A-200 Modding

Medium difficulty requiring some technical skills, or some parts require more than basic knowledge.

ANY modification may affect your warranty and are at your own risk. Please bear this in mind before attempting any changes to your unit

Applicable to the following NMT

Popcorn Hour NMT models:	A-200

There will always be users that wish to tailor any electrical device for their own specific needs and so redesign or modify their devices.

Some of these modifications from Networked Media Tank forum are shown below. None of these modifications should be seen as official or backed by Popcorn Hour.

User posted modifications

Each forum user has posted pictures of their adaptation of the A-200 on the forum. They may be contacted via PM for advice if you need additional help or advice.

Feel free to add your own Mod, please keep to the format and style of the existing posts. If you have a couple of pictures and would like some help then please contact the moderators at the NMT forum.

Great looking handmade case by NMT Forum member makisxxx. More details HERE.

Some members have drilled holes in the top of the plastic case. Not the most aesthetic modification but will lower the internal temperature.

Here's one from forum member Monza. More detailed information and more pictures HERE.

Stock heatsink/fan unit replaced with cut-down copper cpu cooler

Some users have slowed down the fan speed using either off the shelf resistors/controls such as the Zalman Fanmate or have added their own resistor in the wiring.

Here's an example by forum member lokillo, more information/spec located on the NMT Forum in this POST.

Resistor placed in wiring between fan and A-200 motherboard

Here's another example by forum member h-guy, more information on the resistor type and RPM testing on the NMT Forum in the POST.

Resistor placed between original wire and original fan header. Removal for warranty purposes in a couple of seconds

It is hoped that more 3rd party Companies will provide custom packages for the NMT's. With the case that the A-200 comes in not being totally acceptable to some, either due to the plastic case, looks, or fan there are opportunities to develop tailor-made solutions to please all owners.

There are many cases to buy that you can use to replace the Popcorn Hour A-200 plastic case.

There is only one case so far that has been developed specifically for the A-200, developed by Moovika the French Popcorn Hour reseller. More details HERE.
The case has been developed based on NMT owners comments in the NMT Forums.

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This custom case also comes with an option. You may if you so wish remove the supplied heatsink/fan and replace it with a supplied L-shaped bracket. You do NOT have to do this, it's optional. You may simply decide you prefer a metal case more akin to the usual AV equipment enclosures. In which case you can simply remove the A-200 motherboard from the plastic case and replace it in the new metal case.

Optional L-shaped bracket and fittings	A-200 motherboard with stock heatsink/fan combination unit removed
Close-up of bracket fitted to the A-200 motherboard through the holes that the stock unit utilizes	Bracket fitted, no fan, 3.5" HDD fitted

Temperature reading have been taken on both the standard setup and the new L-shaped bracket. They can be seen HERE and show that the new setup runs considerably cooler over time.

Stock fan/heatsink combination	Stock fan/heatsink with fan disconnected
New L-shaped bracket attached to motherboard	New L-shaped bracket attached to A-200 motherboard and metal case