$220 budget for case and psu (getting mx-4 compound with new rig)

pocketdexter

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I have been looking at cases and psu's for quite a few weeks now, but I can't seem to find the most optimal case psu combo for my budget. I want a case that has tremendous air cooling, so that I can overlock my cpu and gpu. I also want a case that can house an amd radeon 6970 or a gtx 560ti.

I have done extensive temp tests and realized that my no-name mid tower case is inadequately cooling my system. With the side panel off, temps drop 11C across the charts. All of my components are running stock (no oc). No random BSOD nor random shutdowns, so my generic viotek 700watt is doing ok. However, I am interested in overclocking my cpu and gpu when I have better temps.

I won't be running SLI nor Crossfire as that won't be in my budget anytime soon (single gpu).

Also I do have an ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 92mm Fluid Dynamic CPU Cooler lying around that I want to install in my new case. I didn't install it in my old case because the dissipated heat from the cooler would be shot straight into my psu or my gpu. I am also going to buy ARCTIC COOLING Arctic Cooling MX-4 AC-MX4 TIM, so that I can oc my cpu a bit with the new case.

System Specs:

Case: Generic 6 yr atx midtower case

PSU: 3yr old x-Viotek700p (700 max combined wattage)
+3.3v +5va +12v
45a 50a 36a

Motherboard: ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145218

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

TIM: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM (with stock cooler)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

GPU: EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130325

HDD: Western Digital 250Gb 7200 RPM 16mb cache

Sound Card: X-Fi Xtreme Music

Optical Drive: 5yr old Sony DVD burner
 
Solution
The Coolermaster HAF-X is an excellent choice. It does fulfill almost all your wishes for in a case. And the price is excellent. Surely grab it.

About the PSU, please don't get confused here. Theoretically does not means absolutely. I could not find any links/reviews for your PSU and thus made a comment purely based on whatever specs you provided. So skip on the PSU changing only if you are confident about it.
Theoretically, your current PSU has enough to power any of your chosen video cards along with a nice amount of overclock on the CPU. However, if you yourself don't feel confident of it handling your new purchase(s) then surely change it. The Corsair TX 650W V2 is the PSU i'll recommend. It should also leave you enough cash to get a nice case such as the Lian Li Lancool PC K63.

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112320

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

If you do not like rebates then here is another excellent PSU option -

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096
 

pocketdexter

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If my current psu is theoretically good enough to power my future amd 6970 or gtx 560ti then my budget stays as 220$ for a case then. I was looking at the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225, but thought that it was overkill. I don't plan on going 2,3 4- way video cards anytime soon. However, my priority for the case is as follows:
1. Excellent air ventilation
2. Dust filters
3. Cable Management
4. CPU cutout for better coolers in my future oc'ing (i hate having to pull the mobo out to install some coolers)
5. Size to house amd 6970 or gtx 560ti
6. Note: I don't care about how the case looks, but I do want many features and exceptional room/cooling (performance)
 
The Coolermaster HAF-X is an excellent choice. It does fulfill almost all your wishes for in a case. And the price is excellent. Surely grab it.

About the PSU, please don't get confused here. Theoretically does not means absolutely. I could not find any links/reviews for your PSU and thus made a comment purely based on whatever specs you provided. So skip on the PSU changing only if you are confident about it.
 
Solution

pocketdexter

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Oct 1, 2010
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I checked on extreme power supply calculator for my future gpu upgrade (after case), and I might be cutting it close to the amps. It stated that at MAX load, my 12v amps would be at 36.6amps. My PSU claims 36 amps, so I may look into a psu soon.
 


Good thinking.