Need advice on Case + PSU

Lyon85

Lyon85

Lyon85

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Im selling off my old rig to make room for my new E6300, X1900XT machine. Previously I had a Antec Sonata II and used the provided PSU. It's a AMD 64bit 3200+, Nvidia 6800GS, 2gb Corsair value select, one DvD drive and no PCI cards. It worked just fine.

So I have to buy a new case + PSU for my new rig, but I want to keep it around the £80/£90 mark. The Sonata II would be ideal again, but im worried about the PSU. The rig is:

HIS X1900 XT
Core 2 duo E6300 (with Zalman CNPS9500-AT Aero Flower)
Gigabyte DS4
Geil PC6400
One DVD drive and one TV PCI tuner card.


How would the provided PSU fair with these specs? I do plan to overclock the balls off this rig.

If no, then I need to keep it fairly cheap. If I spend £50 on the PSU (Looking at the Seasonic S12 430W Silent ATX2.0), that leaves me with only £40 (MAX £50) for a case. Im pretty picky on styles, and im not that keen on side windows.

Does anyone know how the Thermaltake VB1000SNS Soprano SuperMidi Tower is for sound levels? Its the only case I can find around that price range that I like the look of. Never seen one up close, of course.

Q1. Sonata II PSU good enough?
Q2. Is the Thermaltake a good case? Sound levels in particular.

Any help would be appreciated :D
 
I'd say the PC-7 silver or black (black is better ;)) and a Tagen or something PSU, I'd say that you'd need something like a decent 430w or 500w PSU for that Conroe rig.

I'm probably wrong...wait till about 6-7pm tonight when more knowledgeable people are around. :)

EDIT- not sure on the price of a decent PSU, but the case is about £60, so that leaves you with £30-£40 (on your max). It'll probably get said that you should get a Lanboy or something.
 
Yeah thanks man, im not running Crossfire or anything so I think 500w is probably a bit overkill. I'd love a PSU with cable managment like an Enermax Liberty, but my budget only allows for a 400w Liberty, how would that go? The Seasonic S12 430w is £50, looks like a good buy to me.

The PC-7 is a little too ordinary looking for my liking (This matters to me :)) For my budget, im still fairly impressed with the Thermaltake VB1000SNS Soprano, what I know about it that is. Can't seem to find any reviews. I took a slight interest in the Lanboy, but I would prefere something a little more sleek looking.

Which do you guys think is overall, a better case. The Thermaltake Soprano or the Lanboy?
 
get the ds3, save few£ & put it 2 a decent psu, tbh u gonna need better 1 than that 2 keep u set stable ect :) just my 2 cents
 
I don't know about Conroe boards so can't say either way if that's sensible, but there may be features on the DS4 that the DS3 doesn't have that he wants.

That TT case does look quite nice, internally and externally, I'm guessing it's steel, but TT are a good manufacturer (erererer :p) so it should be a solid construction and a decent case.
 
InvaderGIR said:
I don't know about Conroe boards so can't say either way if that's sensible, but there may be features on the DS4 that the DS3 doesn't have that he wants.

That TT case does look quite nice, internally and externally, I'm guessing it's steel, but TT are a good manufacturer (erererer :p) so it should be a solid construction and a decent case.
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Thanks, never owned a TT or even seen one, nice to know.
 
Just a warning the Soprano is built fine, but the whole Tt line is not. They are not a top end manufacturer most of the time, only the cheaper cases are built very well as the higher end just add more and more useless features.

I would personally go for the PC7+ as it is a superior case to the Soprano.
 
Yewen said:
Just a warning the Soprano is built fine, but the whole Tt line is not. They are not a top end manufacturer most of the time, only the cheaper cases are built very well as the higher end just add more and more useless features.

I would personally go for the PC7+ as it is a superior case to the Soprano.
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Ooooh, I learn something new once a week ;) I thought from reviews etc. that Tt was a good make, well I'm glad I'm with Lian-Li :D
 
Reviews are very rarely worth the paper they are written one.

Tt are the best case maker in the world, if youve only ever used gaming cases.

All things are relative, the S80b made me rethink how I rated the v1000+ for example.
 
Yewen said:
I would personally go for the PC7+ as it is a superior case to the Soprano.
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In what way? Is it much of a difference?

The looks are pretty important to me and I would personally prefere to take a small hit in airflow or whatever for the better looking case. I wouldn't take a useless case that looks incredible over something like a PC7 though. Besides the Soprano is just about in budget, I don't want to stretch it into PC7 territory (I know its only £11 more). I dont think the PC7 is ugly, just nothing special to look at.

PS, I'm almost at ordering stage here and ive noticed this Tagan TG430-U15 430W ATX2.01 Easycon SLi Compliant Modular Silent PSU. What are opinions on this PSU?
 
Unless you have seen a PC7+ you will not know what I am talking about, search this section for opinions and most people are surprised by it, looks nothing like any picture I have ever seen of it.

Its built better and offers slightly better cooling, although I emphasise on slightly.

Both are very competant cases and you will be dissapointed with neither, just out of the two the PC7+ is the superior one on the build quality front, you get more for your money.

I like Tagan PSUs a lot, always been rock stable for me and very quiet.
 
Unless you have seen a PC7+ you will not know what I am talking about, search this section for opinions and most people are surprised by it, looks nothing like any picture I have ever seen of it.
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went on this advise, hoping it will b deli today/tomm :)
 
Yewen said:
Unless you have seen a PC7+ you will not know what I am talking about, search this section for opinions and most people are surprised by it, looks nothing like any picture I have ever seen of it.

Its built better and offers slightly better cooling, although I emphasise on slightly.

Both are very competant cases and you will be dissapointed with neither, just out of the two the PC7+ is the superior one on the build quality front, you get more for your money.

I like Tagan PSUs a lot, always been rock stable for me and very quiet.
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Alright, I might give the PC7 a whirl.

Oh, and thanks for your feedback, always like to show appreciation for people who take time to help someone in need :)
 
Having bitten the bullet and ordered a PC-7+ recently for myself, I will say this, they really are the dogs ******** as far that level of case goes. Its a lovely case,w ell worth the money I paid for it. The only other case I would consider as an alternative int hat sort of price range is the Super Lanboy at the current £35 incl VAT.

And I have a modular Tagan 530W in my rigs, its brilliant. The quality of the cables, *** psu, everthing beat my older enermax liberty 400W.
 
Yeh but I compare it poorly to £180 cases, so it takes a while for me to think its worthwhile, the £55 price tag does it for me though. :p

Good case, best for money in my eyes.
 
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