Thinking about building a new rig. Should I get a new case?

[Infohawk]

So it looks like it's time to replace my Amd 64 3000+ / Nvidia 6600 system. Is there really any reason to upgrade a case? The power supply in the case is 380 watts. It looks okay I guess but I wouldn't mind a smaller one if it were feasible. Is there anything I need to consider or should I just stick with this hung of metal?

 

[Tullphan]

What's gonna be your new components?
You may need a larger case just to be able to fit the video card inside.
Also, depending on your components, you may need a beefier PSU.
It all just depends.

 

[scruffypup]

The only reason to upgrade the case is if it cannot house what you want to put into it, or you just plain hate the case,....

If you like the case, determine what components you want, then see if they will fit inside,.... the same with the power supply, it is 3 years old and 380W, it might work, but it depends on the components,... so start with your components first

 

[Infohawk]

I'm trying to wait as long as possible to build, but I'm thinking a quad core 45 nm intel chip, with an ATI 4850 or 4870 with one hdd and one dvdrw. I looked at a calculator that said that 380 is enough. To confirm if a video card will fit, do I just take a measuring tape and compare the specs from newegg?

 

[Tullphan]

Well, if it'll help, I got a 4850 in a LL V1000B case. Of course, the innards are a little different from my case to yours, but perhaps that'll give you some idea.
I've got a MMC reader in my top bay, the next 2 bays have Sammy DVD-R/W's.
The best I could tell measuring the card w/o taking it out was 10"...that was from where it hooks under the thumbscrew to the other end. You may have to allow another 1/4-1/2" for the extra cable pooching out from the PCI-E plug.
With what you're running & assuming you're not going to overclock, that 380 should be ok.
Hope that helps.

 

[DSF]

Anandtech's study of the power draw of the 4850 and 4870 is here:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=22

Personally, I wouldn't try to run them along with a quad core on a 380W PSU. Taking a conservative approach and figuring only 60W for the whole rest of the system at load on top of the 227 AT found when putting a heavy load on the GPU you're already just about at 80% load, and ideally you wouldn't be running a PSU so close to its max load. With a 4870 you're pushing it even further.