the phanteks case. It wouldnt even boot at all since the backplate shorted something out (exactly same problem as the other guys pictures show).

It was possible to remove the plate (and rgb's with it) to get it to work. I ended up covering the entire plate with 3m vehichle wrap foil since i had some left after a car build, i also covered the affected places in the case and now it seems to work, rgb's and all.

I do wonder tho if the shorting might have permanetly damaged something in my mobo? havent been able to test it with a gpu and in windows yet.

Maybe the backplate was touching some solder points. That would be a manufacturer defect.

[Feklar]

I'll post photos once Frontier gets my internet fixed it's been a week now and posting using a phone is aggravating.

[JustinThyme]

Most of this is caused by the I/O shield being attached. Happens in all tight cases on all eATX MOBOs with the attached I/O shield. I've seen one user that removed the shield, installed the board then attached the shield from the outside, painstaking but effective and im sure could lead to a voided warranty. Case is simply too tight and again Id run my machine on top of a cereal box before I go chopping up a $600 MOBO over a $190 case.

[MorePower]

JustinThyme wrote:
Most of this is caused by the I/O shield being attached. Happens in all tight cases on all eATX MOBOs with the attached I/O shield. I've seen one user that removed the shield, installed the board then attached the shield from the outside, painstaking but effective and im sure could lead to a voided warranty. Case is simply too tight and again Id run my machine on top of a cereal box before I go chopping up a $600 MOBO over a $190 case.

My I/O shield fits perfectly and all the motherboard holes/standoffs were aligned. The back of the I/O is flush with the case opening as it should be. Its just that one of these products is not EATX compliant.

[JustinThyme]

MorePower wrote:
My I/O shield fits perfectly and all the motherboard holes/standoffs were aligned. The back of the I/O is flush with the case opening as it should be. Its just that one of these products is not EATX compliant.

So bottom line is we all know now not to buy this case with and EATX MOBO regardless of what the specs say.
Have you contacted Phanteks?

[Feklar]

JustinThyme wrote:
So bottom line is we all know now not to buy this case with and EATX MOBO regardless of what the specs say.
Have you contacted Phanteks?

I contacted Phanteks myself before I bought the motherboard to find out whether it would fit. I spoke directly to one of their senior techs that assured me that the maximum eatx width that will work with this case is 284mm. The Extreme as well as the Zenith Extreme is 277mm wide. Their previous version of that case is the Evolv ATX and that case's maximum width is 265mm. If they tested the Asus Zenith Extreme with this case and experienced no issues, the MXIE will not have any issues either which it doesn't for me. If anyone is uncomfortable with the fit, get a different case. I've been building for many years and have no problem with it at all and it performs perfectly.