300W enough? also Case Recomendations?

[SteelCityFan]

I FINALLY got my tax refund, so I am making my final choices...

I plan on getting ...

1.8 P4 (not the "A" cause I have heard those suck)
Abit TH7II Raid (Newegg $160)
2 x 256MB 16 Device Samsung PC800 RDRAM (Googlegear $76x2)

Other parts I am stuck using until I get more cash...

Voodoo5 5500
Sound Blaster Live Value
20GB IBM HD

I have not yet decided on a Power supply and or case. Currently, I have this Enlight case...

Enlight Case

It came with a 300W power supply, but it was swapped with a higher quality 250 with more standby voltage (P3V4X would not boot with stock PS).

I was considering a 350 Watt Enermax PS for $53 (dual fan gold leads etc), but noticed Enermax has cases for $65 with side and top fans, front USB etc, but with only 300W power supplies in them.. lower quality $35 ones.


Should I stick with my case, and just upgrade the Power Supply, or go for a better case? Any recomendations for a case / PS in that price range? My current PS does not have the P4 connector, and I don't want to run a 250 anyway.


Oh, and I was kidding about the Northwood comment I will be getting the Northy and doing a modest OC to 2Ghz or just above.

Thanks

 

[John]

Yes, 300w is fine.



<< 1.8 P4 (not the "A" cause I have heard those suck) >>



Please explain.

 

[powerMarkymark]

Antec 1030 Case is what I just got and I love it. It comes with an Antec 300W PSU.

 

[SteelCityFan]

<< Yes, 300w is fine.



<< 1.8 P4 (not the "A" cause I have heard those suck) >>



Please explain. >>



Attention grabber.. lol. Look at the last line in my post.

Haha



Antec make a good power supply?

 

[powerMarkymark]

<< Antec make a good power supply? >>



I hear that they make an excellent power supply.

 

[Chain777]

Just check my sig for the case; I love it, especially if space is a consideration. It has plenty of room, lots of cooling and tool-less removal of case side panel, hd bays, and p/s. Not the cheapest (I paid about 100.00 w/350W antec dual fan p/s), but excellent build and layout.

Can't go wrong with this one, especially if you don't have room for a full tower.

 

[gamephile]

AntecAntecAntec......I can't be more emphatic. ANTEC! I've built systems using that enlight case. I hate it, its poorly built and has bad ventilation. I don't know if you've seen one or can see in pictures, air has a hard time going through those itty bitty holes in the bezel. Also, the cd-rom drives in that case tend to rattle, whereas I have never experienced that with the drive rails in my Antec sx830. The power supply is also another issue, the enlight's, in my humble experience, have caused stability issues and have been just one more thing for me to troubleshoot. The Antec, on the otherhand, also a 300W, has been powering tons of eqiupment (see profile) and I plan to add another hard drive to that list. So, I would say don't feel bad about spending an extra 20 dollars on the sx630 or 635 even, it will be well worth it.

 

[ILikeSprite]

300w should be fine........

 

[SteelCityFan]

<< AntecAntecAntec......I can't be more emphatic. ANTEC! I've built systems using that enlight case. I hate it, its poorly built and has bad ventilation. I don't know if you've seen one or can see in pictures, air has a hard time going through those itty bitty holes in the bezel. Also, the cd-rom drives in that case tend to rattle, whereas I have never experienced that with the drive rails in my Antec sx830. The power supply is also another issue, the enlight's, in my humble experience, have caused stability issues and have been just one more thing for me to troubleshoot. The Antec, on the otherhand, also a 300W, has been powering tons of eqiupment (see profile) and I plan to add another hard drive to that list. So, I would say don't feel bad about spending an extra 20 dollars on the sx630 or 635 even, it will be well worth it. >>




I bought the Enlight from a local place when I lived in State College Pa. A college friend of mine worked there so I got a great deal on my current setup... they had a small place, so they did not offer many case options.

As said before, I swapped out the PS after finding out it did not supply enough standby voltage for my P3V4X, but I don't recall the brand that is there now.

As far as the holes in the front... I fixed that by boring them out to about twice their original size.

I'll look into thise model numbers you posted.


Anyone have opinions on the 65 dollar cases from Enermax? Kind of ugly, but they have pre-made fan openings on the top and side.

 

[SteelCityFan]

I just checked Newegg.. the Antec 630 is in my range for what I wanted to pay, but it is a Mini Tower... I am more interested in a mid tower.

 

[SteelCityFan]

Opinions on the

Enermax, CS-003-01WB

For $65 here

 

[JohnnyPC]

Do a Pricewatch for SX830 and at the top of the list you'll find a couple places that sell em for $65 + ~$20 shipping. I've used EMS before no probs. The 830 is a nice size case that's not too HUGE and will fit all the stuff you want. you'll get the solid Antec construction and an approved 300 watt PS...