Need a good case, case fans, and CPU cooling

[archcommus]

Alright, my current system:

Athlon XP 2100+ Pally
MSI KT3 Ultra
512 MB PC-2100 Kingston
120 GB Seagate HDD w/8 MB cache
JLMS DVD-ROM
9800 Pro
Audigy 2
WinFast TV2000 XP
Antec SmartPower 400W
some generic ATX case

Soon I will be receiving:

Athlon XP 2100+ Tbred-B
Asus A7N8X-X
1 GB of PC-3200 (not sure of the brand yet)

Everything else I will be keeping, except for the DVD-ROM drive, which is being replaced with some combo drive (read CD/DVD, burn CD, but not DVD, probably some Sony on Newegg for $40), the case, and of course the cables, fans, heatsink, etc. After I get all that, I'll buy cheap replacements for what I'm taking out of my current system just so it can function as a backup (like, 300W PSU, some 20 GB HDD, Radeon 7000, etc.).

For a case, I need something with good cooling and that looks decent. Here's the major point: it MUST be under 16.5" tall! My case is under my desk, and a board from the desk passes right over it. It can't be any taller than that height. Finding a mid-tower ATX that's that tall or shorter AND that has good cooling (front intake, maybe side exhaust, etc.) is proving difficult. Any suggestions would be great. I got an offer from a member over at PCPer for a Lian Li PC30 for $60, but something like that is TOO short, the PSU has to be mounted vertically, and it has no front USB ports.

For case fans, I'd like recommendations for the quietest yet most powerful I can get. The size of the fans, of course, will depend on the case I get.

Finally, for CPU cooling, the best heatsink I can get, with the biggest, most powerful, yet quietest fan to go on top of it. I'd like to be able to push this 2100+ to at least 2.2 GHz.

Thanks for any help!

 

[akira34]

I have to ask, why are you making a lateral move on the processor? Why not go with one that has the 400MHz FSB so that you can actually USE the DDR400 memory at full speed?

 

[orangat]

Probably because PC2100 memory is getting rare and even more expensive than PC3200 these days.

 

[Davegod]

when you say looks "decent", are we talking something non-gaudy and plain like say Antec SLK3700BQE, something shiny aluminium like coolermaster/lian li or some riced up nattiness like thermalfake xasier?


heatsink, have a look at what Thermalright 'sinks will fit your board, with say an 80mm Panaflo L1A fan.

 

[archcommus]

I am making a lateral move on the processor because I am receiving the mobo, mem, and CPU for free. I was going to wait a couple more months before upgrading and go with an A64 2800+, but since I got this offer (guy just wants to get rid of it and saw my thread), I'll take it, OC it, and make it last for awhile. I could always keep the mobo and memory and get a higher XP processor, but which ones are 400 FSB? How high could I take the FSB with the 2100+ Tbred-B?

When I say decent, I mean non-gaudy and plain. Shiny aluminum is nice, although not necessary, and riced up is just, well, yeah...

I'll look at some Thermalright heatsinks.

Thanks.

 

[archcommus]

Bump.

The points of this thread:

Finding a good case under 16.5".

Heatsink/fan recommendations.

 

[DarkMask]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-144&depa=1

That one right there is pretty slick i just built a computer in it and it was fairly easy. It also looks great.

Also, only the 2800+ and 3200+ xps are 400fsb. however, alot of tbreds and bartons (2500+ and above) have a good chance of reaching a fsb of 200 mhz, if you are willing to risk it a little bit.

have fun with your new equipment.

 

[archcommus]

That case won't do, needs to be 16.5" tall or shorter. But, because there are so few cases of this size, I think I might just put my case on the floor at the end of my desk and get super long VGA cables, and then get a wireless keyboard (already have a wireless mouse). My scanner, printer, and sub are already close enough to where it'd go if I did that.

However, I won't be receiving that mobo, CPU, or mem unless someone over at PCPer doesn't pull through for me. He offered all three of those parts for free because he wasn't using them anymore. However, I haven't heard from him since Saturday. I hope he hasn't bailed. If he has, I'll probably buy a mobile 2400+ and maybe a DFI board, but it'd very nice to not have to spend the money on that obviously. If that's the case all of this would have to be put off till late July/August. So let's hope that guy hasn't dropped out!

 

[Degrador]

The Antec Lanboy is exactly 16.5" tall. Seems a pretty nice case too - accepts 120mm fans, which answers the second question. Panaflow 120mm fans would be great - quiet and good airflow.

 

[eno]

I have 4 desktops in my PC room. All of them sport Thermalright heatsinks.

SP94 of my 3ghz P4 (3ghz-3.5ghz)
SLk948u - 64 AMD 3200+ (2.2ghz OC 2.5ghz)
SLK900a - XP2000+ (1.67ghz OC 2.31ghz)
AX7 - 1600+ (field system slight OC 200mhz higher)

 

[Davegod]

Antec SLK2650-BQE looks very interesting, a bit like a shrunk version of the well regarded SLK3700BQE.

It still has the 350w quiet PSU, 120mm exhaust, HDD rubber grommets etc. Changes seem to be the intake is 80mm fan, and it doesnt blow over the HDD's, but there's also a side panel fan spot with ducting to the CPU hsf. Has front USB 2.0 ports.

spec says exactly 16.5".

If you dont like the door and want something a bit cheaper, there's the SLK1650(B) which is 16.6" (might be able to drop it 0.1" if the little feet are removable?).


http://www.antec.com/us/pro_en_solution.html

 

[archcommus]

Sorry, have been kind of busy.

Anyway, I received the parts, thankfully. I'm going to use the Volcano 7+ cooler that he supplied since, well, he supplied it. I think it has a Tornado fan with it, too. Sound decent?

The motherboard, again, is an Asus A7N8X-X, and he also sent 512 MB of PC-3500 mem. I just need to pick up another stick of 512. Should I bother getting PC-3500 or should I just get PC-3200? I do plan to hopefully get this processor to at least 200 FSB (going for 200x11).

For thermal compound I've been told that Ceramique is the easier for a first timer. Sound good?

Now, for a case. My requirements have changed a little. My only absolute must is a motherboard tray. I really don't need an HDD cage, and although 120mm fans would be nice, they are also not required. The main goal, cooling-wise, is just any kind of decent front intake. So, the Antecs you linked to would be good, except I don't think they have a motherboard tray. Because I don't think I will find ANY cases of that height and with a tray, I'm scrapping the height requirement - I'll simply put the case on my desk again like I used to.

So what can I find that will have a mobo tray and good front intake that's cheaper than a Lian-Li PC60? Anything?

 

[Davegod]

Originally posted by: archcommus87
Tornado fan ... Sound decent?

from what I've been told, that's a very aptly named fan - both in terms of it's airflow and the amount of noise it makes

ceramique, artic silver 5, doubt there's really much in it, either in terms of cooling or difficulty in applying. Either way read the instructions with care.

fwiw, I've never had a case with a mobo tray, and never felt the need for one. I've never found it overly fiddly plugging things in and whatnot, the only thing I can imagine it really making life easier for is re-installing a heatsink - which shouldnt exactly be a frequent activity, and the really good heatsink's these days seem to nearly all have to be bolted on via the rear of the mobo, which means taking it out the case wether or not there's a tray. Just my 2p.

 

[archcommus]

I guess I could replace that Tordano with a Panaflo of equal size.

I've only installed a few motherboards in my life, but I think a motherboard tray would be invaluable. I recall my last installation, which was my KT3 Ultra over a year ago, in my current mid-tower case. Placing the motherboard down was not bad at all, but trying to screw it in was, especially when it was often so close to the corners of the case. It was difficult to always have to screw from a top-down angle, too. Plus, anytime I was working with optical drives or hard drives, I think I would remove the mobo tray if my case had one, just to get to the backs of the drives more easily, plus to avoid accidentally hitting the motherboard when removing a hard drive or something.

Anyone have a mobo tray that'd like to contribute?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: archcommus87
I guess I could replace that Tordano with a Panaflo of equal size.

I've only installed a few motherboards in my life, but I think a motherboard tray would be invaluable. I recall my last installation, which was my KT3 Ultra over a year ago, in my current mid-tower case. Placing the motherboard down was not bad at all, but trying to screw it in was, especially when it was often so close to the corners of the case. It was difficult to always have to screw from a top-down angle, too. Plus, anytime I was working with optical drives or hard drives, I think I would remove the mobo tray if my case had one, just to get to the backs of the drives more easily, plus to avoid accidentally hitting the motherboard when removing a hard drive or something.

Anyone have a mobo tray that'd like to contribute?

They are useful if your allways swaping out componets in your system; like the motherboards, CPUs, heatsinks, ect. My current case Lian Li has one, but I didn't find it particulary cirtical to how I worked inside my case.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

This seems to be a very popular case:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-170-015&depa=1

For CPU cooler I like the Zalman 7000A-AlCu. I've been using one on my AXP 1800+ for a short time and it is very quiet and keeps the CPU very cool. I used to have a TT Volcano 6 and that thing was the loudest item in my case by far. I have the Zalman running @ 2100 RPM and it is drowned out by my case fan and HDD's, so I'm very happy with it.

-D'oh!

 

[eno]

I have looked around for something I would like better and just last month I order yet another Antec Case to build my new server. IMO you just can't beat them, quality build,quality power supplies super easy to upgrade in, extremly good cooling, easy side panel removal. I really tried to find something else I would like to build a system in, money being NO issue ande I still just ordered another Antec Performance case.

And I use Thermalright heatsinks in every case as well.

Click the link below to see my computer room, its full of Antecs.

 

[archcommus]

That KT-424-S looks pretty damn awesome for that price. I think that settles it. I want that one. Mobo tray, screwless CD-ROM/floppy bays, tool-less entry, excellent front intake. It's settled. And only $91 shipped. I can deal with no 120mm fans, maybe someday I'll feel like modding.

Now, before I go ahead and buy this, are we sure that this case doesn't lack anything major from the normal KT-424? How is the "-S" different?

That cooler might be nice but would run me $35. ALX-800 is $16 at SVC, is there any beating that?

EDIT: Sorry, eno, I opened my reply window before you replied. Those Antecs look good, but for the price the 424-S is looking to be the best combination (it also have the mobo tray).

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: archcommus87
That cooler might be nice but would run me $35. ALX-800 is $16 at SVC, is there any beating that?

Here ya go...
I noticed this when I ordered some heatshrink. I have only ordered here once, but I received shipment within 3 days.

SLK-800U

I have one of these on my main box with a Panaflo U1A. Solid copper cools excellent. It is more tolerent of lower speed fans than the ALX-800.

You should also check for mobo compatability since this is a bolt-thru design.

 

[archcommus]

Well it says it's compatible with A7N8X-Deluxe and A7N8X. Does not say A7N8X-X, but I'm sure it'd fit it just fine.

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: archcommus87
Well it says it's compatible with A7N8X-Deluxe and A7N8X. Does not say A7N8X-X, but I'm sure it'd fit it just fine.

You ought to go over to http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/
I'll bet somebody there has used one on your board.

 

[eno]

ALX800 for $9.99

 

[eno]

O wait, get the SLK800u from the other guys post if it will fit. Screw the ALX800, I have a SLK800a and I love it.