Help me choose

Magnethead

Magnethead

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I'm looking at getting a new computer case since this dell one is starting to get on my nerves and I don't feel like taking a dremel to it to make it do what i want.

I've narrowed it down to 2 choices. Which one do you like better?

Ultra Wizard Black


Thermaltake Soprano 1000BWS

I like the thermaltake, but i'd rather have a solid side than plexi because apparently the wiring may not look pretty due to dell's proprietaryness, but the solid doesn't have the side fan required by my motherboard (see dell comment).
 
You better open that DELL Up

before you go off looking at other cases. The innards won't fit in just any ol case. Dell doesn't build em cheap or easy.
Betsy:rolleyes:
 
Betsy said:
before you go off looking at other cases. The innards won't fit in just any ol case. Dell doesn't build em cheap or easy.
Betsy:rolleyes:
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as far as my friend and I am aware (he just did same thign with his compaq), dell still uses ATX mounting standards. It's the plugs and harnesses that dell gets evil with. If i had the money, no question i'd be getting a new motherboard with the case. But then i'd want and need a new processor and it'd get expensive quick, even with my connections.
 
I went and checked against a known ATX board i have, and all the holes line up on the dell. So it's just a matter offiguring out how the wires would cross over (I have a pretty good idea at least...and I'm electronically inclined if i have to solder wires to make it all work).
 
If it ain't broke don't fix it.................this is the old saying I have always heard.
 
tkj24 said:
If it ain't broke don't fix it.................this is the old saying I have always heard.
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C'mon, you know how kids are...they gotta have it the way they like it, even for aesthetic reasons. But hey, if I had the time and money, maybe I'd be doing the same thing, but my PC is hidden anyway, so what it looks like doesn't matter. :)
 
Magnethead said:
I'm looking at getting a new computer case since this dell one is starting to get on my nerves and I don't feel like taking a dremel to it to make it do what i want.
Click to expand...

How can we possibly answer your question without knowing what it is you want it to do?
Me, I want my case to hold the innards, protect them from dust, liquids, etc. What else is a case supposed to do? Now if your case doesn't have enough bays then that's understandable but I don't know that a dremel would fix that.
So, what do you want your case to do? :confused:
 
barelypure said:
How can we possibly answer your question without knowing what it is you want it to do?
Me, I want my case to hold the innards, protect them from dust, liquids, etc. What else is a case supposed to do? Now if your case doesn't have enough bays then that's understandable but I don't know that a dremel would fix that.
So, what do you want your case to do? :confused:
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That's me, bp, I just want the case to hold the innards. LOL
 
buckaroo said:
C'mon, you know how kids are...they gotta have it the way they like it, even for aesthetic reasons. But hey, if I had the time and money, maybe I'd be doing the same thing, but my PC is hidden anyway, so what it looks like doesn't matter. :)
Click to expand...

I don't think I would go tearing my computer apart just because I don't like the case it is in. If magnet were my son I would take his computer from him if he didn't appreciate it any more than that. Children don't know the value of anything today. Not like we did when we were growing up.

I agree with you guys all the case is for is to protect the innards.
 
tkj24 said:
I don't think I would go tearing my computer apart just because I don't like the case it is in. If magnet were my son I would take his computer from him if he didn't appreciate it any more than that. Children don't know the value of anything today. Not like we did when we were growing up.

I agree with you guys all the case is for is to protect the innards.
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rofl.gif
 
tkj24 said:
I don't think I would go tearing my computer apart just because I don't like the case it is in. If magnet were my son I would take his computer from him if he didn't appreciate it any more than that. Children don't know the value of anything today. Not like we did when we were growing up.

I agree with you guys all the case is for is to protect the innards.
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Holy cow, you are one rough mommy! I'm imagining that little Mag is paying for this upgrade with his own money. I can tell that you weren't/haven't been into electronics. I on the other hand, totally understand where he's coming from. While I'm now older and a bit wiser in some ways, this sort of thing isn't a priority for me, but if I were younger... :beerbang:
 
buckaroo said:
Holy cow, you are one rough mommy! I'm imagining that little Mag is paying for this upgrade with his own money. I can tell that you weren't/haven't been into electronics. I on the other hand, totally understand where he's coming from. While I'm now older and a bit wiser in some ways, this sort of thing isn't a priority for me, but if I were younger... :beerbang:
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You can call me SARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I don't understand is if it has the same thing in the casing what does it matter what the outside looks like?
 
buckaroo said:
It's a guy thing...a young guy thing. You just don't have what it takes to understand. :cool:
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So you're saying he's trying to overcompensate for something. Same as guys do when they want fast cars or eye candy on their arms...
 
tkj24 said:
You can call me SARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I don't understand is if it has the same thing in the casing what does it matter what the outside looks like?
Click to expand...


Well if thats the case, (No pun intended) why are you wearing clothes, Just walk around wearing a garbage bag!!!!:p
 
barelypure said:
So you're saying he's trying to overcompensate for something. Same as guys do when they want fast cars or eye candy on their arms...
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See, you know what I mean, but then again, yer a guy. Those wimin just don't understand it all. Well, some of them do, but they are really guys underneath it all. :)
 
wow, getting hostile for such a topic. Guess I'll have to see if i can legally charge for rent in this topic ;).

And that's just it, the OEM case doesn't allow for gaming modifications without getting warm. I can't even stick my hand inside the case from the heat (and yes it's de-dusted). I was cleaning up the ccable mess inside, and had to use an oven mitt to take te hard drive out of it's holder.
 
Then what you want is the Thermaltake Kandolf LCS - Liquid Cooled System - Black. $280.

xoxide_1950_19793972


The Kandalf Lcs Case boasts 11 flexible drive bays, and 7 expansions slots. The power and reset switch can be relocated into any drive bay to suit your preference. A massive fan and ventilation system keep the air running through your system cool and dense.
The integrated water-cooling system features a powerful yet silent P500 pump to keep the coolant flowing. A 360 x 120mm radiator features triple 120mm cooling fans to pump the air flow to max. A solid copper acrylic capped CPU water block is included, but the system is so robust it support additional optional water blocks for graphics cards, Northbridge cooling, and even dual SLI and CrossFire setups.
 
Magnethead said:
wow, getting hostile for such a topic. Guess I'll have to see if i can legally charge for rent in this topic ;).

And that's just it, the OEM case doesn't allow for gaming modifications without getting warm. I can't even stick my hand inside the case from the heat (and yes it's de-dusted). I was cleaning up the ccable mess inside, and had to use an oven mitt to take te hard drive out of it's holder.
Click to expand...

How many case fans do you have? I have 3 and don't have much heat. I have 4HDD's, and 2dvd burners. Also have my Althlon 4600x2 overclocked pretty high. 580 watt PS.
 
Bucky, remember, we're talking about a youngster who is getting more than the most he can get out of his system, and wants more.

Mag, just throw the damned thing in the freezer and let it work from there. You'll be amazed at what you can do with it then. :)

bp, nice looking case and the cooling system should work great for Mag.

Some time ago, I saw an article about a guy who way over clocked his PC and used an actual freezer to cool it. Since that was probably five or six years ago, I'm wondering what he's doing today since most of today's computers would put that old thing to shame. Maybe Mag is just way ahead of his time as well.

Mag, don't give up. Go for the gold! :beerbang:
 
and used an actual freezer to cool it
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Now there's an idea. Buy one of those small freezers, 5cf or so, and put the case in it. Then carefully drill holes in it to pass the cables thru sealing the hole afterwards. It would also serve to hold your favorite beverages...
 
Bucky Badger said:
How many case fans do you have? I have 3 and don't have much heat. I have 4HDD's, and 2dvd burners. Also have my Althlon 4600x2 overclocked pretty high. 580 watt PS.
Click to expand...
i have a 80 mm intake, 80 mm exhaust, dual slot exhaust fan, 90 mm dell CPU fan, and 80 mm dell powersupply fan in the PSU.

CPU: 2.8 GHz P4 OEM
Mainboard: Dell 4600 OEM
Mem: 1.5 Gig
HDD: 160 GB SATA seagate OEM/300 GB IDE Western Digital
Video: Nvidia 5500 OC
Sound: Soundblaster live 5.1 OEM
OS: XP SP2
CDRom: DVD lightscribe, CD burner OEM, pair of USB CD burner
Power: OEM dell

80 mm intake (~20 CFM?)
80 mm exhaust (~20 CFM?)
OEM dell CPU and PSU fans (~40 and 20 CFM?)
dual slot fan (~40 CFM rated)

new it only hadthe items marked OEM, it ran up in the high 80's/low 90's during the summer.
 
My husband built our desktop from www.newegg.com Have you checked there for different fans to try and solve your problem? As for helping you choose, I'm a fan of the clear side, that's what we have, but as you said, if the wiring doesn't look good it's not worth it paying more to see it.
 
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