So many choices, what to do?

[Stokes]

Hey all,

I'm more then familiar that there are tons of threads on cases here, and I have read a great deal about them and how I want to get 120 mm fans and probably a mid-tower. So my question is, do I just need to go find a case I think looks sweet? that has my fans (I know I can lower the fans noise by lowering the rpm with programs, although I have no idea what those programs are).

Or are things a little more complicated then that? Also if you have any suggestions please go ahead and show me them. Thank you for your time!

 

[Vikesrock]

You could just pick a case that you think "looks sweet" if other things are not as important to you. However, there are many other factors involved in picking a case such as cooling, noise, whether it's tooless or not, whether it has front USB ect.. There are many people in this forum that probably have some great case suggestions if you provide a little bit more info about your situation and preferences.

1. Do you know what's going in the case yet? If so please list
2. What is your budget for this case?
3. How important to you is cooling? (Do you plan on overclocking?)
4. How important is noise? (Are you a light sleeper that will be in the same room?)
5. Will you be using the included PSU to power your setup?
6. Is a window important?
7. Is front USB, Firewire and/or Audio important?

With this information many users on this forum will be able to give more refined case recommendations.

 

[Stokes]

Vikesrock -

thanks for the reply with the questions. Here is my thoughts so far.

I don't know what's going in the case just yet. Along the lines of a socket 939 Althon 64 3500+ maybe? or an FX, but I've heard that overclocking something like the 3500+ would be better.

The budget for this case should probably be under $100, thats not to say I won't look at something that's $110.

Cooling is important to me because I will be overclocking, but nothing hardcore. I just want to get more for my buck.

Noise will be a huge factor here. Being I will be sleeping in the same room as the computer and I want this thing to be as quiet as possible.

on the PSU, from my readings thus far. I will want something around 350W, but there are some nice features some supplies have that I'm not completely familiar with. I don't know the true advantages of it.

Window is not that important, but a nice thing to have if you understand.

A Front USB would be handy out of the ones you mentioned the most.

 

[Stokes]

Here is one I found:

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133142

I didn't have time to look if it was compatitible with a Athlon 64 3500+ motherboard (haven't gotten that far in the search for parts).

What are peoples thoughts with what I mentioned above?

 

[The Pentium Guy]

I heard the SViking was a pretty loud case. By the way, as long as you get an ATX case you should be fine, anything bigger will fit as well.

Take a look at some Antecs, Coolermaster's pretty awesome as well. Their Cavalier loks cool if you ask me - I like their silver ones.

Generally thermaltakes tend to be a bit loud - but that case's got some fan controllers on it, but by reducing them you're incrasing the heat.

-TPG

 

[Vikesrock]

I don't have a lot of background with silent components as noise is not a huge factor for me. However, from what I have seen the Antec Sonata would be a perfect case for you. It is a little over your estimated budget about $115 shipped at Newegg but it comes with a decent 380W PSU and is pretty quiet from what I've read.