Installation
Test Rig:
ASRock A330ION nVidia MCP7A-ION Mini-ITX Motherboard w/Intel Atom 330 CPU
Crucial DDR3-1333 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit
Uhh…I guess that’s it…not a lot of hardware. Turn the case upside down and install the feet.
Turn the case back over, open it up, and remove the power supply, there are four screws holding it.
Install the memory onto the motherboard.
Next, install the motherboard’s I/O shield into the case, then install the motherboard.
At this point you should wire up the motherboard, while it isn’t yet obstructed by anything.
Here you have a choice. If you aren’t going to install a floppy, you have two choices on where you can install the hard drive, either in the floppy bay or on the side of the chassis.
I had decided to place the hard drive in the floppy bay, but I really didn’t like how close the connectors ended up being to the memory. It probably would have been ok, but I would probably worry about it. There are no provisions to adjust the position of the hard drive when mounting it here, though it would be pretty simple to drill a couple of holes to slide the drive forward an inch or so. I decided to just install the drive on the side of the case, which is accomplished by installing the two included nylon rails, fit it into place, and put a screw in the top.
Now replace the power supply. This motherboard didn’t have an ATX12V connector, but other Mini-ITX boards might. If so, it will have to be plugged in prior to putting the power supply in place. You will find it easier to plug in the 24-pin cable first too. Put the power supply in place, and replace the four screws in the rear of the case.
Next install the optical drive. You will probably have to remove the bezel to get the cover off of it, there are four clips at the front of the case holding it on. Replace the bezel, insert the optical drive, line the drive up, and put in some screws.
All that is left is wiring up the two drives. There is actually plenty of room for cables, just leave the slack under the optical drive.
You wrote: “As we’ll see, the only fan is the power supply fan. There is no room for any other fan.”
FYI the web is full of of accounts of how people have mounted a 120mm case fan where you mounted your hard drive …
You wrote: “As we’ll see, the only fan is the power supply fan. There is no room for any other fan.”
FYI the web is full of of accounts of how people have mounted a 120mm case fan where you mounted your hard drive …
holes line up for 80 mm fans. max 4 off them can put on the 2 sides 2 + 2 whit a little mod (drill holes a bit larger)