Suggestions Please?

[Brangwen]

Fellow Members:

I am looking for a ATX full-sized tower within which to install an IWill XP 333-R motherboard (this is a fairly big board, measuring approximately 12.1 inches on the longest side). This motherboard is a backup and it already has an XP1900+ CPU and 1GB of PC 2700 DDR SDRAM, heat sink & fan assembly. In other words, it is ready to go into a box and be plugged into a PSU and cabled to a hard drive and optical devices.

I would like to purchase a box that is not only full-sized, but also ships with excellent front to back ventilation, and a fan blowing from the side onto the motherboard would be great as well. I will require an AMD certified PSU of at least 400 W. I would prefer a quality box, i.e. no sharp edges and either thumbscrews or some other construction that does not require tools to open and close to box.

I am also looking for a graphics card that will operate nicely with a Samsung SyncMaster 17inch flat-panel monitor. Nothing fancy, i.e. not for gaming. Actually, I may be adding a second monitor sometime in the future so a Matrox may be what I'm looking for. However, could someone please recommend a single monitor graphics card that will give me quality video output at a reasonable price, and something that does not generate a great deal of heat. Even one of the old Voodoo 5000 or 3000 cards would likely be adequate! I'm not looking for any TV input, etc.

The most important component at this moment is to box. Anything else mentioned above would be icing on the cake. As I'm opening a new office and must move a couple of computers there, I would like to procure a good case relatively quickly. Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Brangwen ;}

Lian-Li for the case, Enermax for the power supply. I have a Voodoo 3500 TV if you're interested, otherwise, I'd go with a Matrox G400 - G550 (depending on your budget) - my G400 dualie is still kicking the crap out of stuff for normal desktop work.

Lian-Li are a bit expensive, but they're bar-non the best case I've ever worked with. I'm not sure how many have side inlet fans, but a lot of them have top fans.

I should also mention that the Lian-Li hard drive mounting system puts the hard drive(s) behind the intake fans and keeps them very cool. This will help your hard drive(s) survive a lot longer.

Lian-Li zealot? Me? Noooo...

[Brangwen]

Whir:

Yes . . . I was considering an Inwin or a Lian-Li box. I presently have an Inwin on casters and it's great, rolled partially under my (den) desk roughly 30" from floor to top exhaust fan (I think the "blow-hole" exhaust fans are very effective). Side fan(s) blowing on a mobo are great - I've a pair of Panaflo Whisper fans (120mm) doing a fine job on my Inwin (with Asus mobo) box.

Have you come across a particular link or vender of choice?

Thx very much!

Brangwen

[bailey]

Originally posted by Whir
Lian-Li for the case, Enermax for the power supply. I have a Voodoo 3500 TV if you're interested, otherwise, I'd go with a Matrox G400 - G550 (depending on your budget) - my G400 dualie is still kicking the crap out of stuff for normal desktop work.

Lian-Li are a bit expensive, but they're bar-non the best case I've ever worked with. I'm not sure how many have side inlet fans, but a lot of them have top fans.

I should also mention that the Lian-Li hard drive mounting system puts the hard drive(s) behind the intake fans and keeps them very cool. This will help your hard drive(s) survive a lot longer.

Lian-Li zealot? Me? Noooo...

I also would recommend that case, I am useing it now and its the best one I have ever had

Well, I'd just hit up Resellerratings for shops. I don't see any LL cases that actually have side panel inlets. For what it's worth, I have a PC-71 and it has no problems with air flow. If you're bent on a side panel fan, go with Inwin.

I'll be dreaming about the new Lian-Li PC-V1200. That's gonna set a guy back a few bucks.