Well I got a new motherboard this weekend, ASUS A8N-SLI, very nice. I was hoping to fiquire out a way if the Sata 2 drives were any quicker, it also has firewire.. It was a bit of a relief as well, this being my first build I was a little concerned when I put everything together and then fired it up to have nothing happen. I was able to verify all the components except the CPU so I had this idea that I may have damaged that somehow. Anyway I got it up and running with the new mobo.
The LC10 case is nice and roomy, pretty easy to get things set up. Looks sharp which is one of the reasons I picked, wanted something real clean, plain, non-computer looking and the wife likes it too. She thought it was odd to have a computer in the family room which is odd being she is a SW developer, anyway the case really impressed her. The front case fan is probably the noisest part of this set-up,(this has been noted in other posts/forums as well) it doesn't have a controller either, just plugs into the PSU.(More on fans later)
Here are couple pics of the insides, I was pretty stoked to see it work, Dr. Frankenstien-esque.
You see here how much room there is, I have few derelict cables/wires, took some trial and error to figure out how to get them out of the way. I took these before installing the PVR-150, I just had to see if it would run. I had to put in a little com port thingy for the DirectTV serial connector.
This images is a bit blurry, but I wanted to show the slot beneath the DVD drive, there is a removable bracket for a 4th HD that slides out (It is out in this pick) I was tempted to use it for the second drive just because I thought it was cool. With it out it in it is a great place to wind up all those errant cables.
Here is the final product, kind of a shoddy pick, partially HTPC/PVR ready (no HD, yet)
I have to get Sage up and running yet, get the Firefly remote set up to run that and Itunes (hopefully) then move it out to the family room and I should be set until I decide to put in the HDTV card, I probably replace that front case fan at that point too.
Couple of other thoughts:
The BenQ drive is a bit noisy, quiet by most PC standards that I have experienced before, but it does make a whirrrrrrr when playing DVD's. Of course it was also 12 inches from my ear with the case open as I was testing things out. It fit in the case beautifully though, and the little aluminum plate from SilverStone line d up perfectly. Nice.
Fans, I was sure where to plug them all in at. The mobo has 1 for the CPU 2 chassis connectors, a pwr connector and then the northbridge connector. I have one of the rear fans connected to the chassis connector, the other one won't reach the other chassis connector so I connected to the availiable northbridge one, seams to work. everything has been running real cool thus far.
On the ASUS BIOS, AMD setup. Completely different for a guy that has always bought his PC's pre-built and configured. I have re-installed Windows, added drives and cards etc. but this was a whole new experience. I don't think I will ever by a boxed system again. BTW, this system screams, I what it for my home office PC.
On the hauppauge pvr-150, this is the second of their cards I have installed and both seem like they could lose about a MM from where they plug in to the plate, both have really squeezed in, on three different cases.
Overall I really enjoyed the experience, learned a lot and what to thank the other users on this board and others for the wealth of info that is offered. The picture for DVD playback is great, sound is great, things worked out well. I give another update when this is out in the family room record shows and playing tunes over the "good" sound system.
