Packaging and contents

Nearly everything that’s needed in order to get started is included in the packaging.  However, one essential item was not included: Batteries for the Remote Controller.

I later discovered that, due to the configuration of my PC Case’s Front Panel Connection Wiring, that there was one other item I needed in order to make the device completely operational.  I’ll describe that for you momentarily.  First, let’s take a look at the installation of the device, the installation of the software, and how it functions.

Installation:

Included are several wiring connections to make the MFP51 functional.  There’s a Power Adapter Cable that installs directly onto the motherboard’s 20/24 Pin Power Connection.

As you can see, the Power Adapter Cable connects directly to the Motherboard and then the Power Cable from the Power Supply Unit (PSU) connects directly to the opposite end.  Notice also the small Red/Black wires that come from the motherboard connection:  These wires connect to the MFP51 to provide power directly to the LCD.

I can now explain what I was talking about regarding an item that is missing that prevented me – initially – from making full use of the MFP51’s functionality.  There is another set of wires that connects to the Motherboard’s Front Panel Power Button connection, by utilizing this connection, the Remote Controller is capable of starting up the PC as well as shutting it down, however, at first I wasn’t able to ALSO use my Front Panel Power Button to do the same.  The reason is that the instructions state the Front Panel Power Button wiring has to be re-routed and connected to the back of the MFP51 LCD panel.  However, in order for me to accomplish that, I would have to separate the original two wires from the PC Case’s wiring harness that goes to the motherboard’s Front Panel connection.  Observe in the following photo what I’m talking about:

Notice in Box 2 that you can see my PC Case’s front panel wiring harness.  (This is the cluster of wires colored Orange/White; Green/White; Blue/White; and Red/White.) It’s a cluster of wires with very short separations at the end so to allow for the variations of how different motherboard manufacturers setup the onboard front panel connections.  You can see that my wiring for the Front Panel Power Button is the Orange/White set of wires.

Eventually, in order to utilize my front power button, I had to go to one of my very old, out-of-use PC Cases and scavenge a set of wires with a connector on one end in order to connect to the MFP51’s connection on the rear of the LCD panel.  I highly recommend that SilverStone – in future releases of the MFP51 – provide such an extension set of wires for this purpose, this would also eliminate the potential of particular PC Case’s wiring not being long enough to reach the location of the MFP51.  I really didn’t want to risk separating this set of wires from my existing cluster for this purpose although I could easily have done so.

While we’re looking at the above photo, you can also see the MFP51’s USB connector (black USB wire) just above the red boxes I’ve added. I’ve had to use this particular connection to an installed PCI USB card because I’m already using a memory card reader on my system.  The memory card reader requires USB connections to the motherboard and, thus, it restricts additional USB connections such as is required by the MFP51.  So, should the PC user be interested in using the MFP51, it would be wise to take inventory of just how many onboard USB connections are available and make the necessary acquisitions to accommodate the MFP51’s USB connection.