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Joined: Apr 2004
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 161 |
HI there, I'm still researching what I want in a new computer and would like your opinions as to what sort of case I should buy micro atx or the bigger midi tower? What are the advantages if any of the bigger case, and is it possible to have 2 hard drives in a micro? finally I am also looking at quieter cases such as the one below that has foam proffing, http://www.themeshshop.com/browse/product_details.php?id=297Do you think it might be a fire risk if fans stopped working? regards Jan
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Joined: Jun 2000
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.
I find that the main advantage of a tall case is that I can boast to my friends "My computer is bigger than yours."
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Micro ATX cases are nonstandard and have too many potential limitations to interest me, like how many or what size cards they will take. How many drives a micro case will accommodate "depends."
The advantage of the larger case is, of course, that it will hold more gear. I use a full tower for my DAW. It has space for four internal and six external drives, although I only use two HDs and a DVD writer. It also has accommodation for up to four case fans in addition to the CPU fan and built-in power-supply fan.
Quiet cases are a good idea for a studio, although you have to pay a lot for one that is truly silent. Interestingly, larger fans will move more air at a lower SPL.
The biggest risk of inadequate cooling is that your CPU--the actual chip--will fry.
HTH,
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Micro ATX cases are good for only one thing - their small size. If you have the room, get at least a midi tower 'cos you will have more room for additional goodies, room for expansion, room to space components (like HDD's) apart, room to add fans etc..
All this is in aid of improved cooling. Heat is your computers worst enemy after malware. Note that dust is a close 3rd 'cos it contributes to overheating.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya  --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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"Mid" tower.
"MIDI tower" kind of talks of music making with the PC, though.
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G'day Mac,
here in Oz at least the accepted term is midi tower. Kinda like a the old midi skirt...
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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we had the 'mini' skirt here in the US... and of the two I gotta say ...
well I take that back; I have daughters ..
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Yeah, we had mini's and micro mini's too - the latter were too short - gotta leave something for the imagination - oh wait - I've got a daughter too - ba-aa-ad Lawrie
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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By the way, I remember Midi, Mini and Micro skirts all here in the US. It seemed that they progressed from one to the next as the generations...and inhibitions...went by the wayside. Okay, Jan, the NZXT is probably a good choice for you. Here's my take. Micro ATX means more than just less room. It severely limits you in your choice of power supplies, something that is VERY important when building/buying a computer system. Since you are looking at cases, I'm assuming you're planning on building your own. DO NOT skimp on the power supply. I highly recommend Seasonic if you can get it in the UK. A good rifle and scope combination, your optics should cost as much as the rifle. The same applies to computers. Your power supply usually will cost nearly as much, if not more, than your case will. For today's processors, you want to look at a minimum of 550 watt with an 80+ rating. I think I this is the one I bought for my build earlier this year: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151031This is the case I put it in. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133062 One of the things that I did, which I most likely will not do again, is I also bought a liquid cooling system. It keeps the CPU cool, but not to the extent that I thought it would, so it wasn't really worth it for me. As to cooling, getting a computer case like mine with plenty of fans is nice, because it does keep the mainboard and stuff cool, but it also produces noise. Your CPU will be cooled by some sort of cooling system, not the case fans. Either a heatsink with a built in fan, a liquid cooler, or something in between, or something totally different, I don't know which route you'll choose. Your graphics card, if it's a modern, up to date one, will have a fan on it, possibly even more than one, depending on what you going to use it for. Those will make noise. Neither one will die if the case fans stop working. However, having a cooling flow through the case is good for everything else, like hard drives and such. Even those can have individual coolers. If you're planning on getting a newer, faster CPU, your memory will also probably be newer and faster, so find some that have heat sinks, or heat spreaders on them. IF you aren't sure, do your research online first, or, of course, ask here. Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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