Here is our
ATI-200 motherboard prior to
installing all of our goodies and in
the next picture you can see the
board with the wireless NIC
installed and the PowerColor X800
GTO. This motherboard has
S-Video out for connecting to your
TB set but we prefer the S-Video of
the video card since it is far more
powerful.
As you
will see when we turn the unit
around after every thing has been
installed not only does the board
support S-Video out but it also has
a RCA jack for Audio output.
Here you can see the hard drive installed with
one of the temperature probes attached we have
also taken the remainder of the power cables and
fastened them with a zip tie to keep them in one
location.
One of the main differences between the
X-QPack and X-Qpack 2 is the fact that the power
supply has a PCI-e power cable so you can
connect your large video cards as we are doing.
Even though the X-QPack 2 does support
Firewire we have no connections for it on this motherboard so we
won't be using it nor will be we be using the front audio cable
connection either.
Looking at the rear of the assembled
unit you can see Wi-Fi antenna and DVi
connector which we will hook up to our
monitor to get the system ready for its
HTPC roll. Some may think a
camouflage case will not make a great
HTPC, will I'm here to tell you it will
if you happen to be a hunter and
fisherman and your family room is
decorated in an outdoor motif.
Conclusion
The Apevia X-QPack 2
is major step forward from its
predecessor, as a matter of fact this is
the case that the first one should have
been. either way they got it right and
people will be happy when they build a
system using this enclosure. What
will make them even happier is the fact
that this well build little jewel can be
had for less that one hundred dollars.
Plus remember the new version comes with
a 500 watt power supply supporting SATA
and PCI-e where the original was only a
430 watt power supply.
Pick one of these bad
boys up and install your favorite
Micro-ATX motherboard and there are no
more worries of what happens if the
power supply dies since a regular ATX
power supply will fit the case.
A special thanks to Apevia who
graciously provided us this review
sample.
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All photos and content is copywrited to HTR INC., 2006
