I've got an idea. Lets make a list of PC hardware improvements we want to see, and maybe Anand could relay to makers!

[KDOG]

The reason I say maybe Anand ( Anandtech Inc.) could relay our concerns/ideas, is that manufacturers aren't really listening to us end users when it comes to stuff like this, it seems. Maybe a popular hardware testing website could drive the point home with a little more influence.

I'll start:

For the love of God, I want to see a UNIFIED jumper block. I imagine I'm not the only one who is sick of all those little plugs for Power LED, Reset switch, etc. I think there should be just one plug for all that crap.

I'd also like to see where you can set the PC to turn on (or off) by itself. I think its ridiculous that with all the things that a PC can do, it can't do that. I've heard that some can do it via BIOS setting, but thats something I think we should be able to do from Windows. Its a hardware concern since mobo manufacturers would have to be in on it.

Bios updates should be done from Windows. Some can but its not an "industry standard" yet. This would also help finally kill off the floppy.

I would also like to see mobo manufacturers and Power supply manufacturers sit down and standardize where the power connector should go on a mobo. That way the PS to mobo power cable could be DRASTICALLY shortened, to maybe like 6 inches or less. They should also be able to use an "extender cable" if longer lengths are needed, like for people who have server cases, etc. The reason I say this is because in my comp, the mobo PS connector is like only 2" from the PS, but the cable is, of course, like 16 inches long. Ridiclous.

Ok, I've ranted long enough. Its your turn!!

I think this is a good idea, should we make it a sticky?

 

[mechBgon]

Right. First of all, I want a built-in coffeemaker option on all Antec cases. Something along these lines would work: The Caffeine Machine

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: KDOG
The reason I say maybe Anand ( Anandtech Inc.) could relay our concerns/ideas, is that manufacturers aren't really listening to us end users when it comes to stuff like this, it seems. Maybe a popular hardware testing website could drive the point home with a little more influence.

I'll start:

For the love of God, I want to see a UNIFIED jumper block. I imagine I'm not the only one who is sick of all those little plugs for Power LED, Reset switch, etc. I think there should be just one plug for all that crap.

I'd also like to see where you can set the PC to turn on (or off) by itself. I think its ridiculous that with all the things that a PC can do, it can't do that. I've heard that some can do it via BIOS setting, but thats something I think we should be able to do from Windows. Its a hardware concern since mobo manufacturers would have to be in on it.

Bios updates should be done from Windows. Some can but its not an "industry standard" yet. This would also help finally kill off the floppy.

I would also like to see mobo manufacturers and Power supply manufacturers sit down and standardize where the power connector should go on a mobo. That way the PS to mobo power cable could be DRASTICALLY shortened, to maybe like 6 inches or less. They should also be able to use an "extender cable" if longer lengths are needed, like for people who have server cases, etc. The reason I say this is because in my comp, the mobo PS connector is like only 2" from the PS, but the cable is, of course, like 16 inches long. Ridiclous.

Ok, I've ranted long enough. Its your turn!!

I think this is a good idea, should we make it a sticky?

Your asking enough arnt you :Q

There are a lot of things i would like to see, but as with most things I think you will find, they will appear when they appear.

 

[pillage2001]

I doubt it'll make any difference in the market. Maybe a little but nothing major will come out of it,

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Right. First of all, I want a built-in coffeemaker option on all Antec cases. Something along these lines would work: The Caffeine Machine

PMSL!

Thats brilliant!

I wouldnt mind having a soft drinks vending machine built into my pc

 

[amdskip]

For the love of God, I want to see a UNIFIED jumper block. I imagine I'm not the only one who is sick of all those little plugs for Power LED, Reset switch, etc. I think there should be just one plug for all that crap.

Won't happen, too much of a hassle for case manufacturers and motherboard companies.

I'd also like to see where you can set the PC to turn on (or off) by itself. I think its ridiculous that with all the things that a PC can do, it can't do that. I've heard that some can do it via BIOS setting, but thats something I think we should be able to do from Windows. Its a hardware concern since mobo manufacturers would have to be in on it.

Hmmm, I don't really have a need for this but I could see where large companies may.

Bios updates should be done from Windows. Some can but its not an "industry standard" yet. This would also help finally kill off the floppy.

Please don't kill my floppy drive.

I would also like to see mobo manufacturers and Power supply manufacturers sit down and standardize where the power connector should go on a mobo. That way the PS to mobo power cable could be DRASTICALLY shortened, to maybe like 6 inches or less. They should also be able to use an "extender cable" if longer lengths are needed, like for people who have server cases, etc. The reason I say this is because in my comp, the mobo PS connector is like only 2" from the PS, but the cable is, of course, like 16 inches long. Ridiclous.

Isn't the location of where the connector goes have to be flexible?

 

[DannyBoy]

Isn't the location of where the connector goes have to be flexible?

Yes it does, you have to remember not everyone has a super small case.

Some people have server and full tower cases that struggle to reach the mobo connector.

Please don't kill my floppy drive.

I can see his point for this, i wouldnt mind getting rid of the floppy. I use CDR's for everything nowadays.

Floppys are un-reliable, slow, and crap. I would love to see them gooooo.

Hmmm, I don't really have a need for this but I could see where large companies may.

And so do other people

For instance I know people who already have specially modded timer switches that send a 5v signal down to the mobo when they want their comp to come on

Won't happen, too much of a hassle for case manufacturers and motherboard companies

And no, that wont happen

 

[mechBgon]

I'd also like to see some sort of hard-drive/interface standard that has fewer restrictions...

[*]long cables, like 10 meters or more
[*]more drives per cable, maybe up to, say, fifteen
[*]really fast seek times
[*]higher RPM on the drives, 15000rpm would be cool
[*]longer warranties, five years would be good (what's with these skimpy one-year warranties anymore?!)

I wouldn't even mind if the capacity were lower, I don't collect MP3s or movies.

 

[DannyBoy]

That would be cool

I would like to see

• A super cool but 100% silent fan

• A 10ghz Athlon 64

• A 5mm thick touchscreen notebook with a built in 9700pro, 1 maybe 2 maybe 10gb's RAM, a 200T Storage Device, nice 10ghz processor or more...

 

[mechBgon]

Speaking of touchscreens, I wonde if someone could integrate an LCD display and keyboard right into the top of a 1U rackmount server case. I know there are 1U screen/keyboard units separately...

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Speaking of touchscreens, I wonde if someone could integrate an LCD display and keyboard right into the top of a 1U rackmount server case. I know there are 1U screen/keyboard units separately...

Or just a touchscreen display without the keyboard

That would r0ck

 

[KDOG]

Some people have server and full tower cases that struggle to reach the mobo connector.

Thats why I said there should be an option for "extender cables" so people can get more reach if they need too..

I think some of you are missing the point of my thread. I REALLY want to address the complaints that we ALL have when building/configuring a PC...

 

[DannyBoy]

Oh no I totally understand where your coming from.

Its just....well.

Surely you must understand how many forums sites there are out there yea?

Some much larger then Anandtech..

You dont think AMD decided to create their 64bit athlon because someone told Anand to tell them to..., do you?

Do you?

I mean come on thats just silly.

If things were as simple as that then their would be no competition.

You cannot just Have what you want, because you want it..

 

[Gerbil333]

For the love of God, I want to see a UNIFIED jumper block. I imagine I'm not the only one who is sick of all those little plugs for Power LED, Reset switch, etc. I think there should be just one plug for all that crap.

I've been hoping for that for years!

I'd also like to see where you can set the PC to turn on (or off) by itself. I think its ridiculous that with all the things that a PC can do, it can't do that. I've heard that some can do it via BIOS setting, but thats something I think we should be able to do from Windows. Its a hardware concern since mobo manufacturers would have to be in on it.

I couldn't care less. If I'm not there to turn the computer on, then I won't be there to use it. So, that's not helpful for me.

Bios updates should be done from Windows. Some can but its not an "industry standard" yet. This would also help finally kill off the floppy.

I'd really like to see this, too. The floppy really needs to go. You're right -- I only keep it for BIOS updates. I burn everything or save it to another computer on my network. Floppies are horribly unreliable and slow. I hate them. Dell has ridded their computers of floppy drives. I hope other companies follow that action, and this might force mobo manufacturers to make BIOS updates for Windows.

I would also like to see mobo manufacturers and Power supply manufacturers sit down and standardize where the power connector should go on a mobo. That way the PS to mobo power cable could be DRASTICALLY shortened, to maybe like 6 inches or less. They should also be able to use an "extender cable" if longer lengths are needed, like for people who have server cases, etc. The reason I say this is because in my comp, the mobo PS connector is like only 2" from the PS, but the cable is, of course, like 16 inches long. Ridiclous.

I don't know about that...that would risk the reliability of a board. The PS connector is supposed to be positioned for the most reliable current. Moving it would hinder the efficiency, so I don't think mobo makers would like this.

 

[oldfart]

NO MORE FIXED RPM FANS!!

CPU, case, power supply, and video card fans should all be variable speed based on load/temps. Having fans operate at maximum rpm all the time just makes too much noise.

 

[KDOG]

I thought for sure there would be a better response to this... I mean c'mon, a chance to tell PC hardware makers what they need to do with a LOUD voice! And people aren't going to take it? I'm very suprised at AT....

 

[KDOG]

I couldn't care less. If I'm not there to turn the computer on, then I won't be there to use it. So, that's not helpful for me.

I sure would like to have the computer be on when I get up ( or have it get me up, for that matter). You could have all your email downloaded, news etc. Have the front page of Anandtech on the screen as soon as you wake up. The possibilties are endless!!!

 

[McCarthy]

I started a topic about a unified jumper block as you call it last year. Got a few positive replies, got a bunch of "d00d, you must be st00pid if you can't figure that out" crap. Got it through my head not to bother trying to motive computer people to speak with one voice.

If the site would be willing to try to make such an impact I'd participate.

 

[zephyrprime]

Here's an idea that's actually good:

Power supplies need warning lights to indicate overload conditions.

Diagnosing insufficient power is a pain buut this idea could solve that.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: McCarthy
I started a topic about a unified jumper block as you call it last year. Got a few positive replies, got a bunch of "d00d, you must be st00pid if you can't figure that out" crap. Got it through my head not to bother trying to motive computer people to speak with one voice.

If the site would be willing to try to make such an impact I'd participate.

Interesting. Probably some snobbery involved on part of the dudes. The plugs for power supplies are unified and standardized, so WHY NOT the jumper block as well? Plus if you have fat fingers, it's not always easy to work with those little plugs.

 

[thirdlegstump]

solid state hard drives?

 

[draggoon01]

first, video in should be as standard as video out has become

second, video out should change to component instead of composite output

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: deathkoba
solid state hard drives?

It would not be a Hard Drive.

That is the way things will go though, without a doubt.

Sooner than later everything will be stored in some form of Memory chip, and hard drives will be no more.

Give it a few years and see what happens

 

[tigerwannabe]

yes, a unified jumper block would be a great idea. 1 or 2 plugs max, & everything is fine.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Along the lines of a unified jumper block, I get sick of having to plug the 10 or so USB plugs like in my Lian Li case that are for the front USB header on the case. Couldn't they just make it one simple plug for that instead of a bunch of little jumpers with different markings on them depending on the mobo maker?