Help Sourcing A mATX with Specific Layout?

Hi to all!

I'm after some help, basically I'm rebuilding my HTPC and have the following dilemma, I have a dual slot HD4850, the Hauppage HVR-4000 PCI Card and a Xonar D2 PCI Card.

Here lies the problem, with the dual slot GPU, I need to have available 2 PCI slots for the above cards, so are there any mATX LGA775 motherboards that would support such a configuration? For example, the PCI-E x16 slot at the top, then a PCI-E x1 slot or something like that and finally 2 PCI Slots?

Any help in sourcing a motherboard would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

This Gigabyte G41-based board has PCIe x16 + 3 PCIc slots: should meet your needs.

That's the only one i can find after a quick peruse of Ebuyer, Microdirect and Scan - looks like it's an unpopular arrangement of expansion slots nowadays (I assume that's because if you move the PCIe slot down one there's less chance of long cards fouling the memory slots / NB heatsick etc)...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scaryjim

This Gigabyte G41-based board has PCIe x16 + 3 PCIc slots: should meet your needs.

That's the only one i can find after a quick peruse of Ebuyer, Microdirect and Scan - looks like it's an unpopular arrangement of expansion slots nowadays (I assume that's because if you move the PCIe slot down one there's less chance of long cards fouling the memory slots / NB heatsick etc)...

---

Great minds think alike, I've just seen this too at Ebuyer! Thanks! Although I was hoping maybe, just maybe there would be one with the configuration I quoted in the original post.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UseItNow

G... I was hoping maybe, just maybe there would be one with the configuration I quoted in the original post.

---

If the second slot is going to be covered by your graphics card's cooler anyway, what does it matter whether it's PCIe or PCIc?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scaryjim

If the second slot is going to be covered by your graphics card's cooler anyway, what does it matter whether it's PCIe or PCIc?

---

In case I downgraded to a single slot GPU of the newer ATI 5000 series in Q1 of 2010 and then wanted to add say another PCI-E tuner or sound card (change from D2).

Thanks again.

Intel DG41TY
That's
pci-e x16
pci-e x1
pci
pci

slightly more expensive and don't ask me what it's like as a motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/175384

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pob255

Intel DG41TY
That's
pci-e x16
pci-e x1
pci
pci

slightly more expensive and don't ask me what it's like as a motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/175384

---

Thanks, Pob255, found it, I had forgotten about this thread and checking, see that you link to it too.

I will probably go with this board as I've been told by Gigabyte that the above only operates the at x4 on the x16 slot, WTH?

Anyway, it seems that the Intel operates at x16, so my HD4870 shouldn't be limited by the slot as would be the case if going with the Gigabyte board.

Unless of course someone else knows different!

What's Intel Technical Support/Customer Service number BTW?

Now, anybody have any experience with Intel boards, their reliability, stability etc? Not overclocking, this will be for an HTPC! Shame I won't be able to use the Geil Dragon 2Gb DDR2 Kit of 1066MHz I have at their full speeds.

Thanks.

I got laughed at last time I phoned Intel :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snootyjim

I got laughed at last time I phoned Intel :)

---

I just got irritated as my query was with regard to the board's PCI-E x16 slot and although I told them that I didn't have the board as such, they still requested a serial number, WTH? I told them thanks in the end, although nothing was done to help me!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UseItNow

I just got irritated as my query was with regard to the board's PCI-E x16 slot and although I told them that I didn't have the board as such, they still requested a serial number, WTH? I told them thanks in the end, although nothing was done to help me!

---

Yeah when I rang and spoke to the technical people it was all ticking boxes, although the lady who put me through to them was lovely, had a right laugh talking to her. I think she knew I was wasting my time and took pity on me :(.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snootyjim

Yeah when I rang and spoke to the technical people it was all ticking boxes, although the lady who put me through to them was lovely, had a right laugh talking to her. I think she knew I was wasting my time and took pity on me :(.

---

Hope the Intel support is never required then!