Case for new AMD 64 build

[Joe Yong]

Still more questions....

I currently have an old ATX case for my Athlon XP 1900+ with MSI K7N420 Pro
which I'm wondering if I can re-use for my new AMD64 (probably 4000). From
what I can see from AMD's website, many recommended motherboards have ATX
form factors.

I'm guessing it does but just wanna make sure. It's been over 3 years since
I last built a box.

Thanks.


joe.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

The case is probably OK. The new mainboard should come with an I/O backplate
to replace the old one.

However, check the power supply. Your old board only needed an ATX supply.
A64 mainboards generally want ATX 12V supplies (separate 4 pin 12V power
connector), and the latest ones use ATX 2.0 (24 pin main power, rather than
20). I believe that it's possible to run an ATX 2.0 system with an ATX 12V
supply, if the power requirements aren't too severe, but I have not done it.
(I'm doing the opposite thing: running a 20 pin ATX 12V system with an ATX
2.0 supply, using a 24 pin to 20 pin adapter. My mainboard is an Asus A8V
Deluxe, selected mainly to keep using an AGP 6800GT graphics card.)

You may need a larger-capacity PS anyway.

Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[C. Sowash]

I highly recommend that you go ahead and get a new case. The Antec "Sonata"
cases are fabulous. They are unbelievably quiet. They have large, slow cooling
fans and the disk drive slides have rubber vibration mounts to knock out disk
noise. They are as close to silent as you can get. I've built two systems with
them and love them. http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15139

 

[Wes Newell]

Still more questions....

I currently have an old ATX case for my Athlon XP 1900+ with MSI K7N420
Pro which I'm wondering if I can re-use for my new AMD64 (probably 4000).
From what I can see from AMD's website, many recommended motherboards have
ATX form factors.

I'm guessing it does but just wanna make sure. It's been over 3 years
since I last built a box.

You won't need a new case. You probably will need a new PSU. I'd suggest
500W or larger.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Still more questions....

I currently have an old ATX case for my Athlon XP 1900+ with MSI K7N420 Pro
which I'm wondering if I can re-use for my new AMD64 (probably 4000). From
what I can see from AMD's website, many recommended motherboards have ATX
form factors.

I'm guessing it does but just wanna make sure. It's been over 3 years since
I last built a box.

Although the old case is likely compatible with today's ATX
motherboards, you might want to replace it anyways. You'll probably need
an upgraded power supply anyways (perhaps a 350W or higher). And
surprisingly some of the cases that come with their own included power
supplies are cheaper than buying a case and power supply seperately.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Joe Yong]

Oh, you're evil!!!

Just kidding. That is a sweet case. Fortunately, it's a little bigger than
what would fit nicely in my workarea. Else, I'd have another item on my list
to purchase.

Actually, a part of my reason for wanting to re-use the case is cos I
haven't found any local places that would recycle the case (for free) so
unless I absolutely needed a new one, I'm gonna try to avoid it.

Thanks though. Cases sure have improved a lot since my last build.


joe.

 

[Joe Yong]

Thanks Bob. Definitely replacing the power supply. I won't run more new
devices but probably add another drive. Still, the base consumption will be
higher.

Asus is high on my list right now. My old MB was a MSI and it kinda worked
ok but occassionally acted weird with the onboard USB (a few just never
worked from day 1).


joe.