Computer case questions

[jussi]

Building my first htpc. It's been a while since I built any computer for that matter so I'm a little fuzzy on things.

I finally got my GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H motherboard from Newegg and went to install in my NMEDIA HTPC 100 Case. The case has an internal card reader. I read the manual but can't seem to find where the connections are for the reader on the mobo. Is there one and if not can I get some sort of adapter to make it work.

Can you attach it to the USB headers? They card reader wires seem to resemble the usb ones.

Also there's a wire connected to the front panel that says SB. Anyone know what stands for and where it's supposed to be connected.


Here is the manual for the mobo.

http://america.gigabyte.com.tw/FileL...8gm-us2h_e.pdf

[chopnhack]

Get more feedback Jussi, but as i remember the card readers used to be wired with usb so they would use up one of the internal usb spots. Check with the card reader manufacturer to be sure.

[LCHIEN]

Get more feedback Jussi, but as i remember the card readers used to be wired with usb so they would use up one of the internal usb spots. Check with the card reader manufacturer to be sure.

Card readers are almost always USB. I'll bet the card reader goes to one of the onboard USB ports.

[jussi]

Ok. Thanks guys. I figured that might be the case as the connectors for both the usb and card reader looked the same.

Quick question about memory. The specs for the mobo say DDR2 1200(O.C.)/1066 (which would make it a PC8500). I have an some PC6400 (ddr2 800) memory I pulled from an older comp. Will my slower memory work. Is the memory listed the only the best option or is it required.

[phrog]

I just built a new computer, the first I've built in several years. I put a card reader in it and the reader attached to a USB header. I used memory slower than the maximum that my MB is capable. I think the stats are for maximum but better check to make sure. If you are going to buy a new case, make sure that the power supply has the newest power connectors for SATA and MB (24 vs 20).
Richard

EDIT: Sorry, I read your post again and realized you already have a case.

[jziegler]

Ok. Thanks guys. I figured that might be the case as the connectors for both the usb and card reader looked the same.

Quick question about memory. The specs for the mobo say DDR2 1200(O.C.)/1066 (which would make it a PC8500). I have an some PC6400 (ddr2 800) memory I pulled from an older comp. Will my slower memory work. Is the memory listed the only the best option or is it required.

I know far more about DDR memory than I sometime care to, and that should work. The DIMM has a small extra chip that contains a small amount of flash memory that identifies how much memory and how fast it is. The motherboard will read that and configure itself. The speed that the MB lists is normally the fastest that it will support, and it should support any compatible slower memory, or even faster memory running at a lower speed.

Also, a quick search at Crucial.com shows that MB as supporting PC2-5300, pc2-6400 and pc2-8500.

With AMD especially, the processor that you choose also will affect the memory speed. An older processor will not always support the highest memory speeds.

So go with the old and see if it works well enough for you, and olny upgrade if you need to. More memory is probably a more valuable upgrade than faster.

And I agree, the card reader is most likely USB. The ones that I have seen before have been USB.

Jim, the guy who builds PC add on cards for a living

[pelligrini]

Looking at the manual for that mobo it appears that your ddr2-800 will work (as far as clock speeds go), especially if you're not uning an AM2+ CPU. You may have to manually set the memory speed in the BIOS, probably not though.

There's four USB headers on that mobo, plenty of places to plug in the reader.

[jussi]

Thanks guys. I actually posted the same question on a comp forum and got not replies. Figures I should have gone to BT3Central first

[Kristofor]

Your questions were already answered but I'll fire one back at you on the same topic. Which OS/App are you planning to use for the HTPC? A Windows MC approach, XBMC, or just a windows/linux environment with the various apps? Do you have a BluRay drive in the unit?

I have a Popcorn hour running driveless in the bedroom that I like, but it's not ready for prime-time non-geek use. I also have an XBMC box running on ubuntu that I like much better and which is more wife friendly. Unfortunately it still requires ripping BluRays before being able to play them (not a huge deal as it sits next to the PS3, but it would be nice...).

[jussi]

I'm cheap so I'd like to try out the free options for now . I want a pvr functionality so I was thinking of using GB-pvr and XBMC. I'll probably be just using XP but I'm really curious about boxee so I may go to ubuntu. I've never used a non windows os so I'm a little hesitant. What's the learning curve if you've never used linux?

Popcorn hour seems like a nice device. I've seen similar products but not that one specifically. How do you have it hooked up? Are you streaming from your desktop? Wired or wireless ethernet? Many dropped frames?

Why do you have to rip the blu-rays?