HACK
YOUR HARDWARE
T
he fl oppy disk is dead—we
all know that. Yet so many
modern computer cases still sport
3.5-inch drive bays that are just
begging to be used. Enter the inter-
nal media reader. The device not
only spruces up your front panel
but also gives you a convenient
way to deal with today’s plethora
of fl ash memory formats.
We chose Sabrent’s 52-in-
Multi-Card Reader ($14, http://www.
newegg.com) because of its wide
range of supported formats and easy installation. Sporting four memory-card slots along
with an extra USB port, this minimalist-looking USB 2.0 reader will let you transfer your
digital photos, music, and data at a blazing 480Mb/s.
Installing the media reader is simple. First, remove the front panel from a free 3.5-inch
drive bay on your system chassis. Open up your case’s side door and slide the reader into
the bay until it’s completely fl ush with the entire front panel (image A).
Next, take the internal USB adapter and plug the head into an available nine-pin USB
port on your motherboard (image B). Don’t plug the head into a similar-looking FireWire
port, which could damage both your motherboard and drive. USB and FireWire ports are
usually color-coded, but refer to your motherboard manual to be sure. The media reader is
powered by USB, so it doesn’t need an external power source.
Windows XP and Vista will automatically detect the media reader upon restart and
assign drive letters to its ports. If you’re building a system from scratch, connect the media
reader aft er you’ve booted into Windows to avoid accidentally assigning the “C” drive
letter to a fl ash reader.24 | MAXIMUMPC | JUL 08 | http://www.maximumpc.com
NOVICE
Add a Media Reader to Your Case
a
b
First, measure the dimensions of your case’s side
panels. If a fan is permanently attached to the side
panel, create a paper template based on the fan’s
dimensions and trace that shape at the appropriate
place on the foam.Cut a sheet of sound-dampening foam based on your
measurements. Excess material can be used to line
other locations, such as the fl oor or ceiling of your
case; just be careful not to cover any ventilation
holes or high-heat areas, such as the power supply.To apply a large sheet of foam, start from one corner
of the panel and slowly move to the opposite end.
Press the foam fi rmly against the panel while slowly
removing the thin plastic sheet protecting the self-
adhesive gum with your other hand. Avoid creases
and air bubbles by peeling and progressing patiently.N
oisy fans and rattling disk drives can be a
nuisance, especially if you regularly leave your
system powered on overnight. Short of confi ning
your PC to a closet, the best (and most practical)
sound-dampening solution we’ve found is to apply
sound-absorbing foam to our case’s side panels (on
the inside, of course). Acoustic PC (www.acousticpc.
com) sells dual-layered foam sheets ($50 for a three-
pack) that can easily be adhered to case interiors
for priceless peace and quiet. The panels are just
7mm thick, which is convenient for densely packed
systems where space is limited.Soundproof Your Case
JOURNEYMAN
range of supported formats and easy installation. Sporting four memory-card slots along