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[The Modfather]

HA! That's perfect, that name I mean...

I wouldn't cut that thing, they're pretty much built to maximize efficency, you'd likely do better to go with a lower profile cooler in that case. But it'd be a shame, Zalman is so good.

[bigal]

....figures I would have the Zalman northbridge cooler in stock, and it's gonna block the PCI slots for long cards. However, I don't really need to add in that soundcard, so maybe I'll see how the built-in sound "sounds" with my Klipsch 4.1 speakers when it's up and running.

[unholy]

hehe your getting somewhere al

[The Modfather]

Does the mobo have 7.1 sound on board? If so, those onboard sound systems aren't half bad. Only the XFi can really top 'em these days.

[bigal]

....the sound capability. Oh wait a minute, it's a 5.1 (Soundmax ADI AD1986A). I was busy today, riding the bike (it was above 50F, so I braved the cold), going grocery shopping, going out to dinner, and doing laundry. I just started setting up my parts on the work bench to make sure everything works. Of course, I forgot to connect switches, since they weren't just laying there from a case that I don't have. Remember, this is going into the Osborne Executive case, once I mod the *ell out of it. Anyway, I did have a package of ATX switches, so I installed them and powered it up. It's formatting about 130 GB of the SATA2 drive as I write this. I'll format the rest later after Windows XP installs. It's going to be past midnight before I can shut this down and go to bed...

[unholy]

hehe i hate formating so i take the easy way and go Quick Format

Nice setup there al, i wonder if ur awake at 12:10am??? i might take it then

might i ask why u are using a microAtx? i thought u could fit a ATX into the osbourne

[bigal]

...and yet I'm formatting the remaining 100+ GB of the drive as I write this (on another system, of course). You should always do a low-level full format the first time you use a drive Unholy. From then on, you can do the quick format. This ensures the drive is fully functional and I believe it minimizes the chance of problems down the road.

The micro-atx size was necessary because the PSU will be right next to the motherboard, and on the other side I'll have very little room for other devices. A full-size atx would fit, but would also take away any hope of having enough room on the left side. Space will be very tight in this case. I think I'll only have room for one optical drive (top 5.25" bay), and a short device will be in the bottom 5.25" hole (like a media reader) to clear the videocard below it.

[The Modfather]

Yes, media reader, no bloody floppy drives, they're so last millennium.

Formatting, hehehe... I can remember when it'd take 20 mins to format a 5 1/4" floppy disk.

[bigal]

I actually looked around for a spare floppy drive. I found two zip-100 drives, but no floppy. In one of my pictures, you can see I had a floppy cable connected to the motherboard. I guess this is a sign that I am finished with floppy drives. The ones with built-in media readers were cool though.

[The Modfather]

I haven't actually used a floppy in over 8 years, probably longer like 10. I don't think I own a floppy disk anymore.