Need Case advice

daemoness

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Aug 26, 2005
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I need a good quality case, my old one is overheating and doesn't have room for more fans or hard drives. Problem is, I've never installed a motherboard, fans, or a power supply. I've installed hard drives, memory, video cards... am I going to have problems doing this? I would like to learn to do it myself.

I have a micro atx form motherboard, I need room for two hard drives (I can't believe my old case only has a bay for one!), and all the usual stuff - cd-rom, dvd-rom, at least 2 usb ports. I'd like to spend under $150.

So please, recommend some cases (and power supplies if the cases don't come with them/don't come with good ones). Also, if anyone could point me to a guide for installing stuff in cases I would be very grateful!

Thanks so much!

Becky
 
What is your current system config?

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There's a great deal at CompUSA for an [urlwww.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?&ref=cj&pfp=cj&product_code=301861]Antec Sonata case/380W psu[/url]. $60 for this case/psu after rebates is a really good deal.

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emogoch

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What's your budget for the case & PSU? What components does your system have so we got an idea of how much heat is generated and how large a PSU you need.

Cases can range from the <A HREF="http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/M_V_S_PC-V1100.htm" target="_new">rediculously expensive</A>, <A HREF="http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=81800" target="_new">semi-expensive</A>, <A HREF="http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15001" target="_new">good value</A>, to <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=621029#621029" target="_new">completely unworthy</A>. Also, what features outside of cooling are you looking for? Sleek and elegant, or plexy-glass sides with LEDs and cold-cathodes? Runs deathly silent, or as loud as a jet engine so long as it gets the job done?

PS. Don't know if micro-ATX board fit inside standard cases. someone else will have to hlep you with that one.
 
MicroATX will fit in standard ATX cases.

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daemoness

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P4 2.26 GH/533, Intel 845e chipset, 1 gig RAM (DDR SDRAM I believe), 80 gig HD (cannot think of what type at the moment, it's the old kind though), 250 gig HD (Western Digital Caviar IDE), eVGA Geforce 6600GT (not the PCI one), some integrated sound card (don't care much about sound), cd-burner, dvd-burner.

Um, hopefully I didn't forget anything, I'm at work so I'm not near my computer.

Budget is ideally less than $200 total, but I'm flexable. For features I'd like silence but it's not a major thing, the cooling is more important. I don't care what it looks like.

Oh, forgot to add, the motherboard is MSI, socket type is mPGA478, here is any more info you might need: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&lc=en&product=83461&lang=en&cc=us&docname=bph07557<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by daemoness on 08/26/05 11:04 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
 
That Antec Sonata will have enough juice for your rig. Quiet and comes with one 120MM fan - you can get another 120MM fan for extra cooling. Something like the Panaflo medium output at <A HREF="http://heatsinkfactory.com/catalog/Panaflo-120mm-Medium-Output-FBA12G12M1A-p-16194.html" target="_new">Heatsinkfactory.com</A> for $17. With your rig the extra fan is prbably not necessary. I'd go with stock case/psu, monitor ambient tems in the case and add a fan if necessary.

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No prob! Let us know how the swap goes. Are these parts from a major OEM? If yes, then who?

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rahimiv

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If you can find <A HREF="http://www.directron.com/201tblk.html" target="_new">Superflower SF201T</A> it should cost no more than 100. I have one and I love it, its all Alum and doesnt cost quite as much as lian li. Plus its got removable motherboard trays, removeable harddrive cages, all 3 sides clear (so you can put those lights in without a dremel) then get an Enermax noisetaker 300-400 watts depending on your needs, should come right under 200.
 
I thought about throwing out that option with the <A HREF="http:// www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=270402" target="_new">Enermax 535W Whisper II model EG565P</A> for $91.50 or even the <A HREF="http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=370875" target="_new">Vantec ION 2 460W</A> for $67. Right now I think the Sonata is a steal for the price, is less than half the price and meets her needs.

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Crashman

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I like my Ion 2 460W. And I loved the price I paid for it.

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mihasya

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what accessories did u include with <A HREF="http://www.directron.com/directron/201tblk.html" target="_new">Super Flow</A>?



<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by mihasya on 08/30/05 11:43 AM.</EM></FONT></P>