LITTLEBLACKDOG.COM

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:45 pm Post subject:

Look at your local shops first. They may have a case that you like that wouldn't require any shipping. After that, I'd try Newegg and Directron.

Butt Sniffer Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 1135

erm no...I have a A7N8X-VM which is micro ATX. Do I just have to buy a psu for it then?

Mutt Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 101 Location: Middle Earth

Looks fairly standard, micro bit refers to the mount pattern here, make sure new case accepts micro ATX boards. If you are not planning on installing monster video card and hdd's but keeping it much the same just a box swap then as long as the psu fits I don't see any problems. If you are planning on a DVD burner you will need to upgrade the psu tho. Maybe as pointed out already the front panel connectors. Oh, and the BIOS maybe HP special so you will need to reflash with ASUS BIOS.

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:45 pm Post subject:

Micro-ATX will fit just fine in a regular ATX case.

Antec Sonata <-- Roomy and quiet ATX mid-tower case.

Chenming cases are well-designed and fabricated, but not expensive. I like the blue one.
Thermaltake 420W <-- a quality power supply, if you choose not to re-use your existing one.

Of course, you can have some interesting alternatives with the Micro-ATX form factor:

Antec Aria <-- a tiny cube that accepts a standard Micro-ATX motherboard.

In-Win V506G <-- a cheap micro-tower case

PowMax MATX 3306B <-- a cheap and tiny portable micro-tower case
60x25mm thermally-adjusted fans <-- Two needed for cooling this cramped case
60 mm wire fan grill <-- Two needed to cover the fans after you cut out the restrictive stamped metal grills.

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:49 pm Post subject:

FatherBean wrote:
sully_51 wrote:
FatherBean wrote:
I still sort of want to do it as you can get a new case w/power supply for like 20.00 at TigerDirect.

Bad dog! Baaaaaad dog! No treat for you! NEVER EVER EVER EVER buy from Tigerdirect. EVER.

oK Quit hitting me on nose and explain why.

ANd if not them who ?

Bad customer service all around, as well as problems with the parts. The person at work that I replaced used dartek.com (Owner of tigerdirect or something)...Before that person left they tried to get ahold of the sales rep to introduce me to the sales rep, and let him know of the change. We left a voice mail that wasn't followed up on until 2 weeks later...at that time I requested a quote for a computer or two and still havent recieved it (A month later). regardless, I'm a newegg person myself...I've never had a complaint with them Smile

Butt Sniffer Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 1135

Thanks for the products but I'd really like something with a window. I know the last couple of cases I used for my friends computers supported microatx.

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:05 pm Post subject:

cygnusx wrote:
Thanks for the products but I'd really like something with a window.

There are plenty of those out there. Besides NewEgg, take a look at Directron. For something really outlandish, you might even go another place or somewhere else.

My gaming system is currently in a ThermalTake Xaser II case with the big window, six LED fans and two cold cathode lamps. I will not go that route again. Getting good cooling is still important, but I'm not interested in windows or a zillion lights for my next build. If you do get LED fans, look for the CoolerMaster "Neon" fans with the rifle bearings. These are very bright and move a good deal of air.

Butt Sniffer Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 1135

Ok I guess i'm going to get this case: http://www.so-trickcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=XPGCS&Category_Code=C2

Can I flash the HP bios and turn them into overclocking bios?

If so i'm going to get this for my fans http://www.so-trickcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CMA2TC&Category_Code=CMS

Couple led fans and new rounded ide cables.

Can anyone recommend a fan and heatsink that is quiet and good?

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:30 pm Post subject:

cygnusx wrote:
Ok I guess i'm going to get this case: http://www.so-trickcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=XPGCS&Category_Code=C2

Do comparison shop before you buy:
SVC
Directron

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:36 pm Post subject:

FatherBean wrote:
sully_51 wrote:
FatherBean wrote:
I still sort of want to do it as you can get a new case w/power supply for like 20.00 at TigerDirect.

Bad dog! Baaaaaad dog! No treat for you! NEVER EVER EVER EVER buy from Tigerdirect. EVER.

oK Quit hitting me on nose and explain why.

ANd if not them who ?

I made the mistake in my hardware newbie months to buy all my parts for a build from them. Many things came broken, still more broke less than a month later, I payed for 2nd day airmail, and it took almost 2 weeks, when I called them on that, I was told I would get a $30 refund for shipping (I payed close to $130) and it took over 4 months of calling every day to get the promised $30.

[EDIT] I prefer newegg or recently zipzoomfly.

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:12 pm Post subject:

sully_51 wrote:
FatherBean wrote:
sully_51 wrote:
FatherBean wrote:
I still sort of want to do it as you can get a new case w/power supply for like 20.00 at TigerDirect.

Bad dog! Baaaaaad dog! No treat for you! NEVER EVER EVER EVER buy from Tigerdirect. EVER.

oK Quit hitting me on nose and explain why.

ANd if not them who ?

I made the mistake in my hardware newbie months to buy all my parts for a build from them. Many things came broken, still more broke less than a month later, I payed for 2nd day airmail, and it took almost 2 weeks, when I called them on that, I was told I would get a $30 refund for shipping (I payed close to $130) and it took over 4 months of calling every day to get the promised $30.

[EDIT] I prefer newegg or recently zipzoomfly.

Well I didn't know and have ordered a video card, a PC case, and a mouse from them. Have gotten all my stuff within two days with no problems at all.

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:47 pm Post subject:

JustAnEngineer wrote:
Antec Sonata <-- Roomy and quiet ATX mid-tower case.

Amen to that! 120mm exhaust fan, drive bays that provide easy removal of components, designed for silence, built-in washable air filter, two decorative LEDs in the front, and a black exterior with such a deep shiny look that it could rival any professional auto paint job. Bottom line: this is a very robust case with a very sleek appearance. I have no regrets about buying this case.

Mutt Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 101 Location: Middle Earth

Quote:
Can I flash the HP bios and turn them into overclocking bios?

It is not the BIOS but the crystal and ppl chip that controls it that make a board overclockable. Most OEM boards a locked and cannot be overclocked, others can be re programmed but this is not for someone new to overclocking.

Yes, you may get lucky flashing the BIOS to ASUS specifications and be able to overclock, but ....

Refer to www.overclockers.com as starting point for further info before diving into it.

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 5:17 pm Post subject:

This looks like a cheap deal on an aluminum case with a window:
http://www.ableshoppers.com/#14072649

Leg Humper Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 4702 Location: Utah

If you want a cool case with a window, get a Thermaltake Xaser V case... Although they are a bit (hell, way) overpriced ($130), they look kick ass. And they come with fan speed controllers.

If you can't get one of those, how about this one?

Or this
one*?

*This is a "SOHO File Server" case, though ATX / Micro ATX boards should fit in it. Correct me if I'm wrong guys.

And while you're at it, get me one of these! Wink

FatherBean wrote:

sully_51 wrote:

FatherBean wrote:

cygnusx wrote:

cygnusx wrote:

FatherBean wrote:

sully_51 wrote:

FatherBean wrote:

sully_51 wrote:

FatherBean wrote:

sully_51 wrote:

FatherBean wrote:

JustAnEngineer wrote:

Quote:

Lycander wrote: