Need advice on Case + PSU

Lyon85 · 4 Sep 2006 at 13:31

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

Lyon85 · 4 Sep 2006 at 18:15

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?

Lyon85 · 4 Sep 2006 at 18:38

Too late im afraid

I already own the DS4, Conroe and RAM. You think I will need more than a 430w?

Lyon85 · 4 Sep 2006 at 18:38

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 ) so it should be a solid construction and a decent case.

Thanks, never owned a TT or even seen one, nice to know.

Lyon85 · 4 Sep 2006 at 20:14

Yewen said:
I would personally go for the PC7+ as it is a superior case to the Soprano.

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?

Lyon85 · 5 Sep 2006 at 12:58

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.

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