Help choosing new case, psu and heatsink

[menthel]

Hi all!

My HTPC/server has now has a move and is no longer under the TV. It will be going into the office area, under a desk with my main tower. It is currently in an Antec ?NS2400? case which I want to change for a smallish, quiet tower with quiet psu and a new cpu cooler. I have an old skt 939 x2 matx board in there that I would like to keep but I would also like more hdd room.

I would like this to last me until they bring out windows home server that can also record TV!

Don't worry too much about budget but don't go crazy!

[staffsMike]

smaller version of what you have now
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec...Slots-Front-IO

[menthel]

smaller version of what you have now
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec...Slots-Front-IO

Sorry, my bad! I meant tower rather than desktop! I need more hdd space!

I will edit my original post!

[staffsMike]

Ahhhhh. Have you considered the tower version of the case you already have then, the NSK3480. Comes with a quiet 380W earthwatts, has 1x120mm tri-cool with it and space for 2x 92mm.

A lot of the guys over on Silent PC Review use them as a basis for small quiet builds. THat said you still wont get many HDD's in it without modding (though there is lots of room for that).

Antec's P180 mini will give you tonnes of HDD space, super quiet and cools really well but it is the size of a midi tower rather than a uATX tower even though it can only take uATX mobos. Doesn't seem very cheap these days either.

[menthel]

Thanks, the antec cases are nice. I don't think the 3480 is suitable though but perhaps the sonata or one of the larger ones might be better. I will have a look and probably go with (another!) antec.

Any ideas on a heaksink for the skt 939? Something quiet- is passive a possibility?

[amjedm]

If you're after a smallish tower, I'd recommend the Antec NSK 4000 (not sure if Scan have stock yet). I bought one of the version II from Ebuyer and then bought another for my brother's setup.

[menthel]

I will have a look over at ebuyer. I haven't used them in ages!

[amjedm]

I will have a look over at ebuyer. I haven't used them in ages!

Just in case you do go with them, they still do free super saver delivery if your order is over £50.
For the second case order I added a few small bits to ensure I didn't pay delivery (why pay around £7 in delivery charges when you can add some small items for that value and get free delivery )

[Singh400]

If you're after a smallish tower, I'd recommend the Antec NSK 4000 (not sure if Scan have stock yet). I bought one of the version II from Ebuyer and then bought another for my brother's setup.

Whats the difference between V1 and V2?

[amjedm]

Whats the difference between V1 and V2?

Didn't really look in to them - I just thought v2 would be better .

Having said that, v1 has the duct on the side and a set of holes ( not sure what it should be called) for the graphics card.

V2 has three sets of holes and no duct.

I did some minor modding - cut out the rear fan grill and drilled two holes in the front of the case so I could put a 120mm fan in there. Not using the HD cage either - the HD I use is in a smaller cage, sitting on foam.

[Singh400]

Didn't really look in to them - I just thought v2 would be better .

Having said that, v1 has the duct on the side and a set of holes ( not sure what it should be called) for the graphics card.

V2 has three sets of holes and no duct.

I did some minor modding - cut out the rear fan grill and drilled two holes in the front of the case so I could put a 120mm fan in there. Not using the HD cage either - the HD I use is in a smaller cage, sitting on foam.

Ah I see. I've got V1 then I removed the duct anyway, as it was blocking my heatsink (it is a big of a monster though).

[menthel]

Looks like the 6000 series is the one I want. Right, case and psu sorted.

Now for a CPU cooler- quiet or preferably passive if possible! I need you peeps knowledge!

[staffsMike]

For passive get the scythe ninja, both of mine do a fair job of passive (ninja II is even better).

It's a big old beasty but it requires very minimal airflow to get it working, case airflow is often all it needs. If you do attach a fan, 600 -800rpm will do the job perfectly.

I'm sure you can get them cheaper but this is a really nice antec combo
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ANTEC-SONATA.../dp/B000Y9PAWU

It's an antec solo arguably the quietest case out there and a nice 550W modular psu which is also quite highly regarded.

[scaryjim]

Odd - because that really *isn't* an Antec Sonata case!! That combo's also available on ebuyer, btw. I used to swear by the Antec Sonatas, but the latest version just isn't as good - I quite liked the air duct you got on the older versions (even if it was a bit of a bugger to work with!) and the lockable front door that covered the drives and power switches...

[staffsMike]

Yeah it isn't technically a sonata (a good thing imo) but it's still a cracking case

[Singh400]

On the PSU side. I've got the Corsair CX400W in my server and it's virutally silent. Recommended. Wish they would made a modular version though. I do believe they have a 450w modular PSU but be prepared to pay a little extra for a modular psu.