nMEDIAPC ZE-C98 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader with USB/ IEEE 1394/ e-SATA Port/ HD Audio Ports

Pros: Easy to install. Worked first time. All internal cables were clearly labeled except for the SATA which is obvious. The internal connectors are all keyed which makes it harder to insert them the wrong way. Supports either HD audio or AC/97 connector. The panel fit in a 5 1/4" slot without a problem.

Cons: The mounting screws go directly into the plastic case. I was concerned about cracking the plastic while mounting but I was able to tighten enough that the panel is very stable with four mounting screws. The CF/MD connector is open on the top. If the panel is mounted sideways a CF disk could drop inside the chassis accidentally if you insert the CF at an angle. The connector has guides on the side which will reduce the problem if you are careful. The SD/MMC connector also has a gap in the top of the front panel above the connector large enough to accidentally fit an SD card. Microphone and headset connectors are very stiff.

Overall Review: Internal cable has a SATA II connector that goes to the eSATA connector on the front panel. (I couldn't tell if this was SATA or eSATA from the specifications.) Internal Cables are: One 1394 Firewire cable One HD Audio and AC97 (one cable with two connectors) Two USB cables each with 10 pin headers (4 USB ports) One SATA II cable Internal cables are about 2 ft long.

Pros: Controls the Audio Sense signals properly such that HD Audio motherboards will turn off rear panel sound outputs if something is plugged into the headphone jacks on this panel. Also comes with both black and sliver front panels.

Cons: Didn't come with a white/beige front panel.

Overall Review: It has been surprisingly difficult to find one of these which actually implemented the HD Audio correctly. I purchased two other units that promised both AC97 and HD Audio compatibility but the truth was that they would work with HD Audio except that with HD Audio the rear panel audio outputs would not be disabled when the front panel audio was in use.

Pros: Works perfectly - tested every type of card. I haven't been able to test the esata port but the usb, firewire, and all card ports work perfectly. And everything transfers FAST - extremely fast - exactly what you would hope for from usb 2.0 connections.

Cons: Not really a con but every card just slides right in and stays there - then you pull them out. No spring loading on anything. So could be a tad bit difficult to make sure each card is seated while inserting it.

Overall Review: So so so glad I read the reviews and went with this card reader instead of slightly cheaper models. Do yourself a favor and pay the whopping 5 extra dollars and get one that will do the job rather than causing you headaches.

Pros: Very easy installation. The included manual, if it is considered that, was helpful in a sense. It showed the general connections and how to install the device, but a quick reference to my motherboard manual made things alot easier. Great quality connectors. I LOVE the fact that this reader is ALL INTERNAL, ALL MOTHERBOARD connectors. Keep that in mind if purchasing this. You will have to have two open connections on your motherboard for USB, i.e USB1, USB2. That is the reason I bought this particular reader. The card readers work great. The USBs work great. Don't have Firewire, but I'm sure it will work fine too.

Cons: The bundled wires were a little plain for me, so I wrapped them in flex tubing and electrical tape to hide them in my acrylic case. At first connection, the front audio and microphone ports did not work. I am currently playing around with the connections to get power through them. The included silver replacement face plate had a broken ear, on arrival, but I did not purchase it for the silver. I wanted black.

Overall Review: I didn't read close enough when I bought it, but it does fill a 5.25" slot and not the 3.5" that I was looking for. The installation was super easy, way easier then I thought it would be. Had to disable two USB's in the back on a PCI filler plate, to make room for the front panel. Would recommend this product to anyone wanting additional or any USB/Audio/Card readers in the front of their case.

Pros: Easy to install and shown in Vista without driver. HD audio works great.Card reading speed is fast.Come with Silver faceplate.

Cons: None so far.

Overall Review: All connectors are labeled clearly, it took me less than 2 minutes to plug them to my board. Once you match the + and GND, no way to miss or do wrong with the 10 pins connector. I will recommend.

Pros: I wanted to use an older but new case I had had for awhile. It's front audio ports were too old style to be of any use. I wasn't even sure the front USB was 2.0. I looked for a front panel that might help me with this. When I found this nMEDIAPC ZE-98 I thought it would take care of my problems if it didn't turn into just another problem in itself. I don't normally take time to review products, but this one worked so well I just had to give it its do. I had never heard of nMEDIAPC and a couple of reviews were a little iffy, but I went ahead and ordered it. I am so pleased with this. I put it in my HTPC. There is three USB 2.0. I use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse so it was nice to have the mini-receliver plugged in the front(much better reciption) and still have 2 USB ports free. The card slots take care of my camera(CF) and cell phone(SDmicro w/adapter) pic's & videos. The eSATA works great with back-ups and large video files. I have no IEEE 1394 devices.

Cons: I didn't find it sooner.

Overall Review: This unit looks great in the 5.25 slot right under my DVD-ROM and DVD-RW. Just a great product. Would buy agin. Would recommend to a friend.

Pros: Has a ton of features. Great for making an older case (old antec with USB 1 and no front audio) last another few years and be more serviceable.

Cons: What a horrible way to get the darn thing installed...use self tapping screws in plastic..REALLY??? How hard would it be to make so it can mount in a standard fashion? 15 year old cd drives and new BLU Ray drives mount universally well, you couldn't have made this mount easily? This is why only 4 eggs

Overall Review: use a drill and pre drill the thing, easier than trying to get the screws to self tap

Pros: I liked that it was roomy and fit a 5 1/4" bay. I liked the number of USB and other input jacks. I like the way it looks.

Cons: I had to drill another hole in the left side to get it to fit properly in the chassis. The hole on the right side was perfect. It will not accept the compact flash cards that I use in my camera without considerably fiddling, and then sometimes it just won't go in. Sometimes my system freezes and the only way to get it to boot again is to take the cover off the side and unplug the USB connectors from the mother board. Fire it back up and it works. I knew when I drilled the new hole I was voiding my chance of sending it back if it didn't work, but I thought "with such a simple thing what could go wrong?". Apparently plenty. I know what I am doing. The hole I drilled was did no harm to the unit. It was about 1/16" from the nearest one.

Overall Review: Great design, poor execution. Why didn't the compact flash card insert? Why did the holes not line up? Why do the USB connections cause my system to freeze?