Help me build a new system!

[digitalduck]

OK, short story...by looking at my sig i have a basic atx board and dual core. I would love to go to a microatx and a smaller slimmer case, but im concerned about my vid card not fitting? My birthday is coming up and i was gonna get some more ram, but why not a whole overhawl with a new mobo and case and then just go smaller.

Right now i have my nice black dell but stil la crappy old beige tower with like 4 drive bays and i hate it. I would love a slim or just smaller shiny, black case. I know i cant go too slim because my card wont fit.

What options do I have...what new micro atx board out there is better then the one I have... ill keep my dual core, but how about a new board and case to go along with it?

Thanks!!!!

 

[o1die]

Fry's has a raidmax case for $10 after rebate through tomorrow, if you live near one. Comes with a 380w el cheapo power supply. It works with either atx or micro atx boards. They also have a biostar 6150 board with sempron 1250LE cpu for $69.99. I bought this 3 weeks ago when it was $10 cheaper, and it works fine. It's slightly faster than the old socket 939 cpus.

 

[Zap]

There are plenty of small black mATX cases on the market. One gem is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119193
COOLER MASTER Elite 341
$45 with free shipping (probably limited time offer, regular priced $40-50 plus shipping)
15.75" x 7.28" x 14.37"

I just got this case recently and am reasonably impressed.

PRO:
Can fit just about any graphics card, be it Radeon 4870x2 or GeForce GTX 295
Can take normal ATX power supplies (as long as it isn't a huge 1000W+)
Can take FOUR 120mm fans!!! (one front, one rear, two side panel)
Can take 2x optical drives, 1x FDD and three HDD
Toolless (not a PRO for me - personal preference)

CON:
Thin metal is a bit flimsy, though I've seen flimsier
Can't take a 120mm tower heatpipe heatsink because too narrow (but that's because it is small)

For motherboards you have a bunch to choose from. What's your budget and do you plan to overclock or upgrade CPU/RAM with this board in the future?

 

[digitalduck]

o1die...Question I'll look at the frys case in a sec since I'm on my iPhone this is quicker however, I am really for a case that has very few external drive bays especially 3.5 I would preferr a case with no 3.5 and one or two 5.25 also, what speed is the CPU at that u quoted? Also, between the case or a new CPU I would pick the case for now since the old one is ugly and I can live with my 2.6 ghz or whatever. Is it a smart move to switch to a Matx board? I'm worried about my 8800gts.

 

[o1die]

Micro atx boards tend to have onboard video and fewer overclocking options in the bios. When using only one video card, there's no difference between the atx and micro atx except micro atx has fewer pci slots.

 

[digitalduck]

Thanks, how does the on bpard video compare to my 880gts or will I still be able to get in a Marx board and case? Thanks again....ohj wait, you said other than vid, there really is no difference... maybe im confused, arent the matx boards tiny and fint in a smaller case and dont line up on the raisers of a normal atx case?

If they are the same size minus more OC options and pci clots, then I might as well keep my board and get a smaller case... im still looking for that case that has one bay and no 3.5 bays and is shiny black preferably...but ill take matte.


ALSO....what about this CASE

question is though...should I buy it with the 2.8ghz duo core combo or should I get 2 more gigs of ram? PLUS my existing mobo will fit (correct) so more ram or cpu would be a better option with this case?

Thanks

 

[o1die]

All micro atx boards will fit in an atx case, assuming the backplate (i/o shield) is removable. Open box motherboards may not come with a backplate, but some manufacturers will ship you one for a nominal fee. The rosewill case will work fine with a mid range video card.

 

[digitalduck]

Thanks, but the Rosewill is a matx case and I have an atx board...thats the prob...the reverse isnt tru is it where an atx mobo will fit in a matx case? If I get the Rosewil lcase I have to get a new mobo but I like my giant card and the matx board will have on board graphics which will be unnecessary wont it?

Thanks

 

[o1die]

No. You're right about the micro atx case not working with atx boards. Newegg has plenty of other cases on sale this weekend. Some with free shipping with promo codes. Fry's also has a thermaltake case for $19.99 after rebate but doesn't come with a power supply. The best case they have is the antec 900 for $79.99 without p/s.

 

[digitalduck]

Dang..and I run the risk of it not fitting my 8800gts either...shoot.. hmm wish there was a way I knew...however, it would be a bad idea to go to a matx case when i dont need to and get a new mobo just for the size..meghh