Search found 15 matches

by gsacks
Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:25 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Silverstone Grandia GD05: A Versatile HTPC Case
Replies: 69
Views: 69998

Re: DVD overhang is a dealbreaker for me

But only if an in-case optical drive is mandatory. Use an external OD, and the case is just about ideal for a powerful HTPC. But again, use of an external optical drive defeats the purpose of a case that fits in nicely with a stack of A/V equipment. The external optical drive will be out of place, ...
by gsacks
Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:36 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Silverstone Grandia GD05: A Versatile HTPC Case
Replies: 69
Views: 69998

DVD overhang is a dealbreaker for me

I don't like the DVD overhanging the CPU. I have used low profile coolers in a couple of different HTPC builds, and they work pretty well when paired with 65w CPUs, but if you ever want to use the HTPC for encoding video or for gaming them a higher end CPU is required, and a also a bigger cooler. Th...
by gsacks
Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:47 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Inwin Maelstrom: An Affordable Gaming Case
Replies: 34
Views: 20808

Eww!

That case gives ugly a bad name.
by gsacks
Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:42 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Wireless mouse-in Keyboards from Enermax and Moneual
Replies: 24
Views: 25394

Moncaso seems better to my - but I like my gyration

Of the two keyboards reviewed here, I like the mouse button and scroll wheel layout on the Enermax. But as soon as I saw the picture of it, I new the square edges would be a drawback. That's why I don't like the dinovo from Logitech. All in all, the Moncaso being about 1/3 the list price of the Ener...
by gsacks
Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:17 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Intel LGA775 Low Profile Heatsink Roundup
Replies: 38
Views: 31681

Great review

I've been waiting for a review like this. It would also be a nice addition if SPCR would at a 'low profile' category to the recommended heat-sink list. As I've mentioned in two other post recently, and someone else has already pointed out here, scythe has a backplate kit that sells for about $11 at ...
by gsacks
Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:30 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Scythe Mugen-2 CPU Cooler
Replies: 64
Views: 37097

Mounting mechanism

So, following up on my comment in the discussion of the Antec mini-itx case regarding the Scythe back plate mounting system... In that article it was stated that the Big Shuriken cooler would not mount on the ITX board because not all of the pushpins where accessible. Using the same back plate mecha...
by gsacks
Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:09 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Antec ISK-300 Mini-ITX Case
Replies: 86
Views: 84661

Re: Big Shuriken

Odd that the Big Shuriken could not be mounted on the Zotac board, since all of the press photos for that heat sink show it mounted on that exact motherboard. I'd like to see this point elaborated on a bit, since it must be possible. Maybe it needs to be mounted with a back plate and screwed on fro...
by gsacks
Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:56 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Antec ISK-300 Mini-ITX Case
Replies: 86
Views: 84661

Big Shuriken

Odd that the Big Shuriken could not be mounted on the Zotac board, since all of the press photos for that heat sink show it mounted on that exact motherboard. I'd like to see this point elaborated on a bit, since it must be possible. Maybe it needs to be mounted with a back plate and screwed on from...
by gsacks
Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:41 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Zotac IONITX-A: An ION / dual-core Atom Mini-ITX Board
Replies: 46
Views: 40676

No wake on USB

I can't believe that Zotac has made this mistake a second time. The lack of wake on USB is a glaring flaw. I suppose you could argue that at power consumption this low, putting the system to sleep is not required. But my HTPC is idle for 16 - 20 hours a day. Why does it need to be on? I read one pos...
by gsacks
Wed May 27, 2009 7:45 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Coolermaster Sileo 500: Quiet ATX Midtower Case
Replies: 44
Views: 30053

Coolermaster owner

I have one of CoolerMaster's older case designs, the Centurion 5, in a system I built about 4 years ago when I defined silent computing as 'does not sound like an airplane taking off'. Other than adding soundproofing foam, and removing ventilation holes, this case really is not that different from t...
by gsacks
Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:48 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Zotac GeForce 8200-ITX WiFi: A Compact AM2 Solution
Replies: 65
Views: 43126

power supply for Zotac itx board

The power supply is an Enhance 2220D 200W power supply. It has a 20pin power connector and a 4-pin P4 power connector. It came with the case, and I've not been able to find any replacement with a higher wattage in the correct form factor. They do make a 2222D 220W supply, but I've not been able to f...
by gsacks
Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:38 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Zotac GeForce 8200-ITX WiFi: A Compact AM2 Solution
Replies: 65
Views: 43126

How much power is required to run this board anyway?

Maybe ZotacTuan can chime in on this one. I just had an email thread with Zotac technical support about the upcoming 9300 mini-itx board. I have a 4 year old ITX case with 200W power supply that I was hoping to use. This is the latest response that I got about the power requirements for the board. T...
by gsacks
Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:29 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Zotac GeForce 8200-ITX WiFi: A Compact AM2 Solution
Replies: 65
Views: 43126

Board not listed prominently on Zotac site

Also of note: when this board came out about a month ago, it was featured on the Zotac web site. Now I can't find any reference to it on their site. This does not bode well for either the board, or the company. UPDATE: OK, I did find driver downloads for this board on their site, in the support sect...
by gsacks
Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:22 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Zotac GeForce 8200-ITX WiFi: A Compact AM2 Solution
Replies: 65
Views: 43126

Seems like the Intel board is a better buy

I've been looking at this board on Newegg for a couple weeks. I have an ITX case with an old via board that I need to replace. Given the clearly lower power draw of the intel solution used in this article with a notably better CPU, and the fact the Zotac and Intel boards are about the same price rig...
by gsacks
Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:40 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Asus M3A78 Pro: An ATX 780G Motherboard
Replies: 30
Views: 27977

Floppy connector placement

Floppy connector placement really should not be an issue, given how useless floppy drives are these days. "Out of the way" is the best placement. That being said, if you do need a floppy drive, the placement in this board is exactly the same as the last board I used in a build with a floppy, and it ...