This is quite possibly one of my favorite cases I've stumbled across in some time.

I believe the card is full-length mini-PCIe, so it should work. I'll be using one for an HTPC once I get the right metal working equipment in my shop.

Really like the small case, quite artistic as well. I recently commented on the same motherboard from another build, and thought it might be relevant to your build. Adding hardware video acceleration to your board on the cheap, while remaining slim: http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php...

Should you want to enjoy hardware video acceleration with that specific motherboard, you can pick up a cheap Broadcom Crystal HD Decoder mini-PCIe card for around $25 USD. Model number is BCM70012. There is a similar part number, BCM970012, however that is the HP OEM model (I think.) A recent versio...

I actually used the same case's skeleton for my server, using the same board and PicoPSU. I popped all the rivets, pulled all the plastics, and mounted a 120mm fan over the system board and system drives. Still waiting on getting more machinery for my shop before I finish the case. +1 globe for recy...

Older nForce4 and other chipsets (e.g. any board with your AMD Barton processor) normally do not support AHCI, so an SSD with TRIM support would not be advised. In order for an SSD to be utilized on your system, it would have to have built-in maintenance, like some of the newer OCZ products offer. I...

Remove those tacky stickers, noob :twisted: :twisted: Try some ERS paper inside. It should improve your acoustics. Isn't ERS paper theoretically for electronic signal RF/EMI interference? You are referring to it for use in spatial dampening. Think foam versus faraday cage. Back on topic: Nice build...

Checked and it's 500mA per port. If you need more current, just double up two plugs. As for the silver wire sleeving, that's merely an EMI/RFI shield. If you perform a continuity test with a multimeter, you'll be able to tell if it is connected to ground or not. Links: http://www.usb.org/developers/...

Just be sure to keep power draw under 500mA for USB 2.0 ports. USB 1.1 ports do not provide adequate power to spin most fans. I've seen certain instances where users killed USB ports on notebooks using cheap thermoelectric peltiers to chill drinks. The current ratings should be available on the fan ...

PM sent

sent a PM a couple days ago?

why in gods name are you using a CM 690 for a system that has 1 optical drive, and 2 hard drives? Before the silent computing thing I was planning on having a nice raid card and was going to be looking at a raid 10 setup. Then I realised how much noise annoyed me, and that plan fell by the way side...

The only problem with completely passive systems is the south bridge tends to overheat without any air flowing over it. When that happens, data corruption soon follows. Try copying 20gb of data on a completely passive PC without adequate SB cooling. The stock SB heatsink on the Gigabyte boards is we...

Nice work!

Yate Loon fans seem a bit clicky (I'm clearly struggling with fan noise vocabulary) which surprised me. I might send them back yet. I've experienced the same issue with the 120mm Yate Loons. However, I don't remember the manuf. numbers. Replaced them with 800rpm Scythe slipstream fans, no issues so...

Mind you, if you wish to use a PSU with a bottom 120mm fan, there is a bit of clearance between the top case cover and the PSU itself. There's just enough room to still draw air from the grated slits of the case's top through the PSU's fan.

Given the front intake fan's positioning and air path, you should be fine with your stock NB heatsink.

It's always great to see builds with this case, I love it!

If you want to avoid dust at the intake(s), a small piece of fiberglass screen door mesh works wonders (or two pieces stitched together.) A roll of the material is inexpensive.

Nice work! I'm tempted to do the same in the near future Always nice seeing this sort of thing.

mmm, donuts...

@Riffer: Use a metal file to form the heatsink around surface components that get in the way. For example, use a rat tail (round file) to grind away and get around that electrolytic capacitor. Use a flat file or dremel for the edges that might touch components surrounding the base of the heatsink. I...

How is the stability with that motherboard? I've seen Zotac emerge within the last year or so and was curious about their BIOS/build quality. Haven't seen too many reviews on it, so what are your thoughts? I've seen S3-resume issues and usb-bus powered devices from newegg reviews. Also, replacing th...

@Nu_NRG:
Thanks! I'll look at this myself once I get some free time. I've never swapped bearings in a fan, but I have plenty of donors to scrap.

Thermalright HR-01+ fits inside, mobo was GA-EG31M-S2 w/Intel E8500 and HD3870 w/Accelero S1. Minimal cutting to the CD/DVD drive cage was required to clear the heatsink. Not all boards will have the same clearance with that heatsink, it was purely a fluke that it fit. The CPU socket is very close t...

I do notice it clicking still. Once it becomes annoying (summer?) I'll be doing a fan swap. I'll have to take measurements with my DMM to see what my options are regarding multiple supply voltages and their trigger points. A few diodes can drop the +12v feed due to the forward voltage drop (~1v each?)

I've had the same issue with my fan, it started clicking after first use. I think it's gone away for the most part after pushing and moving it around gently with both parts of a broken in half popsicle stick (don't use anything metal to avoid electrocution.)

I'm planning a very low wattage very quiet Internet surfing/torrent box with a PW-200-W I have lying around and a SSD. ...... Otherwise, I will go with a Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L mATX board Sadly, the PW-200 will not post on this board with a Dell DA-2 power adapter. You should look elsewhere (PicoPSU...

The PW-200 has problems, yes. The DA-2 brick goes protected and shuts off when booting the system. I found that unplugging the P4 power connector permits the system to start, but not post. I plan to pick up a PC62 and disassemble it for a NSK1380 build (Gigabyte GA-EG31M-S2 motherboard.) Have you tr...

A sheet or two of fiberglass window screening does wonders to keep dust out. Just sandwich a piece between the intake duct and grille cover.

Regarding your MSI Atom PC,
How are the CPU/NB/SB temps inside that case during idle/load ?

Also, here's a link to the Intel 82574L network driver: (select BSD as your OS)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product ... 3&lang=eng

The ice packs are new to me. What's your reasoning behind it?