Comparing cases

[silk186]

I'm looking to do a build soon so I thought I would start with something that doesn't change every month, the case. I've always wanted a Lian Li case and I'm looking at something small so I've been looking at these: PC-A05/PC-A06/PC-A59/PC-V600. It's hard to tell from there site how they compare except that some put the PSU in the front bottom and others in the rear top. Do they fit the same amount of stuff? How do they compare for sound and cooling? Or they mostly just cosmetic differences.

 

[faugusztin]

There is only one real winner from those - PC-A05. Why?

PC-V600, PC-A59: one big flaw - PSU over CPU, which means no-no for higher coolers. Ultra-bad.
PC-A06 : 8cm fans at back (bad), PSU at front (good), probably same hot spot at upper corner as PC-A05 (bad).
PC-A05 : 12 cm fans (good), PSU at front (good), hot spot at upper corner (bad).

Make a blowhole at top (or buy one with already made hole) and PC-A05 is your favorite. Or buy a 2-slot graphical card which directly blows heat out (like first 3870's).

 

[silk186]

Initially my build will be a little bare but in the end it will look something like this

Case: Lian Li miniATX PC-A05/PC-A06/PC-A59/PC-V600 - your recommending PC-A05
CPU: Q9300/Q9450 OC past 3Ghz
GPU: GeForce 9600 GT 512 MB
MB: P45 (non-sli), DDR2, good OCer - they will be out around the time of my build
Ram: 4gb ddr2 ram
HD: 750GB/1TB storage + fast, quiet, single plater drive for OS (320GB?)

later I will likely add a third drive​

PSU: something very quiet & modular, not sure how much power I would need 500-650w?
CPU cooler: inaudible and small enough to fit my case? AIR
Optical drives: DVD multidrive that's quiet, later I'll buy a BR drive
Modding: case fans upgraded to something quieter?
I will eventually add a sound card as well after I purchase a surround sound system

As you were talking about hot spots and what not, would you think that it would be an issues with my above intended system specs?

 

[faugusztin]

• CPU: Q9300/Q9450 OC past 3Ghz
  
  That means high temperatures for CPU (when you OC 45nm Core 2, you get same temperatures as with 65nm due higher voltage needed for OC). Also note that Q9300 have small multiplier, so there is a limit for most motherboards around 3.6GHz if i remember correctly (for higher frequency you must go over 500MHz FSB).
  
  
• GPU: GeForce 9600 GT 512 MB
  
  Ok, will heat less than 8800, but still it will make some heat
  
  
• HD: 750GB/1TB storage + fast, quiet, single plater drive for OS (320GB?)
  
  Scratch that idea. Buy a WD6400AAKS. One of the quickest SATA drives here (except Raptors of course). The new WD3200AAKS is slower due optimization for long term run. WD6400AAKS is optimized for performance.
  
  
• PSU: something very quiet & modular, not sure how much power I would need 500-650w?
  
  500W is enough, buy a Corsair HX520 or Seasonic M12II 500W.
  
  
• CPU cooler: inaudible and small enough to fit my case?
  
  You can choose nearly any cooler in PC-A05, just look at the PC-A05 thread ;-).
  
  
• Optical drives: DVD multidrive that's quiet, later I'll buy a BR drive
  
  There is no such thing as quiet DVD drive in today 20-speed world. I bought a Samsung SH-203B, at least it doesn't vibrate as my LG did.
  
  
• Modding: case fans upgraded to something quieter?
  
  Replacing fans is a must for all cases if you like silence (or at least quiet run). Nexus, Noctua, Scythe are your friends (i don't know brands in other countries, these are top fans here in Slovakia).
  
  
• As you were talking about hot spots and what not, would you think that it would be an issues with my above intended system specs?
  
  As i know, this issue affects all PC-A05's. Again, look at the PC-A05 thread or ask owners of this case.