I should move my hardware to a new case as my current case is very cramped. I've got a small case, not a micro, but small - it just fits my 8800gt, but I had to move my hard drives up to get it in.

So I'm thinking about buying a new case but I'm not sure how to go about moving a motherboard. I've had my computer all apart, except for the motherboard - I've never worked with one.

Any suggestions on sites to read, tips, guides, etc.?

My current case has 2 usb ports on the front, as well as an audio and head phone jack. Should I get a case to match, or does it matter? I'm assuming that they could be rerouted to the top of the case or the back, or am I limited by length of wire?

Please help a wannabe builder

If you're comfortable at this point with taking everything but the motherboard out you should have no problems swapping it over to a new case.

Two points though...

1/ Make sure you've got either the original motherboard manual or an electronic version prior to tackling this... you're going to need the layout of the pins on your board in order to hook up the front panel connections of the new case (like power, usb, and sound).

2/ What is your current PSU? If you're using a pre-built (like a dell, acer, HP etc....) you may find that the wire lengths are extremely short and designed only for fitting into the current case.

What case did you have in mind?

Make sure you don't leave any motherboard standoffs out, screw them in properly and so that board is well supported.

If you have removed everything else before except for the board, it's not much harder, just take your time, and don't set the board on carpet or other static surfaces.

Usb, front panel audio are all the little tiny pins, just as swilson suggested get the manual so you know the layout. pretty simple.

Theres not much to it. I changed to a different case the night before the Mysterybyte LAN party i went to, plus changed a Video card cooler... just be careful and make sure you always ground yourself. It's best to use a wooden surface to work on, or a big static mat if you own one.

@sswilson: thanks for the tip, I'll make sure to get the info needed before I tackle it. Its an MSI board, and I know the model, so I shouldn't have any problem getting an electronic version. My PSU is fine, an OCZ stealthxstream, in fact the length of the cables is a big part of the cramping in my case.

I don't need a fancy case, but I want one big enough to give me room. I was thinking about the Coolermaster CM690 or the Thermaltake M9. Both would be big enough, and can have a front and back case fan.

So the case just has "plugs" to plug the pins into - thats it? Same for the usb ports, just a pin?

Also, does the case come with the mb mounts (the copper(?) mounts)? Or would that have come with the motherboard originally?

I have a CM690 and i love it, i'm not into flashy cases, this is a classy case, and has lots of room.

The case itself will come with the motherboard stand-offs, and yeah... it's just plugs and pins for hooking up to the motherboard, but be careful with the USB ones as they've got enough power going through them that you can muck things up if you don't connect them correctly.

I highly recommend the CM690. I haven't used one myself, but in that price range it's one of the favorites.