Basically I'm looking for a new case to go with my new build. Problem
is I don't really know where to start and what to look for in modern
cases (the last one I bought was in 2000!). I'll also need a new PSU
as well.
The system I will be building is as follows:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12M Cache S775 1333MHZ
Motherboard: Gigabyte S775 Intel X48 DDR2 ATX Audio Lan 1600FSB
6xSATAII
RAM: Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat
Spreader
Hard drive: 2 x Western Digital Caviar 500GB S300 16mb 7200rpm in RAID
setup
Graphics card: PowerColor HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E
Graphics Card
I've bought cheap PSU's before and having put up with noisy fans and a
life expectancy of around 12 months it's just not worth the hassle and
potential damage to the rest of my PC. However, I also don't want to
spend £100 on a new case and PSU!
I'm not planning to overclock, so excessive levels of cooling will not
be required. However, I would like a case that is spacious enough to
work in, has room for the two hard drives comfortabely and could also
cope with having a second Radeon card attached in the future.
Two 5.25" and two 3.5" bays would be the minimum I would need.
> Hard drive: 2 x Western Digital Caviar 500GB S300 16mb 7200rpm in RAID setup
What RAID -- 0 or 1?
> Graphics card: PowerColor HD 4850 512MB GDDR3
I'm surprised that I cannot find any double-width 4850 cards that exhaust the
hot air out the backplane instead of into the case. I have 2 of the HIS IceQ
cards (newer one is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161215 ) and am VERY
happy with [lack of] noise, [low] temp, and performance. You might compare
price/performance between the 4850 and the 3870 cards
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161217).
> I've bought cheap PSU's before and having put up with noisy fans and a life
> expectancy of around 12 months it's just not worth the hassle and potential
> damage to the rest of my PC. However, I also don't want to
spend £100 on a new case and PSU!
> I'm not planning to overclock, so excessive levels of cooling will not be
> required. However, I would like a case that is spacious enough to work in, has
> room for the two hard drives comfortabely and could also cope with having a
> second Radeon card attached in the future.
In the old case I just had to replace the 3 80 mm fans because 2 of them started
vibrating after 4+ years of continuous running. The new one has 120 mm main
fans, and is even quieter.
If you want quiet, you'll have to spend a bit more money than cheap...
In article <99df2878-27fa-49ad-a885-59f95b990e49@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>, Matt <mattb95@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hey guys.
>
>Basically I'm looking for a new case to go with my new build. Problem
>is I don't really know where to start and what to look for in modern
>cases (the last one I bought was in 2000!). I'll also need a new PSU
>as well.
>
>The system I will be building is as follows:
>
>CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12M Cache S775 1333MHZ
>Motherboard: Gigabyte S775 Intel X48 DDR2 ATX Audio Lan 1600FSB
>6xSATAII
>RAM: Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat
>Spreader
>Hard drive: 2 x Western Digital Caviar 500GB S300 16mb 7200rpm in RAID
>setup
>Graphics card: PowerColor HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E
>Graphics Card
>
>I've bought cheap PSU's before and having put up with noisy fans and a
>life expectancy of around 12 months it's just not worth the hassle and
>potential damage to the rest of my PC. However, I also don't want to
>spend =A3100 on a new case and PSU!
>
>I'm not planning to overclock, so excessive levels of cooling will not
>be required. However, I would like a case that is spacious enough to
>work in, has room for the two hard drives comfortabely and could also
>cope with having a second Radeon card attached in the future.
>
>Two 5.25" and two 3.5" bays would be the minimum I would need.
>
>Kind Regards,
>
>Matt
>>I've bought cheap PSU's before and having put up with noisy fans and a
>>life expectancy of around 12 months it's just not worth the hassle and
>>potential damage to the rest of my PC. However, I also don't want to
>>spend £100 on a new case and PSU!
>
> Antec 1200 Case
The Antec 1200 comes without a PSU and retails around £110 so that is well
over Matt's budget.
I was going to suggest the Antec 900... I have three mates with them and
they are very nice cases, but again they come without a PSU, but are
available for about £70. The Antec EarthWatts PSUs are quite good and the
430W is available for around £45.
Matt, you are obviously spending a lot of money on the other components of
your system (an X48 mobo and a Q9450 for example), and I think it would be a
great mistake to try to skim and save on the PSU.
I was going to suggest you do a google serach for "PSU Calculator", but my
quick search didn't find any that carry your CPU or graphics card! I would
quess that you'll NEED atleast 400W for that system... so personally I would
buy a 600W... Better to run a PSU at 60% capacity than 95%!
Rarius
---- Posted via Pronews.com - Premium Corporate Usenet News Provider ---- http://www.pronews.com offers corporate packages that have access to 100,000+ newsgroups
On Jul 24, 9:57*am, "Rarius" <rar...@rarius.co.uk> wrote:
> >>I've bought cheap PSU's before and having put up with noisy fans and a
> >>life expectancy of around 12 months it's just not worth the hassle and
> >>potential damage to the rest of my PC. However, I also don't want to
> >>spend £100 on a new case and PSU!
>
> > Antec 1200 Case
>
> The Antec 1200 comes without a PSU and retails around £110 so that is well
> over Matt's budget.
>
> I was going to suggest the Antec 900... I have three mates with them and
> they are very nice cases, but again they come without a PSU, but are
> available for about £70. The Antec EarthWatts PSUs are quite good and the
> 430W is available for around £45.
What is it that makes Antec PSU's good. Should they be the only
manufacturer I focus on?
>
> Matt, you are obviously spending a lot of money on the other components of
> your system (an X48 mobo and a Q9450 for example), and I think it would be a
> great mistake to try to skim and save on the PSU.
I agree. I was hoping it didn't require me to spend £100+ though, but
if I must to get a good case and CPU then I will.
Basically, I'm struggling to see the difference between these Antec
1200, Antec 900 etc. cases you guys are keen on, and a much cheaper
case (EV Silver Mid Tower Gaming Case with Massive 14cm Front Fan - No
PSU) for £15:
> Forgot probably the most important feature: I want to build a quiet
> system.
>
Then you'll need a case that has room for a 120mm fan at the front and the
same size at the back.
The case you linked to further up has a 140mm fan at the front (good) but 2
80mm fans at the back (bad cos you'll need two of them to match the airflow
of a single 120 and they'll make more noise).
It's surprising how few cases fit this bill (for a lot of the cheaper cases
I find myself wondering who the hell designs them and do they have **** for
brains?)
Personally I like the Antec because it has the USB and on switch at the top
where I can reach it easily from my chair, but the Coolermaster looks nicer
(well, a bit).
On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:22:32 -0700 (PDT), Matt <mattb95@hotmail.com>
wrote:
>Hey guys.
>
>Basically I'm looking for a new case to go with my new build. Problem
>is I don't really know where to start and what to look for in modern
>cases (the last one I bought was in 2000!). I'll also need a new PSU
>as well.
>
>The system I will be building is as follows:
>
>CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12M Cache S775 1333MHZ
>Motherboard: Gigabyte S775 Intel X48 DDR2 ATX Audio Lan 1600FSB
>6xSATAII
>RAM: Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat
>Spreader
>Hard drive: 2 x Western Digital Caviar 500GB S300 16mb 7200rpm in RAID
>setup
>Graphics card: PowerColor HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E
>Graphics Card
>
>I've bought cheap PSU's before and having put up with noisy fans and a
>life expectancy of around 12 months it's just not worth the hassle and
>potential damage to the rest of my PC. However, I also don't want to
>spend £100 on a new case and PSU!
>
>I'm not planning to overclock, so excessive levels of cooling will not
>be required. However, I would like a case that is spacious enough to
>work in, has room for the two hard drives comfortabely and could also
>cope with having a second Radeon card attached in the future.
>
>Two 5.25" and two 3.5" bays would be the minimum I would need.
>
>Kind Regards,
>
>Matt
I completed my very first home-build about 2 weeks ago. I too wanted a
'roomy' case for working in, I don't want to hide it out of sight in
some tiny area, bigger is better. BUT I didn't want to lug 30-40lb
steel case around, I often carry it back to my workroom to fiddle
with. What I picked was the GigaByte 3D Aurora http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811233013
It has an unneeded front door, big LED-ed fans and feet that swivel
out. A motherboard tray with marked holes for several various kinds of
mbs and a pretty good manual for a 1st-time builder. I'm pleased with
it except it is fairly overpriced.
On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:59:08 -0400, John B Smith
<crassono_spam@verizon.net> wrote:
>On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:22:32 -0700 (PDT), Matt <mattb95@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Hey guys.
>>
>>Basically I'm looking for a new case to go with my new build. Problem
>>is I don't really know where to start and what to look for in modern
>>cases (the last one I bought was in 2000!). I'll also need a new PSU
>>as well.
>>
>>The system I will be building is as follows:
>>
>>CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12M Cache S775 1333MHZ
>>Motherboard: Gigabyte S775 Intel X48 DDR2 ATX Audio Lan 1600FSB
>>6xSATAII
>>RAM: Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat
>>Spreader
>>Hard drive: 2 x Western Digital Caviar 500GB S300 16mb 7200rpm in RAID
>>setup
>>Graphics card: PowerColor HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E
>>Graphics Card
>>
>>I've bought cheap PSU's before and having put up with noisy fans and a
>>life expectancy of around 12 months it's just not worth the hassle and
>>potential damage to the rest of my PC. However, I also don't want to
>>spend £100 on a new case and PSU!
>>
>>I'm not planning to overclock, so excessive levels of cooling will not
>>be required. However, I would like a case that is spacious enough to
>>work in, has room for the two hard drives comfortabely and could also
>>cope with having a second Radeon card attached in the future.
>>
>>Two 5.25" and two 3.5" bays would be the minimum I would need.
>>
>>Kind Regards,
>>
>>Matt
>I completed my very first home-build about 2 weeks ago. I too wanted a
>'roomy' case for working in, I don't want to hide it out of sight in
>some tiny area, bigger is better. BUT I didn't want to lug 30-40lb
>steel case around, I often carry it back to my workroom to fiddle
>with. What I picked was the GigaByte 3D Aurora
>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811233013
>It has an unneeded front door, big LED-ed fans and feet that swivel
>out. A motherboard tray with marked holes for several various kinds of
>mbs and a pretty good manual for a 1st-time builder. I'm pleased with
>it except it is fairly overpriced.
I wanted to add tha the Gigabyte places the psu on the top of the case
rather than the bottom. Which I prefer.
> What is it that makes Antec PSU's good. Should they be the only
> manufacturer I focus on?
Good reviews, quiet, efficient, reasonable price...
Shop around and look at reviews on the vendors' web sites (e.g., newegg),
magazine web sites (PC-Mag and Maximum PC), and geek sites like
tomshardware. You'll get a pretty good picture of the contenders.
> Basically, I'm struggling to see the difference between these Antec 1200,
> Antec 900 etc. cases you guys are keen on, and a much cheaper case (EV
> Silver Mid Tower Gaming Case with Massive 14cm Front Fan - No PSU) for
> £15:
Again, read reviews. A removable MoBo tray can save a LOT of time in
assembly and later upgrades. Placement and size of HD cages can make
installation of other parts a nightmare. Tool-free fasteners save time,
especially if you open the case frequently. Fan placement can mean the
difference between a cool runner and chronic problems (e.g., does the
intake fan blow across the HD cage to keep them cool?). Aluminum is light
and heat-conductive. Plastic is an insulator and will NOT help conduct
heat outside the case. Steel is cheap but heavy...
> Clearly I could get a good PSU for around £40 and be nowhere near £100.
> Clearly doing this I would be cutting back somewhere, but where?
Avoid the "bigger is better" paradigm. Today's efficient systems will run
just fine on a 300 Watt PSU. If you get a high-end gfx card (which can
draw 75-100 Watts alone), boost that to 500 Watts, even though the system
INCLUDING the gfx card will only draw 250-280 Watts. If you're going to
get a second gfx card, 600 Watts with a pair of connectors for the cards
will be good planning. Look at the capacity of the 12V rail; that will be
your limiting factor with MoBo, Gfx, HDs, and PCIe stuff all running off
it. Dual/triple 12V rails are just marketing hype, but look at total 12V
capacity.
If you're not an extreme gamer, cut back on the Gfx card. A 3850 will do
anything you need except play fancy games at highest frame rates...
Which Case and PSU? 
Linear Mode
