Internal II
Biostar uses a regular P4 retention bracket around the ZIF socket. Strangely, the 20-pin power connector is located right next door. This isn't a problem because the cabling is such that the connector's wires don't interfere with airflow. Biostar also chooses to position the 8x AGP port inside the single 33MHz, 32-bit PCI slot, which is in direct contrast to others' way of thinking. Given a choice, we'd probably have it on the outside, closer to the edge of the case. There's no major problems either way, though.
The 200T uses discrete chips from VIA (VT6307), Realtek (8100B) and CMI (9739a) to provide functionality for 2-port FireWire, 10/100 LAN and 6-channel sound respectively, and Biostar offers the Realtek 8180L Wireless single-chip solution as an optional extra. It would have been nice to see it here.
Continuing the interesting theme is the cooler. It's a copper-based heatpipe solution that attaches on to the retention bracket in much the same fashion as a Thermaltake AX478. It has two extended sections on either side that sit underneath a couple of clips which fasten on to the retention bracket. The rear fan, incorporated into the chassis, helps keep the heatpipe working correctly. It's certainly substantial in form and presence.
The iDEQ 200T gives off a clean look even with components in place, thanks to the excellent cabling. Each cabled device is labelled to avoid any possible confusion. You can see how the cooler sits and is fastened on in the above picture. Building into a SFF PC can sometimes be a hugely frustrating business. Biostar takes most of that frustration out.
Looking at it from the other side and with an AGP card in the port, there's still plenty of space available.
