Upgrade Suggestions

[Chris Stolpe]

I have an Alienware tower with
1 GB PC3200 mem
2.8 Ghz P4
80 GB 7200 RPM SATA HD
128 MB PNY nVidia Quadro FX 1100 Video Card
Intel ATX Server MBO w/ Gigabit LAN and a SATA RAID Controller
45OW PSU
Plextor DVD+RW
17" NEC 1280x1024 monitor

works fine for my needs (Photoshop,apache, except it is too large and
noisey.

 

[Chris Stolpe]

What kind of cases and cooling fans would you recommend to make the system
smaller, quieter, and more stylish? I'd like it to fit under a coffee table
(11" )
I am also considering just getting another system like an Athalon based
Shuttle XPC or even Mac Mini (since I need to upgrade Photoshop anyway)

I'm trying to intergrate this into my living room / home office (work laptop
has WiFi and bluetooth). In the process I want to eliminate redundant
displays, devices, wall warts, plugs and cables. For example I just bought a
Wacom bluetooth tablet and the ritePen handwriting recognition software. I
have been using this in place of my KB and mouse (both unplugged ). I'm
hoping to use a bluetooth headset and something like Vonage with my PC
and/or another device to handle all phone calls (cell, landline, VoIP). I
would use bluetooth or WiFi to eliminate printer cable. Replace monitor and
old TV with 16:9 1080p monitor. Will probably replace DVD player and TiVo by
adding a PCI tuner card. Not sure what to do about WiFi router and DSL
modem. At least they can be hidden