case recommendations for custom pc

[kramer3d]

Here is what is on my wish list so far:
-DFI LANPARTY DK P35-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
-KFA2 by Galaxy 86GFE8HDFEXX GeForce 8600 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card
-Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q9300
-G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ
-XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
-no PSU selection yet (feel free to recommend me one of those too!)
-1 HDD

I was thinking about this one but I dont know if my parts will fit it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811147068

If not, can someone recommends a case for me?

 

[RallyMaster]

I fail to see why you're running a quad core yet you're getting a low-end video card. That just simply does not make sense unless you run a lot more CPU intensive applications than I anticipate. I say you get a dual core and spend more money on the video card.

To be honest, that is a poor excuse for a case with the crappy 80mm mounted in the back and a general look of "cheap." You can get a Raidmax with better quality...but my straight and true answer would be to grab a Centurion 534 from chiefvalue.com for 44.99 + 9.99 shipping (if that deal's still going) because that will fit everything.

 

[kramer3d]

RallyMaster: thanks for quick reply. I am into 3d moddeling and rendering so I want a really good proc. At the same time I am not much of a gamer but I do want to play some games... thanks for case recommendation!

 

[RallyMaster]

Ah, a 3D modeler...3ds max? Lightwave? Rhino? Am I even close?

I do some of that stuff myself in Zmodeler but only for leisure and time burning...I haven't finished a project in a while haha...

 

[kramer3d]

blender3d, i will also be compiling proggies and stuff

 

[kramer3d]

a bit off topic but will 500W psu be enough for this system?

 

[RallyMaster]

Yes, it will be. I still have to say you should get at least a 9600GT if you can. It is miles ahead of the 8600GT in terms of performance and you can get it for around 115 USD sometimes.

Sidenote: Never had any luck with blender partly because my video cards always found ways to screw up with that program open heh...something was always tearing.

 

[kramer3d]

Rally: when did you last try blender? Blender has grown alot especially recently.. you can get it for all OSes and it runs great on all of them afk. What card/OS you have?

 

[Chosonman]

500 is plenty good enough, you're not even running a card that requires additional power.

I don't know why people go for the cheapest option when it comes to cases when in the end a good case will last years longer than anything else on a computer.

If you want a "cheap" case that will last I recommend getting something like the CoolerMaster Centurion. I've built a couple computers using that case and it's one of my favs for the money.

If you want to spend a little more I recommend taking a look at some of the other CoolerMaster, or even Lian Li, ThermalTake cases. If you want to spend money on something that will last till your grand kids grow up I would look at SilverStone or the Zalman Z-Machines.

Regardless of what you get, don't get a case just because it's cheap. You'll appreciate your rig a lot more when it's in a nice case.

 

[Zepper]

Consider the Lancool/Lian Li PC-K7B. Or in the Rosewill line, the 5600 series or the 6A series, both of those are a lot better than the linked one. I agree with RM that a nice and sturdy case with some modern amenities will increase your overall satisfaction greatly.

.bh.

 

[LesterOfPuppets2]

I'd spend $20 more than you were thinking of and get a coolermaster 330. They also have the 534 for around $5 more with firewire on the front panel and a fan in the side panel, should you need or want those things.

 

[RallyMaster]

Originally posted by: kramer3d
Rally: when did you last try blender? Blender has grown alot especially recently.. you can get it for all OSes and it runs great on all of them afk. What card/OS you have?

It was a good year and a half ago I think. I've ran it on both a Ti4200 and a 6800GS and both of them had serious issues with that program lol.

Lester: The Elite 330 is really cheap. I spent a good hour picking out a case and came to the conclusion that the Elite series is just too cheaply made. It has thin metal, feels flimsy and the front panel is kinda...bleh.

 

[LesterOfPuppets2]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Lester: The Elite 330 is really cheap. I spent a good hour picking out a case and came to the conclusion that the Elite series is just too cheaply made. It has thin metal, feels flimsy and the front panel is kinda...bleh.

Definitely not as nice as the Lian Li you mentioned, but for $45 cheaper, I like it. I have two of them in the household, just added front 120mm fans and they're working quite well. I got one for $30 and one with 350w psu for $50.

I've yet to see a Rosewill case in real life, not sure what I think of 'em.

 

[saveyourgreenbacks]

Coolermaster is my favorite. Fairly sturdy construction and decent price.

Coolermaster Case From Newegg



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Thanks for the offer, but Spam should only be cooked, not pimped.

Senior Anandtech Moderator
Common Courtesy

 

[Zepper]

Hey SYG - spammers are unceremoniously shown the door around here... Fairly clever way to cloak your spam link though... I'll have to remember not to click before I look from now on.

.bh.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: LesterOfPuppets2

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Lester: The Elite 330 is really cheap. I spent a good hour picking out a case and came to the conclusion that the Elite series is just too cheaply made. It has thin metal, feels flimsy and the front panel is kinda...bleh.

Definitely not as nice as the Lian Li you mentioned, but for $45 cheaper, I like it. I have two of them in the household, just added front 120mm fans and they're working quite well. I got one for $30 and one with 350w psu for $50.

I've yet to see a Rosewill case in real life, not sure what I think of 'em.

How did you go about installing a front case fan on the Elite 330? I've been thinking about doing that, before I load up some HDs for a raid array. Want to keep the drives cool. It seems that the case has mounting spots for a front fan, but it appears that you need to remove the front bezel to get at them. Is it difficult?

Do the fans interfere with teh HD mounting points? (Do they push the HDs back so that they don't line up with the mounting holes? I had that problem with a codegen case, I had to drill new HD mounting holes.)

 

[RallyMaster]

The front bezel you just kind of ....rip off. It's the same for almost every single mid-range case made by Cooler Master. It will not affect the HD mounting points because Cooler Master already thought of that.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

The bottom rips off first...

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Lian Li PC-71b, cause I said so.