What motherboard will work with this case?

[Qacer]

Hi all,

I haven't had any experience with cases that come with a front panel such as the MAXTOP CSX-4305 Intel P4/AMD Ready 7-bay Front USB/ Firewire (Link). Which motherboard will utilize the front panel? Will it work with any mobo?

I have my eye on an ASUS A7V266-E. It has an iPanel feature, but I'm not sure if that will work with this case's panel.

Any tips? Thanks...

 

[MoFunk]

Take a look at the last image. It uses a cable to run from the front panel to a slot on the back of the case. Then another batch of cables plugs from that to the individual plugs in the back. So it does not hook up through the motherboard so any will work.

 

[tapir]

Any mobo will, provided you actually have those ports in the back of your computer. If you take a look at all the different pictures of the case, you'll see how the thing works. A cable runs from that front connector to a metal bracket you put in one of your PCI slots (basically just a port sitting there). On the outside of your computer, another cable is attached to that port. You hook all the cables stemming from this cable up to the ports on the back of your computer and the system brings them to the front of your case.

Like I said, it'll work with anything you actually have there. The mobo will usually provide those game, USB and sound ports. I don't get the volume thing, that may or may not work well. The only thing is, no mobo (except some upcoming SiS 745s, but they're not here yet) has integrated FireWire, so you'll need to buy a card for that port to work. I'd suggest getting an Audigy OEM from Newegg as this offers good sound and a FireWire port, but that's just me.

So, that type of bracket adds no functionality to your computer, but it increases convenience a bit. The only thing is that it'll also make a wire nest in of the back of your case.. but if you tie 'em all together, that should be no problem.

Also would like to point out that Chieftech makes a similar (identical) device which you can actually stick in a 5.25" drive bay of your comp. Newegg has it for like 10 bucks.

And nice case, BTW. Maxtop seems to have a pretty nice price/quality ratio on these cases. If you painted that front bezel..

 

[Qacer]

ahhh.. thanks for the tip