Started new HTPC with Antec Fusion V2 case!! *with pics* - Page 5

Sorry to jump in on this thread but I am experiencing the same issues.

I am building a HTPC with an Antec Fusion Black, Abit An-M2HD, AMD 4000. Hauppagge HVR1300 MCE with remote.
The main problem seems to be this God Damm LCD.

First problem - Fixed:
Pressing remote activates button twice:
First fixed by disabling EHome IR in Device Manager, actually realised that this was the MCE Remote Receiver IR Blaster so I disconnected it, I am not planing on using the Blaster to control any other IR device.

Second Problem - Not Fixed
LCD Crashes PC
After I installed the LCD and its Drivers after a while the LCD display would Freeze and the PC display would turn a white/grey with diagonal zig zags (a bit like the TV has gone out of tune. The only way to resolve this issue would be to unplug the PC Power - BAD TIMES.
It appears to happen when the LCD tries to display News or Weather, where the hell does it get the Info the web?? maybe mines not set up properly and that`s why its crashing, I am using Zone Alarm.

Third Problem - Not Fixed
The Display on the LCD is Low Quality
Covered in this post, the contrast on my LCD is as bad as the next guys, what`s the fix??
I have E Mail Antec on this issue as requested in similiar posts.

This is a very nice case that is dissapointingly let down by something that surely could be fixed easiliy, its a programmable display aint it so why can`t someone program it right!!!

Just purchased the same antec fusion case (except in black), but I dont seem to be able to see where to connect the two single cables GND and MB power to my abit il-90MV mobo, everything else is fitted and working fine. Any suggestions, or even better any pic's of where to connect them?

cheers stanners

More testing.

(And this is not completely specific to the 430 case with the Antec speific VFD).

Previously I had thought that if the VFD was displaying that whole City/Weather/News crap, it would stop the HTPC from going to sleep, but that's not the case. The HTPC sleeps beautifully even if the VFD is displaying all that crap.

Now, if only Antec hadn't disabled the drivers to the extent that I can't even change the behaviour of the Power button, it would be just sweet..but that's not the case. With a generic Imon VFD, I can tell it to make the PC go to "sleep" if I hit the power button, but not with the ANtec case. The only way to do it with the Antec case, is to modify the Power button settings in Control Panel. Then it works beautifully.

Stanners
Check out some other posts in this forum, are these the single cable coming from the front LCD panel , if they are then there is info out about these cables they are to enable power on with the remote and need to be switched with the ones coming from the front panel the ones that you have connected to the mobo header need to be connected back to the LCD IR panel but apparently you need to take the front panel off the case to see where they go

Hello, new to the thread. Just built my new HTPC with this case. Specs nearly identicaly to kapone's. Wish I read about the problematic VFD beforehand... I tried skimming through the 5 pages of posts.

So here's my pb. When I turn off the PC, the VFD stays on with the welcome message set. Can I turn the VFD off? I am using the Antec's latest drivers and I don't see a box where I can change that behaviour. Is it the same as off if I set the welcome message to blank? Whats the lifespan/reliability of VFDs if I have a message on all the time?

Anyway, I don't have any remote yet, what would be a good remote to get for this case? I was thinking about just picking up the MS MCE remote since its advertised to be compatible.

OK at the request of Antec I stripped back the PC to take a photo of the LCD PCB. And as a result I have some pics that may help.
The two single connectors need to connect to where the MOBO Power switch goes (confirm this though) the MOBO Power switch needs to connect to a header on the LCD PCB to do this you need to strip out the fron panel.

To do this you need to remove the Optical Drive and HDD bay, disconnect all of the cables coming out of the front panel and remove the three screws holding on the front panel, you may also need to remove the fron feet.
Once the three screws are out you should be able to lift up the three black clips in the case holding on the front panel.
Next remove the four screws holding the LCD enclosure once these are out lift up the LCD enclosure to reveal the font of the LCD now you should see the IR LED which can be covered with tape if you are using an MCE Remote and IR Blaster.
Pic:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=67hlwco&s=1

To get at the back of the LCD PCB remove the addition four screws and lift out the LCD panel, on the rear of the PCB just next to a 3 pin power connector you`ll find a two pin header pic:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=4kf9cn9&s=1

Take normal ESD precautions and extreme care when removing the LCD panel, I did not touch mine but even removing it seemed to upset it, when I re-connected it the diplay appeared smudges on the left hand side but strangely spread as it warmed up. Luckily a power off and re-boot seemed to cure it??
Pic:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=43cucxu&s=1

I think we can all thank Antec for being so clear about this in the instruction manual for the case /sarcasm
Later,

TSR

Hi. Just got my Antec Fusion.
I also have a Logitech 885 remote.
Tommy V,
How do you setup the remote to work with Antec?
Whats device do you select in the Logitech database?

Thanks. That seems to clear the VFD. I was just wondering if blank is really turning off the VFD because I'm so afraid its still drawing power and eventually burn out its bulbs or something.

About the remote, sas anyone used the MCE remote (or Xbox MCE remote) with this cases? (harmony remotes are a little too expensive for my budget) I have the pwr sw cable plugged into the VFD and the VFD into to the motherboard. I'm hoping the MCE remote can power on.

It can.

I have posted this before, vista ultimate 32bit, antec fusion black. If i restart my vdu comes on and is perfect. switch of into standby then back on again and nothing. Tried different drivers posted on the antec site nothing. This is a great case but i have just given up on this VDU. Can Anyone help me please?
not using the ir receiver just the vista remote, which also works fine switching of and on into standby. Not had the front panel off but they is a wire coming from the vdu into the power supply already.

i finally gave up and just unplugged the power to the vfd assembly. Maybe its just me but i figure even if i did get it to work, it's useless anyway as you cant read a single thing on it from more than 8 inches away. I, however, don't use or care to use the IR receiver.

Since the VFD is made by Soundgraph, has anyone tried using the imon vfd software? Rather than antec's drivers or that questionable test driver from SG?

I believe people have and haven't been able to make it work. Antec had them change some stuff I read and it makes it incompatible(thats what I read anyway).

Does anyone know if it's possible to make the volume control knob do something else, scroll up and down or left and right?

I have no use for a volume knob, that's what my receiver is for.

TommyV,

Thanks for starting a great thread. Lots of useful information, in particular in relation to the VFD/LCD.

Can you tell me which device you selected in the Logitech Harmony database to get the Harmony remote to control the Antec correctly.

Thanks,
John

Thanks TommyV.

The reason I ask is that I already have the Harmony 525 and just got the Antec Black case and "bits". I had a look around the Harmony software setup and couldn't work out which device to choose.
I will be building the HTPC this week so want to be able to use this remote.

However, I have just been reading the forum threads on SoundGraph and I expect I will be hitting these LCD lockup problems when my harmony sends out IR to the TV and Amp.

I have already took the LCD apart to put in the 2 pin PWR connector, so I "should" be able to power it on/off from both the remote and button - (Thanks to your guidance on this.)

Just got a job that will allow for some good deals with intel. I was offered a Q6600 and Intel DG33TL for $215CDN. I was wondering if the powersupply in this could handle the cpu, radeon 3850, atsc tuner and 2x500gb drives.

Also wondering what RAM I should look into and the quantity I should get if I'm looking to get into Blu-Ray and HDDVD in the near future.

Anyone know if its possible to buy it without a powersupply? And if any ATX PS will fit.

Forgot to ask if the length of a 3850 will be an issue with this case?

Dude.

My Abit AN-M2HD based Antec Fusion with the original 380 Watts PS has the following as innards:


XP-4000+ Brisbane OC'd to 2.4 Ghz on Air
4x2GB OCZ Gold DDR2-800 Sticks (total 8GB)
2xATSC/NTSC COmbo Cards (AVERMEDIA)

Dude.

My Fusion with an Abit AN-2MHD Mobo has the following innards and it still sports the original 380 Watt Earthwatts PS:

X2-4000+ OC'd to 2.4Ghz on Air Stock Fan
4x2GB OCS Gold Sticks (8GB Dual DDr2-800)
2xAvermedia Combo PCie ATSC/NTSC Cards
1xKworld ATSC 110 PCI Card
1x320 GB PATA HDD
1xDVD/RW Drive
2x750GB SATA

My Kill-a-Watt meter shows the power consumption to be anywhere between 80 and 120 watts. When idle/recording, etc. it does 85-90w average. When vieweing on0system running MCE - I go up slighltly to 100 to 105 watts.

I use the onboard sound and Video (HDMI) -- that's why I am able to use 2 Avermedia PCIe cards.... Windows Vista Ultimate 32 (I know I am wasting memory but I;ll be going to Ultimate 64 bi soon) and alternating with Ubuntu 7.10 64bit.

I get this sometimes with my logitech remote, the newer Imon software seems a bit better. Still get the occasional weird happenings though. For instance, sometimes if i try and use the mouse, it will act as if the right button is constantly being held in.

Any updates on the LCD and/or VFD crashing problems when using the built-in IR receiver?

I am very close to pulling the trigger on an HTPC build and happened upon this thread. The combination of VFD problems and the apparent weakness of the power supply to handle two HDDs and a video card have me wondering whether there is a better choice out there for a low profile case like this one....

> Any updates on the LCD and/or VFD crashing problems when using the built-in IR receiver?

totally. Antec has been sending out replacement LCDs and i'm glad to say it never crashed due to other remotes interference ever since.

As for the VFD module, i dunno. Nor do I know about PSU being problematic as i got a basic setup (1HDD, 1geforce8500GT).
Later,

TSR