BleepingComputer.com: New Build hunting for Case+PSU

I don't plan on any major gaming with the computer, but I would like the ability to play what I like (currently Guild wars and EVE). Also after building I would start seeking advise on overclocking the processor to I think about 3.0 Heres what I'm dealing with, all comes to just under $300. Only thing missing is a case with a PSU........

(This well be my second build first was a ASUS MB/AMD Dual-Core a while ago. But this well be my first overclock and using a different fan/heatsink. Not looking to go SLI or anything like that as you can see from the baby motherboard)


GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Pentium E5300 2.6GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5300
Kingston HyperX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Model KHX6400D2LL/2G
EVGA 512-P3-1210-LR GeForce 210 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (Just found out the ZALMAN comes with thermal compound in views on which might be better this tube cost $17 bucks)
ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT
Nippon Labs SATA Adpater Molex 4-Pin PC power cable to 2 x SATA Converter Cables for SATA I and SATA II Hard Drive Model POW-SATA-2 (For if the PSU only has one direct sata connect)

--------------------------------------------------------

Already have 2 Sata hardrivevs and data cables for them power cable is straight from PSU and one Sata dvd-rw....... forgot to check its cables last time I popped the case.

well I can personally recomend this case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811119137 it is amazing, lots of room, cools efficiently, looks cool and easy to work with. bottom mounted PSU with its own intake port makes for excellent cooling, along with grade A cable management. it comes with 3 120 mm fans with mounting points for 4 more, most of which you can also mount 140 mm fans to, and even an 80 mm fan mount behind the CPU (underneath the motherboard) for even more cooling. its even set up for liquid cooling. excellent case for an extreme gamer or even an overclocker. It doesnt come with a PSU but this one should do you quite well: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817171037 or if you have a little extra money to spend this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817171033. I see you already got a good motherboard, but if your wanting to overclock dont skimp on the case or the power supply. if you do I suspect you will regret it later on.

Hmmm. You just broke my steadfastness against spending more then 36 bucks on the case.... but on the PSU side I'll need to look at something a little less powerfull (under 600W) the only changes I'll make for a long time is to add another 2gb of ram untill I try for another build. (quad-core)

Do you know what specs I should look for or pointers that would help in finding the right PSU?


I love that case came across it a couple of times when I was looking at cases, well definitely try working it into my build budget.





If I had the money just to spend I would be getting this case http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/silverstone...puter-case.html ...............

NZXT Beta Series CS-NT-BETA-B is a very good case, but you will need more fans for it, specifically a rear exhaust fan. The case supports up to four fans and includes one.
Here's a decent fan: APEVIA CF12S 120mm Case Fan.

if your looking at overclocking you definetly want a case that offers a lot of cooling, for sure, the one I showed you, personally, I think is probably the best for mid-ATX towers, . I use it myself and love it, worth the money. however, that being said, its not the only one out there and that that NZXT case rainbowsix suggested, looks like it is a solid case with room for expansion and good cooling, and with some more fans, will do everything you need it to, especially if your only planning on a modest 400 mhz overclock. PSU wise, what you want in a good PSU, is probably one with a MINIMUM 500 watt PSU, especially with that card, higher is better, to give you breathing room. a PSU running under full load runs hotter then one running at 2/3rd a load, especially if you plan on overclocking, and how you plan on doing it, theres a couple different methods. amperage is also important, theres 2 different theories out there, multi rail system or single rail systems. both are reliable, single rail solutions are often better for overclocking however. with a multi rail solution, I typically recomend looking for 3-4 rails at 18 amps each, for a single, well, I wouldnt purchase one with less then 25 amps on the single rail, higher is better, in fact the second coolermaster one I linked, the 900 watt, had a single 50 amp rail. here are a couple cheaper options for you to look at: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817371015 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817171037. there are others, but just be warned with PSUs, you do get what you pay for. You can find cheaper off brand PSUs but they will probably fail you, I wouldnt skimp on a PSU, I have and have regretted it. The brands that I trust are Coolermaster, Antec, Corsair, and OCZ. Im sure theyre not the only reliable ones out there and theres more, but I tend to stick with what I know, and only recomend the ones I know. :D

yeah I just realized that I just gave you the same power supply twice, stupid me. but, that 700 watt coolermaster, when purchased with that coolermaster case, actually gives you a 25 dollar combo discount. still pricey but something to think about.

OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W
Very good brand and great deal. It has 25 amps on each, it looks like.

The total between case I listed before and this power supply and three case fans is about $95 after rebate.

Thanks for all the replies and pointers, I prob won't be able to use a rear exhaust fan, the CPU heatsink that i'm getting shoots its air out the rear exhaust port so i'm not sure if it would fit with a fan there to, guess it all depends on the size.

With the PSU I noticed most of the coolmasters have there fan on the top of the PSU, is it pulling air down and blowing it out or pulling air across its inside stuff then shutting it up. (preferable out the top of the case)


So would the (In a top up between Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W & OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W which one to go with) along with the COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP case be a good Cooler mix.

(oh and would it be better to use artic silver 5 for thermal compound then the stuff that will come with the Zalman heatsink)
(Some ppl say the Antec is real loud all the time which could be a prob since my comp is in a small bedroom, I dont have a problem is the noise is only on start)

As far as thermal compound, I would lean towards Arctic cooling MX-3 at this point, or my old reliable Shin-Etsu.

PSUs pull in air with the fan and exhaust it out the back where the power cord plugs in. At least PSUs with the large 120-140mm fans.

PSU reviews: http://www.jonnyguru.com/ and
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/

Arctic silver is all hype. The best thermal compound is OCZ freeze. I use it and my CPU stays at about 32C idle and about 42C load with the stock heatsink.

I don't think you would need more than 550W so the OCZ would probably be enough. If you're concerned, here's a 700w version of the OCZ:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817341023

Sounds like that's the rig then.

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Case
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V PSU
GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Pentium E5300 2.6GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5300
Kingston HyperX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Model KHX6400D2LL/2G
EVGA 512-P3-1210-LR GeForce 210 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16
OCZ OCZTFRZTC Freeze Extreme
ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT


Thanks for every1s pointers and tips

Just something I was looking at the Cooler Master V8 tested keeping it under 40c even under a OCed with a load. So I'm trying to figure out if the side of this would pass over the elevated heatsink on a GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L.... Or if it would even reach that far. It would be nice to use that in place of the Zalman. Quieter, cooler tempwise, and just cooler just look at the baby...... an If it cant fit would it be possible to rip that offending heatsink off to make it fit, or buy a low profile one to replace it if they heat up to fast to be left bare.

(Think its northbridge heatsink, its towards the top of the board right after the CPU plug)

NO! Do not remove or replace the northbridge heatsink. Not only does the northbridge get too hot even with the heatsink, doing that might void your warranty. I think the CPU heatsink should fit just fine.
Edit: I also noticed something: I'm not 100% sure that CPU will work with the motherboard. It probably should.

Edit2: Nevermind. The E5300 is on the supported CPUs list.

zronin99, on Nov 2 2009, 11:37 AM, said:

with the CM 690, I can almost garentee you you can fit a rear exhaust fan on the back with any aftermarket cooler. it is really a spaciouse case, and you can mount 2 120 mm fans on top of it. the bottom mounted PSU port allows any PSU to be mounted rightside up or upside down, with either the fan pulling in air from underneath the case, or from inside the case, depending on your preference. And the Coolermaster PSUs the fan is on the bottom of them, the picture is just slightly confusing. though the antec or the OCZ would both be a good PSU for that case. the case also controls noise really well (I use it for my build and I have 5 120 mm fans running in it along with the aftermarket fan for my 3870 x2 and the PSU fan). as far as it goes, I always clean off the stock thermal compound and use better stuff. and while OCZ freeze is good, I myself use arctic silver, and believe me, it works extremely well. and ranbow six is right never remove the northbridge heatsink. IF your not worried about the warranty, I garentee you will destroy your motherboard in a matter of hours without it, unless you replace it with a better one.

This is why I suggest OCZ freeze. It beat out all Arctic silver and other "premium" thermal paste.