Too small, or are my hands too big?

[fishybawb]

Sorry about the dubious title to this post.. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif
What I'm actually referring to is the ridiculous abundance of "baby" ATX motherboards. Who thought these up?! Fine, so they fit in those microscopic non-upgradeable cheapo PCs, but with those of us with cases the size of a small aircraft hangar, they're just no good! OK, so I was out looking for a Socket-7 MB, and maybe I should get with the times, but I couldn't find a decent sized board anywhere. Inserting the CPU fan was a nightmare due to the number of capacitors practically ON the socket they were so close, and the tight mass of IDE cables can't be doing airflow much good. I'm now planning on having a kid just so I'll have someone with small enough hands to install everything - it must be worth the hassle surely... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.



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If at first you don't succeed, try brute force and ignorance.

[tjaymadison]

One advantage to the smaller form factor is a little less generated heat.

There is also a very marginal speed increase due to shorter circuit traces.
This response time does come into play more as CPU mfr's crank up the chips.

But it's mostly mfg cost cutting that's driving the trend.
Fewer components, less time in the solder bath, etc.
But you're sure right about the cramped quarters.

You can get round IDE cables, or make your own, to improve the airflow.
Try a Google search on "IDE cable rounding".

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"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')

[mjc]

Or you can gat a case with a MOBO tray...



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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Vive diu prosperaque!

[tjaymadison]

That too. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Won't help much with the CPU/HSF clearance, but it'll be easier to see if you break a cap off. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')