I was looking at the "M2A-VM" and the "M2A-VM HDMI" versions of the boards. Anyone know if there are differences other that the lack of firewire and the hdmi/htpc video riser card on the cheaper (~$15) version?

Apoc - Unplugging the cable from the PSU does NOT mean you are safe. The capacitors (the big cylinder things) still hold a dangerous punch. Removing the 92mm fan from the housing keeps you well away from the “guts”, but replacing the 80mm can put your fingers in close proximity to the caps. Replacin...

Only OEM. After all, it's supposed to be in a notebook.

I did see Microcenter advertising them in their in-store circular, which I thought was odd.

Actually it's F6, same as if installing on RAID controllers.

When the M chips are scaled up to 3 GHZ, the heat will return. (And you have several in a machine) Plus there's the issue of graphics cards that BTX should deal wtih better.

Might want to read this, if you don't want to drill - zip ties work very nicely through 2 hole fan mounts.
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=11115

Be wary of just ripping out a bottom fan out of the psu:
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=11037

And welcome!

Remember to use something that is fire rated - not the cheap eggcrate matress pads. The spray rubber didn't do that much for me. It rubs off on the edges where panels meet, which is the most useful. It does make the inside of the case look nicer. I thought the roofers tape did a better job anyway. I...

Here's one that's novice-friendly:
http://www.amdmb.com/article-display.php?ArticleID=279

The cpu temp over ambient seems a little high still, but there's not much to do there. If I remember, the sk-7 really needs a high airflow fan to get all the benefit out of it. I use a rackmount case for my htpc. Not pretty, but well-built. I haven't seen any cases that make sense, under $100, for a...

the hot PSU air entering the case can't be good. The reviews on newegg seem to complain greatly about temp. I would think that more cooling is needed somewhere. Maybe a slot fan slowed down? Add in another intake? The options I can think of include some cutting...

And what happens when you take the top off?

What's the case temp, then and now?

Remember, this is a guy to have fun with. Start PMing him with ideas about hooking up an ice cube dispenser to his heatsink for a kewl OC.

Not much you can do. You need an intake somewhere, which limits your options. You can go with a bottom intake, which is a current point of discussion, or have a vented baffle in front of the fan or fanless intake, such as the plastic front cover in front of the fan mounted on the metal frame. It can...

Is this the same fan controller as the one in the Ahanix dBox? It was $30 (w/o PSU) shipped at dealsonic.com. It claims a 120mm front, but no good intake source. Maybe a plaything for someone trying out a bottom vent?

The above answers should have worked. Positive on the case's plug to the positive on the MB's pin, and then ground on the case to the middle pin on the MB. Did you check to make sure the positives line up? The LED is good?

Mats - are those your idle temps? I thought this trick only brings your idle temps down but load stays the same, since every cycle draws energy.

"I removed the 92mm fan and left the opening for it completely unobstructed." (on page 2)

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article9-page1.html

That's what I was thinking, except I saw the instructions that didn't seem to have a problem leaving it open.

Thanks.

Hi all. After spending the last week reading everything I can find here, I still have a question: I have an Enermax PSU that had the bottom mounted 92mm fan, but I took it out and replaced the rear fan with a panaflo L, not unlike the article on how to quiet a PSU. I did this a couple years ago, but...