Antec Aria mATX Cube Case.

[uwannawhat]

I also posted this deal in allisom's .01 cusa thread but thought since a lot may have gotten in on the mATX mobo from compgeeks on St. Patty's day may find this helpful.

Antec Aria Micro ATX compgeeks $29 Aopen nforce3 150 mATX board on St. Patty's Day.

$80 after $20 instant savings $30 rebate & penny shipping.

 

[StormRider]

I would so love to have this case -- but I already have way too many computer cases lying around (total = 9)

 

[mshan]

It's slightly more than $90 shipped and no tax and no rebate at Amazon.com.

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: mshan
It's slightly more than $90 shipped and no tax and no rebate at Amazon.com.

awesome.

 

[Schmide]

Sorry to bump the thread. But me and u(wannawhat) are basically building the same system. Picked it up today.

 

[uwannawhat]

Hey Schmide.

I've built an HTPC with this case before using the exact same board as the one from St. Patty's Day. That one has a 64bit 2800 chip in her with a haupauge PVR 250MCE.

This one gonna have a 3000+ 64bit chip and either a 500MCE PVR or the 150 PVR from amazon.

Bout the only dissapointment with the board I have is that there is no firewire onboard for the front ports on the Aria Case. And if I remember there is no card reader connectors either?

Anyway very nice case but does run a tad on the warm side. I paid over $120 shipped on my 1st Aria Case. :Q

 

[Schmide]

The card reader is just a usb 2.0 connection. So you will have to sacrifice one of your usb 2.0 connectors to get the card reader to work. My biggest disapointment is the clearance of the powersupply.

ariahsf.jpg

 

[uwannawhat]

I used a Zalman USA CNPS7000B-AlCu P4, Skta from amazon.com around $30 shipped.

It fits perfectly & provides the best cooling you could get for this type of case with it size limitations.

Antec does include a slide clip to offset a regular heatsink fan.

Thanks for the info on the card reader hook~up.

 

[dquan97]

I have this case and it's a tight fit in there. The ribbon from the cd drive is pretty close to the cpu fan.

 

[KenSr]

This is a nice case, but it seems like there are a few issues with it.
Does anyone know of an alternative [maybe a little cheaper]?

 

[uwannawhat]

I thought I had a winner when I ordered an antec minuet from newegg for around $75 shipped.

Then I realized it took 1/2 sized or low profile pci cards (which generally are more $'s & less to choose from). By the time you spent the extra on the 1/2 sized pci cards you could've gotten something like this case instead.

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: KenSr
This is a nice case, but it seems like there are a few issues with it.

You just have to have the make it fit attitude. LOL I made it fit. It seems to be a toasty toaster though. Temps on my idle 2800+ slowly climbed to 45c, not horrible but no overclocking for this baby.

 

[RossMAN]

What's the best bang for your buck motherboard/CPU/video card for this?

I have Fry's B&M near and 0% Oregon sales tax

It will be just a PVR, I don't want the fastest/baddest rig and no OC'ing.

Thanks

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's the best bang for your buck motherboard/CPU/video card for this?

I have Fry's B&M near and 0% Oregon sales tax

It will be just a PVR, I don't want the fastest/baddest rig and no OC'ing.

Thanks

depends if you want to go with AMD or Intel ? If AMD, then if you want to go with AMD 64 or not ?

if I were you, I would go with the following setup at this time (I am tempted to go for it):
Motherboard: MSI RS480M2-IL ATI chipset based motherboard
CPU: AMD 64 3000+ S939 Winchester CPU
Heatsink (optional upgrade): Zalman 7000 series
Video Card: dont need as mobo has built in one comparbable to ATI x300. However, you can add any PCI-E video card like nvidia 6600GT or ATI x800XL later on.

The motherboard and CPU can be had for ~220 + ~25 for heatsink.

 

[RossMAN]

Thanks Gundeep.

Any other suggestions? I want reliable, QUIET, COOL and cheap.

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Thanks Gundeep.

Any other suggestions? I want reliable, QUIET, COOL and cheap.

how cheap you want to go ? Lmk your budget and I will suggest you what i deem best.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: gsethi

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Thanks Gundeep.

Any other suggestions? I want reliable, QUIET, COOL and cheap.

how cheap you want to go ? Lmk your budget and I will suggest you what i deem best.

Somewhere middle of the road, not the cheapest (Celeron) a good solid P4/800FSB or AMD. Would like a nice all around motherboard with everything onboard audio, video (DVI/TV out), USB and FireWire.

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: gsethi

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Thanks Gundeep.

Any other suggestions? I want reliable, QUIET, COOL and cheap.

how cheap you want to go ? Lmk your budget and I will suggest you what i deem best.

Somewhere middle of the road, not the cheapest (Celeron) a good solid P4/800FSB or AMD. Would like a nice all around motherboard with everything onboard audio, video (DVI/TV out), USB and FireWire.

You still need to tell me about your max budget

 

[RossMAN]

CPU/motherboard/heatsink and quiet fan for $200 or less.

NewEgg, ZipZoomFly or Fry's Electronics B&M preferred.

Thanks

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
CPU/motherboard/heatsink and quiet fan for $200 or less.

NewEgg, ZipZoomFly or Fry's Electronics B&M preferred.

Thanks

for ~200, the combo that I originally recommended seems like the best bang of the buck. You can drop the heatsink and go with a cheap heatsink and it will be ~210.

 

[thebestMAX]

My Aria is running:

A Shuttle MN-31n using the onboard video and sound, an AMD 1700 and an original Vantec Aeroflow HS. You could substitute a faster proc and easily still meet your price range.

I can barely hear the HS fan but an even quieter one could be substituted as I run 96* case and 105* CPU (36 and 41C) in a fairly warm room as reported by MBM.

Been running this pretty heavily for about 10 months now and very happy with it. I also have 3 other computers.

Gsethi s setup sound good also. Just posted mine to give you a little more info.

 

[manno]

Originally posted by: Schmide
The card reader is just a usb 2.0 connection. So you will have to sacrifice one of your usb 2.0 connectors to get the card reader to work. My biggest disapointment is the clearance of the powersupply.

ariahsf.jpg

Thanks for the heads up I've never noticed that problem in any of the reviews I've read thanks Schmide.

 

[RossMAN]

thebestMAX - Thanks for the info

 

[JohnDoh]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
CPU/motherboard/heatsink and quiet fan for $200 or less.

NewEgg, ZipZoomFly or Fry's Electronics B&M preferred.

Thanks

A socket A sempron or p4 478 motherboard/cpu combo at outpost

I wouldnt even spend $200, id get this and add some geforce 4mx or radeon 9200 on sale for $29 (they pop up all the time)

AMD Sempron 2800+ Boxed Processor with Motherboard Includes Fan and 3 Year Warranty $119
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4345935?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

why spend more? save more for a hard drive to store your recorded playboy channel ... woops I mean discovery channel episodes, something



Edit: oh and I hope you like your case, my buddy has one and its super quiet... and if you get that above might want to replace the heatsink with say something like this http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-151-111&depa=1 to keep it on the quiet side

 

[RossMAN]

JohnDoh - You rock, thanks!

Since this is only going to be a PVR I should probably spend the money on hard drive, good TV tuner card and cable TV