Case & Cooler questions

[dndavis57]

I need to build a new system. I'm already a bit over my initial budget ($600) but not too badly. Here's what I have in mind so far:

Core 2 Duo E8400 ($150 at Micro Center right now)
Xigmatek S1283
4GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R
BFG GeForce 9800GT OC 512MB
Samsung S223Q DVD burner
Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB HDD
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W PSU
Reusing old M-Audio Revolution soundcard
Ubuntu Linux 64-bit

I'm thinking of reusing my Antec Sonata case (first generation) from my now-deceased system, but I wonder if it will accommodate the S1283. Alternatively, would I do acceptably well with the stock cooler and Arctic Silver in lieu of the OEM thermal compound?

Speaking of Arctic Silver, I have a some left over from my last build. Will this still be good after 6 - 7 years or should I buy new?

Would I be better off with a new case? One thing I noticed is that the front USB ports on the original Sonata only ran at USB 1.0. Do you have any recommendations for an inexpensive, quality case? I want steel construction, quiet, no side window, good airflow. Filtered vents are a plus, since I hate the dust that accumulates inside a case; if I can easily add filters, that's OK too. I'm not a gamer and don't go to LAN parties, so I favor heavy, vibration-free construction. I'm willing to replace cheap fans if that's all that is required to improve cooling and drop noise levels.

I may OC the system a bit, nothing extreme. My uses are productivity, Web surfing, multimedia playback, photo editing, Folding. My system runs 24/7. I like flight sims, but I can't play FPS games without becoming ill in a matter of minutes.

 

[theAnimal]

HD4830 is cheaper and performs the same.
PC P&C Silencer 500W is $20 cheaper and plenty of power.

Since you're folding, I'd recommend an aftermarket HSF to keep temps down. Directron has the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro for $22.

 

[dndavis57]

Originally posted by: theAnimal
HD4830 is cheaper and performs the same.
PC P&C Silencer 500W is $20 cheaper and plenty of power.

Since you're folding, I'd recommend an aftermarket HSF to keep temps down. Directron has the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro for $22.

Thanks for the tips. I've swapped the PCP&C 500W PSU for the Corsair in my NE shopping cart. The Freezer 7 Pro obviously is a good cooler, and probably fits better in mid-tower cases.

I should have mentioned, I'll be running Ubuntu Linux 64 on the new machine. Nvidia's driver development still leads ATI, hence the NVIDIA bias. OTOH, for the price difference, I might just go ahead and trust that drivier development continues apace.

 

[yh125d]

Unless your sonata is 1" or more narrower than the newer sonata's, it will fit the Xigmatek, which is a MUCH better cooler

 

[dndavis57]

Cool! (Pun intended). Price is the same either way, since NE doesn't charge shipping on either cooler. Thanks for the advice.