Rebuilt Micro ATX PC, now for the ATX!

[MM]

Having successfully refurbished my "second" PC with a new Abit KV85 V2
mobo, Sempron CPU and PSU over the weekend, my "first" (main) PC is in
desperate need of some TLC - or a sledgehammer. Its mobo has the
dreaded "bad caps" problem and the PC has been playing up for weeks.
It eventually boots up, but not until I have coaxed it into life
through several scandisks, safe boots etc. (The hard drive reports no
bad clusters.)

However, this main PC has an ATX form-factor mobo with 5 PCI slots
(and an ISA, but I can forget about that). Thing is (thinking out loud
here...) do I need to put an ATX board back in? I could get away with
another micro ATX board, yes?

I counted up the number of PCI slots in the main PC that are unfilled
and, whew! I'm only actually using one of 'em!

So does it seem a bit silly to contemplate putting a micro ATX mobo in
a mid-tower case? With USB 2.0 many of my peripherals no longer need
PCI slots. MIDI I get through an adapter off the integrated sound
card, but there are, I know, already USB to MIDI connectors available.

I reckon I might just get another KV-85, since I am conversant with it
now.

MM

 

[Thomas Wendell]

Having successfully refurbished my "second" PC with a new Abit KV85 V2
mobo, Sempron CPU and PSU over the weekend, my "first" (main) PC is in
desperate need of some TLC - or a sledgehammer. Its mobo has the
dreaded "bad caps" problem and the PC has been playing up for weeks.
It eventually boots up, but not until I have coaxed it into life
through several scandisks, safe boots etc. (The hard drive reports no
bad clusters.)

However, this main PC has an ATX form-factor mobo with 5 PCI slots
(and an ISA, but I can forget about that). Thing is (thinking out loud
here...) do I need to put an ATX board back in? I could get away with
another micro ATX board, yes?

I counted up the number of PCI slots in the main PC that are unfilled
and, whew! I'm only actually using one of 'em!

So does it seem a bit silly to contemplate putting a micro ATX mobo in
a mid-tower case? With USB 2.0 many of my peripherals no longer need
PCI slots. MIDI I get through an adapter off the integrated sound
card, but there are, I know, already USB to MIDI connectors available.

I reckon I might just get another KV-85, since I am conversant with it
now.

MM

Just do it. The only difference between mATX and ATX is board size (and
maybe 2-3 screw/standoff holes)
The position of the remaining holes are the same. And as the mATX has fewer
slots, you can use the redundant slot holes on the back of the case for the
additional connectors (extra USB ports, S/PDIF, TV-out??, etc..) on the
mobo....


--
Tumppi
=================================
A lot learned from these newsgroups
Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate
=================================

 

[MM]

Just do it. The only difference between mATX and ATX is board size (and
maybe 2-3 screw/standoff holes)
The position of the remaining holes are the same. And as the mATX has fewer
slots, you can use the redundant slot holes on the back of the case for the
additional connectors (extra USB ports, S/PDIF, TV-out??, etc..) on the
mobo....

Good idea! Am I right in thinking that people no longer, generally,
have quite the need for PCI expansion slots any more?

MM

 

[Mike T.]

Good idea! Am I right in thinking that people no longer, generally,

have quite the need for PCI expansion slots any more?

MM

Yes, you are correct. They are good for sound cards and TV tuner cards (vid
capture cards). But USB and now PCI-Express pretty much have those
overed. -Dave

 

[Thomas Wendell]

Good idea! Am I right in thinking that people no longer, generally,
have quite the need for PCI expansion slots any more?

MM

Not really, as everything (or most) (like sound, (some kind of ) RAID,
network etc) is built into the mobo.
Most uses I've heard lately:
- NIC (onboard failed or 2nd for home net)
- BETTER RAID controller or additional disks, either SATA or IDE
- gfx card, for more monitors or testing


--
Tumppi
=================================
A lot learned from these newsgroups
Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate
=================================