X-bit labs

Biostar Barebone Systems: Minimal Size Maximal Functionality (page 7)

Category: Mobile

by Vasily Melnik

[ 06/12/2005 | 02:05 PM ]

The owner of an iDEQ 210P actually needs no guides or instructions as to the assembly, but the owner of a 300G will have to read one in any case. It seems simple at first: unfasten three screws, remove the panels, and assemble your computer.

The side and top panels removed, the system seems
ready for the assembly.

But it’s not as simple as it seems. Wrong – it turns to be much simpler than it seems! But you still must read the manual beforehand. Besides removing the panel, the entire front side of this barebone can be lifted up and fixed in this position.

No, this is not a transformer toy.
This is an easy-to-assemble barebone from Biostar.

You don’t have to remove the front panel to perform this operation. Moreover, it’s rather hard to put it back again. The two connectors the front panel connects to the mainboard with are very short. It’s quite easy to detach them, but much more difficult to attach back.

As I mentioned above, the iDEQ 300G is based on a mainboard of the BTX form-factor. All the heat-generating elements are placed in a single line. Thus it became possible to use a new cooling solution consisting of a single fan and an exhaust blower. This cooling system can handle successfully a processor like Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz for Socket LGA775.

Socket LGA775 is surely an alluring feature for people
who’re shopping for a modern and compact computer.

The central processor and the chipset’s North and South Bridges are all well cooled: the plastic tunnel puts every cubic inch of air to good use.

 
A competently designed cooling system.
Such solutions with plastic air-ducts are implemented in server racks.