[mythtv-users] "small" mATX case that can still hold a full PCIcard?

[bhaskins at chartermi.net]

---- David Kubicek <foceni at gmail.com> wrote: 
> On 02/27/2010 03:19 PM, Mike Perkins wrote:
> > David Kubicek wrote:
> >>
> >> Next time (soon), I'm going for a split FE/BE config. No doubt about
> >> it. BE is going to be in the attic - nice and close to the sat
> >> multiswitch (no limitation on number of cards, no new cables in wall
> >> required), the only thing I need to drag up there is an Ethernet
> >> cable, which I have to anyway (for WIFI, the ADSL backup). I'll
> >> probably hide smartcard readers with the BE too. I haven't needed to
> >> touch them since installation.
> >>
> > If you're really planning to put your BE in the attic, consider
> > carefully the temperature range you may be subjecting the components to.
> > If you're referring to an attic *room* you may be okay, although from
> > past experience even an attic room can have temperature extremes much
> > greater than that in the rest of your house.
> >
> > If you're talking about the attic itself, temperatures can become very
> > extreme in summer and winter. So much so that I am limited in the kinds
> > of things I can store in mine - no plastics, for example. There's also
> > wildlife to consider - spiders love the insides of electrical gear :)
> >
> > It's still doable, of course, but you're probably not going to be able
> > to run standard consumer gear unless you build it into a proper enclosure.
> >
> 
> You're right, it's a regular attic and the temperatures in summer are 
> rather high. I've been checking winter temperatures for the past couple 
> of months are they were OK (and it was a tough winter this one). So I'll 
> just have to make sure it's adequately cooled. Since noise doesn't 
> concern me, I'll invest in a good case and a CPU/HDD cooling system. 
> Mind you, PC's are quite capable running in unfavourable env. 
> conditions, but it's certainly something I'll have to think about.

What about dampness?
If your attic is well ventilated, as it should be, there can be a lot of moisture
moving around during rainstorms and this can do a lot of damage.

> 
> I found a good DDR3 Core Quad capable 5xPCI motherboard and five tuners 
> should take care of the whole house nicely (2 or 3 FE's). Now I'm 
> shopping for 3 Phoenix readers, because my current card server (IPBox 
> aka Cuberevo) is way too unstable.
> 
> I still have to sort out the cooling and more importantly remote 
> reboots. Linux can reboot automatically in case of panic, but many 
> freezes aren't caused by a "clean" panic.
> 
> Do you have any suggestions for good cooling and HW watchdogs or similar 
> sort of thing?
> 
> -- 
> David Kubicek
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