MSI Project Zero Deep Dive – Are back-facing cables a good idea?

Conclusion & Video – Is Project Zero the future of PC building?

Conclusion – It may take a while, but Project Zero will catch on

When I first heard about Project Zero and other back-connect motherboard concepts, I though it was a gimmick. Yes, having fewer visible cables would be nice, but do we really need to rethink motherboard and PC case design? After all, Back-Connect motherboards need compatible cases, and that creates a chicken and egg problem that the industry needs to solve.

Now that we have seen Project Zero for ourselves, we can see its merits and form a proper opinion on it. The Back-Connect concept is a good one, and our sources within the industry have confirmed that a lot of PC cases are in the works that will support these new motherboards.

Initially, we expect Project Zero to be popular within the pre-built PC market. Back-Connect motherboards allow System Integrators (SIs) to build PCs slightly faster and to offer their customers super-clean looking PCs with little effort. Initially, the DIY PC market will be slow to adopt Back-Connect motherboards, as upgraders will not have compatible cases, and there will be a small number of back-connect motherboards options. In time, back-connect cases and motherboards will become more common, and then we will see if Project Zero will take over the PC market.

Project Zero will change the PC market

While having a PC with no visible cables may seem like a unnecessary shift to some, it is hard to argue it would be better for PC builders if the market moved away from its ancient standards. Front-facing motherboard connections are only a thing today because it’s simply the way things are done.

Rear facing motherboard connections allow PC builders to create cleaner-looking PCs and to build PCs faster. No more 8-pin CPU power connectors in a nigh-unreachable location. Easy access to cables and connections that are typically under graphics cards or other hard to reach place. Just pop off the rear panel of your PC and all of your power and I/O options are accessible. Simple, right?

Project Zero is an innovative concept, and we look forward to seeing how the PC industry reacts to it. Will Back-Connect motherboards catch on everywhere? Will it become a stable for system integrators? Or will it be a concept that loses traction and fades away into obscurity?

MSI’s Project Zero deserves nothing less than our OC3D Innovation Award. I am excited to see how this concept will transform the PC industry, and see how this concept evolves over time.

You can join the discussion on MSI’s Project Zero on the OC3D Forums.

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