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Micro ATX and Linux?

Posted by Cliff on from the you-can-only-be-this-tall... dept.

Chasuk asks: "I work at a large computer retailer in a college town, and I've finally convinced the powers-that-be to sell PCs with Linux pre-installed. The catch is, it will only be installed on Micro ATX machines, which require half-height everything, and we can't find a source of half-height Linux compatible PCI modems. Even those universal, generic half-height replacement hangers/brackets would be acceptable, but I can't find those, either. Can anyone on Slashdot help? "

7 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Good luck finding cheap internal modems by Craig+Maloney · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just on a whim I did some searching to find an internal PCI modem for my PC. What I saw was rather dismaying. Very few PCI modems aren't Winmodems nowadays, and the ones that aren't are upwards of $50. Not the kind of price you want to add to a pre-built machine.

    1. Re:Good luck finding cheap internal modems by dasunt · · Score: 5, Informative

      Very few PCI modems aren't Winmodems nowadays, and the ones that aren't are upwards of $50. Not the kind of price you want to add to a pre-built machine.

      Although there are some good Winmodems, my general experience is that the $25 winmodem tends to experience more network problems -- including more unexpected dropped connections and lower speed.

      The "expensive" $50 hardware modem is better built, more reliable, and is compatible with almost any OS that supports a dialup connection.

      You get what you pay for...

  2. Two Words by iammrjvo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Band Saw

    --
    Ha, ha! Nobody ever says Italy.
  3. options by Apreche · · Score: 5, Interesting

    external USB modems?

    Also I once saw a thing that converts a PCI slot on a desktop machine into a PCMCIA slot. You could get a half-height one of those and put a laptop modem in it.

    Or just use micro-atx motherboards that have builtin modems.

    --
    The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
  4. Micro ATX doesn't always require half-height PCI by questionlp · · Score: 5, Informative

    Micro ATX does not require everything to be half-height. That may be the case (pun not intended) with some Mini-ITX cases, but there are quite a few Micro ATX small tower cases that support full-height, half-length PCI and AGP cards, smaller ATX power supplies and standard drives (be it 5.25" or 3.5").

    The main difference between standard ATX and Micro ATX is the "length" of the board, which determines the number of slots, usually PCI. ATX gives you a maximum of 7 slots to occupy (be it 0-1 AGP + 1-6 PCI) where as Micro ATX can have at most 3 slots to occupy. Check out formfactors.org for more information.

  5. Come on... by vasqzr · · Score: 5, Funny


    I work at a large computer retailer in a college town, and I've finally convinced the powers-that-be to sell PCs with Linux pre-installed. The catch is, it will only be installed on Micro ATX machines, which require half-height everything, and we can't find a source of half-height Linux compatible PCI modems.

    This sounds like a Dilbert comic. Marketing getting way ahead of research/development.

    On a related note, I've convinced my local pizza joint to buy pizza boxes from me that keep the pie warm. I just have to invent it.

  6. Work from the other angle... by bolix · · Score: 5, Informative

    Goto http://linmodems.org/ and find a "Winmodem" that meets your specs.