Fitting an EPIA-M into a Cubid Case
By Alan
Cox - Posted on December 9, 2002
As a few lucky people who got their hands
on the EPIA-M early have also no doubt discovered, the EPIA-M doesn't actually fit very
well into the rather nice Cubid box. Since using another case would spoil
the nice matching lines I decided to rectify the problem.
The usual disclaimers apply for the benefit
of US lawyers, the terminally inept and anyone else for that
matter. Do this at your own risk. Remember that saws are sharp
and have to be used properly. Remember that small pieces of
metal sawn out of PC cases are sharp too. Do not stick your
EPIA-M in the toaster. Do not lick the power connector.
There are three problems with a 2677 box and
four with a 2688:
1. The 2688 USB connector
doesn't fit the EPIA-M.
Remedy, put the EPIA-M in a 2677 and put the
EPIA from that into
the new case so getting nice USB ports!
2. The ATX power cable
is too short to reach the repositioned power connector
on the EPIA-M
I bought an ATX
power extender. It is also possible to buy
a replacement cable but if you do this be aware the Cubid
has the
disk connectors tapped off the ATX power cable which your
replacement
cable will not.
3. On the right
hand side of the connectors (as viewed from the rear) of
the EPIA-M is a three high audio block for the 5.1 audio outputs.
This fouls the PCI card mounting on the
2677.
Take a hacksaw (you'll want a real one with
detachable blade). Saw upwards to the point the metal already splits to make the
holder for the tab at the bottom of the PCI card. Saw across
along the top of open rectangle the connectors stick through
to meet the
other saw line (this is most easily done by detaching the
saw
blade, theading it through the hole and reattaching it to
the
saw). File the edges smooth if need be.
You should now have half a PCI mounting and
a clear space for the connectors. You can now fit the motherboard
and build most of the system. Your PCI card will still foul
the audio jacks. Take the PCI card and saw down the middle
of the narrow tab at the bottom. Saw across to remove the
half of the narrow tab that fouls the audio. The screw and
other half of the tab still hold the card reasonably securely.
Because the card clearance on the Cubid is
so low I always recommend putting an insulating layer on top
of the PCI card to avoid shorting if anyone ever puts something
heavy on top of it.
4. The fan cable is too
short to reach the sysfan on the motherboard.
Either ignore it (who actually wires those
fans anyway?), or snip the wires and add an extra section in the middle then solder
them and cover the connectors carefully in insulation tape.
My EPIA-M is very happy in the Cubid 2677.
Once the board is on general release it may well be acquiring
a couple of companions too.
Pictures of a modified Cubid case
Andreas Denz in Germany kindly sent us a couple
of pictures of his 'mutilated' case. His words - we don't
think it looks too bad.
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