I have recieved some hand-me-down hardware that I think would be a good option for a frontend ( my backend server is coming along fairly well...just some sound issues to work out with the PVR-150 ). I've scratch built almost every computer I have owned since my first 333/XT, but this one has me a bit stumped. You see, it's components from a laptop which has broken ( keyboard case and monitor ) and isn't cost-effctive to replace. It's an Intel P3 / 850 MHz, 256MB Ram, built in Rage Mobility AGP 2x ( 128MB ), built in 10/100, built in SVideo Out, built in audio ( basic setero only, of course ).
<br><br>I've never played w/ laptop hardware before ( beyond basic memory / drive upgrades ) so this is "new terriroty" for me. I figured if all this frontend was going to do was to pull recordings thru the network off the backend server and display them thru the SVideo to a small TV in the bedroom, this would be plenty. I could pick up a resonable drive, and by making use of the external power supply configuration of a laptop heat would be dramatically reduced ( laptops need low-heat configs anyway )..
<br><br>My first hope was that a laptop MB would be compatible with mounts for one of the smaller PC MBs ( like a miniITX or such ) for which I could track cases down and this would be a great option for a slim-line HTPC case. But looking at a pic of the board I'm not so sure any more. There is a big notch where the removable drive would slide in and out, for example.
<br><br>I see three options at this time: <br> 1. I find a non-laptop case that accepts laptop MBs<br> 2. I find an adaptor or technique that allows me to mount a laptop MB into a more standard PC case.<br> 3. I throw the components on my spare parts pile and wait to see if I ever have need of building an out-dated laptop.
<br><br>I have been banging around Google for a while today and am not having much luck with finding solutions for #1 or #2. Any ideas or pointers would be greatly appreciated.<br><br>advTHANKSance!!!<br>-Lawrence<br>