What case should I get?

[Sporadic]

I'm putting together a computer for my dad; what case should I get?

I'm looking for something that will stay cool but won't be loud enough to drown out a tv or keep them awake.

Here are the parts I have picked so far:

MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130082)
EVGA 256-P2-N636-AR GeForce 7950GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130074)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115004)
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145590)

I already have 2 hard drives and 1 floppy reader.

Did I do alright parts-wise?

This system is only going to be used for email, light gaming and HD-DVD.

[Vinny]

Those parts are good... but how do you plan to do HD-DVD? I didn't think they had HD-DVD drives for computers yet.

Since it doesn't look like heat will be a major issue, you should be fine a nice, simple little case. I'd recommend the Cooler Master Centurion 5 with a few Arctic Cooling cushioned fans. It's cheap and it's built solid.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

And get these of these two fans, they don't move a ton of air but since heat won't be a huge issue with your build, these'll work great.
80mm: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186006
120mm: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186008

[Sporadic]

Those parts are good... but how do you plan to do HD-DVD? I didn't think they had HD-DVD drives for computers yet.

Since it doesn't look like heat will be a major issue, you should be fine a nice, simple little case. I'd recommend the Cooler Master Centurion 5 with a few Arctic Cooling cushioned fans. It's cheap and it's built solid.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

And get these of these two fans, they don't move a ton of air but since heat won't be a huge issue with your build, these'll work great.
80mm: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186006
120mm: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186008

360 attachment hooked up through USB


Glad to hear I can go with a cheaper case.

I was looking at this monster Antec http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129017

[Vinny]

Ah, duh... didn't think about that.

I would NOT recommend getting a case where the PS goes at the bottom. Most (nearly all) PSes were not meant to go at the botton of the case and therefore, do not have cables long enough to reach everything. Plus, it's nearly impossible to hide wires in those cases (no pun intended).

Also, what graphics card are you planning to get? I'm guessing this computer will be around for a bit and will eventually have a Nvidia G80 (like the 8800) or the upcoming ATI R600 (like a X2900XT) in it sooner or later. That'll make things a bit more difficult because those graphics cards are looooooooooong.

[Sporadic]

Ah, duh... didn't think about that.

I would NOT recommend getting a case where the PS goes at the bottom. Most (nearly all) PSes were not meant to go at the botton of the case and therefore, do not have cables long enough to reach everything. Plus, it's nearly impossible to hide wires in those cases (no pun intended).

Also, what graphics card are you planning to get? I'm guessing this computer will be around for a bit and will eventually have a Nvidia G80 (like the 8800) or the upcoming ATI R600 (like a X2900XT) in it sooner or later. That'll make things a bit more difficult because those graphics cards are looooooooooong.

Just a EVGA GeForce 7950GT 256MB for now.

He's moving up from a Pentium 4 and GeForce 6800, so it should be a big enough jump for him without breaking the bank.

[CaseyRyback]

You just missed out. Frys had a great case for 60 bucks after rebate. Antec nine hundred I believe is what it was called. They usually are the best place to get computer cases so I would just keep my eyes peeled there to see if they put up another great deal in the next day or so. I believe they had the p180 for 80 bucks AR recently (I know someone did, but cannot remember if it was Fry's or not).

As far as a recommendation goes, I have a super lan boy and it is pretty nice. I have not had any problems with it and it is really lightweight so it is easy to transport. Compusa has it for 30AR if you have one near you that isn't closing.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=SEARCH&Ntt=antec+super+lan+boy&N=0&Dx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&D=antec+super+lan+boy&Ntk=All&product_code=312199&Pn=Super_Lanboy_ATX_Mini_Tower_Case

[Kendro]

Just a EVGA GeForce 7950GT 256MB for now.

He's moving up from a Pentium 4 and GeForce 6800, so it should be a big enough jump for him without breaking the bank.
Well a P4 and 6800 is definitely more than adequate for Internet and light gaming, he's not happy with his current setup?

As for cases, you probably don't need a $130 case for a non-gaming PC. $60 should be enough. Cooler Master makes some great ones:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119104

And my personal favorite though $135 with no PSU is very steep:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119030 :hot:

[Sporadic]

Well a P4 and 6800 is definitely more than adequate for Internet and light gaming, he's not happy with his current setup?


No, he somehow screwed up the BIOS/killed the motherboard then after I got a new one they bent the pins to the processor pulling it out of the old one.

We just decided to start anew and salvage what we could from the old computer (2 hard drives, floppy disc drive, 2 dvd drives).

Also he was planning on buying an HD-DVD player, now only thing he has to do is ask to borrow my 360 attachment.

[Vinny]

FRYs had that Antec 900 for $60 before. I really wanted to buy it but with all those fans, I was afraid at how loud it would be.

[TheBlueWizard]

Well a P4 and 6800 is definitely more than adequate for Internet and light gaming, he's not happy with his current setup?

It light gaming with one of the best systems around....I just bought that card in my new laptop but with 512 MB RAM and it kicks butt. Its light gaming in a great system. If he's only surfing the internet, doing email and some older games, he should just stick with what he has.

To the OP, note that Windows Vista does not currently support dual video cards with the SLI architecture yet (at least 2-3 weeks ago when I was looking at these).

[Sporadic]

If he's only surfing the internet, doing email and some older games, he should just stick with what he has.

No, he somehow screwed up the BIOS/killed the motherboard then after I got a new one they bent the pins to the processor pulling it out of the old one.

Oh and by light gaming, I mean firing up Doom 3 for 10 minutes once every blue moon.

To the OP, note that Windows Vista does not currently support dual video cards with the SLI architecture yet (at least 2-3 weeks ago when I was looking at these).

That's no problem for us. One should be plenty like now.

[mikeohara]

I would also recommend the Antec Nine Hundred as well.

[uli2000]

the nine hundred is still on sale at frys for $60 AR untill the 5th. But, PS is on the bottom. YOur ps cables might not be long enough, especially on full atx motherboards.