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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tech Geek" data-source="post: 63827" data-attributes="member: 18181">Great build!  The system looks beautiful!  I really wanted to go with that case but just couldn't sqeeze everything in.Just some comments/opinions here:The BIOS/CPU support issue is a growing problem I've seen with manufacturers.  BIOS updates to support bug fixes and new CPUs seem to be getting rare as they would rather just introduce new boards.I've had trouble with SOYO offering NO updates and DFI provided support for a new CPU but dropped support for the SATA/RAID controller on one board so I have full CPU support or SATA.  The system is retired to ftp server duties with the old 1.3GHz CPU and I'll think twice about buying a SOYO or DFI again.No matter what manufacturer's board I've used I never get a reply from tech support either.  I think the industry needs to clean up it's act here.My HTPC case is too deep as well.  It appears to be a common issue with HTPC cases.By reversing the fan on the side of the case you are fighting the natural order of things.  Heat rises.  Your system *may* be more prone to hot spots and some of the air that goes out the bottom may come back in the side as it rises from onder the case.You can improve airflow between the cards by drilling small holes in the bracket for the video card.  Just don't get too close to the edge or a connector and take it off to drill it.  This works best if the air comes in through the holes (cooler) but it will probably flow out through yours.If you have to do it over again, you would probably be better off with the latest integrated video from ATi or NVidia.  It's faster than the 5200 and in the proper setup actually handles HDTV where the 5200 won't.  One side benefit is that the better boards also have HD Audio.  You do have to be carefull to get a board with the proper TV outputs and the risers could be a problem.  I wrote Silverstone about that case and asked if they would offer a riser with an extra PCI slot rather than AGP or PCIe and they said something along the lines they weren't planning annother PCI slot but if there was enough demand would consider it.  They were investigating PCIe.  If they ever add that, you could fit more tuners in that case with an integrated video mobo.I don't use the Zalman coolers myself.  They are great but I personally think they are too expensive and too big.  You have to trim fins way too often.  Good luck returning it under warranty if it dies.  I'd only use 'em if something else didn't fit.  I think too many people buy them because they look cool or just to brag about their low CPU temp.  With your CPU, temp should NOT be an issue.  By no means am I suggesting you get rid of the Zalman now that it's in... they do a great job.I have a Thermaltake Silent939 in my HTPC (it fits my 754) that is inaudible from a couple feet away but was much cheaper and easier to fit than a Zalman.  It also dropped temps from the factory cooler and fits in about the same space.  It was something like $20 US.I just put an ArcticCooling unit in a machine and it's about as quiet as I've found and was only $10.  It runs about the same temp as the factory cooler but at a fraction of the noise.  It also fits in slightly less space than the cooler it replaced.  With a cool CPU like your's I think this would be a good option for someone building one from scratch.My desktop machine has a huge Thermaltake passive cooler that wouldn't fit in a small case like yours and was about the price of a Zalman but you can't even tell that machine is on between it and the quite Antec Sonata case it's in.  The temps are low, there's no fan to wear out and it's the quietest option you can buy.  I thought the mounting clamp could be better though.I just wish some manufacturer would come out with a model that used a CPU block where the heat pipes could exit in the direction you chose and with long enough heat pipes to position it in front of an exhaust fan at the back of the case.  I'd never recommend anything else.</blockquote>

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