New System Case Recommendation

Dezine wrote on 6/24/2004, 12:01 PM
I am attempting to build my first new system, which is going to be video and 3D animation only with Vegas5+DVDR2.0, Boris red, Photoshop etc.

I was wondering which case you might go with for these specs.

I prefer a case that dosen't have a display window as I want to keep the case cool and quiet.
I was looking at the:
Antec Solution Series "SLK3700AMB" with 350W Power Supply
Antec "Sonata" with 380W Power Supply (I was concerned that it might be a bit tight)

Asus P4P800-E Motherboard (2 Firewire, 8 USB 2.0, 10/100 Ethernet, 6.1 Onboard Intergrated sound, that I would disable to use M-Audio Card)
Intel P4 3.0 GHz 530 HT Processor
Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 x 4 2GB
Drive #1: Maxtor 80GB 7200 IDE Hard Drive
Video Drive: WD 250GB 7200 IDE Hard Drive
Vantec "Stealth" 120mm Case fan
PNY NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 Video Card (Dual Monitor with Open GL)
Pioneer 8X DVD +/- DVR-107D
M-Audio 410 PCI Soundcard
Windows XP Professional

Please leave me any additional suggestions for anything I might have missed as again, this is the first system that I would have built.

Thanks,
Dezine

Comments

Jsnkc wrote on 6/24/2004, 12:20 PM
Check out the Thermaltake cases, I bought one a while ago and I absolutely LOVE it...tons of fans to keep everything cool, and very quiet!

http://www.thermaltake.com

This is the one that I have

JohnnyRoy wrote on 6/24/2004, 12:34 PM
> I was wondering which case you might go with for these specs.

For my system I used an Antec PlusVIEW 1000AMG with an Antec TrueBLUE480 power supply. You can get the case with or without the clear side panel. It has plenty of room for hard drives and is used by many of the major custom builders. Canopus also uses this case for their turnkey video systems. I’m very happy with it.

> Please leave me any additional suggestions for anything I might have missed

As I suggested in another of your posts, I would use an SATA drive for the video drive. Otherwise you now have three (3) IDE devices (System drive, video drive, DVD burner) and only two (2) master IDE channels. That means one of those devices is going to have to go on a secondary IDE channel and your SATA channel will go unused.

~jr
JackHughs wrote on 6/24/2004, 12:45 PM
Check out the Antec P-160w case. The case is roomy - very roomy. It does not include a power supply but comes with a lot of very nice features such as clip mounts for all drive bays and a front panel with 2 USB ports, one Firewire port, sound I/O, and a two level temperature readout. The hd bays are rotated 90 degrees so you have uncluttered access to change out hard drives if desired.

I believe that Newegg had these on sale last week for $99.00.

Jan
BillyBoy wrote on 6/24/2004, 1:46 PM
One bit of warning. I once ordered a cheapie aluminum case. While it had a nice polished alumimum look to it, it was so thin and poorly made several of the bottom portion of the motherboard fastners than hold the MB to the case fell out as soon as I put screws in. Worse the slot for the floppy drive was misaligned so that when you pressed the floopy button it hit the case and no amount of fiddling would get it in proper alignment. Live and learn. <wink>
mstrg wrote on 6/24/2004, 2:40 PM
I've had good experiences with the Antec 1080AMG - not that much more expensive & includes 3 quiet fans. Stable power supplies (& cooling) seem to be more critical. Might want to spend some time in a forum like abxzone or ocforums if you're uncertain about your MB/CPU/memory selections.
planders wrote on 6/24/2004, 3:19 PM
I put my system in a P-160 case a couple of months ago, and I really like it. Tons of space, keeps really cool with the two 120mm fans, and runs extremely quietly. And it's a very well-made case, easily the most solid one I've owned. Beautiful anodized finish and stylish front panel.

I'm also using an Antec TruePower 550W power supply which did wonders for my system's stability.

Even overclocked, this is the quietest P4 system I've used apart from the ones I've seen with cooling ducts and passive CPU heat sinks. The loudest sound comes, believe it or not, from my video card's fan.
NaperRick wrote on 6/24/2004, 7:14 PM
I am using the Antec Sonata and have been very happy with it. The system runs very cool. I have a P4 2.8, Intel D875PBZ MOBO, Crucial Memory, 80GB sys HD and 250 GB video drive (SATA), Sony DVD Rom and DVD-RW, ATI AIW Radeon Video Board and Creative Audigy Audio.
Case looks great in "piano black". The two blue leds on the front are bright enough to read by. The case fans are very quiet.
Rick