Building a PC: Step 1- The Case:

dstranathan

Can someone post a few urls for PC cases? I am building a AMD PC for work and for games. I want a cool silver trendy case, with the fancy plexi-glass side door, etc. Before I buy, I wanna shop online and compare prices. Anyone have good links for me?

Yes, I am a Mac-head, but I won't buy another Mac tower until Apple figures out its CPU strategy. In the mean time, I plan on tinkering around-building a few AMD boxes running Solaris, WinXP, Darwin, and FreeBSD.

I would also love feedback on which AMD mobos you guys think are the best for the money right now. I havent built a PC in a few years, so I am a bit rusty.

alcimedes

the only link you really need would be any link pointing to Antec cases. in the last year, they have pulled way ahead as far as price and quality are concerned. check your favorite online retailer and browse through the Antec links.



just find out how many bays you need, what watt powersupply and away you go.



they have high quality power supplies in them, so whatever it comes with will a quality power source.



(note, it has been rumored that shady sites have swapped out the original power supplies in exchange for crappier ones, so make sure it's the OEM antec power supply)



i've built dozens of machines, and at this point in time i wouldn't recommend anything but Antec cases.

dstranathan

What about the aluminum cases by Chenming? They look just like the Antec cases (and AlienWare). Whats the diff? I am looking at this case at thinkgeek.com:



<a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/computing/5b25.shtml"; target="_blank">http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/computing/5b25.shtml</a>;



what do ya think?



Other than a big bad ass AGP video card, I wont need too beefy of a power supply. I plan on keeping the components simple (combo drive, floppy, video card, mobo, cpu, power, usb,decent audio, 1394, ATA/133, 512MB DDR RAM, etc. No dual opticals. I'm not "pimpin'" too much here)



If I don't get the power supply with the case (like the case mentioned above), how much will the PS run me? What should I look for in a PS?



[ 09-21-2002: Message edited by: dstranathan ]</p>

smithjoel

Those cases are sold under a lot of brand names, antec, enermax, chiftec, ect. I've never heard of chenming though.



<a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=304&man ufactory=1502&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1" target="_blank">There</a> are some in different colors. There are some with a Deere power supply and if you browes the site there are some with a TubroLink power supply. Either would probly enough for what you're doing. But if you're surous about a quaily power supply...



I'd recomend a enermax, antec, or sparkle if you buy it separatly.



Yeah, like to tinker around with OS's too. I havent tried Drawin yet. Once you get everything up and running be sure to post on it.



[ 09-21-2002: Message edited by: smithjoel ]</p>

alcimedes

total watts of a powersupply aren't half as important as making sure that the power your computer is getting is clean power.



as for that case, looks like a rebranded antec case to me as seen <a href="http://www.antec-inc.com/en_plus1060.html"; target="_blank">here</a>

flyer82

If your looking to price out and purchase pc components, check out <a href="http://www.newegg.com"; target="_blank">www.newegg.com</a> IMO best place for pc hardware on the net, including antec/chieftec cases

cubedude

I think I can help.



<a href="http://www.fancycase.com/romeoblue.html"; target="_blank">http://www.fancycase.com/romeoblue.html</a>;

<a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/computing/cases-mods.shtml"; target="_blank">http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/computing/cases-mods.shtml</a>;

<a href="http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/frozencpu/scan/se=Stock Cases/mp=menu_search_top.html?id=IngHBSGI&quot; target="_blank">http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/frozencpu/scan/se=Stock Cases/mp=menu_search_top.html?id=IngHBSGI&lt;/a&gt;

<a href="http://www.coolerguys.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=001&Category_Co de=CS-CMS" target="_blank">http://www.coolerguys.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=001&Category_Co de=CS-CMS</a>

<a href="http://www.exoticpc.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=EPC&Category_Co de=F-CASES" target="_blank">http://www.exoticpc.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=EPC&Category_Co de=F-CASES</a>

<a href="http://www.coolpc.com.au/shop/index.html?cat=20"; target="_blank">http://www.coolpc.com.au/shop/index.html?cat=20</a>;

<a href="http://www.coolcasemods.com/products.php?id=15"; target="_blank">http://www.coolcasemods.com/products.php?id=15</a>;

<a href="http://www.pcmods.com/"; target="_blank">http://www.pcmods.com/</a>;

<a href="https://www.customcases.tv/shopping/cases.asp"; target="_blank">https://www.customcases.tv/shopping/cases.asp</a>;

eugene

[quote]Originally posted by alcimedes:

<strong>

as for that case, looks like a rebranded antec case to me as seen <a href="http://www.antec-inc.com/en_plus1060.html"; target="_blank">here</a></strong><hr></blockquote>



Uh...it's the other way around. Antec buys from Uneec/Chenming.

alcimedes

ha haha, nm then. one way or another, looks like a nice case. enjoy it.