Case & PSU buyer - wants opinion...

[dustyslapper]

Howdy OCNZ!

I need a new case and psu. Running a 1200 durrie on a 230W supply, and my case is sooo small I have to have the side off to run games stably as air flow is zero. Ie - no air in, no air out when the side is on. Gets a bit toasty, and the damn this is so small I have to remove the (****ty) psu to even see the processor or ram slots. Not the worlds best design...

Ohhh yeah - and 230W is causing my PC top hang every 2nd or 3rd time I try and use my modem. And any fsb over 120mhz wont post regardless of the multiplier - I'm sure its the PSU.

So I need a new case, and a new psu.

I was thinking of an icute - $120 approx. Crap 320W PSU included. Not really crap, just not brilliant. Seen as low kwality and not silent like the $$$$ PSUs can be. And I want a quiet PC.

A local place will sell me an icute with an enermax 300W for $180. Thats a good deal in my book - as they charge $150 just for the case and generic supply. None of the 'good' hardware stores I have emailed will supply me that combination. The icute caes is OK - not awesome, but enough room. I don't want to mod - just put in some silent fans going in and some going out.

Then today I saw that dragon have the enermax black server for $170 inclusive edit: and Styles have it for $165 inc delivery... *GASP* . I would need a good psu with that - thats another $105 for a quiet 300W enermax. Thing is I really want that case, Its awesome. But I'm not surre I can justify it. I have 1*HD, 1*CDrom. The case would be empty. But awesome....

what should I do? I have $180 - should I buy the enermax case, and put up with the ****ty psu for another two weeks? Or do I buy an Icute for $115 and save all my money, or do I get a reasonable icute/enermax combo for a reasonable amount? What do you think?

Shoud I even think about neonlight or something as a wild ball? Problem is that I have never seen one - and they could be really ghey....


thanks for reading all. Post some long winded opinions ASAP


:) :) :)

[SecretSquirrel]

1. iCute cases cost only $115-120 from StylesPC and TasTech, and they have never been dearer, so wherever you were looking at them with standard crap psu for $150, they are too expensive!!

Email StylesPC (john@stylespc.com) and ask about possible iCute + better PSU.

2. According to some of the nerds here, the Enermax PSU's quality tends to kick in at the 350 watt + models...not too sure though, I am using a cheap 350W and loving it. May be a different story when I get something other than the Duron...but however :)

Thats just a thought, sir.
Cheers.

[dustyslapper]

John said that there was no way to get an icute without the psu. So if want an icute with enermax from styles I am going to have to sell a generic 320W on trademe or something. $180 with enermax that the local joint will do is about right. $150 would be awesome, but $180 is on just about fair...

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The thing that is really important is that I want to get a ti4200 in the next month. I am gagging for a new graphics card (in a geforce2mx kind of way).

I really want to spend money on that! $430 for the gainward has me drooling :P

But as they say a good case is for life.

Big question is how do I prioritise these? Good case and psu and wait longer for card? Real cheap case and psu and get card earlier?


God damn its confusing....

[SecretSquirrel]

Case first, and as for the Gf4, I'd suggest the Leadtek, I've seen the 4200 first hand hit faster speeds than the Gainward.

The 64mb version I mean, 128mb is not worth the extra $100 at the moment in my opinion.*




*I'm probably wrong ;)

[Hans]

If you are going to get a GF4 Ti-4200 next month then your current PSU will not cut it. You need to get a new PUS, either from Icute or the Enermax.

[dustyslapper]

I agree Hans - I'm sure if I had a hungrier card then this mx then I doubt I'd be running JK2.

One good thing about an mx is that it uses less power then the average g-shock :)


I'm definitely getting a new case and psu first - its just a question of how much money do I really want to spend on them? That 'southerly server' enermax from styles is looking better the more I think about it. Now I just have to convince somebody to 'lend' me a high quality PSU...
Any takers? Heh he!

[Hans]

I've not had any experience with the Icute PSU but think they are okay in terms of quality/price ratio.

If you want a quite case and tight on budget, why not get the Icute and hax the 80mm fan with 7V mod? The PSU will be fine with the 7V mod.

But beware that I ain't no case modder.

[AcurA]

alwys got the A-open H*08 cases with a good 300w psu...

has its pro and cons... not bad overall

[Binky Stunt Cat]

anyone emailed JB bout that Enermax clone by Thermaltake???

[shag]

I'm happy with my HQ08 too. Good solid case with plenty 'o room. I'll be upgrading my power supply though to an enermax 431w or 550w. not sure what one yet. This poor little 300 watter is just being asked to do way too much:rolleyes:

[Unicorn]

I've got an Icute case. Cheap and does the job, but not great quality by any means. The metal is very thin, making the thing quite light and not giving much sound insulation. Had to replace the high speed CU6+ fan with an 3000rpm 80mm Sunon to get noise within reason. Also had to hack the case in way of fans, as the standard setup does not let much air through.

I am not sure that the power supply noise is a real factor, as the case and cpu fans probably make more noise than the psu (2 case fans came with my case and I added a couple more).

If you want a case that you hope to keep forever, then look beyond ICute - but be prepared to wait longer for a new video card. My own view is that they may change something at some stage before too long, making ATX cases useless for new boards - so no point spending more than necessary. People who spent up large on top notch AT cases will know that.

If you are happy with an adequate case, the Icute should be fine. In that case stick with the standard psu and see if you can live with it. Next priority should be the video upgrade as that will make a huge difference performance wise. You can always do a psu upgrade later, or even sell the case an get another one. Pretty hard to go wrong with something that has an okay 320W psu and costs $115.

[I.R]

Originally posted by AcurA
alwys got the A-open H*08 cases with a good 300w psu...

has its pro and cons... not bad overall

Con: DAMN ugly front :p

[GooGlo]

The iCUTE cases are a good buy. The have wicked airflow when modded slightly to remove the ****ty grill things (which is very easy btw) they have no sharp edges inside, The PSU would be my main concern but if you are running on a 230watt i dont think you would have to much of an issue, Anything's gotta be better than what you are running right now ;)

As Unicorn said, The metal is very thin and prone to bending if stepped on (ive only got one side panel now :p) They cant take the damage like a higher quality case can.

Do you lan a lot? If so then you should get something more solid than an icute. They are not that strong. Im sure you would end up with a deformed case after a while of lugging it round. I carry mine in the original packaging so not too much of an issue here.

My iCUTE 320watter does not cope with my highly o/ced t-bird and all the rest of my hardware/fans... At stock though I have never had any problems from it.

I personnally went for the icute and have not regretted it really. they are very good for the money.

[Hans]

Actually, PSU is the noisest component in my system.

To give you an idea on the quietness, I can near my Maxtor
D-740X's (FDB version) seeking noise when opening ICQ or Outlook. That's with both side panels closed. Bay bus is used to lower CPU fan's voltage.

The Sunon "Ultra" quiet is too noisy for me. I got a cheap-ass 80mm fan from computer future, which is rated @ 0.14A. This setup is enough to keep my oced CPU, XP-1600 @ 1750, stable.

[dustyslapper]

I don't lan, but I want something quiet - going to dynamat whatever I eventually get, along with some vantec stealth fans. What size are the ones that Styles sell? VANTEC Stealth Low Noise Fan, 2050RPM, 27CFM, 21 dba $24.00 INC GST


ATM I am thinking of getting the PSU this week, and then getting that enermax server the week after. Then again - I have taken a look at the length of the leads on the enermax psu, and there's next to no way they are ever going to fit in my current case :( Damn thing is just too small.

Maybe I just get the case and put up with bad PSU for another week.... ?

[GriffiN]

Originally posted by dustyslapper

I'm definitely getting a new case and psu first - its just a question of how much money do I really want to spend on them? That 'southerly server' enermax from styles is looking better the more I think about it. Now I just have to convince somebody to 'lend' me a high quality PSU...
Any takers? Heh he!


Just remember when you're thinking of getting a PSU, what you want to get out of it for the next yr or two. Like, apart from the vid upgrade, will you be making any other upgrades?
Personally i would go for a 350w min, but aiming more for 400w.
Also - that $180 deal for case and enermax - maybe they could lower the deal if it was a leadman, which tend to be cheaper but just as good.
The type II icute cases also have a bit more cooling options than the type I - it's just a case (excuse pun) of future planning and cost. :)

[dustyslapper]

I want an enermax as they are suppsed to be nice and quiet.


There is only $35 extra for a 350W enermax - but is this really going to make a difference?

The 3.3V goes from 28A in the 300W to 32A in the 350W.
The +5 goes from 30A to 32A
the +12 goes from 15A to 17A
The combined +5 & 3.3 goes from 170 to 185W.


Is this enough to spend xtra money on? Will this really make a difference in stability while OC?

[Binky Stunt Cat]

i'm assuming its possible to replace the fan in the PSU...

[Ragnor]

Originally posted by Binky Stunt Cat
i'm assuming its possible to replace the fan in the PSU...

Not without voiding the warranty... easy to open a PSU without breaking the little warranty sticker.. but you'll have to cut the wires to disconnect the original fan... well with an icute anyway

[Wibber]

you bent the side of you case googlo? whatd ya do jump off a chair and land on it? I don't have much trouble with my Icute, the bottoms a little flimsy, but you get that when you drill holes.. the front gets very soft when you take out the grill bits, thats why the type 2 only has 2 front fans...the psu pretty good really, but I ran out of plugs :( only has six

BTW you want a light case when lanning, not a heavy one

[Binky Stunt Cat]

actually, i'm planning on getting an Enermax 350W PSU.....

[GooGlo]

Originally posted by Wibber
you bent the side of you case googlo? whatd ya do jump off a chair and land on it? I don't have much trouble with my Icute, the bottoms a little flimsy, but you get that when you drill holes.. the front gets very soft when you take out the grill bits, thats why the type 2 only has 2 front fans...the psu pretty good really, but I ran out of plugs :( only has six

BTW you want a light case when lanning, not a heavy one

Heh, I didnt bend it, a youger brother did... I have never really used it anyway so....

[mird-OC]

Originally posted by dustyslapper
I don't lan, but I want something quiet - going to dynamat whatever I eventually get, along with some vantec stealth fans. What size are the ones that Styles sell? VANTEC Stealth Low Noise Fan, 2050RPM, 27CFM, 21 dba $24.00 INC GST
those Vantec fans sure are quiet, but 27CFM? i fart more air than that :)