Building My PC 2 - Case and Cooler or "I listened to Loyd"

In the last post I described what I wanted in the new PC, where I wanted to buy it, and what sources I would use to inform my decision. I started by first choosing the case for an ATX frame, since ATX is really the only option one needs consider for a normal, a.k.a. mid-size, PC.

Loyd Case recommended The Antec Sonata III for low noise, a decent power supply, lots of room for expansion, and based on the pictures it looks attractive enough. I could have gone with a cheaper case, but they usually did not come with power supplies. The Antec Earthwatts 500W power supply packed with the Sonata should provide all the power I need based on customer review experiences. Plus, to buy an equally attractive case and a comparable power supply actually put me over the $100 mark.

The CPU cooler is probably the least-necessary purchase for the rig, but Loyd Case pointed out it’s quieter than the cooler that comes with the Intel chip. There’s something about having a kickass CPU cooler that makes the geek senses tingle. Plus if I do decide to start overclocking I won’t have to purchase any additional equipment.

Now the processor should come next in the decision making process. However, given my price range and bias for Intel I knew that whichever CPU I finally chose would need a LGA 775 socket type. That was the essential spec necessary to move onto the Motherboard choice.

*Update*

Later I discovered an added bonus to the Arctic Freezer 7: it comes with thermal grease already applied. Thermal grease is normally applied between the processer and cooler to promote heat transfer. Without the grease air can get caught between the two components. Air a) is a bad conductor and b) heats up. I thought I would have to go out, buy, and apply my own thermal grease, but listening to wiser geeks paid off!