Looking at new case/psu

[Sphexi]

Right now I'm running an Abit IC7-G/2.8/1GB with 3 harddrives (all SATA), a DVD burner, X800XT Sapphire, Audigy 2ZS, all that good stuff, all sitting in a Thermaltake Lanfire III case with stock cooling. The case is great except for a fan that is dying and keeps cycling up and down in speed, and that it's not designed for everything I'm putting in it. Having the three harddrives in there (two in a RAID array and one for data), plus the X800XT pumps out a lot of heat.

I used to have an Antec SOHO 1040 case which I loved, it was big and open inside and had all the space I needed. So I'm looking to go back to that size and style case. I'm looking at the Cooler Master Stacker setup, with the cross-flow fan and all that. I've seen some good stuff about it, was hoping to get some feedback here though.

Basically I'd move all my stuff to it, with the exception of my memory (Corsair XMS PC3200 LLPT 1GB) which I'm going to upgrade to 2GB in 1GB sticks, and a new DVD burner to match the case. I'd also get a new card reader and all that fun stuff for it, and a fancy SATA drive holder to put my drives in for better cooling.

Any comments, suggestions, requests for nude pics of my current case?

 

[Sy]

I bought the Thermaltake Armor. But if I could go back and do it again I would have bought the CM Stacker (I still may). Pic
~Sy

 

[Sphexi]

I wouldn't need that much, and don't get me wrong I love my Thermaltake case, and a buddy has one of their much larger (although older, 1+ years now) cases, he loves it and the fan cover over the door, but yeah, the stacker just looks awesome, and I love the cross-flow fan.

 

[S Random]

stay away from coolmax psu

 

[jose]

The CM Stacker is one of the best case's ever made.. Just look at the stuff I put in one:

http://www.relsyscon.com/projects.htm

Dual Opteron mobo, 2 - 5bay hotswap scsi cages, 2 tape drives, floppy, dvd-rw, 700w Zippy power supply all running cool..

As far as power supply look at these' (all single rail 34A-36A)

Antec 550EPS $105 36A ,old version not the TP2 series
Sparkle 550w $103 36A , but some of the other rails are less than the antec
Enermax 550w $123 36A
OCZ PowerStream 520w 33A $135
AthenaPower 658w 35A/45A $200
PC Power & Cooling 510 SLI 34/38A $219
Zippy 700w 6700p 36A $279.50
Zippy 700w 6701P 45A $310
PC Power & Cooling 850w $469 w/ 4 rails @ 17A each.

I'd get the older Antec w/ 36Amps ...

Regards,
Jose

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: S Random
stay away from coolmax psu

I want a modular PSU, if you can recommend one I'd appreciate it

 

[Sphexi]

Well how about this one from OCZ? All I really care about is the modular setup for power cables, this seems to have that, plus it's pretty highly rated from what I've been able to tell.

 

[jose]

The modstreams are all lower powered than the power stream series.

All the one's I listed are 34A to 36A Single rail psu's....

Seem's you want a pretty psu rather than a powerful psu... They make several w/ lights an all.. But I wouldn't waste my money on any of them..

Check this psu calculator.. (also when you load up some of the weaker psu's, you'll have problems, you are warned)
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

I don't care for any of the single large 120mm fan units, as they seem to raise case temps because they don't help exhaust air.
Some ppl. have had to put duct tape across the front to help force air out of the back..

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: jose
The modstreams are all lower powered than the power stream series.

All the one's I listed are 34A to 36A Single rail psu's....

Seem's you want a pretty psu rather than a powerful psu... They make several w/ lights an all.. But I wouldn't waste my money on any of them..

Check this psu calculator.. (also when you load up some of the weaker psu's, you'll have problems, you are warned)
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

I don't care for any of the single large 120mm fan units, as they seem to raise case temps because they don't help exhaust air.
Some ppl. have had to put duct tape across the front to help force air out of the back..

I did see the difference in the 12v rails on the OCZ units, to be honest I don't need a LOT of power, I won't be overclocking, and I really like the whole modular idea to keep my cabling neat and clean, but if it does become that much of an issue I'll probably end up going with the one with the higher 12v rating. Do you happen to know if they use a single or dual 12v rails?

BTW on that calculator I hit 352 watts max, so I think the 520 Modstream would work fine, I'm on a 450-480 Thermaltake now.

 

[jose]

I don't care for any of the single large 120mm fan units, as they seem to raise case temps because they don't help exhaust air.
Some ppl. have had to put duct tape across the front to help force air out of the back..

As I said the PSU's that I listed are all single rail units w/ 2 fans..

Going w/ a single 120mm fan psu will raise your case temps vs a psu w/ 2 fans..

But I guess the 520 OCZ modstream is fine.