Help with Case and cooling... also question about computer shows

[happie23]

First of all, thanks for any responses I get from my very first post to anandtech. This place has the best forum. Lots of people post and stuff. I hope lots of people post to this.

Hey, I'm here to ask about cases and cooling. I have been reading all of the posts concerning this and I hate to beat a dead horse, but I would like to ask some questions to the techies here.

Firstly, the case. I have been reading everywhere that Lian Li's are great. I am thinking of getting one myself (the PC69). I like the fan intake blowing over the hd and the fan in the back. Also, since it is aluminum, I guess it dissapates heat quicker (albeit I don't assume that much over conventional metal cases). The criteria of my choice would be as follows (ranked):

1. The reason I want a good case is so that I don't have to replace it when I upgrade.
2. It is well built
3. Removable MB tray so I don't have to contort my fingers.
4. Good ventilation
5. Quiet. What I mean is that the fans don't create too much noise, and the case itself does not vibrate and give strange sounds
6. Not too big
7. I like the USB's in the front.

I am just wondering if I should be considering any other cases in this price range that match the criteria as good as or better than the Lian Li PC69.

Secondly, about cooling for the cpu. Again this has been asked and asked again, but please bear with me.

I don't really know which HSF combo I should get. I am going to get an AMD XP 1700-1900+. I am not an overzealous OC'er, but I might tinker with the FSB and multipliers and so on. But the most important factor is noise. I am going to be sleeping with this thing on in the same room and I don't want some dB equivalent of a hairdryer running beside me. While I don't want to do this, I would also consider noise supression mats that you line your case with as well if the noise to heat ratio is good.

I guess on a similar note, a suggestion on a quiet HD would be nice too.

So my main goal is to have a nice quiet (meaning can-sleep-beside-it) system that I will most likely will not OC.

On a note about buying these parts, there is an upcoming computer show in Toronto that I am considering going to. Has anyone had experiences with computer parts dealers at these shows? Especially in Toronto? Also, I heard that some don't charge tax (which is 15% in Ontario, Canada :disgust: ). Is that true?

I'm sorry for the long post, and I hope to have some informative anandtech calibre replies 🙂.

Again, I thank in advance any replies that I receive.

Homer

 

[jcmkk]

1. If you can afford a Lian Li case, then go for it. You won't be dissapointed.
2. Depending on your Motherboard I would suggest the Alpha PAL8045. Your motherboard needs to have enough room for this heatsink to fit on. Check the Alpha compatibility list to make sure it will fit on your motherboard. Buy the bare heatsink and put a panaflo on it. They make some of the quietest fans. The Alpha uses an 80mm fan so you will get just as much CFM with a lower powered fan. In other words, less noise. If you want a quiet HD, then I would suggest the Seagat Baracuda IVs. You can't even hear them, and they are very fast. You also might wanna replace all of the stock fans in your case with panaflos.

Personally I would not suggest buying anything at a computer show. It is almost impossible to collect on a warranty, if they even give you one. You also wont get much of a deal by buying at the show.